Sylvester Ahola 1920's home movies of jazz musicians

[GennettRecords]

I think this is the California Ramblers playing 'The Pay Off' as the Golden Gate Orchestra and therefore this is an Edison Diamond Disc recording. Am I right Hans?

[harryoakley]

@GennettRecords You are - but I speeded it up because then it fits the video. It is a bit blasphemeous, I know, but it was recorded too slow anyway. If you play the Edison at the correct speed it is somewhat dreary.

[gferrick]

Hans, The film is great but what happened to the sound? Is this the Columbia recording of the Ramblers? Doesn't sound like a Columbia.--G.

[rosieyposie7]

snappy music2snappy filmmakers of the 1920s!

thank4posting it,

Rosiey

[vanfleming]

I recently saw some sheet music with a picture of trumpet/banjo player Lou Calabrese, who I now think may be the guy with the fiddle around 0:58.

[harryoakley]

It's not Calabrese who had a much slimmer face.

[runabout1923]

The young man in spot 4:17 is most definitely Roger Wolfe Kahn.

[KawhackitaRag]

It's amazing that this footage exists at all. This is a wonderful snapshot of the 1920s. I hope there's enough for you to post a second video... and a third, and a fourth...

[harryoakley]

Alas - "That's All There Is, There Isn't Any More"!

[KawhackitaRag]

Wow, so that's Phil Wall? I'd never even seen a photo of him. Thanks!

[iceeeeboy]

Where can I download this music?:)

[kurisutokaochan]

First learned of Sylvester from Jeeves and Wooster's, "Safety in New York." Jolly nice, I thought.

[OGMunisteri]

Dig Rollini with that big guinea guitar!

[victorcornet21]

Bravo!

[manidig]

What's the sequence around 3:45-3:55 all about? Is that an autograph or a check??

[harryoakley]

And another reaction came in - the guy in the window who hits Adrian Rollini over the head at 3:22 is pianist Jack Russin. Phil Wall is indeed one of the guys in dark overcoats. This was filmed on Ahola's wedding day in New York where he got married in the famous "The Little Church Around The Corner" which is located at One East 29th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue - Phil Wall was his best man. No wonder "Hooley" was jumping with joy!

[KawhackitaRag]

@harryoakley So that's Jack Russin? Never saw a photo of him either! Thanks!

[harryoakley]

Several great reactions from viewers! The following identifications have already been made: probably drummer Johnny Morris and pianist/arranger Phil Wall from the Paul Specht band in the first scene (in which case I think Phill Wall is indeed also one of the two guys with dark coats in the harbour area and possibly the guy in the first aeroplane shots) and Roger Wolfe Kahn in the final aeroplane shot. Many thanks!

[bsgs98]

Roger Wolfe Kahn was a pilot and had an hangar at Roosevelt Field. You will notice that the scene immediately following shows a sign that says "ROOSEVELT FIELD AMERICA".

[suaveoo]

Great stuff here! I think the first 20 seconds may be Paul Specht-related (from the time when Ahola was in that band, around 1926). I believe we see Johnny Morris holding a tom-tom at 0:08 (talking at the left), and the smiling guy at 0:12 is Specht pianist and arranger PHIL WALL. (You see him several other times in these clips; he was a great friend of Ahola's). Around 3:12, yes this indeed is Adrian Rollini in the center, maybe C Spivak on left? at 4:22 it's tousled haired RW Kahn.

[bixvenuti]

The guy at 4:17 looks a little like Roger Wolfe Kahn (but I don't think that Ahola ever worked in Kahn's band).

[lanco001]

Interesting. Isn't Sylvester the trumpet player that played lead in a band with Bix and Tram long enough for Bix to learn the book by ear and then they recorded without Sylvester?

[harryoakley]

Ahola was indeed in a band with Bix and Tram - but I never heard it described in this mannera and I rather doubt that they got rid of him that way. Ahola was known for changing bands frequently.

[lanco001]

I read something to this effect perhaps on a record jacket or was it in the Sudhalter book? Anyway, Sylvester did play lead and they did record without him with Bix taking over all solos and lead according to this write-up.

[harryoakley]

Although the Sudhalter book on Bix contains a lot of phantasy, I don't think this story is in it. I will check.

[vanfleming]

The big guy with the fiddle at 0:55 looks like Joe Venuti

[harryoakley]

Indeed! It isn't him though.