The Ingenues - Band Beautiful (1928)

[simonwallon]

I am looking for high res footage of that. any idea?

[bigfolkie5418]

molin !  make me a sandwich

[baxter5431]

This is what Vaudeville produced back before there were sound movies and radio. Today there is absolutely no venue for talent to display itself. That and the fact people, for whatever nutty reason, demand that you FIRST produce credentials from a college before they even begin to listen. Hence why there's no talent like this around today. Somebody! Build me a time machine!

[Neville6000]

@baxter5431: I'll oblige, but it wouldn't be long before all of the crap of living in the time period in question got to you and you ended up back here, kissing the ground under your feet and crying to one and all that you are glad to be back in the present.....

Boy, I wish that the TV series History Bites had gone on long enough to cover this era, but it didn't, more's the pity.

[baxter5431]

@Neville6000 Anything you say, "pal." You prefer the era of dehumanization, impersonality, just being a serial number in a computer somewhere, a slave to technocracy, that's your choice. I'm just saying that since the end of WWII there has been a steady overall general decline in taste, art and in a lot of examples, manners. To each his own.

[Neville6000]

@baxter5431: I prefer doing what Gandalf The White/Gandalf The Grey said in the first Lord Of The Rings movie: 'We cannot chose what times that we will be born into-all that we can do is chose how to live in them.' You and everybody else here need to learn a kind of history that is unbiased and has no rose-colored vision clouding it, and I wish that teachers of history would be like that a lot more. For a better explanation, please Google: 'Nostalgia: A Sport For The Privileged'.

[VictrolaJazz]

For whatever reason the violinist on the far right is not actually playing, just mimicking what the other two are doing!

[hoopjnky]

@VictrolaJazz As they pick up their varied instruments, I have spotted several who are not playing them. But that's OK. It's a show and it works. Loved it.

[ziggycat999]

Well packed band....every thing there and more! Amazing how beauty there was eighty years ago....all those babes in this film are 100 years old now.

[dvtough]

Wow, check out the drummer. Now that's a pair of bodacious tom-toms!

[woofer32]

Yes this is real talent as has already been said, such a well rehearsed and disciplined band, I enjoyed every second - a charming spectacle from the Louise Brooks era. and a far cry from the vulgarity that we see such a lot of these days. Thanks for posting this gem.

[itsdandamage]

omg look!!! I think they are...yes..I think they are having fun playing music!! No emo here

[saf22art]

Fantastic talent! And they weren't the only talented women in the twenties. Check out my video of trumpeter Edna White! You can find it by searching on Edna White CD

[molinmusic]

FULL REPARATIONS DUE the WOMBYN of JAZZ smothered to extinction by the BAD BWOI BULLIES of JAZZ who disrespect their WOMBYN right and left. We all came from ONE WOMBYN in TANZANIA, AFRICA. A lie cannot live, our major performing arts programs have robbed us equal opportunities and wages. Media does the worst harm promoting the BAD BWOI'S and ignoring their MOMS!!! SHAMEFUL!!! Thanks for posting this inspires so much!

[eoanthropus]

Does anyone know any discography for this band?

[35westst]

Can you imagine "innter city youths" listening to something like this today? Now all we have is boom boom boom, natives dancing around the missionaries in he cooking pot.

[spentonmediocrity]

@35westst

ooooo....that gave me a hearty laugh but that was also borderline mean.How to reconcile the two conflicting thoughts within me?

[Neville6000]

@35westst: "Inner city youths' know what their places were in this era shown here, and despite the great performance here, have no interest in reliving it for people such as yourselves.

[xrayqqq]

the black-haired in second row is super. sexy and mysterious...

[FortressandRefuge]

genius genius! They can play all kind of instruments and they can sing and oooh i say: genius! I love the trompets!

[BOT101st]

When people could PLAY instruments, and no just guitars, drums or keyboard. Better than all the digitally synced and created stuff... can't be the oldies :)

[ChristophePhilippe]

Like a balm.

[btr0037]

This is my favorite video on Youtube. Check out the bass player.  She just spanks the crap out of her instrument.

[AaronDuckFish]

Cats!

[plusBln]

can u imagine how hard it would be to find so many girls playing those instruments today? and i bet they are all from the same country.

i would say almost impossible today.

