Evening star., 1943-04-01
From Under the Big Top
Harry James Gave Up Contortionism
For Trumpet and Hollywood Cash

went INTO the cold. Last February
he had the pleasure of buying back
Goodman'S share-to the tune of
$4,000.
In October, 1941. he made a
recording of You Made Me Love
You," which sold over a million
copies That was followed by IT
Don't Want to Walk Without You"
a theater tour, stint at the Holly
wood Palladium, a breaking of
records at the Astor roof in New
York and three pictures. He and
his band are now on their fourth
film, BEST Foot Forward" and have
two more contracted for. =
The external vestiges OF this sue
cess range from being voted top
trumpeter in magazine poll to hav-
ing 167 Harry James Fan Clubs
spread across the country. One
of these recently gave him a gold
watch for his birthday. Harry is
only rs years old, and fame hasn't
changed him. He remains a quiet
boy who loves to blow a horn. He
also talks well, reads a lot, has out
side interests and is intelligent. His
men like him.
Hes not a boss" one says. HE
doesn't bully us for what he wants.
He doesn't try to be big shot.
And he sure can blow!"
He's thrilled by his success. of
course. I remember watching him
one day when he was told that
national radio show was going to
give him special award. The trill
on that trumpet was glorious to
hear.
But he's also amused by his fame
When he was told that he would
not only play and act but dance
in BEST Foot Forward" his COM
ment was:
That will be the greatest routine
ever to hit the cutting room foor!"
Outside of music, his ruling pas
sion is baseball. He was crushed
when the Dodgers lost the pennant.
He was blissful when his band team
beat the music publishers of Los
Angeles. 10 to 8. In the halcyon
days before curtailment of one
nighters, he and his group used to
throw a ball around on the slightest
provocation. When their bus got a
fiat tire, a game was organized while
it was fixed.
He has even hired men because
they could play ball. Blond "Corky"
Corcoran, one of his saxes, was only
II when he was considered for a Job.
His age made it difficult from a legal
standpoint. But, Harry agreed to
becoming his legal guardian when
he found that "Corky" was ter
rifle shortStop.
Another OF Harry's greatest loves
is burnt" steaks, a bit of a prob
lem at present. He lives in Beverly
Hills with his manager, Peewee
Monti. They usually go out to eat,
because they can't find meat at the
stores.
He wears a moustache because
it affects his playing lip to shave.
The highest note he ever blew was
B above high C-practically a record.
He adores westerns, can never
tear up or throw away a picture,
and wears his wedding ring on the
fourth finger of his right hand. At
present, he and his wife are sep
arated, though he often sees his two
infant sons. Harry and Timothy.
He likes Ring Lardner and the
funny papers. He likes to listen to
other bands, says it's necessary in
his business. Tommy Dorsey, Duke
Ellington, and Jimmy Lunceford are
high on his list.
Another passion is clothes. No
one is quite sure how many suits he
has, though off the stand he Is
usually seen in slacks and wild tweed
jackets. His tails cost between $l25
and $3.50, are midnight blue.