Howard Lanin and His Orch. - Black Bottom, 1926

Howard Lanin was the third most prominent figure in the family of musicians (see my info for the clip with Sam Lanin's Orchestra). His brother Sam was a major bandleader and director of the 1920s and early '30s, responsible for the enormous number of recordings and broadcasts. Lester was also the famed dance-band leader from the 1930s through the 1990s.
Howard was born in Philadelphia in 1898 to an immigrant Russian Jewish family, whose members (including father and grandfather) were brimming over with musical ability. By 1909 he entered music professionally, as a drummer in the orchestra at the Crystal Palace movie theater. He organized his first dance band of his own at 17 and spent the next 72 years leading bands. He remained based in Philadelphia for most of his career - unlike Sam and Lester, who moved to New York City. He recorded with various groups of his own, including the Benjamin Franklin Hotel Orchestra - and played dances, shows, and conventions for decades. He died in 1991 at age 93.

Recording: Howard Lanin and His Orchestra, v. Frank Harris - Black Bottom, Victor 1926

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roaring
• Twenties
• 1920s
• Jazz
• Age
• American
• hot
• dance
• band
• 78s
• shellack

[luvmyrecords]

I saw Doris Eaton Travis, the last surviving Zeigfield Girl, do this dance at the age of 99. She's 105 now, and she'll be back in NYC next week to do another dance from the '20s at the annual Broadway Cares benefit. She looks about 65!

[panchosansa]

back to the 20!! love it ;)

[StukInTexAss]

Doris Eaton is still around? I thought Barbara Kent and Davey Lee were the only survivors of silent cinema.

[luvmyrecords]

@MrCombat1965 - Hey there! It was sad that we lost Doris this year, but do you know that she performed at the Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet again this year, about a week before she died? She came out in a big Easter basket, lifted by two shirtless dancers, and did her high kicks. They dimmed the lights on Broadway a couple of nights after she died in tribute. Last year, I got to sit with her a bit, and she was hilarious! I'm curious as to the age of the Civil War widow who died in the last 5yrs

[MrCombat1965]

@luvmyrecords Funny you mentioned Doris Eaton. I was amazed she still ran her 88 acre horse ranch at age 106. Sadly, we lost her earlier this year. It's amazing, in the last 5 years or so we lost the last Ziegfeld girl, the last Titanic survivor, the last of the American Civil War widows, and the last Romanov who was alive before the Russian Revolution. Doris Eaton was 2 years old when the last American Revolution widow passed away. Time flies.

[Vitanola]

Frank Harris was in this case a pseudonym for our old friend Irving Kaufman, who here limbers up the old cast iron lungs and performs a fine vocal refrain.

[Fiftiesflashback]

Joan Crawford, the JAZZ BABY .00-.39

[ghiacciomenta]

you are correct :)

[emersontotalyconfuse]

This is joy in form of music.

[luvmyrecords]

Thank you! In case you're wondering, Doris danced and sang "Ballin' the Jack"!

[JoseEduardoNZ]

It is so nice to hear stories like this.cheers

to you and Doris Eaton Travis.