exclusive · 2016-07-27 · ontinued from p. 2 the unique story of these barbershop...

Volume 3, Number 2 April 1, 2015

Troubadour

Earl Meseth, editor Member, PROBE (Public Relations Officers and

Bulletin Editors) 15611 Glen Dale Lane

Homer Glen, Illinois 60491 815-838-1953

[email protected]

Published as the spirit moves, Troubadour is the official publication of the Will-Cook Illinois Chapter of SPEBSQSA. The Will-

Cook Chapter is the home of the Knights of Harmony Chorus

Leadership Team

President …………...……………Lou Gonzalez Membership ………………....… Earl Meseth Music & Performance …....Rich Davidson Marketing …………………………...Dave Beck Program …………………………...Al Munneke Secretary …….……………….……..Hank King Treasurer…………………….…..Ken Witowski Member-at-Large …………………..Ed Brusic Member-at-Large ………………....Paul Cook Member-at-Large …………...Paul Marietta Member-at-Large……….……...Frank Palko Musical Director…………..Bill Kerschbaum Asst. Director…………………..Rich Davidson

The Chapter and Chorus meet on Thursday

evenings at 7:30 PM alternating between the First Congregational Church,

700 Ninth Street in Lockport and Glory to God Church,

18401 66th Avenue in Tinley Park

Exclusive

CASH/HALL WWII ROLE REVEALED Barbershop Society Founded As Cover-up

WASHINGTON, DC— Documents slated to be released after a FOIC request purportedly reveal that Barbershop Harmony Society

founders Owen C. Cash and Rupert Hall organized one of the most elaborate and successful counter-espionage organizations active during World War II. Early in 1938, as war raged in Europe, the two Tulsa businessmen were contacted by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt through a mysterious “Lady in Grey” to gather together a small group of knowl-edgeable men, familiar with Tulsa oil supply routes, drilling and construction, to discuss means to pro-tect the vast Tulsa, Oklahoma oilfields from sabo-tage should the United States be forced to enter the war on the Allied side. The President had foreseen the importance of strategic natural resources to the successful promulgation of a war. According to the documents, initial discussions began in March of 1938 when the two men met in

Kansas City in Hall’s room (#734) at the Muehlebach Hotel . There they identified 14 (later 26) Tulsa businessmen they could recruit, as well as possible cover stories to explain why the covert group was meeting. It was Cash who first mentioned “barbershop” sing-ing as a possible cover, which, with the fading of vaudeville was be-coming passé . Inviting the men for a Song Fest seemed reasona-ble, if not fairly odd. The first meeting took place on April 11, in Tulsa at the exclusive Tulsa Club where Rupert Hall, who was a member, could arrange private accommodations for the group. According to Cash’s invita-tion letter (rife with innuendo, see below), the group held meetings before and after lunch (“… a Dutch lunch will be served….”) and fi-nally, at 6:30 PM, on the Roof Garden, began the Song Fest, which actually disturbed some of the other Tulsa Club members in other

Owen C. Cash

Rupert Hall

Continued on p. 2


Gentlemen: In this age of Dictators and Government control of everything, about the only privilege guaranteed by the Bill of Rights not in some way supervised and directed, is the art of Barber Shop Quartet singing. Without doubt we still have the right of "peaceable assembly" which I am advised by compe-tent legal authority includes quartet singing. The writers of this letter have for a long time thought that something should be done to encour-age the enjoyment of this last remaining vestige of human liberty. There-fore, we have decided to hold a songfest on the Roof Garden of the Tulsa Club on Monday, April 11, at six-thirty p.m. A Dutch lunch will be served. After several months of research, and investigation, we are convinced that your record warrants our tendering you the honor of joining this group. We sincerely trust you will not fail us. As evidence of the work that your Committee has done in this connec-tion, we inclose a compilation of most of the good old fashioned Barber Shop Quartet songs which we trust you will look over and familiarize yourself with. Bring this list with you. It is our purpose to start right in at the first, sing every song, in numerical order, plow right down the middle, and let the chips fall where they will. What could be sweeter than ten or twelve perfectly synchronized male voices singing "Dear Old Girl!" Just thinking about it brought back to your Committee fond memories of a moonlight night, a hay ride and the soft young blonde summer visitor from Kansas City we dated on that occasion years ago. Do not forget the date, and make every effort to be present, telephone us if convenient. We will have a private room and so will not be embar-rassed by the curiosity of the vulgar public. You may bring a fellow singer if you desire.

A reference to fascism in Ger-many and Italy

The call for action to protect valuable

resources

Reminder of what we protect

Serving lunch at 6:30 PM?

Assurance that invitees are specially selected

From 26 men who might not be able to carry a tune?

