Ask to use material, get more information or tell us about an item
Five Auckland musicians look back on the dance bands of the 1920s and 1930s and the music they played.
Alwyn Owen introduces "Spike" Donovan (bass), Jules Regal (piano), Jack Diggle (violin and trombone), Johnny Madden (drums) and Jim Higgott (banjo) who died shortly after the recordings were made.
Jim Higgott recalls how the banjo was introduced to New Zealand by vaudeville circuit performers. Spike explains how the guitar and the double bass came to replace the banjo and violin in dance bands.
Jules worked as a pianist accompanying silent films in theatres until the talkies arrived and then played in ballrooms in Wellington.
They play examples of several popular dance tunes from the era and talk about the hard times of the Depression years.
They describe the Debutante and other balls at Auckland Town Hall, the role of alcohol amongst musicians and the styles of dancing they enjoyed watching.
They tell an anecdote about a pompous band-leader who was a poor musician.