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The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 6

Publication:
The Pantagraphi
Location:
Bloomington, Illinois
Issue Date:
Page:
6
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

telhor cail at his hom In Ply-1 last name of Knoblauch. His mid-1 Tantagraph, Bloomington, HI Feb. 3, 1937. Sir mouth, from a Hollywood die name, Gray, was his mother's' executive of Capitol, who wanted maiden name. Gray and his wife an album of original Casa Loma scores.

Gray jumped at the oppor ii wrj tti-; i School in I The band of his1 71 tends the Williston Prep tunity to revive some of the num East Hamnton. Mass. The bers that had carried him to fame. leador now spends mos so in June he went to Hollywood time playing golf and in his woodworking shop. Other 4han his two recent recordings he has retired from the music world.

Gray's opinion ct Presley and rock 'n roll? with his scores and began the tedious job of recording them for Hi-Fi. There are seven numbers on each side of the 33 rpm Hi-Fi record entitled "Casa Loma in Hi-Fi!" "I'd rather not be quoted," he Members of the band to the recording were recruited from Gray is leaving today for his the Capitol staff orchestra, some home in Plymouth after visiting of the best musicians in the coun-j Tuesday with his mother and try. Last Monday Gray completed Mr. and Mrs. George De- his second album for Capitol, thisjwode.

and his sister, Mrs. E. L. also featuring numbers made fa Herbst, in Roanoke. mous by him.

JilVl tily -7 -J I r. try Tua HMtfm-i-HiiimthiMi wtiffftn iTnifiarfiiiiininiiriilMi it mr.i- i ria 1 fc rf.s n'r i Iiiotv "TffrfB HI-FI RECORDING TEDIOUS "We found it a lot different re cording for Hi-Fi man the original 78 rpm record of 20 years ago," Gray stated. "Because Hi-Fi reproduces every sound perfectly each note has to be perfect. There Is no chance of an error slipping through without being detected. Luckily, the recordings are made LEAN VALENTINE DOLLS uGlnnT and "Ginette" Dressed Dolls 5150 Yalentine Dresses $1.50 W.

B. READ CO. To land 3rd Flor 109 X. Main St. on tape.

If a note is muffed you don have to start at the beginning. The bars can be replayed, the tape cut and spliced together again." Years ago, when recordings were transmitted directly to wax a wrong note on the last bar of the score would mean re-recording the entire score. In 1936 Gray legally dropped his IS) Roanoke Glen Gray, director of the Casa Loma Orchestra for 20 years, shows his parents and sister a Hi-Fi recording he made in Hollywood last year, featuring some of the songs made famous by him between 1930 and 1950. His sister, Mrs. E.

L. Herbst, stands behind Mr. Gray, while his parents, Mr. and Mrs. fl oh McGraw ueorge DeWilde, are at the right.

ROANOKE BOY MAKES GOOD woman, a vocalist to replace Sargent and each time one of his boys left for the service a replacement took over. The war years were! "The Glen Gray Top Band Leader for 20 Years Lb some of the busiest for Gray. He played in hundreds of service bases and canteens from Maine Cleaner Man to California in addition to his ho-j tel and night club Most of the traveling was done in By TONY HOLLOW AY I ican Conservatory of Music in Chi- til SdlJS: the air, thanks to the courtesy of Uncle Sam. DISBANDED IN 1951 In 1951, with the advent of tel Fantagraph staf Writer cag0( Dut before his first year was ROANOKE Back in the early up he and his saxaphone were 30s, before the days of Elvis called to "Peoria to play with Presley, and when rock roll! George Hascherfs band. In 1924 described the movements of a ship he went to Detroit, where in a storm, the Casa Loma Or-jhe played with several organiza- evision, the Casa Loma Orchestra! II 5 IF II Sis chestra was playing its way intoitions untd 1329.

That year he or- was disbanded because "people quit flocking to hotels and night clubs for dancing." During his highly successful 20 the musical of America on ganized his own a payroll of 14. This was a co-operative venture. Each of the 14 Clean Up Time i years with the Casa Loma Orchestra Gray appeared with the Burns and Allen Show on radio from Hollywood in 1938 and was the first to be booked into the Paramount Theatre in New York in 1935. How many phonograph record ..,,1 BUR a twice weekly radio program called "The Camel Caravan." The director of the orchestra was Glen Gray, a young man from Roanoke, who started his musical career with the Roanoke town band during his high school days. For 20 years, from 1931 to 1951, his theme song, "Smoke Rings," was one of the most oft heard melodies throughout the country.

As Gray describes it he had a "big band sound." His theory was to play difficult numbers in order to attract attention. He was the men owned stock in the band. It is perhaps because of this that these same 11 stayed together 12 years without a single personnel change. The band's first big break came in 1929 when it was called to Toronto, Canada, to play in the Casa Loma Hotel. This hotel had been converted from a castle-like structure used years ago to entertain British nobility to Canada.

