[Leica] [OM] IMG: From Waaaaay Back

[Jim Nichols]

Philippe,

This was 1948 or1949.  Out of the fifteen musicians in the band, I 
believe twelve were veterans of WWII, going to school under the GI Bill 
of Rights.  Several had families and were living under the pressure of 
carrying a full college load.  To them, life WAS serious.

The lead trombonist that night worked for the Post Office in a 
neighboring town, and had his own Saturday night band that played at the 
local club.  I hitch-hiked over and played with him many times.  I was 
right fresh from high school, and another of the sax players was a high 
school senior.  With all of the older students enrolled, college life 
was not that light-hearted scene depicted in the movies.

I worked with the bands to lighten the financial load on my parents, who 
had two kids in college at the time.  It was good experience, but it was 
serious business.

On 3/10/20 1:22 AM, Philippe via LUG wrote:
> They all look so serious - Can you confirm they really were? All of them? ;-)
>
> Amities
>
> Philippe
>
>
>
>> Le 9 mars 2020 à 22:59, Jim Nichols <jhnichols at lighttube.net> a écrit :
>>
>> Occasionally, I recall photos from a long time ago, and check to see if I still have them in my files.  This one is from the late 1940s, the time of Speed Graphics and large flash bulbs, and was probably shot by Stanley Coumbe, one of my classmates who shot for the college paper, The Reflector.  I found a black and white 8x10 glossy stuck between the pages of one of my yearbooks, and scanned it.
>>
>> This was the first of several college bands I played with, to help with college expenses.  This was about 1948, and there were still a large number of veterans enrolled under the GI Bill. Looking at the group, I think all except two or three were in that category.  I'm the fourth guy from the right in the front row. Red Terry, who ran the band at this time, is the bass player.  I think I can name them all, so I'm not senile yet.
>>
>> The occasion was a Sorority Dance for the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.
>>
>> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/20020430-Collegians+1.JPG.html
>>
>> Demand for large, 15-piece bands went away around 1950, when they were replaced by smaller combos with loud amplifiers.
>>
>> -- 
>> Jim Nichols
>> Tullahoma, TN USA
>>
>> -- 
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-- 
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA