Sam Lanin's Ipana Troubadours - Pardon Me, Pretty Baby (1931)

Sam Lanin (Sept.4,1891 - May 5,1977) was an American jazz bandleader.

The Ipana Troubado(u)rs was a musical variety radio program which began in New York on WEAF in 1923. In actuality, the Troubadors were the Sam Lanin Orchestra. They opened the show with their theme, "Smiles."

The show was sponsored by Bristol Myers' Ipana Toothpaste, and it was during this period that Bristol Myers introduced the slogan, "Ipana for the Smile of Beauty; Sal Hepatica for the Smile of Health."

With a mix of hot swing music and novelty tunes, the show moved from WEAF to the NBC Red Network (1926-28) for a 30-minute series on Wednesday evenings at 9pm. It then aired on the Blue Network (1929-31) Mondays at 8:30pm. Network radio exposure made the Ipana Troubadors one of the most well-known dance bands of the 1920s, resulting in a recording contract with Columbia and bookings at dance halls.

The recording contract covered only the Ipana Troubadors and Sam Lanin continued to recording on other labels under his own name and with different pseudonyms.

With title changes, the show continued on the Red Network (1933-34), Wednesdays at 9pm. Helen Hayes was a guest on the show of October 4, 1933, appearing in a scene with John Beal. In 1934, The Ipana Troubadors merged with Fred Allen's The Hour of Smiles.

Radio station policies in the early 1920s dictated that no commercial messages intrude on a program. However, once the program moved to NBC, the attitude toward advertising accelerated, as noted by Timothy D. Taylor in "Music and Advertising in Early Radio":

Spot and national advertisements frequently had a tie-in, often simply a plain poster or print ad, and frequently more. A brochure about Ipana Toothpaste produced by NBC in 1928 included photos of the tie-ins that Ipana provided to customers who wrote in: a Magic Radio Time Table pad, so that listeners could write down their favorite programs; a bridge score card; a photo of the Ipana Troubadors, the programs resident musicians; a card with a paean to the smile. All of these items had the Ipana name prominently displayed. Then there was the tie-in material made available to dealers: posters, brochures, a radio applause card that listeners could take to send in comments on the program, and more.

Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey were heard on the show during the 1920s, along with Red Nichols and others. Musicians during the 1930s included Jack Teagarden and Joe Venuti, with vocalists Chick Bullock, Dick Robertson and vaudeville headliner Marion Harris.

The last Ipana Troubadours broadcast was in January 1931, according to Variety on January 14, 1931.

Sam Lanin continued to use the name for several months for concerts and Columbia sessions. He led ensembles for other record companies, even making Hit of the Week discs for the Durium Products Corporation, using the name Sam Lanin's Dance Ensemble.

In July 1931 he began leading his Pillsbury Orchestra for the Pillsbury Pageant radio program each Friday night over New York City's WABC. The music industry at this time suffered terribly from the Depression. Recording sessions became infrequent for musicians and many radio shows, even popular ones, were abruptly ended because sponsors cut expenditures.

After the Pillsbury radio show was cancelled in March 1932, Lanin found other radio work and made many transcriptions on the Associated label until 1937. He retired early, having built up considerable wealth from years of hard work. He died in Hollywood, Florida.


Sam Lanin's Ipana Troubadours - Pardon Me, Pretty Baby (1931)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sam
• Lanin
• Ipana
• Troubadours
• 1931
• 20s
• 30s

[RetroTony1959]

The trombone player looks very happy. I guess if I had a costume like that on i'd be happy too.

[MrSalhepatica]

Believe it or not, my nickname for my wife is Salhepatica.

[tukilala]

Grandioso !!! Bravo por el video !!!!!!!

[roybo1930]

@Bigband78 Ha! I was just about to ask the same thing! I think it is because it is identical except a slight trumpet mess up at 4:26.

[Bigband78]

Is this off HOW 1156?

[bill3murr]

a really nice version and great sound.....thanks for sharing this one.