nice way to start the day - thanks for sharing. those cymbals looked like they had a tough life

 

Old-school thin crash cymbals. Paper thins.
I mean you can literally flex the edges by pinching 'em between 2 fingers.
So thin they couldn't even support their own weight after a time, pretty common back then.
I love the double tom-toms each side of her head too. Very unique.

 

That was great. It was recorded in 1940, so obviously none of the horns are more recent than that. The tenor with split bell keys, looked like maybe a Conn. But that's only a wild guess. Hard to tell from the video.

 

Not a chance. I was busy watching Frances Caroll.............

I'll try. New Wonder II Tenors. On the right, a Selmer BA alto. Conn alto on the left? Maybe a Selmer bari?

Looks like Viola Smith died THIS YEAR at age 107! Amazing.

 

Not a chance. I was busy watching Frances Caroll.............

Frances was a babe. Couldn't take my eyes off her.

Ohhhh, believe me....yeahhhhh....yowza....I hear ya, 'mates.

Dang she was a hottie. 1939, mind you.

Her moves at 2:17 of that vid...oomph....

...I almost....

Looks like Viola Smith died THIS YEAR at age 107! Amazing.

Really amazing...here's an interview when she was 102+. I mean, looking at that interview and how sharp she is...I would have guessed her to be in her early 80's, tops.

 

Frances was a babe. Couldn’t take my eyes off her. The girls looked like they were college age.

 

The girls looked like they were college age.

Viola and her sister, the reeds player who looks like her....started this band when they were both in their mid-20's (Viola was 27).

 

Fun watch I enjoyed greatly.

 

Oh...the saxes...um...yeah.

Good guess on the Altos, 'Phones. One has left bellkeys, the other right. At around 4:40 I say the left one (on the left) is actually Boosh, as I see the view of the table.
The right one could very well be a Selmer, yeah...

The Tenors, opp-side bellkeys as noted. From their necks they appear to be the same model, both of 'em (?)

 

Great video! Wow those girls were really playing well. Would be nice to see something like that this day and age.
Good luck on this name the sax challenge. Sheesh even with my glasses on it's hard to see.
I even tried to cheat. Look at this video @ 3:08 you may get 5 seconds of value on the tenor
info.

 

Cool group, killer players for sure, but.....

"Serious Jazz"

As I get older, I have come to appreciate the old-school showmanship of the bygone days actually (something I used to poo-poo as a younger player). "Fun Jazz" for the masses, if you will.

This has sorta been a bit re-born in this century, a new interest/popularity/appreciation for it. Which is cool, methinks.

Interesting thing about The Coquettes...they weren't playing covers, there.

 

A better look at the sax. Kind of looks like a Buescher with that ridge on the bow but I'm no expert on that kind of thing

 

A better look at the sax. Kind of looks like a Buescher with that ridge on the bow but I'm no expert on that kind of thing

Martin Typewriter! All pearled keys - NO rollers. Made 1928-'31 and called the "Master" model.
Supposedly the pearls were so placed as to insure perfect leverage on every key. But leverage ain't everything.

They are great sounding instruments and surprisingly playable, altho the springing is light in some places and heavy in others. I own four of them (SATB).

 

I just can't like this enough!!!

 

I knew somebody here would know. I kept looking at the side keys trying to decide if those were pearls or just the way the light was catching it.

 

Viola Smith...Rosalie Martin.....

Tell me anyone had heard of these players before now..... a bit sad, methinks...

...and Viola, from the interview, clearly was acquainted with the biggies during her life....Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, etc...

 

At least we are fortunate to have technology like YouTube. Keeping the history alive. You have done a great service by starting this thread. I'm loving it. This group of gals were definitely top shelf. Not to mention they weren't sitting like statues. They were having fun. Did you pick up on the one trumpet & sax player staring at the camera ?

 

The tenor on the left; not a Martin as in the previous picture. https://www.royalbooks.com/pictures/139702a.jpg?v=1475764169

Looks like matching altos here, not all the same girls as the video but that's definitely Rosalie Martin on the right with the Martin.

 

The tenor on the left; not a Martin as in the previous picture. https://www.royalbooks.com/pictures/139702a.jpg?v=1475764169

The player in the previous picture(post #14) is now on the right.

 

Are these the same four gals in post 23?

 

Are these the same four gals and post 23?

I don't think they are all 4 the same.....(?)

 

You go, Girls!!