Ted Mack
Doktorski Henry
Anyone remember the Ted Mack Amateur Hour? I remember vaguely watching a
few episodes while still a young boy in the early 1960s. Anyway, I found
this article in "Advertising Age" (Jan. 27, 1999) written by Leo-Arthur
Kelmenson which I share for your reading pleasure!
Sincerely,
Henry
RESCUING TED MACK FROM EMBARRASSING MOMENT ON AIR
In 1954 or '55, back when agencies produced network TV shows, I was a
junior assistant producer at Lennen & Mitchell. We were producing "Ted
Mack's Original Amateur Hour" for Old Gold cigarettes, live, of course. I
was down on the studio floor when Ted introduced a young accordionist
named Jefferson Smith. Mr. Smith stood 6 feet 4 inches and was dressed in
a plaid shirt and red tie. Curly hair, goodlooking, big smile. From
Carroll County, Iowa. He played "God Bless America."
A couple of bars into the song, we realized that as he was pumping the
accordion, and as the air escaped, it kept blowing open his fly, which was
visibly unzipped.
Now in those days, we had fixed-position cameras. We could pan left and
right. And we could tilt up and down, but we couldn't zoom. Suddenly, the
director said, "Kelmenson, get in there and close the kid's fly! I'll
raise the camera!"
I crawled onto the set, reached up and grabbed the zipper just as I heard
the director say: "Oh! Leo's hand is in the shot!" I had two thoughts: God
Bless America, and welcome to show business.
Doktorski Henry
Robert Berta
trick that stood out in my memory as far as accordionists was that a lot of
them would put a cloth over the treble keyboard and play it that way. Evidently
the producers thought this was a great trick since the unassuming public
thought that since the keys were "hidden" this must be an incredible musician.
Any accordionist or musician for that matter saw right through this....you
don't need to see your keys!
Also, I believe that this is the show that launched Dick Contino's career. As I
recall he played "Lady of Spain" and won the contest.
Those live TV days were really interesting and probably the "art" of TV was
lost forever when they started taping shows and using canned laughter. I
personally did play a few times live on TV although certainly not the Ted Mack
show. I was about 12 (1959) the first time. I was stuck in front of a GIANT TV
camera that was inches from my face. I was surrounded by really HOT lights but
I figured hey....I know this tune backwards and forwards. So I started giving
it my all. At the end of one of the musical phrases I couldn't recall if I had
already played the repeat or not....so just played it again. I felt pretty smug
in my performance until I got home and my 7 year old sister's first comments
was....why did I play that one part over an over and over. Oh well....nothing
like a sister to bust your balloon!
Bob Berta
Ron Natalie
>
> I do remember Ted Macks Original Amatuer Hour.
Remember Ted Mack's sponsor was Geritol, and if you can
remember Ted Mack, you probably need it by now :-)
Sully5154
remember Ted Mack, you probably need it by now :-)
Thanks Ron - I needed that. :-)
Tom Sullivan
Jim Watson
Hi Bob
Dick Contino played on the Horace Heidt show (LOS). I had two students
play a duet on the Ted Mack show - As I remember the tune was
Nightinggale. As it turned out we lived in Huntsville, Alabama and
never got the show for some reason.
Jim Watson
Toby Hanson
Berta" <RK...@nospam.pge.com> wrote:
>Also, I believe that this is the show that launched Dick Contino's career. As I
>recall he played "Lady of Spain" and won the contest.
I believe Dick Contino started out on Horace Heidt's radio show in 1948.
As Dick likes to tell the story,
"...I only knew dance tunes and Horace asked me if I knew anything
else-something more exciting. I played 'Lady of Spain' for him and he
liked it. He told me to keep playing the 'song where I shake the
accordion' and that's what I played in all the contests."
--
-Toby Hanson
jtha...@aa.net.TREET
http://members.aa.net/~jthanson
"Subsidy is the death of art."
-John Philip Sousa
Remove ".TREET" (Armour's immitation Spam) to make address edible.
SNAV88
<< Also, I believe that this is the show that launched Dick Contino's career.
As I recall he played "Lady of Spain" and won the contest. >>
Negative. It was the Horace Heidt's Talent Show and it was a radio broadcast.
Steve Navoyosky
L. McD.
Unc.
