IMAGE GALLERY
"The Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands,"
Armory, Springfield, MA, Sept. 29, 1943
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra entertained on what must have been a chilly day in the Armory; most of the audience (and several members of the band) kept their coats and hats on.
An engineer for the Blue Network adjusted the controls, while the packed house kept its eyes on the band [ off-screen, stage left ].
The Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) transcribed the first 15 minutes of music, for rebroadcast to Allied servicemen around the world. Their ET also included two songs sung by Ray Dorey, No Love, No Nothin'
and Sunday, Monday and Always,
as well as a Goodman vocal, Paducah.
Photograph 4202-SA.1 courtesy of US National Park Service, Springfield Armory NHS, Springfield, MA.
Image provided by historian Richard Colton
and used with permission.
Krupa and Goodman take a bow.
The program was sponsored by
Coca-Cola, which had placed a small
promotional display [ r. ] on stage.
Photograph 4201-SA.C.1 courtesy of US National Park Service, Springfield Armory NHS, Springfield, MA.
Image provided by historian Richard Colton
and used with permission.
Goodman's band included Hymie Schertzer [ fr. row, 2nd from l. ], lead
alto saxophone; Al Klink [ fr. row, 3rd
from l. ], tenor saxophone; Ernie Caceres
[ fr. row, r. ], baritone saxophone; and Bill Harris [ 2nd row ], trombone.
Photograph 4201-SA.D.1 courtesy of
US National Park Service, Springfield Armory NHS, Springfield, MA. Image provided by historian
Richard Colton and used with permission.
The Goodman Quintet - including Jess Stacy, piano, and Sid Weiss, bass
[ both with their backs to the camera ] - performed Sweet Georgia Brown.
Photograph 4201-SA.B.1 courtesy of
US National Park Service, Springfield Armory NHS, Springfield, MA. Image provided by historian
Richard Colton and used with permission.
Following the opening "Spotlight Bands" Theme, they started with Sugar Foot Stomp.
Gene Krupa had returned to the group as its drummer on September 21st. He is seen
here with fellow Goodman band members
Lee Castle [ r. ], trumpet, and Allan Reuss
[ l. foreground ], guitar.
Photograph 4202-SA.B.1 courtesy of US National Park Service, Springfield Armory NHS, Springfield, MA. Image provided by historian Richard Colton and used with permission.
The remainder of the program consisted of Clarinet a la King, Good-Bye, and the closing "Spotlight Bands" Theme.
Photograph 4202-SA.C.1 courtesy of US National Park Service, Springfield Armory NHS, Springfield, MA.
Image provided by historian Richard Colton
and used with permission.
The Armory stage was nicely decorated, including the American flag and
some patriotic banners.
Photograph 4202-SA.E.1 courtesy of US National Park Service, Springfield Armory NHS, Springfield, MA.
Image provided by historian Richard Colton
and used with permission.
