The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 66

E-2 SUNDAY CALL-CHROXICLE, Allentown, Pa, Dec. 1, 1963 ht A Sack the wenties in the Limelig gain! oasis i5 7 i 4 f. I r'v ir x-r i i 1 I J- if-' i Xr i 2L ysr; I X. 5i Ml I xi buffs, out of THEN AND NOW Thirty-six years separate these named for the song which he sang to long-lasting two photos of singer-composer Gene Austin. LEFT: popularity.

RIGHT: Austin on the porch of his lux-Austin in 1927 aboard his yacht "My Blue Heaven," ury mobile home, also "My Blue Heaven." Wl DRAGGING HIS BANJO player Lou Black, now 62, wife's accompaniment at land, 111. "Rediscovered" by oldtime Jazz Black Is resisting efforts to get him to come show-business retirement. Gene Austin Stilt In 'Heaven7 at 63 June Havoc Turns Playwright Ban joist Lou Black Reluctant to Return er, but it's always been agony to find the best way of working." Shuns Social Events In her zeal, she was shunned all professional engagements and social events. "Not having Jo be seen," she says with a tug at a faded woolen beanie, "is the blessing of the world." Miss Havoc refers to her directing stint as an overlap from authorship. She's staged plays before, but insists she is doing her own under Stras-berg's supervision.

"I'm creating for the actors the essence of an era," she asserts. "We've been trying 6 One-time famous banjo picks out a tune to his their home In Rock Is- dance bands, jazz bands or recording orchestras. Lou joined the Carlisle Evans dance orchestra in 1920. They played a number of Midwest spots, a season in New Orleans and for a time offered entertainment on the excursion steamer, The Capitol, which then plied the Mississippi River between St. Louis, and St.

Paul, Minn. Met Wife It was on one of these trips he met Natalie Hart, then of Clinton, Iowa, and a candidate for the title of "Miss Iowa." They married in 1921 and made their home in Chicago. During the next Lou played with the New Orleans Rhythmn Kings, the famed Dixieland Jass Band, King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Jean Goldkette's dance orchestra and other bands in many of the nation's biggest cities. Later came a season with a band formed by Jack Tea-garden. There also were side jobs with other great names, among them Bix Beiderbecke, a native of Davenport, Iowa, and also a musician in his 20s.

In 1928, Lou said, he tired of traveling and with Mrs. Black and their two children moved to Des Moines where he took a job as assistant program director with Radio Station WHO. His boss was Eddie Sheasby, musician and arranger for many of the great bands of the era. 'Put Away Banjo' Black left WHO in 1931 when ownership of the station" changed, came to Rock Island and "put away my banjo." He worked at several jobs before he came to the Moline Consumers as a building material salesman in 1943. A few months ago, the daughter of an old family friend asked Lou to teach her to play the banjo and he agreed.

He decided he'd better try to loosen up his cramped, aging fingers and started practicing himself. Then he started playing; some of the old time tunes: that sound good only when played on a banjo; then he bought another banjo, this time for about then "a couple of guys my age joined me" and the combo went to work. Daytime Jobs They work only Friday and Saturday nights "because we have daytime jobs," Lou said. His sidemen are Lee Stoete-rau on the piano, and Bert Kells, a saxophone and clarinet player. They play "mostly old time jazz with a modern piece, every now and then," Lou said.

The Blacks have a son, Louis who lives in Detroit with his wife and three children, and a daughter, Nanon who makes St. Louis her home with a husband and four children. Return to the limelight, Lou? "Naw, I got a ready made audience any time we have a visit from my son and his family and daughter and her family, all at one time." Leading 1923 40th mow JPi I i i inn iiiinnuinirnmMiiniiiKiniiiirnii EDITOR'S NOTE Re-member Gene Austin, the fabulously successful, 1 1-very voiced crooner of the 1920s the man who made "My Blue Heaven" a worldwide song hit? A strange incident caused him to withdraw from the public eye for a long time, but he's back again now and with all his oldtime zest for singing and song writing. By DAVID FARMER LAS VEGAS, Nev. UP) Once "My Blue Heaven" was a yacht.

Now it's a trailer, but Gene Austin is still happy. Austin is the crooner who became fantastically successful during the 1920s, and then seemed to What's he doing now? Austin is still: singing. In fact, he thinks he sings better, than ever. He lives in a luxurious mobile home called "My Blue Heaven," after the song he made famous. There was another "mobile home" by that name once.

It was the yacht on which Austin was thought to have been lost at sea off the East Coast. Emotional Reaction Friends and fans conducted memorial services for him, only to find several days later that he was alive. The experience triggered an emotional reaction in Austin that helped cause him to withdraw from fame. Austin, now 63, spends his time performing, writing songs and collecting royalties. He appears in nightclubs in spots like Denver, Wichita, Houston, Baton Rouge.

He also makes records with the high-pitched croon of old. Then Austin comes home and dashes off something like, "Take Your Shoes Baby and Start Running Through My Mind." Austin says, "I've written a lot of standards. I try to write songs that will live." And many of them have. He wrote the words to "Lonesome Road," "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" and "How Come You Do Me Like You Do?" 86 Million Sold RCA-Victor says it sold 86 million of his records in the 1920s. His various recordings of "My Blue Heaven" have sold a reported 12 million copies.

