New Britain herald., 1929-12-14

Retired But the Memory
 Lingers.
 Probably one of the achievements of radio in it's modern development, which is bringing more pleasure to the middle aged and older residents of New Britain than anything else Is the rcjuvcnatiOn of the beings which exist in the melodies of an other day. Program upon program Of jazz, vocal and inst rumcntHl. may come over the air without exciting their interest beyond the degree Of tolcratiOn as an evenings entertain. hcnt; all sorts of spell binders may shout about their favOritc subjects: numerous sketches of varying de- groeS of quality may attract the at tention or even hold the interest for q few minucs, but it takes only one one of the old-timc favorite love songs, a jingling rhyme or two set y thing else in the living room under orders from "pa and Ma"
 Many of the songs of q decade or two ago, which retain their appeal and in fact have proven the life blood of numerous programs which otherwise would have had difficulty making the grade. are peculiarly adapted to New Britain radio au- dienCcs because they were often featured by local singers in the various entertainment and produc- lions which pleased the thcat"r- 2oers in the days when home talent was we'll encouraged. Undoubtedly inc same is true in other commumi- lies, for the life of New England cities and towns a quarter of q ccn- turN ago included that form of en- t"rtainmcnt as an important phase Of it's social activity.
 Famous Singers. Famous songs
 "A Little Buch Of Shamrock" one of the song hits in the minstrel shows conducted and produced by the New Britain talent, floHtcd over Inc ether recently recalling 10 mind 1he sWsct soprano voice of IIugh tCnroN former Now Britainii .. who used it to stop the show" dur ing a performance at the State -Armory. The front lawn of the Y. N. T. A. l. E. Society property at Beaver and Washington streets fur nishcd the shamrock" in the form of q bunch of thrcc-lrHf clovcrS, but the little bouquet might have come direct from the ould sod" judGiu" by the reception the soIoists was ;c. corded.
 "Thc Violet, the Rose, and You.' "Mcct Me Tonight in Drcamland.' After the Ball" Coax Mr.' "Wh.l You and l Were Youn%. Ma%%iH. "Silvcr Threads Among the Gold, and dozens of other numbers which called for encore upon encore in the days Of tho Y. M. T. A. |> E, min Strcls. the White Rose lady min Strcls, the DiXi>s, the Ili-lienry and other groups to whom the heart touching ballad and the close har- mony quartet numbers were as cool water to the parchcd throat, are still not forgotten, though heard only occasionally.
 Louis Cranlry, singing "Thc nat my father wore upon St. Patricli':' bay" Tommy McCue in "Tallc NJ" up with you Dcaric,' Jack Kilduff in Rose Maric," Andrew J. Basso in My Garden Of Memory" Bill Lonchan in "The old Sunday dinner oI long time ago." Barney DegnHn in the cnd-song "DOWn where the watermelon grows" and Jack Cal lHhan on the other end, in I'm the guy were performers of hiGA grade of talent in demand about Connecticut, and best of all, they. with many others Of their rcapcc- tive periods, loved to sing howcvrr small or large the audience, or whatever the cause
 Temperament InknoWn
 The New Britain minstrel as a rule, did not know the meaning or temperament. All that was necessary 10 organize a troupe Was half u dCzcn ballad singers, pair or quar- let Of black faced coon -ShoutcrS for inc ends, d chorus and a piano player Let someone name the datc and the place. and the rest took carc oi itself. A rcuearSal or two, just though for the pianist 10 work 5I with the troupe, and presto, thrr,. was a show. Some of the better 1roupcs, however, being possessed 0. inc pride that would not permit them to risk a mediocre perform aHce. took their work seriously and rche0rscd various bits of "busincss" which added to the class of the offering.
 From the training received n this way, a number of New Brit ain young men made rrputations with their voices and were ever in demand for solo work at various af- fairs in and about Connections. James D. Donahue, well known m musical circles made one of his big gcst hits in his early days as an en- teuaincd singing Kelly" popular number fifteen years ago, while John J. kiniry's Humble Down Shack John O'Bricn's Hoses of Picardy' and before that, Irish mans Dream were sure fire hits. Bernard (Bob) Pagan of Milford. d former local resident, was a mem Der of the Y. NJ. T. A. L B. Society