Mw
Admitting without argument that
We’re completely out of tune with
the times, it still seems to us that
folks had more fun when they
were singing songs about the moon
instead of trying to land there.
Even during the financial dif
ficulties of the Great Depression,
New Bemians gave their hearts to
Milky Wayish melodies. The lyrics
were often putrid and the notes
foul smelling, but it mattered not.
As long as the virtues of the plane
tary system were extolled some
where in the chorus, the world
rushed headlong into sentimental
acceptance.
Grandpa, and his grandpa be
fore him, suffered enjoyably from
a chronic case of the same malady
when they were young and foolish.
What a pity that such tunes fail
to stir the gypsy lying dormant in
today’s generation. 'The teein agers
of our acquaintance may deny it,
but rock ‘n’ roll — from the angle
of romance — is a sorry substitute.
Among the radio and recording
stars who were partial to things
astronomical, Morton Downey was
conspicious. One of his earlier
theme songs Was “Wabash Moon”
and later he switched his high-
pitched warbling capacities to
“Carolina MIoon” to advertise a
well known brand of cigarettes.
Kate Smith became internation-,
ally famous in the sanie era with
her own theme song — “When the
Moon Comes Over the Mountain.”
Meanwhile, Cab Calloway, who
copld out hoUer any of ate'HEnSS^.
ers we have ground iiow, came up
with a number fobbed "Under
neath A Hiarlem Moon.” As the
title implies, it, dealt principally
with doings on Lennox Avenue.
Tire words were clever and the
" notes were catchy.
' Harlem had no monopoly on
, moonlight in the ^m, bank-bust
ing Thirties. We had an “Old Eng
land Moon” and “Moonlight On the
River Colaa-ado” — along with
“Honolulu Moon” and “Moonlight
'bn the Ganges.” Tin Pan Alley
came up with “Virginia Moon” too,
but it didn’t create much of a stir,
even on the shores of the Potomac.
Not content with t]ic tremendous
popularity of her Mordmentioned
theme song, Kate Smith achieved
success with “A Kiss In the Moon
light.” The Boswell sisters, with
Connie leading the way, did quite
well with the same spng. Merely
mentioning this sister act ought to
strike a responsive chord with you
©liters.
Karlier still, Ruth Etting ascend,
ed to heights of popular music
when she sang “Shine On Harvest
M|oon” in the Ziegfeld Follies and
recorded it for Columibia. Millions
bought the disc at -a time when
money was almost non-existent. In
cidentally, Florenz Ziegfeld rated
Ruth the greatest entertainer of"
them all. Considering the fact that
he discovered Will Rogers, it was
an Incomparable compliment..
One of the more imaginative
song writers found gold in “The
viUey of the Moon.” Another
scribbler called the roll, so to
speak, with “The Cop On the Beat,
ithfi Wten in the Moon and Me.” Less
wordy with bis title, but just as
successful, was the chap who con
tented himself with calling his
composition “Moon.”
' Rather than be specific about
the stream he had in mind, one
coqiposer wrote of “Moonlight Oh
the River.” Then there was “Rock-
a-bye Moon” and “I Envy The Moon
That Shines Upon the Carolines.”
Apparently, the writer was also
envious of the fortune that “Caro
lina Moon” was making for its
originator. That’s as far as it went,
since the “envy” Song flopped with
a solid thud.
Volumes, rather than' a single
column, could be written about the
(ContinuMl on back page)
The NEW BERN
j-r 1
I PUBLISHB^
Hr.
8000
Itorehoal
P»r Copy
VOLUME 4
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1961
NUMBER 19
KEEP IT GOING—Betsy Smith of Raleigh, an instructor at
Camp Seafarer east of New Bern, explains the fine points
of sailing a pram to Edie Long of Burlington, Ann Joyner
of Farmville, and Ginger Wellons of Smithfield. Established
by the Raleigh Y.M.G.A. as was Camp Sea Gull for boys,
Seafarer has attracted Jyindreds of happy youngsters to our
coastal area.
ENTHUSIASTIC CLASS—Carol WUUams of Raleigh is the
instructor explaining sunfish sailing at Camp Seafarer to
Sarah Jones of Rockjr Mount, June Campbell of Goldsboro,
" “ ■ " " of r
Pat/Stephen of Durham, Jane Causey of Greensboro, Har
riet Vinson of Goldsboro, Cathy Cary of Greensboro, and
Ceciljr Satterthwaite of Farmville. Sister camp to Camp Sea
GuU, in operation 14 year$. Seafarer is having an outstand
ing first season.