1941

“Conga Brava”; Duke Ellington & His Orchestra; Ellington [1899-1974]; Tizol [Juan Tizol 1900-1984]; His Master’s Voice (E.A. 2766); December 1941

The New York Times, November 30, 1941, pp. 1 and 62

“KO-KO”; Duke Ellington & His Orchestra; Ellington; His Master’s Voice (E.A. 2766); December 1941

PM, November 30, 1941, p. 15, (Unidentified photographer)

Gangster Johnny Torrio [1882-1957] shown hiding his face… Commissioner Valentine denied reports that Torrio was picked up in connection with rumors of a plot to “spring” Louis (Lepke) Buchalter, on trail in Brooklyn for murder.

PM, November 30, 1941, p. 15

“Piano Boogie;” Dorothy Donigan; Bluebird (B-8979-A); December 1941

PM, November 30, 1941, p, 43, (Photos by Morris Gordon)

Women Study How to Blackout Homes And How to Fight Poison Gas Attack

PM, November 30, 1941, pp. 42-43

“Every Day Blues”; Dorothy Donigan [Dorothy Donegan (1922–1998)]; Bluebird (B-8979-B); December 1941

Doubled…

November 29, 2021

1941

“Double Trouble”; Big Bill; Melka; Columbia (37242); July 17, 1941

“Double Crossin’ Papa”; Rosetta Crawford; Perry Bradford; James P. Johnson’s Hep Cats; Decca (7584 B); February 1, 1939

“‘Double Trouble Blues”; Lowell Fulsom; Lowell Fulsom; Rosenbaum; Geddins; Aladdin (3088); 1948

“Down for Double”; Count Basie and his Orchestra; F. Greene; Okeh (6584); September 17, 1941

The New York Times, November 29, 1941

Police Guard is Doubled at Lepke’s Trial
To Prevent Repetition of Reles Incident

The New York Times, November 29, 1941

“Double Crossing Blues”; Johnny Otis Quintette; The Robins; Little Esther; Johnny Otis; Savoy (731-A); December 1, 1949

Sick…

November 28, 2021

1941

“Sick And Tired”; Fats Domino; C. Kenner; D. Bartholomew; A. Domino; Imperial (5515); 1958

“Sick, Sober, and Sorry”; Tommy Duncan and his Western All-Stars; Eddie Hazelwood; Tex Atchinson; Intro (6013); May 1, 1951

The New York Times, November 28, 1941

LEPKE TRIAL IS DELAYED

Illness of Judge Taylor Causes Postponement of Summings-Up

The New York Times, November 28, 1941

https://archive.org/details/78_sick-and-tired_lula-reed-sonny-thompson_gbia0062723a

“Sick and Tired”; Lula Reed; Sonny Thompson; King (4748); 1954

Spark Harmony Framed Revenge

November 27, 2021

1941, PM

https://archive.org/details/78_framed_the-robins-leiber-stoller_gbia0378343b

“FRAMED”; The Robins; Leiber; Stoller; Spark (107); October 1954

The New York Times, November 27, 1941

“Revenge”; Texas Jim Robertson and The Panhandle Punchers; Jenny Lou Carson; RCA Victor (21-0130-B); 1949

The New York Times, November 27, 1941

Lepke Was Framed, His Counsel Asserts

Defense Says Rubin, Seeking Revenge Planned Murder

https://archive.org/details/78_revenge_henry-therrein-akst-lewis-young_gbia0215110b

“Revenge”; Henry Therrein; Akst; Lewis; Young; Harmony (712-H); 1928

Now the Japanese Know: U.S.A. Won’t Sell Out China

“Ev’rything I Love”; Benny Goodman and his Orchestra; Peggy Lee; Cole Porter; Okeh (6516); Publication date: November 27, 1941

PM, November 27, 1941

His Master Died in this room which was shattered by the blast of an illuminating-gas explosion last night, but a black shepherd dog Freca, was uninjured by either gas or the explosion. Police say Thomas Quinn, 31, a commercial artist, was found lying in front of a gas stove with all jets open in his west 26th Street apartment, but failed to make either a suicide or accident listing. Freca hid behind a small piano.

PM, November 27, 1941
PM photos by Weegee

https://archive.org/details/78_just-a-man-and-his-dog_red-foley–the-cumberland-valley-boys-jack-rollins-audrey-ga_gbia0006980b

“Just A Man And His Dog”; Red Foley; The Cumberland Valley Boys; Jack Rollins; Audrey Ganum; Decca (46291); December 18, 1947

Weegee, PM, November 27, 1941

https://archive.org/details/78_lonesome-dog-blues_lightning-hopkins-hopkins_gbia0059859b

“Lonesome Dog Blues”; Lightning Hopkins; Hopkins; RPM (346); September 1951

“…the case should reach the jury by Friday.”

