A Chronology: 50 Years of Easters Entertainmentby B. R. Plotnick MAGAZINE, April 1965 The appearance this week-end [Spring, 1965] of the Highwaymen and the Kirby Stone Four marks the 50th consecutive year that nationally recognized talent was hired for the Easters festivities. The history of Easters as a dance and party event goes back a good deal further than 50 years but only since 1915 have the dance societies brought in outside entertainment. Prior to that music was provided by local musicians on a pick-up basis. National dance bands have a history not much longer than 50 years. With the appearance on Grounds of Meyer Davis's Washington Orchestra in 1915, Easters entered a new era. At this time Easters was a seven day affair with at least two major dances plus smaller private parties with private orchestras. After 1915 Easters expanded to eventually four major dances, often played by a single orchestra hired for the week, and numerous other entertainments competing for attention. The record of Easters entertainment is extraordinary. The talent brought in was major talent respected nationally, at least for as long as the dance band era lasted. While it may be chauvinistic to assert that dance bands considered it a mark of distinction to be invited to play at Easters, it's not nearly as unfounded as it sounds. "College Topics" for Easters 1922 reported that after Meyer Davis was hired for the week, Paul Whiteman repeatedly telegraphed attempting to get the contract. This is entirely believable when we note the orchestras that played here and their popularity at the time. Meyer Davis, a still familiar name in society dance bands, was here nine times. Gene Krupa came here in one of his first engagements after leaving Benny Goodman to form his own band. Guy Lombardo made his first of three Easters trips here in 1930, shortly after arriving from Canada. Vincent Lopez brought a new and eventually highly successful orchestra here in 1931. Glenn Miller was here at the peak of his popularity in 1940. The names below are among the most prominent of their era. Economies, taste, and the changing character of students have modified Easters and its entertainment. To give you some idea of the change, we present this chronology of fifty years of Easters entertainment. 1965 Highwaymen, Chuck Berry, Kirby Stone Four 1964 Josh White, Phoenix Singers, Thornton Singers, Jesse Colin Young 1963 Leroy Holmes Orch, Odetta, Chad Mitchell Trio 1962 Billy May Orch, Lionel Hampton Band 1961 Kai Winding Septet, Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross 1960 Charlie Barnet, Four Freshmen 1959 Tommy Dorsey Orch with Warren Covington, Dukes of Dixieland, Chris Connor 1958 Louis Armstrong Band 1957 Lionel Hampton Band 1956 Duke Ellington, Errol Garner, Jimmy McPartland (Scott Stadium concert) 1955 Charlie Barnet, Conrad Janis & His Tailgate 5 1954 Sammy Kaye, Woody Herman 1953 Tommy Dorsey Orch 1952 Ralph Marterie Orch 1951 Hal McIntyre Orch, Patti Page 1950 Les Brown Band ("The Band of Reknown" began at Duke) 1949 Vaughn Monroe & Orch 1948 Xavier Cugat, Eddie Duchin 1947 Ray McKinley Orch, Tony Pastor Orch 1946 Stan Kenton with June Christy, Randy Brooks with Pat Cameron
1945 Scheduled were: Nat Brandywine, Mal Hallett. 1944 Bobby Sherwood Orch 1943 Bob Chester Orch 1942 Tony Pastor Orch, Roye Stoenner Orch 1941 Tommy Dorsey Orch, Bob Chester, Dean Hudson 1940 Jack Teagarden Band, Glenn Miller Orch 1939 Larry Clinton Orch, Ben Bernie Orch 1938 Gene Krupa Band, Sammy Kaye Orch 1937 Charles Dornberger, Horace Heidt with guitarist Alvino Ray & 35 piece(!) Orch, Count Basie Orch 1936 Noble Sissle Orch, Jan Garber Orch, Ozzie Nelson & Orch with Harriet Hilliard 1935 Jim Fettis, Guy Lombardo Orch 1934 Smith Ballew 1933 Don Bestor Orch, Guy Lornbardo Orch 1932 Wayne King Orch 1931 Vincent Lopez Orch 1930 Guy Lombardo Orch 1929 Ted Weems Orch 1928 Jan Garber Orch 1927 Ross Gorman Orch 1926 Howard Lanin Orch 1925 Howard Lanin Orch 1924 Meyer Davis Orch 1923 Meyer Davis Orch 1922 Meyer Davis Orch 1921 Sherbo' s Orch 1920 Meyer Davis Orch 1919 Meyer Davis Orch 1918 Meyer Davis Orch 1917 Evan Williams - Tenor, Meyer Davis Orch 1916 Meyer Davis Orch 1915 Meyer Davis Orch
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