Cliff Bentz
Robert Berta wrote:
>
>
> Also, I believe that this is the show that launched Dick Contino's career. As I
>
> Bob Berta
Was it Ted Mack Amateur Hour or the Horace Heidt
show?
Cliff Bentz
Ralph Stricker
Cliff Bentz <cbe...@execpc.com> wrote:
Horace Heidt
Regards,
Ralph Stricker
gary blair
>< Also, I believe that this is the show that launched Dick Contino's
career.
As I recall he played "Lady of Spain" and won the contest. >>
Negative. It was the Horace Heidt's Talent Show and it was a radio
broadcast.<>
A couple of years ago, when I was posting all these historical articles,
I posted one on Dick Contino. Here it is for the peolple who didn't see it.
Here is an article from Accordion World Sept 1948
'' The amazing story of an Amazing Young Man.''
Never in the history of the Accordion has a player skyrocketed to the top
and gone so far so quickly as the 18 year old Californian, Dick Contino.
Dick, himself, is more surprised than anyone else! In November, 1947, he
was leaving his hometown, Fresno, to go to Los Angeles to look for a
playing job when he heard that horace Heidt was auditioning amateurs for
his radio show.
This Fresno Broadcast was to be the first of a new weekly Series every
Sunday night in which Heidt was making his return to radio.
Each week the broadcast would originate from a different city and a new
group of Amateurs from that locality would compete against each other and a
'' holdover'' Winner from the previous week.
Heidt thought that there would be a new Winner each week since the local
inhabitants would probably applaud their local talent most and the volume
of their applause determined the winner.
On the very first night, dick won- and continued to win right across the
United states!
Then, to clinch it, he won the quarter finals and stands a very good
chance of winning the $5,000 finals next November.
Meanwhile, he is travelling with the Heidt troupe and getting top
billing. Theatre managers report that not since the appearances of Frank
Sinatra have so many bobby-soxers and teen-agers crowded into the front
rows of their theatres.
Dick is handsome!! standing six feet, with a really charming peronality,
it is easy to see why he is so popular with the ladies. but how good is
Dick?
He started playing about five and a half years ago at the age of twelve,
studying with Angelo Cagmazzo of San Francisco. Dick's father, a former
Accordionist, encouraged Dick who practised frequently in the cold-room of
his dad's butcher shop! He displayed talent early and was soon playing at
Concerts and parties. But he wanted to be an Accordionist Artiste and
opportunities for that were limited in Fresno. Then he entered the Horace
heidt Competition wearing a green blouse and tight black trousers, which
his father had designed as a copy of the outfit he once wore himself, Dick
launched into Tolchard Evan's '' Lady Of Spain''.
Dick was once accused of ''sterile, spectacular virtuosity''. His
introduction by the announcer on the radio programme was styled as ''
deliberate, viscious and blatant showmanship'' ! '' Blood, thunder, speed,
heat and noise'' were considered Dick's main appeals, and he lets loose a
terrific barrage of noise and glissandos, bellow-shakes and similar
stock-in-trade, one critic charged.
Promotion and ballyhoo did have much to do with lifting Dick up into the
dazzling gleam of the billion candle power search-light of acclaim from the
masses. But it still doesn't take away from the fact that Dick is a really
talented Player. If his talent is directed along the right paths, he too
may yet enter the ranks of the Accordion '' greats''.
Meanwhile, no one can deny that Dick has brought more publicity to the
Accordion than has even been obtained before.
And that means a lot more people will begin to play the Accordion. So
Dick is really benefiting the whole Accordion Field. To conclude, his
Showmanship is one hundred percent; his technique is excellent; his
expression is fine.....
For the many, many sincere Accordionists who must have inspiration, an
ideal, a goal to shoot at, and all the things in life that make for
ambition, in thirteen short weeks, young Dick has provided all, if not
more, of these ambitions.
Not since the days of major Bowes (pioneer of radio discovery
programmes) has such an interest been once more directed towards the
Accordion. For this alone we--The past, Present and Future Accordionists
owe a great debt to Dick. A young, modest, unassuming, ambitious and
sincere boy who has truly made good.
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Gary Dahl
exist! Most of the "so called" accordionists did a very effective job of
killing the accordion through some of the most horrible playing
(playing?) that could be imagined! A fiction writer couldn't even
conceive of the total junk that was always presented. ugh ugh ugh !!!!!
