Wisconsin Dance Band scene

[twirlygirl]

Wisconsin Historical Society award winning Paramountshome www.paramountshome.org is seeking information on the Wisconsin dance band scene from decades ago particularly in the Two Rivers/Manitowoc area.

Photos, advertisement, bands, newspaper clippings, information, recordings, etc......are wanted for a new book called "Out of the Anonymity" by Alex van der Tuuk author of "Paramount's Rise and Fall".

Contact alexvandertuuk@wanadoo.nl who currently resides in the Netherlands with more information.

twirlgirl

[AlumniClub]

This sounds fascinating! Are you referring to big bands? What made Manitowoc's band scene so unique?

[twirlygirl]

Yes, big band, swing bands, dance bands, etc........

I think there were some places up there that were hot spots for bands to play and I think that some lived or performed regularly in the area.

You can ask Alex for more information......he's the man on this issue. I think his book will be coming out soon!

twirlygirl

[AlumniClub]

How interesting! Are there any Bubbler members that may have attended these dances? I'd love to hear first-hand accounts.

[twirlygirl]

Here is an article about some of it:

http://www.mainspringpress.com/grafton.html

In Milwaukee, people use to dance on the rooftops. Why? (Because it was cooler of course!) The RAVE was a HUGE indoor spot for such dances. If you get a chance, go there and ask to look around on the top floor. (Then called the Eagle's ballroom).

From www.wisconshistory.org:

Term: Wisconsin Dance Bands

Definition: Many dance bands recorded for New York Recording Laboratories (see entry for Paramount Records) were local or "territory" bands from the Milwaukee area. Local scouts like Charles Eggert, Fred Dexter and musician Bill Carlsen went to Milwaukee-area clubs with live music, and if the entertainers were a dance band, they signed them up for the NYRL. Popular places were Milwaukee's Wisconsin Roof, the Eagles Club, and a Chinese restaurant called Toy's Restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue.

I know that Alex is REALLY looking for ANY information about the TOY family.

twirlygirl

[twirlygirl]

from Alex van der Tuuk:

"There still are many loose ends, so please let me know if your father, mother, uncle or other relatives ever played in territory bands in Wisconsin and recorded in Chicago or Grafton for Broadway or Paramount."

alexvandertuuk@wanadoo.nl

twirlygirl