Evening star., 1946-07-17

night club down there called THE
Bar OF Music and has been told
by James c. Petrillo, the man who
seems intent on proving that Hitler
isn't dead. that he can't continue
to play the piano in his own club
unless he takes out card with Pc
trillos American Federation of
Musicians.
Jordans partner in the two-piano
act, the stand-out feature of The
Bar of Music" has been forced to
quit by Petrillo, but Jordan is play
ing on.
It's All Too Complex.
"And I will continue to play-Pe-
trillo or no Petrillo," Jordan told
me, "as long as there is a roof to
the place. I don't care If I wind up
as the only act, and have to cook
and serve the food, and tend bar.
I am not going to take out card
with the ATM. I don't want to do
any flag waving. but that sort of
thing isn't what I was in the Army
| for"
Jordan served a right fair stint
In the Army. He went in as a private
and came out as tech sergeant.
Il was in there for three years" he
told me. "and / didn't have to go.
volunteered when I was we'll past
40, and I managed to get In despite
the fact that I am blind in one eye.
Now I am back with the business I
started on shoestring in 1887
started in rundown bungalow that
had few leaks here and there. I
have quarter of a million dollars
invested in the business now, and
no one is going to hold a club over
my head. No matter what happens.
even II the business goes to pot. I'll
come out with my self-respect as an
American citizen"
Bill Jordan tried to explain to me
the why's. the wherefores, the ifs, the
butts, and the ramifications of his
dealings with the ATM, but it was
all too complex for me. I remember
him telling me that the ATM said if
he was classified as a musician he
could work but six days a week,
but that II he was classified as an
act he could work seven days a week.
but. once classified as an act. he
couldn't accompany any of the other
acts in the floor show Of The Bar
of Music
Does 1t Make Sense?
II am the owner" Bill Jordan told
me. but they tell me I can't work
with any of the acts engage and
pay If 7 join as a musician, can
play six nights a week, when my
act even II I say so, is one of the
main attractions of my place. One
night a week I must just sit it out,
and ask the customers to come in and
buy food and drink and not be able
to hear me play. Does that make
sense? What kind Of country are
we getting to be when a man who
built business, and is willing to
work at 1t seven days a week to
make 1t go, Is told he can't do any
such thing? 7 just won't bow to any
such sort of thing"
Bill Jordan isn't live player.
The show at The Bar of Music" he
told me, is based on classical music.
Just about the lightest thing in his
repertoire is Gershwin's Rhapsody
in Blue" For the most part, Bill
and his partner (until said partner
was yanked by James C. Petrillo)
swing and sway with such numbers
as the Warsaw Concerto" Grieg's
Peer Gynt Suite" and the "B Flat
Minor Concerto" by Tschaikowsky.
You know, I often wonder why
Petrillo never has put the finger
on me. have no card In the AIM.
but many is the evening I sit In the
front porch swing and with the
moon shining soft on the termite-
ridden stops, entertain the neigh
bors with That's Where My Money
Goes" on my ukelele. Hold 'em,
Jordan.
Distributed by McNaurht Syndicsts Trr