80
Just before the waxing got under way
a note was passed to Clyde with the name
of the composition that the orchestra was
to record at their next wax-cutting session.
It read:
"0. K., Clyde, you're elected. Next time
it's the new 'BIG APPLE'l"
And what- is the "Big Apple"? Just In
case you haven't heard, Irving Mills, man-
aging director of Variety Records and head
of Mills Artists, Inc., said that it was actu-
ally "terpsichorean jamming," a by-prod-
uct of the current wave of enthusiasm for
swing music. Mills offers this definition,
and music operators may pass it on to
location owners who may be curious, who
may be hopeful-or fearful-of its being
performed in their taverns or amusement
places:
"The young folks who have been fre-
quenting night clubs, ballrooms and theatres
during the past two years have become
so familiarized with swing music, through
newspapers, magazines, newsreels and
other publicity accorded it,that its fascina-
tion has enabled it to remain popular
longer than many expected.
"These supporters of 'hot jazz' who make
up the nation's dancing element have
learned that swing music is comprised of
musicians in seven and eight piece orches-
tras who spontaneously create their own
variations on -a given theme. The danc-
ers, noting the satisfaction derived by in-
strumentalists playing music 'ad lib: or,
spontaneously as they weave through a
melody, took the process and adapted the
same design to dancing, patterning it
against swing music, which in its purer
form is _ ~nown as 'jamming.'
"Where musicians use chord formations
as the foundation of their - improvisions,
the dancers use standard ballroom steps
such as' Peckin', the Lindy Hop, the Suzi-Q,
the Virginia Reel. the Shag and other fa-
miliar routines as the basis for the "Big
Apple" dance. Paired in groups from six
to twelve, the dance is started In routine
fashion, but 'after two or three choruses it
becomes a 'challenge dance' affair. Those
c.oup)es offering the . most ingenious rou-
tines are selected to follow through. Where
musicians are- pointed out in a 'jam ses-
sion' to take - chorus after chorus, dancing
couples participating in a 'Big Apple! dance
are given the . floor to take routine after
routine and the more pleasing their spon-
taneous clP\lce inventions are created, the
mo~e they will' be urged to dominate the
dance floor . . Consequently, the 'Big Apple'
dance may- be described as terpsichorean
-jamming."
•
PHONOGRAPH OPERATORS ~~~~~iI1
The 1937
VEI.VETONE
2000 - PLAY NEEDLE
is now the peer of them all.
IT'S DIFFERENT
I.. E. T URN E R
1229 Park Row Bldg.
N ew York, N . Y.
Harris [ounty (Texas)
Phonograph Operators
Association
Pres idenl- W . C. ATKINS; Vice-Presldenl-
FRED McCLURE; Executive Secretary- W . A.
NIEMACKL; Treasurer- LESTER HEARN.
By JOHN G. WRIGHT
On Thursday evening, September 2,
over thirty phonograph operators of Hous-
ton and Harris County met at the Ben
Milam Hotel for the purpose of organizing
a music association. W. A. Niemackl. in
the opening address outlined the aim and
purpose of such an organization, and point-
ed out how vitally necessary such ari. or-
ganization was to the very existence of the
phonograph operating Industry.
Lester Hearn, who was elected tempor-
ary chairman, appointed Sam ' E. Ayo,
Percy Foreman, Henry Cruse, F. C. Clancy
and Jess Porter as a committee on by-
laws, constitution and regulations. J. W.
Williams, William Peacock, and Sam Wil-
son were named as a nomination com-
mittee.
A second meeting was held September 9.
Minutes of the preliminary meeting were
read and approved and by general agree-
ment it was decided to organize a perma-
nent Association.
Nominees for president were William
Peacock, W. C. Atkins, J. B. Bellin, and
F. C. Clancy. No majority was reached on
the first ballot and a second was neces-
sary. W. C. Atkins was. elected. Fred Mc-
Clure was elected vice-president on the
first ballot, and Lester Hearn was named
treasurer on first ballot.
W. A. Niemackl was unanimously elect-
ed executive secretary. Niemackl's untir-
ing and very efficient work for the two
preceding weeks was largely respon§ible
for the actual formation of the Association,
and operators showed their appreciation
by electing him by acclamation.
The newly elected officers immediately
took charge and plunged into the task of
completing the organization. Because of
the absence of the committee chairman, the
formal adoption of the by-laws was post-
poned until next meeting.
Several names were discussed, and fin-
ally the one, Phonograph Operators' Asso-
ciation, Incorporated, of Harris County, was
adopted. The Association will be chartered
as a corporation under the laws of the
State of Texas.
Initiation fee was set at $25 per member.
Members absent from regular meetings, or
arriving late will be subject to a fine. All
machines of association members are to be
identified by uniform seal, the type to be
decided later.
After a lengthy and somewhat heated
discussion an anti-location-bumping motion
was passed. The original motion was
amended to be effective for a period of
only ninety days, and was then voted on.
In conclusion several members empha-
sized the fact that the purpose of the As-
sociation was to improve business condi-
tions, promote harmony, and friendship,
and improve the general welfare of all
operators. Officers and members regard all
operators in Harris County as prospective
members, and propose to conduct them-
selves and the organization in such a
manner as to have all those who believe
in honest and fair dealing anxious to
come in.
•
Late last m~nth Detroit musicmen got their first glimpse of the new Mills Zephyr Phonograph during a party h.eld tor them by
Zone Manager Lon' Bowser District Manager Harks and other salesmen of the area. Party was an all-day affaIr WIth contests,
gan:es and refreshments at night following a dinner. About fifty Detroiters attended.