Episode Details

Welcome to Glenn Robison’s Rapidly Rotating Records, bringing you vintage music to which you can’t *not* tap your toes, from rapidly rotating 78 RPM records of the 1920s and ’30s.

I often ask for suggestions for segment topics for the show, but for this evening, listener Dan’s recent suggestion has been applied to the entire show. Tonight, it’s all “hotel orchestras” all the time. In the 20s virtually all large, luxury hotels had resident orchestras, many of which had engagements lasting just a few days or weeks, and some which lasted for years or even decades. We’re going to hear a bunch of them, from San Francisco to Texas to New York and even to Canada.

Enjoy the show!

Here’s the complete playlist:

Segment 1: Hotel Astor
Ok, so not all the bands are from the Hotel Astor, but I’m choosing the pick a hotel to head up each segment.
The 500 room Hotel Astor was designed by the architectural firm of Clinton and Russell and was built in 1904 by William Walforf Astor at a cost of $7,000,000. In 1939 you could get a room for $7 a night. The Astor was torn down in 1966.

Baltimore – Fred Rich and His Hotel Astor Orchestra / Arthur Humby, v.
Pretty Little Thing – Herman Kenin’s Hotel Multnomah Orch. / Van Fleming, v.
Give Your Baby Lots Of Lovin’ – Anson Weeks and His Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra / Warren Luce, v.
Hop Skip – Frank Ellis ah Hotel St. Francis Orch.

Segment 2: Park Central Hotel
Ben Pollack is most closely identified with the Park Central Hotel, but other bands played the Park Central, including Cass Hagan, who was there for its opening, The 31 story Park Central Hotel had its grand opening on June 12, 1927.

Variety Stomp – Cass Hagan and His Park Central Hotel Orch
Don’t Be Like That – Alvin Roehr’s Hotel Alma Orch / Tony Salamac, v.
Me Too – Ernie Golden and His Hotel McAlpin Orch / Billy Jones, v.

Segment 3: The Baker Hotel
The Baker Hotel opened on November 9, 1929 although the official grand opening celebration gala was on November 22. Incredibly advanced for the time it had an advanced hydraulic system that circulated ice water to all 450 guest rooms, lighting and fans controlled by the door locks that shut off and on automatically when the guest left or arrived in their rooms, and a valet compartment where guests could deposit soiled laundry that was accessible by hotel staff without them ever even having to enter the guest’s room. Henry Lange was appointed as the music director of Baker Hotel in 1925.

Somebody Loves Me – Henry Lange and His Baker Hotel Orch
Button Up Your Overcoat – Ben Bernie and His Roosevelt Hotel Orchestra / Dick Robertson
Louisiana – Van and His Hotel Half Moon Orch (Peter Van Steeden)

Segment 4: Inns
We’re going to expand our definition of “hotel” orchestra, to include Inn, which, in addition to providing lodging, usually provides food and drink for travelers, and is usually located in the country or along a highway.