Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: saxophones

"61. House of David - Benton Harbor, Mich." The House of David was a religious commune in Benton Harbor , Michigan, whose members performed in touring bands (like the one above), played on baseball teams, and ran an amusement park that featured miniature trains (like the ones below). Benjamin Purnell (see below) and his wife Mary formed the group in 1903.

"Pomeroy's Juvenile Hour. WEEU. Bernie, program director. Photo by Pomeroy's." Pomeroy's was a department store that had locations in Reading, Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre, and other Pennsylvania cities. This real photo postcard, which shows the Reading store in the upper left-hand corner, was used to advertise Pomeroy's Juvenile Hour radio show, which debuted sometime in the 1930s. Various local radio stations carried the show, including WEEU in Reading and WHP in Harrisburg. Pomeroy's ran ads for the Juvenile Hour in newspapers, too, as this excerpt from the Harrisburg Telegraph , Sept. 29, 1932, p. 8, demonstrates: "Pomeroy's, 'Harrisburg's Greatest Department Store,' Saturday, 9:30 a.m. You are invited to attend our first 'Juvenile Hour' radio broadcast direct from our broadcasting studio on the third floor. See and hear Harrisburg's future radio stars as they broadcast over radio station WHP. These performers are all between the ages of 2 and 12, and you'll marvel at their exhibition. If you are unable to attend the broadcast in person, tune in at 9:30 Saturday morning on station WHP and you'll get an hour of radio sunshine and happiness that will thrill you for a long time to come. Pomeroy's 'Juvenile Hour' will be on the air every Saturday morning, 9:30 to 10:30."

It's probably not the Cavern Club , but the venue does look like it's in a cellar somewhere. Anyone ever hear of the Royal Dukes? (There's an unrelated Texas-based Royal Dukes Band , too.)

"All Stars at Augustaville dance. Coleman caller. 1-21-'33." The musicians ("All Stars") and caller ("Coleman," with megaphone) for a dance that evidently took place in Augustaville, Pennsylvania, in 1933.

A list of "Coming Musical Events" in the Reading, Pa., Eagle for Sunday, Oct. 21, 1922, p. 34, mentions this music group: "Next Saturday evening the Pennsylvania Syncopators, of Lebanon, one of the best orchestras in the Lebanon Valley, will play [at the "Auditorium," apparently a Reading-area ballroom or other venue]." W. R. Shaw is also listed as the banjo player for another group, Challis' Collegians, on page 160 in L'Agenda of 1925 , the yearbook for Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa. Here's a selection of other vintage music business cards:

George Tarlson's Orchestra. 5 years of rhythm. Large or small orchestras for all occasions. Phone, Weirs 2213, 2542. George W. Tarlson, Jr., mgr. The Weirs, N.H. Calendar, 1936-1937. Check your date with George Tarlson's Orchestra on this calendar card.

I haven't been able to locate any information regarding this jazzy bunch of musicians. "Susquehanna," though, suggests an association with the Susquehanna River , which flows through Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. Or perhaps they were students at Susquehanna University , which is located in Selinsgrove, Pa.

A uniformed bandsman posing with his saxophones.

"Girls' Saxophone Band. Luther W. Albert, director. Evangelical Orphanage, Lewisburg, Pa. Special music for special occasions. Give us a call." A promotional card for the Girls' Saxophone Band, which was active from the 1930s to the 1950s. For another orphanage band, see Tressler Orphans' Home Band, Loysville, Pa.