Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-01
VIRGIL CROCKETT
Pianist

! While claiming no championship
in the realm of music, Dexter's team
| of veteran musicians, David Cram,
fiddler, and Virgil Crockett. pianist
are ready to prove their ability at
the New Years ball to be given by
Governor and Mrs. Ralph O. Brew
ster for the members of the State
House family this Friday evening at
the Blaine Mansion.
Plans were completed yesterday
for this event, which being up to the
minute with the return of the old
fashioned dances, promises to be of
particular enjoyment. Costumes of
Colonial days will be featured
amidst Colonial setting and the
dance order will contain no hint of
the later day tendency toward jazz.
The wives of the heads of the
State departments will be the host
esses. Chief Arthur H. Field of the
State highway police has accepted
the responsibility to act as floor di-
rector. The dance program will be
carried out in the State dining room,
the reception room and the lounge.
Refreshments will be served in the
lounge, the State dining room and
the family dining room by the young
ladies employed in the various State
departments.
The dance orders will be UNIQUE.
consisting of strung shipping tags,
OF yellow color for the gentlemen
and White for the ladies. The dance
program will open with a march and
circle, following which will be:
Waltz. Lady of the Lake. Two step,
Portland Fancy, Waltz, Boston Fan
cy. and three extras.
Dexter's Team of Musicians
Especial interest centers upon the
musicians for the evening, Cram
and Crockett of Dexter, who have
played together for over Al years and
play ali of the old-time melodies
from memory. They have furnished
music at many dances in Dexter and
vicinity, which Governor Brewster
and his secretary. Col. Charles E.
Dustin, former residents of Dexter.
attended.
David Cram of the Cram and
Crockett team, is II years old-a vi
ollnlst OF the old-time school. vet
ever ABREAST with the times. he docs
not care for jazz but has PLAYED n
because the public demanded it. Mr.
cram has been playing for dances
over ~ years. He is not on1y a IL
mist bat dancing master of tho
ola school. He took lessons of lanes
Carr as small boy and Iater os
NJ ri. Andrews and the late IT M
Pullen Of Bangor. -'
Mr.. Cram has taught dancing for
years having conducted over 100
classes and is Well known as the
pest prompter in Maine.
MI cram is not claiming anv
championship, but he VIII prove his
aoliltY as a teacher of the old time
Years ball. 'iie NE"
Mr.. Cram has no use for the fazz
dl,pers now enjoyed and says that
when he taught dancing 1eeson.' -
taught good clean, moral danoino ii'
Virgil Crockett is a native 80 d..
cataquis county, born in Abbot H.
is the son of Columbus C,roc1,o+t
VINO owned farm in the sonther,,
cage OF Abbot, on which was 10
cated large brick yard. The burn-
ing or q large kiln of brick ea6h
ran used to be quite a local o,,oot
corn roasting and dancing on ~
ieVei yard. used for drvinp tbe
1rlck, We're the principal Festivities
NHsIl' at an early age, showed a
great hiking for music, and while
sun WORKING for his father on the
farm. managed to save moneI
enough to purchase a piano He
FIRST took lessons of Miss Carrie
Straw of Guilford.
In early manhood. he learned the
.insmith's trade and later went 70
Dexter where he has resided for the
8 around 20 years
A pianist of renown. he is ever IN
remand for local dances, PLAYING
'egularly each week at the knights
IF Pythias and I. o. O. f. bodies of
Dexter Mr.. Crockett has no use for
modern ;>zz dancing and is looking
onward to big revival of the old
ime dances.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. Maheu and son Rob-