In other words, time is of the essence

For security reasons

Original invitation (facsimile) letter sent by O.C.Cash and Rupert Hall

rooms (things seem not to have changed much since that first meeting!). That attention forced the group to move to their subsequent meetings first to the Tulsa Hotel, where 70 men gathered and then to the Alvin Plaza Hotel where 75-150 men attended. The success of this barbershop counter-espionage effort (as the group was known in Washington) was immediately recognized and the FBI encouraged for-mation of similar groups around the country, based on the same barbershop cover. According to one well-connected Intelligence Officer: “The use of sing-ing, especially of the simple, yet compelling harmon-ics average men could sing, was brilliant. Anyone could see what a draw it could be and that men could easily form small groups or “chapters” to oper-

ate for other, more clandestine purposes as well.” Barbershop “chapters” soon sprang up all over the country, especially in spots with strategic installa-tions for the war effort: Chicago (railroads, freight, meat-packing), California (naval installations), New York (shipping, merchant marine), St. Louis (Mississippi River) and Detroit (automobile manufac-turing). Because of the vigilance of these groups, not one significant act of sabotage occurred in the U.S. from 1939 to the end of the war in 1945. With the end of the war, counter-intelligence became unnecessary, yet the barbershop cover continued and grew to be-come the largest singing Society in the world.

Continued on p. 3

Continued from p. 2 The unique story of these “barbershop counter-

espionage chapters” has quickly drawn the attention of Hollywood producers. One source at a major film studio reports that a motion picture is already in the works. With a working title of “The Down Mobile—Tulsa Connection”, a script has been written, actors signed to contracts and screen tests shot. (For a sneak video preview of the test, click on the arrow below.) Brought back for the role of O.C. Cash is distin-guished actor Edward Arnold. Arnold will be joined by Jason Alexander, television actor, who famously played George Costanza on the long-running Seinfeld series, as Rupert Hall.

Yet to be determined is the female actress to por-tray the “Lady in Grey” who played such a significant role as the liason between Cash and J. Edgar Hoover. Being considered for the part are Zazu Pitts and Ma-ria Ouspenskaya, either of whom would be “overlooked” as FBI operatives.

The identity of the rest of the cast is open to spec-ulation, especially those to portray the members of Cash’s quartet, Okie Four and early Society pioneers such as Carroll Adams, Maurice “Molly” Regan and Floyd Connett. The producers are hoping for a PG rating despite incidental brief nudity and some strong language. Although a release date has not been determined, it is expected to be in theaters by April 11, 2018, the 80th anniversary of the Barbershop Society.


Edward Arnold Jason Alexander

Zazu Pitts Maria Ouspenskaya

Unless accompanied by a byline, all articles appearing in the

Troubadour have been written by the Bulletin Editor. Opin-

ions are not necessarily those of The Will-Cook Chapter or the

Barbershop Harmony Society.

Don’t you two go looking at me. I told him to wear the red uniform.


Is A Barbershopper/Is Not A Barbershopper

Here’s a little quiz for you to test your knowledge of barbershopping history. Each of the celebrities pic-tured below may or may not have been associated with barbershop quartet singing. See if you can tell which ones have. Now, in some cases the association may have been a little loose and you never would have seen them on the International stage or singing with a local Chapter. If you get half, that’s very good; 25% not so much. Good luck.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Burl Ives. Folk Singer; actor. Recorded “Holly, Jolly Christ-mas

Dick Van Dyke. Film and TV actor, dancer. Bert in “Mary Poppins”

Jim Jordan. Fibber of ra-dio’s “Fibber Magee and Molly”

William Frawley. Stage song and dance man; TV actor: Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy”

“Bing” Crosby. Popular singer and actor. “White Christmas”

Ned Beatty. Actor

Mickey Mouse. Star of Stage, screen and print media

8. 9.

10. 11. 12.

13.

Mike Rowe. TV actor; star of “Dirty Jobs”. Ford spokes-man

Tom Shillue. Stand-up come-dian

Jimmy Fallon. TV host of “The Tonight Show”

Homer Simpson. TV actor

Bill Hanna. Creator of “The Flintstones”

Art Baker. TV host of “You Asked For It”

Answers on p. 5

OK, now you’re doing it on purpose.