[Neville6000]

@plusBln: They exist, all that you have to do is get up off of your ass and look for them.

[plusBln]

@Neville6000 i didnt say they dont exist. but u seem to state that it would be easy to set up such an instrument playing girl band today. whats simply wrong.

no producer would spend this budget.

[ToweringInfernoOrch]

Bassoon, I totally LOVE IT!!!! :D

[kukral]

The piano players never get a break do they?

[stravinskydogs]

LITERALLY THE BEST THING IVE EVER SEEN

[jrmn212]

Me too!

[ziggycat999]

Sooo cool ,so dated and so beautiful ! Any more of The Ingenues availbile on Youtube?

[toodance]

Can only imagine how much fun this must have been. - the beautiful dresses, the magnificent room and omg, the instruments....sigh.

I loved every minute. Thank you!!

[ziggycat999]

80 years ago ???? What have I missed!  These girls are gorgeous.

[ziggycat999]

This bunch is too pretty. I doubt they really recorded the music we're hearing with this footage.

[NorthernPlus]

A hats off too all of them. Must have been a hard axe to grind. Can just imagine the salary too. The letters home would be inspiration to anyone today. If this isn't entertainment at its best, that sorry your a lost soul.

Norbert

[NorthernPlus]

Videos are so great yet they show us when we were "young". That isn't even the half of it. If I had this to show anyone, I would have to be proud. Great versatility and great "balls" too.

Norbert

[JazzloverNYC]

Maybe Billy Wilder was thinking of them when he made "Some Like It Hot"!

[orichalcum1]

That is truly fantastic!

so entertaining, great playing and versatility off the scale..

plus

1) Jazz Bassoon

2) Mouthpiece buzzing

3) and a lady playing the sousaphone - sidesaddle!

[ikevyoiPhone3G1996]

I got this short on Al Jolson The Jazz Singer, I liked it. Al Jolson The Jazz Singer is the best early talkie on DVD.

[jackshitgeorge]

I wonder what happened to the guy who carried their stuff...

[Bilbo107]

Wow! Fantastic. So much talent and energy. They look to be having fun which makes it even more amazing. Thanks.

[jwoodman]

I wish Jim Henson could have seen this - it would have made a wonderful Muppet scene.

[darthdinn]

i hear:

1. Keep Sweeping the Cobwebs off the Moon (3 choruses, with intro)

2. Changes

3. She Dont Like it (Not Much!)

4. Rain

5. Mighty Lak' A Rose

6. Shakin the Blues Away

7. Tiger Rag

;p

[unclemeat2u]

One thing they are not, is Ingenues!

What great talent!

Really entertaining

=)

[jd03150]

My only regret is that there seems to be so little of their work available for posting. I would hope there's more lurking somewhere that will make it to You Tube. I adore the part where they all pick up their accordions and give it a go. Absolutely sensational stuff.

[talmadge1926]

i just love these gals. I watch this frequently and it always gives me a kick! How can anyone keep their feet still during the banjo rendition of "Singing the Blues Away"? And the gal who gives her Marcel wave that kind of pat at 4.53 that belonged to the era. Thanks a million for this!!

[jd03150]

If anyone has any more of their work, please post them. They are just sensational.

[jd03150]

Never saw or heard them before now. That's what I love about YT. This is a strong statement but I believe YT has become in a short time one of the most important musical archives that ever existed. I learn about new artists almost every day and some of them are just fantastic. This group certainly qualifies.

[semarcus1]

Who is the versatile bass player? She switches between sousaphone and string bass in this performance, and there's a bass sax on the other side of the sousaphone ready for her to play.

[Aaron2071]

omg this has to be the most talented group of people I've ever seen. I mean, playing multiple instruments, being able to sing, what more can you ask for? I was shocked when they began playing accordions!

[swallin19]

The simular Vitaphone Short feature "Greens 20th Century Faydettes" has been posted now on youtube, complete with Dancing Band leader"

[BEDOab]

So pleased I have found the whole clip which I understand was from Ziegfield Follies of 1927.

Number five was 'Mighty Like A Rose' Played on the harp.