November 26, 2021

1941

“One Woman’s Man”; Jay McShann And His Orchestra; Walter Brown; Jay McShann; John Tums; Decca (8607 A); November 18, 1941

The New York Times, November 26, 1941

“So You Won’t Jump”; Jay McShann; Eugene Ramey; Decca (8607 B); November 18, 1941

The New York Times, November 26, 1941

“Cryin’ Won’t Make Me Stay”; Jay McShann; Walter Brown; Williams; Decca (8623 A); November 18, 1941

The New York Times, November 26, 1941

LEPKE AND AIDES CLOSE DEFENSE

Racketeer Fails to Take the Stand to Answer Charge of Murder in Brooklyn

Long Summing Up Is Due

2 Days Likely to be devoter to Addresses – Jidge Rukles Out Widow’s Accusation

The New York Times, November 26, 1941

“Baby Heart Blues”; Jay McShann; Walter Brown; Decca (8623 B); November 18, 1941

New York Post, November 26, 1941

Reles Escaped Death in Jail

Gunman’s Plot failed, Says O”Dwyer at Cop’s Trial

“‘Fore Day Rider”; Jay McShann; Walter Brown; Decca (8635 A); November 18, 1941

PM, November 26, 1941

Reles’s Guards on Trial

“Hootie’s Ignorant Oil”; Jay McShann; Walter Brown; Bernard Anderson; Decca (8635 B); November 18, 1941

“Don’t look now… But I think there’s a new exhibit!”

November 25, 2021

1941, PM

“Time After Time”; Ernest Tubb; Jimmie Short; Leon Short; Decca (6023 A); November 17, 1941

“Don’t look now… But I think there’s a new exhibit!”

“I’ve Really Learned A Lot”; Ernest Tubb; Ernest Tubb; Decca (6076 B); November 17, 1941

No Handstands At Met Opening

By Henry Simon

PM, November 25, 1941, p.22

“I Hate to See You Go”; Ernest Tubb; Homer Hargroves; Decca (6084 A); November 17, 1941

This season the opera opening was not all high hat; there was a showing of gold braid and a generous turnout of plain khaki. The fancy-peaked cap above is a captain’s, the other just a lieutenant’s.

PM, November 25, 1941, p.22

“More Than You Know”; Count Basie and his Orchestra; Lynne Sherman; Eliscu; W. Rose; Youmans; Winter; Okeh (6584); November 17, 1941

Opera patronesses seldom check their tiaras with the management. Here, at their table in the Opera Bar (only theater bar permitted in N.Y.) are, left to right, Mrs. George Washington Kavanaugh, Lady Decies, Mrs. Leonora H. Warner.

PM, November 25, 1941, p.22

“You Don’t Know What Love Is”; Earl Hines and his Orchestra; Billy Eckstein; Don Raye; Gene dePaul; Bluebird (B-11394-A); November 17, 1941

The cops keep a watchful eye on the standees. Last night a Mr. Burke (above) boned up on his libretto while waiting to buy a standee ticket.

The onlookers flanking the main entrance put on the dog in their own fashion. Lena Penola’s pooch is named Buddy. Photos by Ray Platnick,…

PM, November 25, 1941, p.22

“You May Have Your Picture”; Ernest Tubb; Decca (6040-B); November 17, 1941

“…ALIBI IS BIRTHDAY PARTY…”

November 22, 2021

1941

“Susie’s Birthday Party”; Buzz Connie; Jessie Mac Robinson; Coral (60004 A); July 21, 1948

“I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts of Town”; Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five; Weldon; Louis Jordan; Decca (8593 B); November 22, 1941

“Knock Me Kiss”; Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five; Louis Jordan; Mike Jackson; Decca Personality Series (23628 A); Publication date: November 22, 1941

The New York Times, November 22, 1941

“Birthday Party”; Sil Austin; J. Collins; Mercury (71027); December 25, 1956

“The Ragamuffins of New York…”

November 21, 2021

1941, PM

“Sugar Babe Blues”; Roosevelt Sykes (The Honey Dripper) [1906–1983]; Skyes; Columbia (37457); Publication date: November 21, 1941

PM, November 21, 1941, p.12 (Photos by Gene Badger, PM)