Answers to Are they Barbershoppers? From p. 4. After searching around the internet for biographical information and paging through some of the books I have on these celebrity “Barbershoppers” I had to enlist the aid of Grady Kerr, Society Historian, for some answers. According to Grady, O.C. Cash “...would drop named celebrities to the local Tulsa press and the AP, like Bing Crosby, and say they were starting a Chapter ... the press would report it and the name would HAVE TO respond positively or look like a jerk. Some wouldn't have too much affiliation until maybe later. All on the list WERE members of some sort however.” That being said, here’s what I found:

1. Burl Ives. Could find NO information. Grady Kerr has no idea. 2. Dick Van Dyke. “I’m a shower singer, and I drive around listening to my barbershop learning tapes. People see me in the car and look at me like I’m nuts.” Honorary Society Member since 1999. Sings with Vantastix Quartet. “Put on a Happy Face” CD. 3. Jim Jordan. On April 30, 1946, the radio program, Fibber Magee and Molly Barber Shop Quartet” aired. In it, Fibber wants to sing in the SPEBSQSA competition. Sings the polecat song “Dear Old Girl”. According to Grady, Jim Jordan was an active member of a Chapter in Califor-nia. 4. William Frawley. Besides being an old song and dance man in Vaudeville, I could find no information. 5. “Bing” Crosby. Ol’ Bing probably falls into the Cash name-dropping category who named him to an “Advisory Board” in 1939 for the first Convention (Keep America Singing. 1948. SPEBSQSA). The following can be found in a letter to the Harmonizer (Vol. 10 , No. 2 (1950), p. 12): “Just in case anyone should wonder about it, Bing Crosby is a paid up member of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Chapter. Doubting Thomases may see a photostatic copy of Bing's check”. There are other tidbits about Bing scattered in issues of the Harmonizer, too many to cite here. 6. Ned Beatty. According to the actor himself, at age 10 (1947) he sang in barbershop and gospel quartets. “(Know)...what I would do in a shot? I would sing in the barbershop quartet in The Music Man.”

7. Mickey Mouse. Current President of two Chapters, one in Anaheim, CA and the other Orlando, FL; interestingly, both called the Main Street Chapter. 8. Mike Rowe (Second from right in picture). Joined the Chorus of the Chesapeake (Dundalk, MD) as a teenager. Formed a HS quartet, Semi-Fourmal. Wrote a memorial piece citing Freddy King as the one person who influenced his life the most. 9. Jimmie Fallon. Lead singer in the quartet Ragtime Gals on his TV program. See #10 below. 10. Tom Shillue (Second from left in picture). The Ragtime Gals feature Tom Shillue on bass (lead singer for past NED quartet champs Scollay Square). Ragtime Gals have also persuaded Jim Gaffigan, Justin Timberlake and Kevin Spacey to join their quartet. 11. Homer Simpson. His quartet, Be Sharps, recorded one of the most popular songs of the TV era: “Baby On Board”. 12. Bill Hanna. Creator of The Flintstones, Bill often submitted comic strips of Fred in var-ious barbershop activities to national newspapers, creating great PR. He was an active member of the San Fernando Valley Chapter and participated in all chapter activities. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Society in 1991. 13. Art Baker. Long time member of the Pasadena, California Chapter, Art appeared many times as emcee for Chapter and District shows. At his passing, his wife published a thank you card in the Harmonizer thanking the thousands of individual barbershoppers and quartets who had sent condolence messages.

Vantastix

Semi-Fourmal

Ragtime Gals

Be Sharps

New Novelty Songs Available from International Society In a departure from the usual staid selections International usually offers, here are some unusual compositions that will tickle the funny bone, often called “Novelty” or “Silly” Songs. The following titles, arranged in the barbershop style, are now available from the BHS library. All are available from the Old Songs Library or the Harmony Market-place as sheet music or CD/mp3 format (specify lead, tenor, baritone, or bass predomimant). Check with your District C&J Chairman or the International Office to determine contestability. Costs include a per-copy/licensing fee, which ranges from $1.65 - $3.70 depending on selection and membership status plus S/H. AF=Arranger’s Fee. #140295S Mairzy Doats. Milton Drake, Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston. AF = $10 If you grew up in the late 40’s you probably sang this ditty: “Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey. A kiddly divey too, Wouldn’t you?” Written in 1943, it hit No. 1 on the pop charts in March, 1944 by the Merry Macs. A bit of nostalgia for choruses entertaining in assisted living centers or for shows focusing on WW II years. Easy. #156093S I’ve Got Tears In My Ears. Harold Barlow. AF = $25 This song is a parody of typical country songs of unrequited love and the pain endured by the jilted lover. “I’ve got tears in my ears from lying on my back in my bed as I cry over you,” goes the opening phrase. The song was popularized by the famed duo Homer and Jethro and, on Chicago radio, Two Ton Baker (The Music Maker). For comedy quartets and country-themed shows. Easy. #348792S Fuzzy Wuzzy. Unknown. AF = $10 Some might suggest that this novelty song had its origin in a Rudyard Kipling screed in which he extolls the bravery of Fuzzy-Wuzzys (Hadendoa warriors) who fought the British army in the Sudan in 1892. However, the lyrics from 1944 have delighted children as double talk or a tongue-twister for many years: “Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?” Additional verses include Hudson Bay seals, worms (Silly Willy) and a mouse (Iddy Biddy). Excellent for children’s program or to keep basses entertained. #451203S Three Little Fishies. Saxie Dowell. AF = $10 First recorded by Hal Kemp & Orchestra with The Smoothies on vocal; another version by Kay Kyser became a #1 hit in 1939. The song tells the story of three little fishes who, scorning their mother, were swept over a dam and out to sea where they were threatened by a shark, saved by a whale and returned home by swimming back over the dam. The refrain: “Boop, boop, diddum daddum waddum, choo,” repeated three times and followed by “And they swam and they swam back over the dam”, makes it great fun. For children’s performances and keeping basses happy. #348761S If A Grey-Haired Lady. Edward Rowland and Gitz Rice. AF = $10 British Music Hall duo Flanagan and Allen made this song the hit of 1940. It’s a WW II updated version of the WW I smash “Mademoiselle from Armentiers, parle vous?” Their version goes (in part): “If a grey-haired lady says, ‘Owes yer father’ it’s the Mademoiselle from Armentiers.” Perfect for a WW I or II show, yet slightly risqué. Easy.


