Evening star., 1945-09-18

DO you blame us Tor Delng sur
priSed? Guess the Spectator has
put the same question to literally
hundreds of band leaders but that's
the first time we ever got an answer
like this one.
What was the greatest thrill sol
far in your career?
Now, of course, you see how this
question of rather simple propor-
tions might easily lead to rela-
lively profound discussion. In other
words, the boys don't always come
directly to the point. You would be
surprised how frequently it takes an
hour or even longer to relate such
experiences. For instance, the time
they made a movie in Hollywood,
or more often, their concert debut
as child prodigy.
After about the SD band leader
you get into rut. You've heard
everything, or so the Spectator
thought until we put the finger on
one George Cardini Maestro Car
DIM stood right in the Metronome
Room and told us point blank what
thrilled him. 1t seems some one took
him aside and mentioned casually
that he was every bit as good as
Gene Autry! OF course, it's under
standable that a Town Hall concert
violinist might not get this sort of
compliment every day.
The Spectator ignored the i'm
pulse to inquire if the maestro
knew exactly who Gene Autry was.
Instead we engaged Signor Cardini
in conversation concerning his COL
orful career which began some
years ago in Genoa, Italy. Being
born there. George naturally had
no choice about fiddling. Everybody
| fiddles or sings, or both, in Genoa.
But George, we gather, was eX-
ira special. because he was asked to
play before Benito himself Mus
solini. you know. was also violinist
and in those days when he ap-
| plauded struggling young musician
it meant something
Strangely enough. music was the
only thing upon which Signor Car
DIM and ~ Duce agreed. In fact,
things came to such a pretty state
of affairs that Signor Cardini de-
cided it would be wiser to further
his career on the other side of the
Atlantic He arrived in this country
in 1888 to find that the music busi-
ness was run just a little differently
in the United States. Here makers
of popular music were as respected
in their field as great opera stars
or concert violinistS.
Also" George laughed, Il found
1t was the surest way of eating"
Since George formed his band
he's been eating regularly, we might
add. Which just about brings you
up to date on the Metronome band
leader, except for maybe one thing
The fan responsible for George S
thrill, the one who thinks he de-
serves to rate with Gene Autry, hap
pens to be Georges 8year-old son
! The Spectator wouldn't bother to
mention it except we think Tony
Craigs got what it takes If only the
Trade Winds singer would give his
voice the break it deserves Evident
ily its not just us. Several young
things who think Tony is too, toe
handsome" have put forth the same
question
Why doesn't he just relax and
sing? If Tony wasn't quite so tense
in front of the mike the patrons
could relax and enjoy it too.
Somebody else you're sure to ap-
plaud in the show this week is Lynn
Ashley. Reason Lynn's particularly
good in that prima donna routine is
because at one time she studied for
opera seriously.
4 II"
When Thelma Badell told us she
once taught dancing to 80 small