When Gray left Toronto he took ings did he make? Gray can't re LB EN BIPl member. He has recorded for Okeh, Victor, Brunswick, Decca and Capitol. He lists his best sell I I i You'll Like Our Same-Day Service It's just the service to meet unexpected emergencies. So reliable and meet your absolute approval. Cash and carry.

Garments in by 9 A. M. and ready at 5 P. M. Bloomington Normal 108 E.

Front 111-15 E. Beaufort Phone 8-5025 Pick-Up Delivery ers as "For You," sung by Sar gent, "Smoke Rings," "Sunrise Serenade," which he introduced, "It's the Talk of the Town," sung the name Casa Loma with him. Casa Loma means "house on a hill." by Sargent and a glee club, and "No Name Jive." In the fall of 1929 the band went Early in 1956 Gray received a to New York and from there be 5)M WW gan a record breaking string of "one night all over the country. first leader to use four trombones and when there are only 12 in-! struments in an orchestra four trombones can throw out a lot of loud notes. But, this "big sound" was tempered with ballads, sung by Kenny Sargent and Pee Wee Hunt.

Sargent is now a disc jockey in Dallas, and Hunt is touring the country with a Dixie Land band. OX "CAMEL CARAYAX" In 1933 Gray was called for "The Camel Caravan" and for 26 weeks of each of the next three years the Casa Lomans were the fea v-'-M" iTi i mi ii Minf "Those were the days before television when people flecked to night clubs and hotels. Business was good," Gray said. In 1941, when World War II came, the first personnel change in the band took place and from then on there was a succession of changes. Gray hired his first .4) 1 tured attraction.

The comedian was Dennis O'Keefe. The three announcers were Harry Von Zell. lbs. now with the Burns and Allen tel Designed for Living Comfort! Spaciousness and comfort are the keynotes of this rambling frame home. Screened porch off the living room add to your leisure hour enjoyment.

This plan incorporates 4 bedrooms with 11,2 baths and- generous closet space. Fireplace, picture window, brick planter and covered entrance enhance the beauty of this plan. For further information, see us today. evision show; Ted Huesing, who I ill I 'M -T I la. eeoooom la 1 I I tenoom t' "I fl ii i 1 i ir otfion oo K'O 1 9 later became a famed sports announcer, and Paul Douglas, now a top film star.

Gray mildly startled the musical world in 1933 when he introduced such jazz numbers as "Casa Loma Stomp," "White Jazz" and "Black Jazz." Before thi3 jazz had not been highly commercialized, so Gray was one of the first proponents of this type cf music. ft it MM Glen Gray, whose last name was Knoblauch and who, during his high school basketball days, was given the nickname "Spiks," was -WEFT' mm Family Size? Family Income? Family Activities? Each has an important effect on the quantity, the size, and the layout of rooms when planning a new home. born in Metamora in 1900. His family moved to Roanoke when he was an infant and there he lived until he was 21. He graduated from Roanoke High School in 1917 and went to work for the JSanta Fe Railroad as a freight hustler, bill clerk md later cashier.

In the meantime he had given himself uuMB in hi ii i i iiTTiiMrMM ifti mmm in lessons on the flute, piccolo, clarinet and saxaphone. FIRST JOB IN PEOIUA In 1921 he enrolled in the Amer- nnny These factors plus your likes and dislikes are The. Newest Jn Carefully Considered By Our Plan Department when assisting you with home planning problems. From a background of practical experience your ideas are developed and expanded into a compact, practical plan that will make your dream home come true. IGMTBN 0 I'm WW 9 Perfect light when and where you want it.

Moves about room on track and pulls down for convenience. See these beautiful fixtures in polished copper or brass. The Friendliest Store in Bloomington" OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY Exactly as pictured. Complete. Only $46.50 When You Plan To Build.

We Invite You To Visit Us For Qualified Guidance And Help On Your Building Problems! There is no charge madefor this or any of the many other services offered by our company. These additional services include free estimates, blueprints, recommendation of competent workmen and providing financing assistance. For Remodel Work Or A New Home Visit Us for Ideas and Quality Building Materials! Modern Fun Down Flztnres from Earlj American Fall Down Fixtures from $14.25 $9.95 INSPECT OUR COMPLETE DISPLAY OF LIGHTING FIXTURES SEE BEFORE YOU BUY! (Sash 526 N. Main St. ffWm, MARKET 7he Building Une Merc We Shine CARLTON Phone 2-2210 Corner of East St.

and Route 9 ii.

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About The Pantagraph Archive

Pages Available:
1,648,610
Years Available:
1857-2024