One exception: we did have one of our world champion students play on
the Godfrey show...a flashy, jazz oriented version of "Lover". ( btw, it
was a very high degree of difficulty level arrangement) He wanted her
to be a "regular" on the show but she had plans for college. It proved
to be the astute decision.
www.accordions.com/garydahl
http://users.aol.com/accrdnmn/
Gary Dahl
Puyallup, Washington USA
L. McD.
matter how good it sounds alone, witjhout a band or singer or somebody else
up there it's tough for me to watch... maybe because it covers so much of
the person, it's like they are hiding back there....
Unc.
(no problems like that with a 'tina, but noplace to hide either... )
Gary Dahl
Well I agree with the show concept as you stated it, if it could be
produced with respect for the performers who would have to qualify at a
higher standard set by the producers. In fact, I think America is ready
for something like that instead of that "star stench" program. Yes, once
in awhile a decent sounding accordionist was on those programs but there
were very few and they just made the accordion even more of a joke. All
I can remember from those shows is that every time I heard an
accordionist, except for a few, it was even embarrasing to listen. I
remember LaPadula now...he was excellent...and of course Magnante...when
was that Steve?...around 1930?
Cliff Bentz
Ralph Stricker wrote:
> John LaPadula (world champion)was also on the Godfrey show. he also was with the Sammy Kaye
> orchestra for a while. He eventually signed with "Disney" records under Tootie Cammaratta. I
> believe he is now a doctor in LA. (not sure)
> Regards,
> Ralph Stricker
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I seem to recall their were also two excellent female
accordionists on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour
on radio. They went on to play with Fred Waring
at different times.
Anyone's memory bank working on this one?
Cliff Bentz
Gary Dahl
That was an astute observation too...in the late 1800's the worlds top
minds and scientists got together and proclaimed to the world that
everything has been invented that would ever be invented. I wonder what
the US will be like 200 years from now...maybe no roads will be needed
for one...maybe accordions will be alittle different?
Ralph Stricker
gary...@webtv.net (Gary Dahl) wrote:
>Thank god shows like Ted Mack and the Arthur Godrey shows no longer
>exist! Most of the "so called" accordionists did a very effective job of
>killing the accordion through some of the most horrible playing
>(playing?) that could be imagined! A fiction writer couldn't even
>conceive of the total junk that was always presented. ugh ugh ugh !!!!!
>One exception: we did have one of our world champion students play on
>the Godfrey show...a flashy, jazz oriented version of "Lover". ( btw, it
>was a very high degree of difficulty level arrangement) He wanted her
>to be a "regular" on the show but she had plans for college. It proved
>to be the astute decision.
>
>www.accordions.com/garydahl
>http://users.aol.com/accrdnmn/
>Gary Dahl
>Puyallup, Washington USA
>
John LaPadula (world champion)was also on the Godfrey show. he also was with the Sammy Kaye
SNAV88
Thank god shows like Ted Mack and the Arthur Godrey shows no longer exist! Most
of the "so called" accordionists did a very effective job of killing the
accordion through some of the most horrible playing (playing?) that could be
imagined!
>>
I just have to disagree with this. We presently need more of these programs to
instill a direction for musicians, regardless of instruments, voice, spoons,
tap dancing and so on. Major Bowes and Ted Mack certainly helped many youth in
developing their talent and gave them the opportunity to present their wares to
the masses. It also helped promoters in observing talent for future star
making. One was Pat Boone, another was Frank Sinatra, and another was Charles
Magnante. My, there were loads of people that benefited by the Bowes and Mack
amateur shows. Godfrey handled it differently as those acts were professional
quality competing for a place on the daily week radio show. Ralph mentioned
Johnny LaPadula (who goes by the name of Johnny Largo) and that was in 1956-57.
Julius LaRosa became a "stay-on." The Godfrey show offered many single and
duet accordionists as well as the Frank Yankovic orchestra in its "prime."
Quite frankly, we need this type of exposure to promote good music instead of
the limited "Star Search" show of rock singers, rock dancers, and rock groups.
We need an outlet for comedians, legit voice-violin-flute-piano, etc., and we
need it bad.
Mack and Bowes and Godfrey never "put-down" anyone on their show...not like
what we expect from Jay Leno in the upcoming production.
