Evening star., 1950-07-09
THE SUNDAY STAR, Washington. D. G.
SUNDAY JULY 3. 1850
-H.. Kelley Toughest
Of CoIonno's Critics
Priest Objected to q Whisky Tenor
In Boston St. Mays Boys Choir
By jaw cormody

1t not one Of the more widely facts Of jerry colonnae
e-not even by Bob Hope-but Jerry s exile from boys
St Marys Boys Choir Boston the Kelley Ions
heard Colonna his first public appearance age of TO-
Which the one with the whisky tenor? Father Kelley asked
few seconds later Coonna free
directions which, knows has much
successfully than Father Kelley foresaw.
Colonna who appearing Capitol Theater to the
delight large public his generous italian heart to
forgive his first pastor for this quick sharp judgment his
himself unapprecatve genius at the time
Thut coruso, What Greet Clown
Father Kelley" he "only misudged raised him
myself was only The occasion was one
of carusos at the Boston Opera had
enaed watching carso beat his chest and fall the
while shouting the famous prologue.
clown that ever lived went around for months shouting
streets of Boston mind made that would
exactly the kind of later naturally
bushed for ignorance which is than Father Kelley
to do for his judgment of my voice."
coonna has looked at life long enough and from wide
variety angles to enen with his anecdotes
him that heatergoe many who are
someoews patrons arehat he can play trombone
like virtuoso.
Monopoly on the Trombone
AS matter of fact, there time and Tommy
Dorsey rcnopoy business New York It
the mid sOs recession which followed the collapse Of 1929
He and Tommy splitting all the big recording shows
weekly paying 500 s115 They
cutting 5minute plaers for radio for such prominent
Rubinon alone had contract yearly
eona recalls and Rich must have had small group
s0f tor notch instrumentalists worked each show.
Colonna himself busy he had time only to play
eat and sleep with idle moment count the
money he making
Mrs. Nussbuum Changed Course Of His Life
AS young with horn would he counted this the
good life thought stay with always He might have done
It, too Minerva Plus who played Mrs. Nussbaum
Fred Aliens radio program.
Colonna on show. ALSO Van
Stedens band Minnie Miss Plus knew about Coonna's vocal
sdae and night she told Allen about Coonna and his
epeac talent Allen insisted addition and Colonnas
Of concert music almost literally knocked him out
o. 1ls chair.
He insisted Coonna do the same bit on the program which he
did between trombone numbers couple Of weeks later Some
thing happened then which Colonna
which left him philosophy that life takes charge Of humans
vice versa.
I got an Offer from Hollywood he says "It annoyed me-
was making that money pumping horn all
happily after asked myself what Hollywood to
me- Hollywood-somet like Hamlet. Novelties like
that however went thinking would be three
orAfour weeks.
He Viii Never Forget Thut Addition
"At least this first thought It only
the addition when said word thank you
changed mind about it being threeweek job. felt
right then and there packed horn and walked out
wondering when the next plane left for York Still nobody
said anything
II had not far however some one yelled at
to back asked him. What the for? and nearly
dropped dead when he replied that great just what they
wanted"
1897 startles Colonna to think that he
never did get back to the and those 6 obs
He likes being back rorweek vaudeville performer
nxf OF them the current engagement at the Capitol.
His major interest teeyon which probably will leave
MIN with less time work his which had
time to study despite his Father Kelley kicked
him out of the boys choir Boston