{"id":37189,"date":"2013-04-26T09:53:44","date_gmt":"2013-04-26T17:53:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/?p=37189"},"modified":"2024-06-07T10:06:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T17:06:09","slug":"another-slam-against-the-sax-from-1921","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bassic-sax.info\/blog\/2013\/another-slam-against-the-sax-from-1921\/","title":{"rendered":"Another Saxophone Hater From the 1920s"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have noted in the past, some articles from the early 20th century that were critical of saxophones and saxophone players. (They were, of course, nothing but a reflection of the feelings and opinions of some of the general populace.) Well none however, were as verbose, nor perhaps as cheeky, as the following piece from the Sunday, August 14, 1921 edition of the The Milwaukee Journal<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

So grab yourselves a good cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy this tidbit from the day when the C melody was the undisputed king of the saxophone family. (At least when it came to the home-trained masses.)<\/p>\n

Sadly there was no byline provided for this piece, so the author will remain forever in anonymity. Hey, I wouldn’t want to sign my name to this either. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Oh, and I hope you enjoy my satirical commentary interjected here, there and everywhere. Because let’s face it, there is nothing about this article that can be taken seriously. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Saxophone, the Greatest Blow of All<\/span><\/p>\n

Orpheus Used It to Play His Wife Out of Hades, but Modern Abusers of the Squeeking, Squawling Instrument Would Seemingly Reverse His Feat<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Have you been startled of late months by an alarming uproar from a neighbor’s house–something different from the usual disturbing noises?\u2014A series of sonorous groans, grunts, gurgles, squeals, squawls, screeches and squeakings. And have you stepped over to see if retribution or a new baby or another crate of chickens has arrived?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And have you found that it is nothing short of your neighbor’s son learning to play the saxophone?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And now a word from our sponsor…<\/h2>\n

\"vintage<\/a><\/p>\n

Buescher True Tone Advertisement from 1929<\/span><\/p>\n

We return you now to the regularly scheduled saxophone bashing. \"\"<\/a><\/h5>\n

If that has been your experience, you have only duplicated the plight of thousands throughout the length and breadth of the land, for the voice of the saxophone, that hybrid horn, is being heard in all these United States. It has reached the point of a craze, the instrument being just easy enough for anyone to play somehow or somewhat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Grandfather, we remember, played the mouth organ on all occasions. Dad was indefatigable<\/a> on the banjo. A less musically virile younger generation resorted to a slipshod strumming upon the Hawaiian ukulele. And now with the vigor of reconstruction comes the saxophone, giving every indication of being the hardest blow of all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hence it comes about that few communities are without their saxophonists, budding, blooming or full blown. Quiet mountain lakes this summer will hear a substitute for the cry of the loon<\/a>. On the seashore, there will be a new and dominant note in the booming of the breakers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

File Your Order Early<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saxophone surveys made in music stores show an alarmingly heavy demand for the things. Reports are they are selling three times as well as other instruments and that is in spite of the price which runs from close to $100 to far beyond it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You have to file your orders away ahead of time, just as you do for xxxxxxx,” [word illegible] said one salesman.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It can be seen the time is coming, nay, is at hand, when a purchaser of one of the instruments must with great foresight file his order for his 1921 saxophone, brass or nickel fittings, muffler and cut out, wind shield, water proof top and 60 horsepower. [Sounds a bit steampunk<\/a> to me.]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Perhaps it was through fiction that the saxophone first came into wide notice. In George Randolph Chester<\/a>‘s Wallingford stories, the saturnine “Blackie Daw” often was pictured and described playing on the saxophone, while meditating some heinous xxxxxxxxx [word illegible] deal. One of the faults of Booth Tarkington<\/a>‘s hero, “Clarence,” was the saxophone. After appearing in xxxxxx [word illegible] the saxophone came into popularity in very truth\u2014that truth which is stranger than fiction.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And now another word from our fine sponsors, Buescher True Tone saxophones…<\/h2>\n

It’s Saturday night. Are you looking to get lucky? Got sax? No problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"vintage<\/a><\/p>\n

Buescher True Tone Advertisement from 1925<\/span><\/p>\n

A Courting Weapon<\/span><\/p>\n

The saxophone has become a veritable social parlor trick. Young men take their saxophones with them to serenade and court. It is true, one hears them more than one sees them. They generally stay out of sight, seeming to have fears of reprisals, fears which, it may be remarked, are not entirely groundless. Amateur players on the saxophone who volunteer to help out without recompense are the despair of dance orchestras. Nearly all amateur theatricals include as a matter of course a quartet or octet of saxophone players, or an even more numerous group of these offenders in full blast.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If there ever is any question of reparations or an indemnity for the inauguration of the saxophone craze, the matter well may be checked back to the Brown Brothers<\/a>, who stepped forth one first night, heavily disguised as clowns, and opened up on an unprepared and unarmed “Chin Chin” audience with a terrific barrage of six saxophones. Ever since then there have been imitation Brown Brothers, their identity cloaked behind a mask of white grease paint. There is scarcely a theater in the country which has not echoed to the moanings of much aggregations, as they moved up and down the stage, thus making it harder for them to be hit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Musical Interlude<\/h2>\n

Let’s stop here for a moment shall we, and enjoy a brief musical interlude from the famous, Canadian\u2014yes, they really were from Canada\u2014Brown Brothers.<\/p>\n