Steve Navoyosky
L. McD.
days you were only one-half or one generation from a population that entertained
itself... now you are three removed from that. I saw a thing on Thomas Edison and
the phongraph the other night... he never thought that records would be used for
MUSIC, after all people made their OWN entertaiment, didn't they?
not now.
Unc.
SNAV88 wrote:
> gary...@webtv.net (Gary Dahl) wrote:
>
> Thank god shows like Ted Mack and the Arthur Godrey shows no longer exist! Most
> of the "so called" accordionists did a very effective job of killing the
> accordion through some of the most horrible playing (playing?) that could be
> imagined!
> >>
>
> I just have to disagree with this. We presently need more of these programs to
> instill a direction for musicians, regardless of instruments, voice, spoons,
> tap dancing and so on. Major Bowes and Ted Mack certainly helped many youth in
> developing their talent and gave them the opportunity to present their wares to
> the masses. It also helped promoters in observing talent for future star
> making. One was Pat Boone, another was Frank Sinatra, and another was Charles
> Magnante. My, there were loads of people that benefited by the Bowes and Mack
> <snip>
> Steve Navoyosky
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
or...@juno.com
I couldn't agree with Unca's observation more!!!
Orest
On 20 Feb 1999 02:43:58 GMT gat...@d-and-d.com writes:
>Really-From: "L. McD." <unca-...@sff.net>
>
>In general I'd agree with Steve, in specific you have to remember that
>in those
>days you were only one-half or one generation from a population that
>entertained
>itself... now you are three removed from that. I saw a thing on Thomas
>Edison and
>the phongraph the other night... he never thought that records would
>be used for
>MUSIC, after all people made their OWN entertaiment, didn't they?
>
>not now.
>
>Unc.
>
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Doktorski Henry
It was sure nice to read your Contino article! I, for one, miss your
historical articles!
Henry
Sully5154
As much as we like to think of the PA as a stand alone instrument, I think the
public has very little tolerance for any stand alone performance for any
instrument or vocalist.
The best soloist in all venues, for broadcasts and public performances, are
backed up by anywere from 3 to 300 voices and/or instruments. At least L Welk
knew enough to have an orchestra behind Myron or even his best pieces would
have eventually fallen flat.
From and audience perspective, no matter the quality, true solo acts have a
very tough time getting past the novelty stage. (Pun intended?)
Thank you
Tom Sullivan
Think Globally; Act Logically
Tom Sullivan
Think Globally; Act Logically
Ralph Stricker
sna...@aol.com (SNAV88) wrote:
>gary...@webtv.net (Gary Dahl) wrote:
>
>Thank god shows like Ted Mack and the Arthur Godrey shows no longer exist! Most
>of the "so called" accordionists did a very effective job of killing the
>accordion through some of the most horrible playing (playing?) that could be
>imagined!
> >>
>
> I just have to disagree with this. We presently need more of these programs to
>instill a direction for musicians, regardless of instruments, voice, spoons,
>tap dancing and so on. Major Bowes and Ted Mack certainly helped many youth in
>developing their talent and gave them the opportunity to present their wares to
>the masses. It also helped promoters in observing talent for future star
>making. One was Pat Boone, another was Frank Sinatra, and another was Charles
>Magnante. My, there were loads of people that benefited by the Bowes and Mack
>amateur shows. Godfrey handled it differently as those acts were professional
>quality competing for a place on the daily week radio show. Ralph mentioned
>Johnny LaPadula (who goes by the name of Johnny Largo) and that was in 1956-57.
>Julius LaRosa became a "stay-on." The Godfrey show offered many single and
>duet accordionists as well as the Frank Yankovic orchestra in its "prime."
>
>Quite frankly, we need this type of exposure to promote good music instead of
>the limited "Star Search" show of rock singers, rock dancers, and rock groups.
>We need an outlet for comedians, legit voice-violin-flute-piano, etc., and we
>need it bad.
>
>Mack and Bowes and Godfrey never "put-down" anyone on their show...not like
>what we expect from Jay Leno in the upcoming production.
>
>Steve Navoyosky
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
I agree. Without those shows many of the best talent wouldn't be known today. What the
accordionists played in those days was what was popular. We hear it now and it doesn't seem fit
for our time, but in those days the songs were hip including LOS @%$*&#$^.
