1. Reader's Digest (very late 1930's or very early 1940's, my source did not specify) and Time magazine (August 5, 1940 issue).
2. Anything but. Think absolute monarchy with Cash as king and with input allowed only from Rupert Hall and a few other close advisors and confidants.
3. Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx, Sigmund Spaeth (the "Tune Detective" and chronicler of barbershop harmony in its golden age). Pat O'Brien, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, and Major Bowes, host of Major Bowe's Amateur Hour. (Trivia bonus... In 1935 a then unknown twenty-year-old kid from northern NJ sang lead in a barbershop quartet by the name of the "Hoboken Four" which appeared on the Amateur Hour. I refer, of course, to Frank Sinatra, whose unknown days were soon to be forever in his past).
4. The politicians included five state governors (only Ralph Carr, Gov. of Colorado, was mentioned by name by my source), and Treasury Secretary James Farley. A noteworthy "big league" (groan) businessman was Sam Breedon, then the owner of the St. Louis Cardinals.
5. Crosby brought attention to the existence of the recently launched society in announcements he made on his radio show in LA. Abbott and Costello gave the then new (and now long defunct) chapter in Passaic, NJ, - their hometown - and by extension all of barbershopping, plenty of exposure by very publicly becoming members of that chapter.
Visit us on the WEB at: www.harmonize.com/Greaterpittsburgh
If you love to sing, try
BARBERSHOP SINGING
We meet every Tuesday 7:30 pm at Trinity Christian School 299 Ridge Ave Pittsburgh, PA (Forest Hills)
Please come visit us
Guests are always welcome
This publication is distributed to chapter members, selected bulletin editors, Johnny Appleseed District and Society representatives, and others upon specific request to the editor. Views expressed in this bulletin are not necessarily those of BHS or the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter.
Tom Koch, Bulletin Editor
334 Coleman Drive
Monroeville, PA 15145-4828
(412)373-3025
E-Mail: poppopduck@aol.com
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