The Key West citizen., 1952-10-04
AN EVENING
"OVERSEAS"
Ry IAxoM

lovely Seven Mile bridge, bathed
in silver moonlight, is short in.
deed with the treat in store Like
the pot of gold at the end of
the rainbow is the sparkling show
presented nightly at the Overseas
Lodge these evenings.
When he was entertaining night
ly at Logun's in Key West, this
reporter reviewed the Overseas
Lodges Bob Silva. Thursday we
saw for the first time the panto-
mime act which was not set up
on our first visit. While it has
many funny moments, like the old
old movie take off of the soldier
and the Red Cross nurse. and a
few hySterical gimmicks like the
glasses he wears when mining
Cry" and from which water
pours in heart breaking streams,
this reporter honestly believes
that Silva should stick to music.
His own piano accompaniment TO his
unusual and husky vocal is ade-
quate, and we could listen to it for
hours on end.
Highlight, to our party, was the
artistry of Earl and Betty Grimm,
a duo who are able to produce
many effects with few instruments.
AT one time, Betty was playing the
electric console guitar and the
Solovox with her hands and con-
trolling the volume and tone of one
instrument with her left knee and
the volume and control of the
other instrument with her right
knee. 1t led me to wonder what
would happen if her nose started
to itch. The answer came when
she started playing the guitar with
only one hand, Earl giving sup
port on the banjo.
Another number had complete
changeover - Earl from guitar to
banjo and Betty from Solovox and
drum to Solovox and electric gui-
tar without losing a note of the
melody or rythm. Betty is also
able to effect an excellent bass
on the guitar using only one hand.
get the impression that Betty
and Earl are having themselves
a wonderful time while being paid
for being entertaining to all listen
ers.
These people are old time troup-
ers with young faces, ideas, and
arrangements. Betty is a former
organist with some of the biggest
Theatres in the Midwest, and
Earl played withs Russ Morgan,
Paul Whiteman and the Cliquot
Club Escorts before joining forces
with Betty and forming their own
band. They have been popular
entertainers in Florida and Texas,
having their own radio program in
Texas. Earl also had the first
band to play on New York's first
radio station, WIZ. in 1920.
The night this reporter journey
ed to Marathon to see the show
was the night Of the Mystery Tune.
Everyone is given ticket having
a number. Betty and Earl play the
tune several times during the even
ing. and several times Bob Silva
conducts an award. Lucky ticket
holder gets a chance to identity
a popular tune, and If he succeeds,
a try at the Mystery tune for a
large prize. The first contestant
was a wee bit in his cups. Irish
Eyes are Smiling was the first
tune. but he didn't seem to get the
smile, so the generous manage
ment gave him a drink on the
house anyhow. He didn't need i.
The next contestant was a LADY
who was able to identity the first
tune. but failed on the Mystery
Tune. Your reporter could remem-
Der most Of the words Of the very
old tune. but unfortunately there
were no clues to the title; but
We found out anyway. II was
eThe Song of the Wanderer" and
most haunting.
We couldn't stay to see II any
one won the grand prize, but the
moonlit trip back was eoflpensa-
tlon We had a grand time at the
Overseas Lodge and would Like 70
thank our host. We'd also like TO
saw in parting. that It's . grana
place 10 spend an evening, ana
a