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VOLUME 16
NEW BERN, N. C. 26560, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1873
NUMBER 19
Yesterday was when small
towners Cindered fame and
fortune in the Big aty the goal
to aim for. Present woes in
iarge centers of population, and
the exodus of those able to
leave, has dimmed the en
chantment.
Most mortals who live in or
visit a metropolis are bugged by
realization that, crowded
among millions, the average
individual doesn’t count for
much. In short, the urge to
matter takes a bad beating.
As a sage has written, no man
is an island unto himself, but
like it or not, isolation is forced
upon hapless mortals in, for
example. New York City. With
little chance to evaluate
strangers, suspicion and
hostility incumbate.
For our part, we’re enough of
an incurable if somewhat ob
noxious extrovert to maneuver
folks into conversation on our
very few trips to the Big Town.
Somewhere someone hungers to
talk and be talked to.
Yesterday was when, next to
Gene Austin’s biggest sellers,
My Blue Heaven and Melan
choly Baby, the phonogra]^
record most in demand around
New Bern was Johimie Mar
vin’s Old Man Sunshine, LJtOe
Boy Blue Bird.
Austin, of course, stood alme.
Wonder how numy of you old-
stars still can recall, as we do
his Jeanine, I Dream of Lilac
Time; But I Do, You Know I Do;
Tamiami Trail; Memories of
France; Some Day Sweetheart;
At Peace With Tlie World; In
My Bouquet of Memories; and
Lonesome Road. ,
Bing Orosby hadn’t arrived
then, but very soon would get
his first break, teaming with
Harry Harris and Bill Bailey as
the Rythm Boys, featured with
Paul Whiteman’s orchestra.
Only one of the vocal trio to
make it big in lator years was
Bing. He never forgot the
others, however, when fame
singled him out. Bailey was
gone, but Crosby made it a point
to use Harris in every movie he
made.
..Getting back to the Austin
era, it was a wondrous span that
also produced Ruth Etting,
discovered by Florenz Zi^eM
and quicUy starred in his
Follies on Broadway.
On New Bern’s music
counters too were the records of
Fats Waller, and incomparable
Jaz2 pianist. He was also an
exceptional organist. Victor
didn’t overloiric this fact, and
placed him at the console
repeatedly.
Big and boisterous, and given
to beer drinking during per
formances at ni^t spots. Fats
wrote songs on the side. Not
wild stuff, but things like
Honeysuclde Rose, and I’m
Flying High But I’ve Got A
Feeling I’m Falling.
New Bemlans scrimped to
pay 75 cents for Victor records
at Fuller’s Music House and
William T. Hill’s, and the same
amount for Columbia records at
C. D. Thomas Music Company.
Even nickels and dimes were
scarce then, but people would
rather listen to music than eat a
(Cuitinued on page 8)
There's nothing like an old mill, on a lazy sum
mer day, to fill a restless heart wi^ peace, and bid
one's fancy stray.—Photo by Jack Layne Chick's 6t
Jack's Studio.