Regards,
Ralph Stricker
SNAV88
<< Well I agree with the show concept as you stated it, if it could be produced
with respect for the performers who would have to qualify at a higher standard
set by the producers. In fact, I think America is ready for something like that
instead of that "star stench" program. >>
I failed to mention how much Major Bowes and Ted Mack enjoyed the accordion.
For those old-timers out there who listened to the shows remember, there were
two pianists who accompanied all the acts that were musical. I want to surface
one Sal Aglora who was called in to perform when no accordionist auditioned or
was selected. Sal is my very best friend living now in New Jersey (retired) and
was part of the Tito (Guidotti) Swingtette for years. Sal won several times
and even suggested and introduced accordion duets to the show.
Sal was a student of John Magnante and a former student of brother Charles
Magnante. But the fact of the matter is that Bowes and Mack insisted on
presenting the accordion at least once per show. It was respected.
Steve Navoyosky
SNAV88
<< In general I'd agree with Steve, in specific you have to remember that in
those days you were only one-half or one generation from a population that
entertained itself... now you are three removed from that. I saw a thing on
Thomas Edison and the phongraph the other night... he never thought that
records would be used for MUSIC, after all people made their OWN entertaiment,
didn't they?
>>
Yes, today we are surrounded by gadgets and gimmicks that allow us to be
self-entertained. This computer is now replacing many things........ You can
view your zines, world news, obtain plane tickets, order vehicles, order
flowers, order most anything, send cards, download music, and at this moment in
San Diego, they're trying an experiment that provides access for every
recording album and you can download them. Imagine! Looking at the accordion
section and visualizing all accordion recording available......no more
searching.
Steve Navoyosky
SLHinton17
>gary...@webtv.net (Gary Dahl) wrote:
>>Thank god shows like Ted Mack and the Arthur Godrey shows no longer >>exist!
Most
>>of the "so called" accordionists did a very effective job of killing the
accordion through some of the most horrible playing (playing?) that could >>be
>>imagined!
>I just have to disagree with this. We presently need more of these >programs
to
>instill a direction for musicians, regardless of instruments, voice, >spoons,
>tap dancing and so on. Major Bowes and Ted Mack certainly helped many >youth
in
>developing their talent and gave them the opportunity to present their >wares
to
>the masses. It also helped promoters in observing talent for future star
>making. ...... My, there were loads of people that benefited by the Bowes >and
Mack
>amateur shows. Godfrey handled it differently as those acts were
>professional
>quality competing for a place on the daily week radio show.
*******************
I agree with Steve. Those Amateur Shows didn't produce the most world-shaking
music, but they did provide a lot of training in stage presence, etc. I was on
the Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour in 1937, and spent nearly two years
touring with his vaudeville units and Ted Mack's Precision Rhythm Revue, as
"Texas Sam, Folksinger and Novelty Instrumentalist." I played a 12-bass PA and
a harmonica (at the same time), as well as doing numbers on the tin whistle,
the ukelin, the button accordion, and the jaw-harp; pretty bad music, but
mighty good training for me! The bulk of my act was singing with the guitar.
On one unit we had a fine piano-accordionist named Jimmy Erickson, who played a
140-bass Dalape (with a row of augmented chords). Ted Mack was an MC on one of
those Bowes units; he was related to Bessie Mack, who was Major Bowes's
right-hand person. When Ted started his own traveling stage show, some of the
Bowes people were transferred to his unit. This was, of course, long before
the Ted Mack Amateur Hour on TV; in fact, it was before TV!
Sam Hinton
La Jolla, CA
Jim Lucas
<19990225092744...@ng39.aol.com>...
> On Fri, Feb 19, 1999,sna...@aol.com (SNAV88) wrote:
>
> >gary...@webtv.net (Gary Dahl) wrote:
>
> >>Thank god shows like Ted Mack and the Arthur Godrey shows no longer
>>exist!
>
> I agree with Steve. Those Amateur Shows didn't produce the most
world-shaking
> music, but they did provide a lot of training in stage presence, etc.
Yeah, and I think "variety" is the key word. Not just in the type of act,
but also in quality. Not everybody who appeared on those shows went on to
(or deserved) a professional career, but some did. Anybody remember Eddie
Fisher, the singer? One of the old 78's I picked up in a second-hand shop
is the studio recording of the night "that kid" won on Ted Mack's show.
/Jim Lucas