George Olsen & Ethel Shutta - Underneath The Arches 1933

From Big Bands Database:
George Olsen's Orchestra was one of the better bands working in the 1920s, Olsen played all over the U.S. Like many others, the band was formed in a University (of Michigan), but unlike the others, this band made it to Broadway and the Big Time, playing in the Theater 'pits' of many musicals. The Band put on a sensational Vaudeville show. The 1926 Olsen Orchestra had such members as George Olsen: violin, Red Pepper:trumpet, Chuck Campbell:trombone, Dick Stable:clarinet and alto sax, Ed Killfeather:piano, Jack Hansen:Tuba, and others unknown. Interestingly, George Olsen was the band on Jack Benny's first radio program for Canada Dry - about 1932. A 1933 recording, "There's a Cabin in the Pines", featured vocalist Lorette Lee.

The band featured two great singers in Fran Frey (male) a baritone (ca. 1989, and Ethel Shutta (female), who later became Mrs George Olsen. Ethel was his wife for many years, -from the Ziegfield Broadway show, 'Whoopee' until the late 1930s, when they divorced and she married George Kirksey, a sports writer for NEA.

Unfortunately, the band seemed to lose it's spirit and vitality in the 1930s, and disappeared with the coming of the Big Band Swing era. In the mid-1930s, when another bandleader, Orville Knapp, was killed, Olsen took over leadership of the Knapp band, (and added the new 'tag': "The Music of Tomorrow") but he had no good success with it. On May 17, 1940, the Olsen orchestra appeared on the stage of The Lyric Theatre of Indianapolis (Indiana), with 'The Bachelors' vocal group, consisting of Bob Rice, Ronnie Mansfield, and Jack Clifford.
Ethel Shutta, went on to work as a 'single' in the supper clubs before retiring. In 1971, she was again seen on stage in Stephen Sondheim's "Follies", while Olsen went on to 'conduct' a restaurant in New Jersey (ca. 1941) where the background music was his own recordings.


George Olsen And His Music, voc. Ethel Shutta - Underneath The Arches (Bud Flanagan /Joseph McCarthy)Victor 1933

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Olsen
• Ethel
• Shutta
• tango
• 1930s
• dance
• band
• hot
• jazz
• nostalgia
• 78s

[lilsaprano123]

Hi I am 13 love all these old songs. This is me singing a Gracie Fields song hope you all enjoy.

[roybo1930]

 The first time I ever heard this AWESOME song was by Connie Boswell, on a Brunswick 78 I bought, I have the Flannagan & Allen version on a CD.

[accomuk]

Mum told me Dad liked this song

[pedrovono]

Bravissimo!!!

[rogharm]

great arrangement!!!minor key great orchestration. love ethel great performance!!!!*****like the key note.*********when she divorce george and how old were the two boys shown in some posts? ROGHARM ethel i love you R.I.P.

[RRaquello]

Ethel Shutta was a big broadway star in the 20's. You can also see her in the film version of "Whoopee!" playing a comedy part. Her name is pronounced "Shoo-tay", which I never knew until I heard her in a very old Jack Benny radio show. This is a real depression song. I guess lots of people were sleeping under bridges & on the pavement in those days. Connie Boswell also did a swell version of this song.

[GirlBarrie]

George & Ethel are my husband's Great Aunt & Uncle!!! Thank you so much for allowing him and his sister to hear them!!

[silynne]

omg my nan used to sing this to me to in the 60 s miss u & love u 4 ever nan x x x x thankyou 4 the posting 240 252

[Corrie121]

I have only ever heard the Flannagan & Allen rendition of this song, so I am very pleasantly surprised to be introduce to this exceptionally fine version.

Thank you for sharing.

[owlkev]

my nan used to play this to me when i was a baby in the 60,s....oh memorys xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx thanx xxxxx