[roybo1930]

The First Song Is " Keep Sweeping The Cobwebs Off The Moon. #2 "Changes #3 You Don`t Like It , Not Much. # 4 Rain,#5? #6 Shaki`n The Blues Away,# 7 Tiger Rag (Hold That Tiger) I Was Born In The Wrong Era. I Drive 1920s Cars As Well As Restor Them. This Is The Only Music I Listen To I Dream In This Era. Weard I Know. But Thats Just How I Am. Thank You So Much For Posting.

[stlivermore]

There was never a dull moment!

[machored135]

I tried to see if the music was actually being dubbed in, but the thing seems to be real. Perfection would have been if Ina Rae Hutton could have come in and tap danced in front of the band.

[Aaron2071]

I know, at first I was like "this can't be real" then as I watched closely everything seemed to match perfectly.

[costernocht]

I'm spending far too much time on YouTube . . . and acts like The Ingenues are the reason why!

[Mortifrog]

@costernocht  me too! lol

[violamateo]

I so totally agree with the folks who state that they were born in the wrong era. I just can't get enough of the 20s and 30s music and movies. Look at the versatility of these gals! They think nothing of playing several instruments in a single sitting. That's real talent. And when on earth have you heard a jazz bassoon solo?! To top it all off, there's not an ugly one in the bunch. The only tunes I recognize are "You don't like it...not much!" and "Hold that Tiger"

[lordmahan11]

Thats so cool to me that some of these people were friends or even reletives! So cool. What a great group of talented musicians!

[Cheval52]

these talented women make Madonna look like the tramp that she is and will always be

[agrariangrrl]

My grandmother is the cello player in this band. Her name was Adelaide I have heard that there is another vitaphone. Does anyone know of this?

[darlenewood]

Very nice,I saw a very short segment of this on a T.V.special called added atractions on TCM,was hoping to see the whole clip.Darlene.W

[Cheval52]

I was born in 1952 and I always preffered this era of music.

Great job Girls

[RatPfink66]

Yes Ma'am!!! What a show...9 accordions, 5 soprano saxes, 3 trombones and EIGHTEEN banjos.

BTW, the last tune is Charlie Dornberger's "Tiger Rag," lifted right off the Victor record.

[zarbouk]

hallucinant !

[zarbouk]

d'enfer !!!!!!!!

quand on dit que la femme est l'avenir de l'homme !

[poxanadul]

Why is this video not playing?

[poxanadul]

I love this clip please find more of the same. I want to see and hear more of these girls. They play better than the men. Thank you very much for this clip I cant get enough of it. From poxanadul.

[heinbanjo12]

Amazing!

[GStolli]

I'm moved with that amazing short.

Twenty years ago I bought an old 78RPM of The Ingenues. I think it's very rare, 'cause it was recorded in Brazil! (circa 1929-30 I guess). I only know the name of the harpist (Pat Healy). In fact, the leader was a man called Ray Fabing (he's not in the picture).

Does anyone here know a little bit more about those girls?

[78timothy]

What lot of FUN!!

[BettyBoopWynne]

This is incredible. I had no idea that women back then had such musical talents - where did they learn to play all of these instruments. I mean, come on now, the BASSOON - so hard! What versatility. So great to see. Thanks a bunch for this glimpse of history

[nedsparks]

Every song heard in this clip was copyrighted 1927, except for "Mighty Lak a Rose" (1901) and "Tiger Rag" (1917). They are:

Keep Sweeping the Cobwebs Off the Moon (Oscar Levant/Sam Lewis/Joe Young)

Changes (Walter Donaldson)

You Don't Like It - Not Much (Ned Miller/Chester Cohn/Art Kahn)

Rain (Eugene Ford)

Harp & Cello: Mighty Lak A Rose (Frank L. Stanton, Ethelbert Nevin)

Shaking the Blues Away (Berlin)

Tiger Rag(Original Dixieland Jazz Band)

[stjn00]

Great work Ned! That's quality info!

[pinkmerkin]

That's Sylvia Schlutz on Marimba. She was dear and beloved friend who passed away last year.

[NorthernPlus]

@nedsparks If I knew this much concerning early music, I know I could die happy. Thank you for your input.

Norbert

[simonwallon]

@nedsparks any idea where to find high res footage?

[bearcub410]

i love them oh the good old days . thanks so much

[tubarella]

My grandmother was also in the Ingenues. They toured the world just after she graduated from music school in Chicago. Quite an accomplishment, when you think about travelling by ship back in those days.

