The Wolverine Orchestra in Variety
The Wolverine Orchestra played in the Cinderella Ballroom, 1600 Broadway, New York City from September 12, 1924, to the end of December 1924.
On December 26, 192,4 they were replaced by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Bix did not last for the entire engagement. He left the Wolverines on October 11, 1924, as he had accepted a job with the Jean Goldkette orchestra in Detroit.
The following are news items, ads, and reviews related to the Cinderella Ballroom and the Wolverines published in Variety during September and October 1924.
Wednesday, September 10, 1924 – BALLROOMS ARE OPENING UP; NOVELTIES – Cinderella Starts Friday – Intercity Dance Contest
The Cinderella Ballroom, Boadway and 48th Street, New York, opens Friday (Sept. 13) with Willie Creager and His Ambassadors (Louis Katzman, business manager) as the featured attraction. The Ambassadors are Vocalion disk artists. The Wolverines, a new “hot” combination from Chicago, will be the alternating orchestra.
The Cinderella, under the direction of the Joseph Brothers and Robert Blum, is planning a series of novel stunts this fall such as an intercity dancing contest in conjunction with the Paradise, Newark, which they took over from Ray Miller, and Danceland,Philadelphia, actively managed by Jack Fiegl. The Cotton Picker’s Orchestra at Danceland will be brought in to the Cinderlla and the Ambassadors sent to Quakertown as part of the stunt.
The cabaret night feature successfully tried last season will be resumed this fall. Joseph’s contention against the introduction of the entire revues from the various cabarets and cafes is that it builds business for the restaurants in reciprocation for the courtesy for the reason that the regular sstepping out crowd that patronizes the dance hall on week days is attracted to the cafes on week ends. The dance halls in turn draw their Saturday and Sunday business from the “cake eaters,” who otherwise stay at home.
The Roseland opens Sept. 16 with Vincent Lopez, Jan Garber, and Herb Wiedoft’s orchestras to augment the Sam Lanin, Phil Roman,o and Fletcher Hendrson’s combinations.
Remarks
Note that Willie Creager’s Ambassadors are the featured attraction, the Wolverines being the “alternating” orchestra. I am not quite sure I understand the economic advantages of the “cabaret night feature.”
According to Brian Rust (“Jazz Records”):
Willie Creager was the leader and drummer of the Ambassadors, and rumor persists that his band recorded with Bix Beiderbecke when both were playing in the Cinderella Ballroom, New York, in the autumn of 1924.
With a detailed Bix chronology available now, the only sides that could possibly have Bix in them are those recorded on October 2, 1924. Three sides were waxed, “My Best Girl” and “Me and the Boy Friend” were rejected. “All Alone” was issued as Gennett 5581. I have not heard these recordings.
Wednesday, September 24, 1924 – BAND AND ORCHESTRA REVIEWS
THE WOLVERINES (7)
This “hot” septet hails from around Chicago, last playing a Gary, Ind., pavilion. It was “discovered” by the Josephs of the Cinderella ballroom management, who tout this combination highly.As a torrid unit, it needs to doff the mythical chapeau to no one. Their sense of rhythm and tempo is ultra for this type of dance music, and their unquestionable favor with the dance fans speaks for itself.
Leon Beiderbecke is a “hot” trumpet; Dick Voynow plays piano; Jim Hartwell, clarinetist, highly effective; ditto the bass Wilford Leibrook; Vic Moore is at the drums and George Johnson, sax.
The band has struck favor from the start.
Out West they recorded for the Gennett disks, but although less than a week on Broadway, they have “dates” with a number of minor companies, with the Brunswick also interested.
Abel [Green]
Remarks
So much for the myth that Bix Beiderbecke’s name was found only twice in newspapers during his lifetime. Note that Bix is referred to as “Leon Beiderbecke” and that his name is mentioned first in the review. Note that “hot” is used twice, but jazz is not even once.
Wednesday, October 1, 1924 – OXLEY AT CINDERELLA
Harold Oxley and his Orchestra of 11 pieces open at the Cinderella Ballroom, New York, on Oct. 4, succeeding Willie Creager’s Ambassadors. Oxley’s band is a Paul Specht unit.