New York’s Thanksgiving: A Big Parade, and Turkey…

“Training Camp Blues”; Roosevelt Sykes (The Honey Dripper) [1906–1983]; Sykes; Columbia (37457); November 21, 1941

PM, November 21, 1941, p.13 (Photos by M Engel, PM)

… And the Ragamuffins, Featuring National Defense

The ragamuffins of New York capered as usual on Thanksgiving Day. Those pictured on this page were part of a Madison Square Boys’ Club parade on First Avenue. Many carried spot-news banners, an innovation encouraged by the Club as a substitute for traditional ragamuffin street begging…

“Ragamuffin Romeo”; Paul Whiteman [1890-1967] and His Orchestra; Vocal by Jeanie Lang (Mary Eugenia Wirick) [1911-1993]; Wayne & De Casta; Columbia (CB 88); ca. 1930

PM, November 21, 1941, p.22 (Unidentified photographer)

Hitchcock’s Latest Masterpiece… A Melodrama of the Mind

By Cecelia Ager

The film ideal is a blend of story-telling, writing, musical scoring, photographic composition, acting, developing characterization, cutting and direction – co-ordinated to achieve dramatic impact, an impact indigenous to the movies, impossible to any other art form…
PM, November 21, 1941, p.22

“The Finger of Suspicion Points at You”; Bonnie Lou [1924-2015]; Mann; Lewis; Parlophone (R 3989); 1954

“THE END OF THE ROAD FOR KID TWIST”

November 14, 2021

1941

“At the End of the Road”; Tom Waring and Waring’s Pennsylvanians; Ballard Macdonald; James F. Hanley; Victor (19602-A); 1925

“The End Of The Road”; Sir Harry Lauder; William Dillon; RCA Victor (9024-B); 1926

“Waiting At The End Of The Road”; Harold Lang; Irving Berlin; Pathe Actuelle (32484)

The New York Times, November 14, 1941

GUARDS DEMOTED IN RELES ESCAPE

Five to Get Departmental Trials on Laxity Charge – Mayor Orders Inquiry

…speculation mounted as to Reles’s motive in attempting to escape that admittedly afforded him a haven from an underworld enraged… it was known that Reles feared only one underworld figure, Albert Anastasia… He always did the weird, fantastic thing…
He could sing but couldn’t fly”…

“Waiting At The End Of The Road”; Kate Smith; The Harmonians; Berlin; Harmony (999-H); August 27, 1925

Long Island Daily Press, November 14, 1941, (Unidentified photographer)

FUNERAL. Mrs. Rose Reles, left, widow of the gangster, Abe Reles, who fell to his death from the window of a sixth floor room at the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island, is helped to a car after attending the burial services yesterday in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, Glendale. She screamed incessantly during the rather sketchy ceremony.

“Waiting At The End Of The Road”; The Kay Starr Style; Irving Berlin; Harold Mooney; Capitol (15910)

New York Post, November 14, 1941, (Unidentified photographer)

THE END OF THE ROAD FOR KID TWIST

GRAVEDIGGERS finish covering all that is mortal of “Abe Reles… Died Nov. 12th 1941… Age 36 years, 6 months, 2 days…”

“End of the Road”; Jerry Lee Lewis With His Pumping Piano; Jerry Lewis; Sun (259); December 1, 1956

“Look into those eyes…”

November 13, 2021

1941

“Somebody Nobody Loves”; Benny Goodman and his Orch.; Peggy Lee; S. Miller; Okeh (6562); Publication date: November 13, 1941

Lepke and His Pals Feared Reles’s Testimony…

And here’s the grinning Lepke himself – Louis Buchalter, born 44 years ago in the city’s slums. He’s under a federal narcotic sentence that would keep him in jail 14 years… Lepke is blamed for 14 murders or more; Reles was to have testified against him. The particular murder for which Lepke is on trial is that of Joseph Rosen, candy-store owner. Rosen had been a trucking boss in the garment center. O’Dwyer says Lepke ordered the job much as you would order the cook to kill a chicken for dinner.

… Until Death Mysteriously Removed One

And this is where it ended, outside the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island, where Reles has been awaiting his chance to testify against Lepke. We don’t really know what happened. Some reports say Reles was trying to escape – with only a couple of sheets to let him down down the sixth floor widow (circle) to a roof overlooking the ocean. Reporters were told that a window on the floor below was partly open, and that the sill and his shoes bore marks indicating he tried to get in. Some authorities said he had been ill, that he might have committed suicide.

PM, November 13, 1941 (Unidentified photographers)