"I can sing as well or better now than 30 years ago," says Austin. "But writing songs is my first love. AS for performing, there never has been much ham in me." Austin, who never learned to read music, does his composing by ear at an electric organ in his trailer. Or he'll write songs in bed or in cars. "Songs have you write them anywhere." Austin is a friendly man with thinning peach colored hair.

He looks remarkably similar to the way he looked in the late twenties, at the peak of his fame. Fourth Wife He has lived in Las Vegas much of the time since 1943. With him is his fourth wife, Lou. He has two grown daughters. Austin ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Nevada in 1962.

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CREATING HAVOC The author, June Havoc (right) shows the star, Julie Harris, how to do a dance for "Marathon '33," a play about the dancing craze of a generation ago, which opens on Broadway Dec. 22. Miss Havoc based the play on her biography, "Early Havoc." She also Is directing it, under supervision of Lee Strasberg. Iff) EDITOR'S NOTE One of th fabled musicians of th Roaring Twenties was Lou Black, master of the banjo. After playing with the foremost bands of the times.

Black put away his banjo and took up other work. Now musical famo seems to be pursuing him again although he insists he Is not going to make a "come back." By EDMUND R. D'MOCH ROCK ISLAND, 111., CD "One thing I can't stand is a has-been who tries to make a comeback." Lou Black, now 62 years old and a banjo player Mho worked with some of the great of the Roaring 20s, is being rediscovered by old jazz buffs and is to return to the old limelight. "I keep hearing from people, 'I thought you were and 4I thought you'd passed on," Black said. "Well, I've been very much aUve and at work since I retired from show business and I have no intention of making a comeback." Lou said he thought the sud-.

den interest in him was first generated some months ago when he'd taken a part-time playing job at a local nitery. Made Some Tapes During a recent trip to New York City, Black made tape recordings at the request of i.Tobert J. Mantler, prominent music researcher. "Thensome old timers con- tacted me and the next thing I knew I was sitting in at some New York night spots," Black said. New 'York City jazz buffs had "found" another old timer.

Later he made some rec- ords for Columbia. Then an "invitation came from Brian Rust, British music critic, to make a series of appearances in London. "I haven't decided whether I want to make the trip to England and I don't know how many more trips to New York I'll be making. I know one thing, I'm not going to make any comeback," Lou said. "I'm happy in my selling Job, with my little part-time music job and living with my wife in Rock Island." Started at 7 Black was born in Rock Island and began fingering a banjo at the age of 7.

He played well enough in a few years to "work small local jobs." -Then came the era when professional musicians, or players as they were known, worked with dance orchestras. THE CHRISTMAS SEASON Spend on the Boardwalk at Atlantic City. Ths season of the Yulelog, the holly, the wassail, and the Holiday tree. Daily parties and entertainment for adults and youngsters. A Christmas New Year you will treasure always.

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Twin beds with bath from $12. 50 Mod. $6.50 each person. finariborcusb $lcnbcim toy MrtWMillmM. By WILLIAM GLOVER NEW YORK W) Broadway this season gets a new June Havoc.

The leading lady has turned playwright. With familiar Havoc gusto, she is going all the way on this thespic gamble by doubling as stager of the show, "Marathon '33," which is due Dec. 22 at the Anta Theater. During a rehearsal break the other day, jean-clad June explained her career shift as born of inner lack and outer need. It started a half dozen years ago.

Floundering in Fog "For a period there I was floundering in an ignominious she recounts. "I got my ulcer when I realized I wasn't growing in my work, and I "began to try to improve myself. "3 "But whatever I did, I still felt on the periphery and not really giving the theater anything." Whenever she mentions the world of drama, her voice becomes tinged with evangelical exaltation. "It was about that time that there were several bad seasons, and everyone began saying that what was needed was a supply of new writers. "Well, there are millions of wonderful actors, I felt but if the need is for playwrights, maybe I can help in that way.

And I'll keep trying." Marathon Dancing Miss Havoc's drama concerns the non-stop dance contest craze which swept the nation three decades ago. It is based on her total-recall autobiography "Early Havoc" and will have Julie Harris in the leading role. Work on the script began when the two actresses were appearing in 'The Warm Peninsula." "I wouldn't have had the confidence to begin without Julie," she says. "I felt I didn't know anything about playwriting, but she told me 'You didn't know anything about the book world either before you wrote your Then occurred a fine bit of coincidence. Miss Havoc has long been a member of the Actors Studio and that renowned shrine of thespic train- 'Mister Roberts' To Be Presented By Lehigh Group "Mister Roberts," the celebrated comedy of naval life in war time, will be presented by Lehigh University's Mustard and Cheese Players three nights this week in Broughal Junior High School auditorium, 125 W.

Packer Bethlehem. The show, under the direction of Lehigh Professor H. Barrett Davis, will be given at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The one woman's role in the comedy will be played by a Cedar Crest College student, Susan Gilner.

