1,500 STORM THEATRE TO RECEIVE GOODMAN (Real Time + 70 years)

Microfiche-New York Times archives | January 27, 1938 | No byline

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1,500 STORM THEATRE TO RECEIVE GOODMAN

Police Called to Handle Crowd Beginning to Form at 5 A. M.

--- Mae West Film Shown

Long before the scheduled opening hour at 8 A. M. yesterday crowds filled the lobby of the Paramount Theatre, overflowed onto Broadway and down the Forty-third Street side of the theatre to hail the return of Benny Goodman and his swing orchestra and to welcome the new Mae West comedy “Every Day’s a Holiday.” Lines started forming at 5 o’clock and the management reported that 1,500 persons were on hand at 7:30, a half hour earlier than had been planned.

Shortly after 8 o’clock the management put in a call to the West Forty-seventh Street police station and ten patrolmen were detailed to assist the ushers in handling the crowd. At 10:30, when the box office was forced to close, the line extended down Forty-third Street to Eighth Avenue. The first show started at 8:15 A. M., which is said to be an all-time early opening record for a first-run Broadway theatre, and all seats and available standing room inside the 3,664-seat house had been sold by 9 o’clock. Police reported that they had to extinguish two bonfires started by shivering customers, who had arrived at 5 o’clock.

When the Goodman band appeared on the stage the audience, composed in the main of high school students, roared a hearty greeting and couples danced in the aisles. The more venturesome swarmed up on the stage and gave impromptu exhibitions of the shag and other swing tempo dances. As a precautionary measure the doors of the Paramount will open this morning and tomorrow morning at 7:30.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I ran across this item as I was researching some pre-world war II history at the local university library today. I got a kick out of it and thought some folks here might also.

I'm thinking about posting stories about the war here on this same real-time-plus-seventy years basis as we move forward. I find it an enjoyable way to learn about the times. If anyone is interested in getting on a ping list for this wierd activity please respond and I will make it so.

I wouldn't think there is any problem posting Times articles that are seventy years old and stored in libraries across the country.

[Paisan]

Anyone who follows popular music; understands the real roots of Rock, should not be surprised by this. Goodman, Dorsey, Swing and Boogie Woogie. You may give these guys and their styles short shrift and dismiss them as ‘yer old man’s music’ but they all play a part in what we listen to today and what we falsely consider NEW.

Thanks for posting...

[From many - one.]

It’s still pretty listenable stuff. I’ve started collecting it.

[rockinqsranch]

Rock ‘n Roll began in my youth and I loved it, yet the song of my life came out in 1957. A reflection of the Big Band era. Jimmy Dorsey’s “So Rare” still plays in my head often.

Were I to have to choose one or the other as the favorite song of my life, it would be a toss-up between “It’s a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, or “So Rare” by Jimmy Dorsey.

Wonderful music.

[GRRRRR]

Get the movie, “The Benny Goodman Story”...Steve Allen does a wonderful job. The real Lionel Hampton also appears along with Gene Krupa on drums.

I think it’s Donna Reed as his wife.

Wonderful flick with great tunes. My dad has the original Carnegie Hall records still...

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1/27/38

[oh8eleven]

Benny Goodman and his swing orchestra
Back when men were men and music was music. I have a dozen Benny Goodman CDs and even though I'm a rock and roll loving baby boomer, I long for those "good old" days.

[DaveMSmith]

Thanks for posting.

I've been a huge BG fan since my dad turned me on to him when I was a kid (I play clarinet).