[78-L] Toscanini [fwd] and going way off track

David Lennick dlennick at sympatico.ca
Tue Mar 13 22:41:23 PDT 2012


As long as they didn't have to join an all-girl orchestra to get out of Chicago 
(and there's a whole 'nother thread we can start but I'm signing off now). Not 
impossible!

dl

On 3/14/2012 1:38 AM, Philip Carli wrote:
> I think he and his brother fled Chicago in 1926 supposedly because of a gang war at the speak they played at.  The Vitaphone logsheet is reproduced in the booklet that came with the commemorative JAZZ SINGER DVD set, listing all orchestral personnel including "Maurice Amsterdam cello". PC
> ________________________________________
> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com [78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] on behalf of David Lennick [dlennick at sympatico.ca]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:27 AM
> To: 78-L Mail List
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Toscanini  [fwd] and going way off track
>
> About 1947 for the Santa Monicas. But he was born in 1908 in Chicago and
> working in a speakeasy in the mid 20s, so I'm not sure about his playing in a
> studio orchestra in 1927. But who knows!
>
> dl
>
> On 3/14/2012 1:13 AM, Philip Carli wrote:
>> What time are we speaking of?  If there's a Morey Amsterdam in the SMSO's cello section roster, it's not inconceivable that it's him moonlighting in a group that was a good semi-pro orchestra and that didn't have an exhaustive rehearsal/performance schedule.  From what I understand, Amsterdam was quite a good cellist, loved music, and was proud of his ability; he kept it up to some extent all his life. The only bits I've seen of him playing cello are in routines where he rarely gets in more than a few notes before telling a joke, but each time he comes back to the instrument he's very assured and attacks easily and musically. PC
>>
>> ________________________________________
>> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com [78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] on behalf of David Lennick [dlennick at sympatico.ca]
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 9:04 PM
>> To: 78-L Mail List
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Toscanini  [fwd] and going way off track
>>
>> Isn't there a Morey Amsterdam playing under Rachmilovich in the Santa Monica
>> Symphony Orchestra? Morey was well established as a comic by that time so I
>> presume it's an uncle or other relative.....?
>>
>> dl
>>
>> On 3/13/2012 8:32 PM, Philip Carli wrote:
>>> More useless recording trivia: Morey Amsterdam played cello in the orchestra accompanying Jolson's "theatre" numbers in THE JAZZ SINGER.  His and his brother's names are on the Vitaphone log sheet.
>>> ________________________________________
>>> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com [78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] on behalf of David Lennick [dlennick at sympatico.ca]
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 5:53 PM
>>> To: 78-L Mail List
>>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Toscanini  [fwd].
>>>
>>> On a tree by a river, a little bird sat
>>> Singing Willow, Tit Willow, Tit Willow.
>>> Musicians can play if they only will say
>>> Petrillo, Petrillo, Petrillo.
>>>
>>> (Not sure if I'm remembering that one accurately, but Morey Amsterdam mouthed
>>> it on a game show decades ago.)
>>>
>>> dl
> __________________________
>
>



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