Other feature roles will be played by Lehigh students Peter William Dawson, Robert Reck and Robert Billinger. Tickets will be on sale at the auditorium doors. Lehigh Valley Radio Anniversary Year 1963 in the Valley NBC MONITOR 3 P.M. to 6 P.M. 7 lar revival of "Strange Interlude," decided on Miss Havoc's script as its first exhibit of new authorship.

Her work pace thereupon intensified. For the past year she has concentrated exclusively on authorship. "It's been the most rewarding, exciting, thrilling time of my life," declares the star. "Most of all I've learned how to work. I always was a work- at the Met I i Janis Martin; Messrs.

John Alexander, Giorgio Tozzi, John Macurdy. Silvio Varviso. FRIDAY Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg" with Mmes. Delia a Kriese; Messrs. Konya, Wiemann.

Rosenstock. SATURDAY MATINEE Verdi's "Aida" with Price, Gorr, Pracht; Messrs. Bergonzi, Sereni, Siepi. Solti. SATURDAY Strauss with Mmes.

Kirsten, Madeira, Rothenberger; Messrs. Formichini, Franke, Guarrera. Varviso. Farce for Ewe 1 1 NEW YORK (AP) What happens when a scientist tries to become a corporate organization man is the theme of "Ask Me No Questions," a comedy in which Tom Ewell has agreed to return to Broadway. The play is by Ira Wallach, who estimates the script went through 10 versions during a four year creative process.

With Ewell in the show, due here Jan. 29, are to be Ruth White, Ruth McDevitt and Murray Hamilton. to avoid that 'we'll see how it works' attitude which can cause a lot of rewriting during rehearsals." Two Plays Performed As a matter of record, since launching on the main opus Miss Havoc has authored two one-act plays which were performed at the Studio workshop to augment group understanding. One is entitled 'I, said the Fly," the other "Oh, Glorious Tintinnabulation." One of them may later be expanded to full length. The star, lithe and agile as ever, has also been instructing the company in apt vintage dance steps, including an item called "the shambles." "I don't think I've earned the title of writer yet," she declares, "but I do know I want to keep on.

I'm not an agonized writer. I look forward to work the way others look forward to an outing." Miss Havoc is aware that her pert chin is stuck out quite a distance, but shows no sign of distress. Not to Be Stopped "I'm not going to be stopped by any disappointment. In 40 years in the theater, there have been crashing failures as well as thumping successes for me. "You've got to be winners if you've tried." Rehearsal break over, Miss Havoc strides out on the bare stage where her cast of 40 is assembling.

As she climbs atop a high stool, her face becomes set with resolution. If a cheek twitches, the voice is commanding: "Can I have your attention please everybody. I'd like to take it from the top of." NEW YORK (AP) Hel mut Qualtinger, leading Aus trian satirist, is planning a change of pace by enacting Henry VIII in Maxwell Anderson's "A of the 1,000 Days." Here for a limited German-language engagement in his "Herr Karl" sketches, Qualtinger said he would tackle the dramatic role in December at Hamburg. He is also writing a play called "The Execution." The entertainer said it would shock Vienna more than of his "Herr Karl" lampoons, but declined to reveal the plot. HOLLYWOOD I Richard Burton doesn't appear in "Zulu," the African adventure story, but will narrate the foreword and closing commentary.

wear FALSE TEETH at, chew, smile with Helpsi VJOEEIEriD SPECIAL BAKED SWISS STEAK ing was just embarking on a long-range production project as "Marathon 33" took shape. Advice and Tests In putting it together, Miss Havoc had the advice of Lee Strasberg, the Studio's revered overlord, and the advantage of a corps of performers to test work-in-progress. The Studio having successfully entered Broadway's boxv office competition with a stel This Week MONDAY Verdi's "Don Carlo" with Mmes. Kabaivan-ska, Dalis, Baldwin, Messrs. Labo, Merrill, Siepi, Solti.

TUESDAY Puccini's "La Boheme" with Mmes. Kirsten, Rothenberger; Messrs. Ber-gonzi, Ruzdak, Harvuot Cle- WEDNESDAY Wagner's "Goetterdaemmerung" with Mmes. Nilsson, Yeend, Gorr, Pracht; Messrs. Hopf, Cassel, Davidson.

Rosenstock. THURSDAY Bellini's "La Sonnambula' with Mmes. Joan Sutherland, Jeanette Scovotti, Long Run NEW YORK (AP) "Mary, Mary" has joined Broadway's top dozen shows. The. comedy by Jean Kerr at 'the Helen Hayes, Theater recently clicked off its performance, thereby becoming No.

12 on the list of longest running productions. The comedy has been represented on the road by four touring companies, and is on view abroad in London, Paris, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Scandinavia and Australia. $f1 30 Cup of Soup Tomato Juice 2 Vegetables Rolls a Butter Dessert Coffee Full Course I AFTER THEATRE Step In For Our Famous Home-made Pastries Coffee PROGRAM SCHEDULE NBC New and Emphasis on the hour all day. Local and state nws on the half-hour. PILARS ETOB DD 3512 Hamilton Rt.

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