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Show Sun Chronicle Thursday, March 25, 976 Page 1 1 1 Old Timer recalls history of famous Gibson Girls By (den Perrins and I harles K. Lockwood, the I'tah has had many firsts in its history, and among them was the first l orchestra. The Gibson Girls. The girls organized their group in the early 1920s and I rom the very beginning, they had a fight on their hands the dance populace in Utah, so to speak, had never dreamed of an dance band, and thev were not Old-Tim- all-gir- all-gi- about to accept one at first, either. The Gibson Girls Orchestra was not a pillar of professionalism when they started. In fact, there was much to be desired in their performance. Girls just naturally didnt seem right in dance bands the Gibson Girls had a small band at first and played in the local Halls for Mormon Ward Friday night dances, but their reception wasnt very welcomed. enthusiastically The Gibson Girls werent faint hearts, however, and they studied, practiced and rehearsed and gradually and laboriously improved a lot. Nevertheless they were not content to just play in Church Halls, they had ambitions to play in Utahs ballrooms. To do. this they had to have a larger band, so they set about recruiting more members. This wasnt an easy task, for gif musicians who were capable of playing in a dance band, were few and far between. But they searched hard and finally came up with 10 musicians. Then the real work began for the Gibson Girls rehearsals. They rehearsed and practiced, but still the band didnt seem too professional. Finally they arrived at a point where they thought they might successfully play in a ballroom. Thev didn't think they were quite ready to play in Salt Lake City, which was their home that would come later. So they booked their band in a little suburb near Salt Lake City. Their success was a bit dubious the crowd was small and unappreciative and they came away not knowing whether they had succeeded or failed. But they had gained in one important fact a. least they had presented the first dance band in a all-gi- Utah ballroom. The Gibson Girls then continued to book jobs in outlying areas and with each job, they improved. But they werent quite as professional as male bands, so they decided to do something a little different. They counteracted the male bands by each girl practicing a little "step, or possibly a clever dance, or something than just playing. While the Gibson Girls were playing, they acted to please the dancers and win their support, by doing something a little bit different. With this in mind, the Gibson Girls "caught on and their orchestras fame grew. Even their music redition improved, and they found themselves attracting larger and larger crowds, wherever they played. It was in 1923 when the organized his first jazz band, the Charles Lockwood Old-Tim- m offers you quite possibly the finest value ever on Genuine Handcrafted Fern Flower tiful and still can be used in oven or freezer and washed in a dishwasher without worry. It deserves its name of stoneware because it is hard as stone. Even the edges are chip resistant. for you at State. You can enjoy all the convenient, free services which come with a Statemient Account. When you maintain a $250 balance, you can use your Prestige Card for deposits and withdrawals without the need for an passbook. You can get emergency cash when you travel. Have funds transferred from your savings to your bank checking account by merely telephoning State. Plus free money orders. de-- . Travelers checks,, posits or withdrawals, and much more. 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As there were no dance halls in Ogden where we could book a job, we decided to go on the road in southern Utah. We would book small towns in the southern part of the state, for one night only, but we would appear in six different towns during the week. This would fill a weekly schedule. The Lockwood Jazz Band had an excellent group, including the two brothers, Clyde, saxophonist, and Frank on drums. The other two men were "Fuzz Underwood of Nauvoo, Illinois, and Bobby Overstreet, Council Bluffs, Iowa, both fine musicians. While on this Utah tour we save-by-ma- il, inter-branc- h, useful services in all. Open your account soon at State Savings, your Family Financial Center, doing things in your best interest for over 94 years. Lor those vs no mav not want Stoneware as a gift for saving. State Savings has a group of other fine gifts including famous Black & Decker equipment and garden tools from which to choose. South Main, Salt Lake City Washington Blvd. Mall Clearfield 75 South State East 6100 South Murray-1- 25 Trolley Square 7th East & 5th South Logan 610 North Main Centenille-3- 23 Pages Lane Home Office-1- 25 Ogden-25- 04 Orem-Univer- sity All Branch Offices open Saturdavs. 10am to 2 pm (QUAl HOUStUG lender Springville on the same night as the Gibson Girls Orchestra was playing there. At that time the city had two ballrooms the Civic Hall and a private hall where we were to play. It was on the second floor of a large, corner building in the heart of the town. We had heard that the Gibson Girls Orchestra were playing opposite us in the city, but we were unmindful for we didnt think much of a girl orchestra. They did have one advantage over us, however, for they had played Springville a time or two before, and were well known, while this was our first appearance there. As a result, we had only about 290 paid admissions, while the Gibson Girls orchestra attracted 500 or more dancers. Our professional jealousy didnt prevent us from going one at a time to their hall to see them. Every one in our band came away convinced the Gibson Girls were great. I stayed quite awhile to see and hear them. Each girl was doing her thing as the saying goes, and the dancers loved them. I remember the drummer most of all, for she was the busiest body I had ever seen she had an act all by herself. All in all, the Gibson Girls pit on a performance that no ? other band in the state could on. Their musical technique, compared to other big bands, wasnt tops, but their showmanship was indeed! After returning to Ogden from southern Utah, We augmented our band and went to the White City Ballroom on 25th Street east of Washington which is now a bowling alley. We stayed at the White City from late 1923 until the middle of 1926. (We later also played in the Berthana Ballroom on 24th Street and in 1928 we played the summer season at Lagoon resort in Farmington.) The Gibson Girls Band was booked in the White City put on ballroom several times during off-nigh- ts our engagement in Ogden, and I never tired of hearing them. By this time they had a very professional group which gave out with a wonderful show. They made up Utahs first all girl orchestra. They worked hard against great odds, but finally made it they were wonderful, the Gibson Girls Orchestra many may remember. They played later on Pantagos Yield is the interest actuall) earned to sou when sour original deposit is allotted to remain in the account for 12 months and is compounded dails. vaudeville and after the circuit settled in Chicago, and played in that area for several before years disbanding. Man graduates with honors Army PFC Philip B. Harvey, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay D. Harvey, former of residents of the basin, now of 106 W. 700 N., Clearfield, graduated Nov. 7 from Kader Op, at Fort Bliss, Texas where he w as the high honor student in his class. He entered the Army July 15, and went through basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He reported Dec. 4 to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida where he will be stationed for 18 months. He is a graduate of Clearfield High School, 1975. , |