Evening star., 1935-07-05
JAZZ ~
INSTALLMENT

SaS City, entnroned on It's nils
overlooking the confluence of
the wooded Kaw and the dun-colored
Missouri; its odoriferous packing
plants amidst the smoky railroad
yards crisscrossing the West Bottoms;
its teeming lanes beneath towering
skyscrapers: its svelte hotels and
stately residences; its broad boule-
wards, shining strips of asphalt wind
ing over hills and along bluffs: its
many viaducts, alive with drumming
humanity.
A city of today!
Several miles from Twelfth and
Main, Sunday afternoon throngS made
merry at an amusement park. The
hot June sun reflected dazzlingly
on the garishly- painted stands and
from the blue-green waters of the
artificial lake. Scores of tanned
bathers lined the springboards. Others
lay half-buried in the sand at the edge
of the water and watched their more
active comrades as they disported in
the cool depths. On the midway
shows. concessions. rides. games, all
attracted their share of the milling.
shifting. perspiring hundreds Re-
freshment stands resounded with the
tinkle of their cash registers as iced
drinks trickled down eager parched
throatS.
In the Trocadero, long, succeed
structure of Moorish design, its min
arets rising above the trees along the
lake, a dance band played intermit-
tently, the Say0phoneS blending in
organ-like harmony, seeming to vie
TfJif 0n hi Of TOD v~a%-
before background of soft cadence
supplied by the rhythm instruments.
At intervals they blared forth in hot"
numbers to which the drummer con-
tributed well-timed blows Singularly
like wood-chopping, then drifted into
lazy waltZeS where violinS sang De-
spite the heat, the floor was crowded.
while around the sides of the vast, dim
room, scores reclined in deep divans
or sat upon upholstered benches. talk
Sleek-headed boys, graceful girls. they
danced effortlessly. apologetic at COL
isions, good-humoredly pushing and
croWding at the exits after each dance.
Toward the end of the afternoon
the orchestra swung into its custo-
mary closing number and the tune,
familiar to most of the dancers, habi-
tues of the place, started many of
them toward the check rooms. The
matinee dance was over.
On the terraced stage before the
shell-shaped sound amplifier there
was sudden activity. Lighters fared
as they were applied to cigarettes. Gold
saxophones reflected the lights on
music racks as they were hurriedly
deprived of their mouthpieceS and laid
in their beds of blue velvet. Then
a swapping of instrument cases; scrap
ing of chairs; voices raised argu-
mentatively; plans made; gradual
exodus in twos and threeS-white-cla
figures moving across the shining
deserted floor
The foremost trio paused in the
foyer and appeared to debate a point
Two of them regarded the third ques-
tioningly.
Can you imagine a guy like that,
Bud?" complained the rotund blond
one. "One word outa him an we
coulda been invited over t. Ivy Wells
for tiffln-bless my soul. There'd been
carloads of bonded stuff, nine differ
ent kinds of sandwiches an Filipino
t carry EN- in to va. Why, we wouldn't
even had to smoke our own cigarettes"
Bud, who had been fullback-and
looked it-seemed bored. He yawned
openly.
The gentleman CT generous girth
spoke further. His expression was
that of any one freshly stabbed
AN that flock of babes with her
not dud in tn dozen. But, moths
nine days wonder has t. pipe up an
say-he's sorry but he's tied up till
$50. He's sorry! Are we smirkin'
with pleasure? He's tied UPS that
laugh! Since when has his calendar
got so heavy? Tied up! You'd think
he wuz greeter for Greater Kansas
City"
He paused to pant in scorn. The
object of criticism, Paul Machanello,
dark-haired, 25, and strummer of
banjo and guitar, eyed his censors
with an air of one detained by un-
important trif1es.
You don't like it?" he inquired
coolly. "Whadda you want me to
do-shed tears?"
The stout boy purpled to the edge
of his hair. He waved his arms spas
medically. Are you a pal! Put tn
about it! After all I've done for
"Twenty-one, aintcha? You can go
over there without me. I'm not your
grandmother"
You're tellin' me? My grand
mother was human"
What you say-surprises me-"
Jaw, now, listen, Paul. We can't |
60 over there without an invitation
an one little word from you woulda-
besides, Jess Whitewood is probably in
tn crowd, an
"NoW-you're tellin' me. I'm way
ahead of you, son. That's one of the
reasons I'm not so keen about it. Run |
and tell her that, Big Mouth"
"Huh-maybe you think I won't!
I'll pile it on. I'll make you out the |
chiseler that you are"
Sure you will. That's your busi-
ness-you overstuffed scandal-ped-
dler."
You go to hell! You got it comm. |
And that amt tn first verse!"
Paul turned abruptly away and
started down the entrance steps, the
unmoved Bud at his side They made
for the rear of the dance hall, where
Puny. the disgruntled fat youth, gazed
hotly after them moment, then fol-
lowed, his continued remonstrance
falling upon unheeding ears. They
whirled the roadster out from its
parking space and he had to run to
catch them.
Bud, at the wheel, raced the motor
tentatively. Screw yourself in here"
ordered Paul, "if you're goin' with
U.s."
They sped downward. Bud twisting
the little car in and out Of traffic with |
q practiced hand and a marvellous
judgment Of inches only between
hurtling tenders. His two passengers
clung to gear lever and door handle,
respectively, and resumed the discus
sion Of their differences.
Half way in on MCGEE, they slid to |