Arrgh, Stan. Can’t you even get the “Bum, Bum, Bums” right?

Good grief.

Famous Quartet: Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse


How To Sing Good By “Hooks”

A little while ago the chorus invited Mark Betzyn-ski (multiple Illinois District quartet champ, director, and all-around good guy) over to give us some coaching. It didn’t take very long for him to identify areas where we could improve, like breath control, especially at the ends of phrases. Running out of breath too quickly, he said, makes you cheat by sucking air at inappropriate places. Just listen to some “artists” invited to sing the National Anthem: “...so proud (breath) ly we hail…” Turns out that most of us don’t breathe right even tho we’ve been doing it all our lives; we forget how when we’re about 3. Babies, he said, not only fill their lungs using the chest muscles but also lower the diaphragm, expanding the lung cavity to the full-est, shown as their belly expands. We do this when we sleep, too, but I’ve never seen this personally. Your diaphragm controls the air goin’ out too. By letting out only a little at a time rather than lettin’ it go all at once you won’t need to “tank up” so often. Now that takes some practice so you should proba-bly do it in the privacy of your own bathroom lookin’

in the mirror checkin’ out your diaphragm (belly) every once in a while. I remember once a guy was practicin’ his diaphragm singin’ and got so light-headed he most passed out on the risers; luckily he was in the middle of the second row and only need-ed to lean against the other guys till he recovered. (No one even noticed). Now, our chorus was doin’ pretty good with the diaphragm thing when Mark said we should “squeeze the dime between your but-tocks cheeks” when you feel you’re runnin’ out of wind. Everyone seemed to go along with this suggestion so I did too, and son-of-a-gun, it worked! We sang through to the end of those phrases just like we were pros, or maybe even Dallas. Gotta go wash off that dime so’s I can bring it to rehearsal next week !

OK, that’s it. We’re getting a new bari.

CLASSIFIED ADS

Experienced Chorus Director Award-winning Director wishes to relo-cate again. Thought I had learned my lesson after leaving the Dismal Desert Dudes. Relocated to Paris but after the Charlie Hebdo incident my paranoia is worse. Can’t take it any longer! Will con-sider D-level chorus or less. Will direct for free. Please send inquiries to: Great Director, 10 rue de Montalmbert, 7th Arr. 42008 Paris. ASAP. Help!

Patent Leather Shoes For sale: 75 pairs of black patent leather shoes, all sizes. Worn once for a show and again for contest. Chorus members blame shoes for poor show and low fin-ish at District contest; claimed they were too tight and made their feet sweat.

May need deodorizing and sanitizing. Contact: Uniform Guy, 128 Friendly Pl., St. Emin, Ariz.

For Sale, Authentic Relic! Chin hair from goat purported to belong to Bill Grogan. Goat apparently died from blocked intestine after eating six red shirts and only coughing up five. Comes with certificate of authenticity attested to by Mr. Grogan himself. $1,000 or best offer. Inquire at: Goat, c/o Grogan’s Farm. Near RR tracks. 555-237-1096.

For Sale, Fly Safe

Never be embarrassed again. Discretely placed warning device lets you know if your zipper is up or down. Attached pri-

or to performance, the patented Open Zipper Warning System “Beeps” if all is not well. Sensor detects slightest breeze. $5.00 each; special offer for larger cho-ruses. Great for front row guys. Call to-day: 555-540-3461.

Baritone Seeks Quartet Pretty good bari seeks partnership with other three parts. Must have good sense of humor; former members had abso-lutely none. Possess vast repertoire in-cluding apple/pear parodies. Immediate availability. Contact “Red” Macintosh, 555-498-1435.

For Sale One didjibodhrán (unique fusion of didjerida and bodhrán). Email only.

Let me be the first to wish you a happy April Fool’s Day!