Also, back then, women were not hired in symphony orchestras. The Chicago Symphony hired its first female member in 1941.

[swpdddd]

my grandmother was the dark-haired trumpet player- anyone know who she was dating at the time?

[Mr1920s]

Yes-- His name was Lester Harvey.

[guitaress1]

If you like this you should check out the Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band. Of course they are only 7 pc and no accordians or banjos! ;-)

[butchfoot]

thanks a bunch, yes, the question: where is the talent today? just a bunch of sad faced sloppy musicians with drug problems for the most part today and look at these girls....not a fat babe in the bunch!

[stjn00]

Measured with the entertainment standards of today I think all of these glorious girls would be considered fat. And they would most certainly be judged far too unattractive to be in a video... Sad but true.

[butchfoot]

lol. ya i guess it was before lipo-suction, breast implants, face lifts, steroids and plastic surgery.

[VaudevilleJoe1925]

Transport these lovely, talented, svelte ladies to the 21st Century and they'd be all too hot. I can see 'em now doing the late night T.V. circuit, e.g., the "Tonight Show," etc. then on to the silver screen. Long live The Ingenues memory!

Maybe a group of talented girls will take up the challenge and become The Nouveau Ingenues.

[AliG4life]

@butchfoot

Talent is everywhere. You're just too ignorant/blind/lazy to see/look it up.

[2744erin]

My grandmother is one of the Ingenues. It is so neat to see her so young, so beautiful and so talented! Her sister is also in the band!

[polistra]

Wow! Can you point them out in this picture? Do you remember any stories?

Bless your grandma and her sister. Whether they knew it at the time, they were part of the best entertainment ever created by humans.

[stjn00]

Gee! That's something! I wish my grandmother also played in a band like this but alas, she didn't...

[albanybeardguy]

I think a couple of the girls in the front can't play all that much, (at least not all the instruments they're holding) but are there for looks.

[VaudevilleJoe1925]

As a musician, once you learn to read music, it's not really a stretch to play more than one instrument. Lots of practice, practice, practice.

[VaudevilleJoe1925]

If you watch the entire film, you'll see all the girls on the front row playing all the instruments: violin, accordian, & brass. They held one intrument at a time: violin, accordian, & brass.

[VaudevilleJoe1925]

Add Banjo & one Bassoon.

[tstrepp]

OMG what talent! So many instruments, and the play so well. Besides the historical interest of this early Vitaphone film, it is wonderful to see such fun and talent. Thanks!!!

[MamaMiaLoveSings]

Wow and wow...how talented, versatile and beautiful they were! I want to see that today...in a band too.

Thanks for showing this.

[Earlystuff]

What great stuff. I wish there were more films such as this available!

May be Youtube could start a whole new section for early jazz and vaudeville material?

May be they do already, but I am new to the service and still fumble my way around it.

[ilistenalot]

Absolutely wonderful, the bass player was an early female version of "Slam Stewart"

A definate favorite-----THANKS

[pierstheoneandonly]

BTW, To try answer your point about what happened to this kind of entertainment, maybe it's going to reappear. Check out a band on YouTube called 'caravan palace'. More gypsy/cabaret than big-band swing but it's a genuine, organic update blending old and new forms, rather than a lookee-likee function-band emulation. Of course in France, this music has never really disappeared. See 'Belleville Rendezvous'.

[pierstheoneandonly]

Superb!Where on earth did you find this? Accordions a-go-go!Accordion joke: did you know that a gentleman is someone who knows how to play the accordion - but doesn't?

That makes me no gent then.. :)

[fabulbabe]

Did I see Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis on the back row? LOL This is big fun and the sound is impressive.

[23brookside]

Very versatile young ladies. I'd like to have seen a hot lead singer, female of course, out there in front. Then, I would feel really complete. Anyway, more than good enough

[polistra]

Beyond all superlatives!!!!!

This is simply THE. BEST. THING.

I've ever seen or heard in my long life.

Thank you, thank you, thank you

for bringing this out of obscurity!!!!

[jozefsterkens]

Wait till the end, jazzy Tiger Rag

[genovee]

Holy Moley, that's got to be one of the biggest hoots ever. Love, love, love it!

[LordWham]

What he said, ha..! That was great..!

[kspm01]

Awesome!!!