The Amazing Musical Talent of Jud Conlon 

A full chapter devoted to Dubuque's amazingly talented Jud Conlon appears in "Entertaining Dubuque-The Untold Story. In this blog I am able to present some of his great talent in audio form. 

One of the most prized of all George Shearing LP's is that which he recorded with the Jud Conlon Choir. "Night Mist," released in June 1957 by Capitol records, has not been re-released in the USA. A 1962 version re-issued in Japan is now selling on Amazon for $250. I was pleased to locate several YouTube presentations to share with you. Click on the title of each selection. It will open in YouTube. 

Night Mist

Cubano Chant

Imagination

Darn That Dream

Polka Dots & Moonbeams

Another recording session on Coral with tenor sax man Georgie Auld produced another memorable series of songs which also have not been re-released. 

Manhattan - Georgie Auld with Jud Conlon Singers

On The Alamo - Georgie Auld with the Jud Conlon Singers

A Room with a View - Georgie Auld with the Jud Conlon Singers

Early Autumn - Georgie Auld with the Jud Conlon Singers

On the Alamo - Georgie Auld with the Jud Conlon Singers

Harlem Nocturne - Georgie Auld with the Jud Conlon Singers

Lullaby of Broadway - Georgie Auld with the Jud Conlon Singers

Just You, Just Me - Georgie Auld with the Jud Conlon Singers

The late Jud Conlon remains a Dubuque musical treasure. I hope you enjoyed these selections. To read more about him, get a copy of "Entertaining Dubuque-The Untold Story." It's available at River Lights Books in downtown Dubuque, or directly from me. 

Paul Hemmer

John P. Mulgrew - Dubuque's Prolific Playwright An update

I hope you've already read about John P. Mulgrew in the chapter devoted to his exceptional talent in "Entertaining Dubuque-The Untold Story." 

"He wrote at least 21 stage plays, hundreds of newspaper columns, comedy skits for Fred Allen, Jack Benny and “Uncle Ezra,” was a devout Catholic and a loyal Dubuquer to the end.

John Patrick Mulgrew was born January 12, 1886, to M.J. and Mary Farley Mulgrew. They lived above the family bakery at 3^rd & Main. He started creative writing when he was in second grade at St. Raphael, continued at Dubuque High School, and hit his stride at St. Joseph’s (Loras) College."

The chapter goes on to describe his many successes on Broadway and writing for radio. Recently I found this "Uncle Ezra" article in a 1940 issue of a short-lived magazine, "Radio Varieties." Although attributed to actor Pat Barrett, who played the role on radio, the author is obviously John Mulgrew. The short poem at the end is typical Mulgrew wit. I hope you enjoy it and that you'll read the chapter that describes this clever Dubuque man. 

 Margaret Lindsay - A Dubuque Movie Star - Update

In my last blog post I presented newly found images of Dubuque's great vaudeville star, Joe Frisco. This week I'm pleased to present some excellent new images and information from "Screenland," "Picture Play," and "New Movies" magazines. The photo above was published in the December 1933 "Screenland" after Margaret's appearance in "Cavalcade." The film version of Noel Coward's play won 3 Oscars. Margaret played a small, memorable role in this classic. She gained immediate attention and was promoted in a number of popular fan magazines. These images have not been seen for decades. I found them in the UCLA Media Library during my continuing research of Dubuque's unique & entertaining past.

John Warburton & Margaret Lindsay in "Cavalcade."

To refresh your memory on this talented Dubuque native, here is an excerpt from her chapter in "Entertaining Dubuque-The Untold Story." 

Margaret Kies was born in Dubuque September 19, 1910, to John and Bertha Kies, the first of their five children. The family lived at 1070 Melrose Terrace where her neighborhood friends knew her as "Peg," a tomboy who loved climbing trees, roller skating, and the typical outdoor activity of youngsters of the era. She attended grade and high school at Visitation Academy and graduated in 1927. Margaret appeared in many of the school’s theater productions, took dance lessons from Mrs. Grace Clark and appeared in several of dance recitals at the Grand Opera House. She also danced with dozens of other young local dancers in the July 1927 production of “Pandora at Lilac Time” a lavish touring musical production staged at the Majestic. Her father, a successful druggist, knew Margaret's dream was acting, so he sent her to study at the National Park Seminary in Washington DC and then at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. It was there she realized that the significant dramatic roles in theater and movies were going to British actors. So, in 1932 Margaret and a fellow actor friend, Charles (Bob) Cummings from Joplin, Missouri, traveled together to England where they both picked up English accents and honed their skills working in stock company roles. After six months they booked passage as brother and sister and headed back to the states.

Picture Play Magazine presented their version of the story in this two page "expose" in October of 1933. 

The following year Picture Play did another glamour story on Lindsay by featuring her in a segment called "Fan Favorites."

Another three page photo story appeared the in 1935. 

Glamour shots of Margaret were also featured in New Movies Magazine, which in 1934 had the largest circulation of all fan magazines. These two pages, also featuring her co-star, promoted her latest Warner Brothers film, "The Dragon Murder Case."

Here are a few "stills" from movies in which Margaret co-starred with many of the big names in Hollywood in the 1930s and 40s. 

with Humphrey Bogart in "Fury" (1936)

With Errol Flynn and Anita Louise in "Green Light" (1937)

With Warren Hull in "The Law in Her Hands"

With Lyle Talbot in "The Dragon Murder Case" 

 

  

"Entertaining Dubuque-The Untold Story" is available at River Lights Bookstore or a signed copy is available directly from me at rdbqpaul@gmail.com

 Joe Frisco - Dubuque's Vaudeville Star      

If you've read the Joe Frisco chapter in "Entertaining Dubuque-The Untold Story," you'll be interested to see this new information I've uncovered in my continuing research.

The first item was found in the TH archives from January 10, 1927. It refers to an article in the Saturday Evening Post which mentions Joe in relation to a famous Rectors Restaurant at 44th & Broadway in the 1920s. 

 

This story doesn't agree with information found when I researched the multi-page article in my book, but I present it to reflect another of the many stories that demonstrate the importance of Joe Frisco to big-time show business at the time. 

The second item was found in Motion Picture Weekly a trade publication in the 1920s and early 30s. It announces and promotes Joe's first "talkie" - an RKO two-reel film. A few months later he was signed to a full-length feature - "The Gorilla."

Joe's story is one of an uneducated free spirit with a unique talent who made it good in show business. Look at these reviews from his return to New York's famed Palace Theater in 1929. 

His distinctive cigar earned him endorsement dollars from Admiration Cigars.

This 1931 magazine article gives another take on his unique life.

In March of 1943, Joe was mentioned in Variety. His comments were typical "Joe Frisco." 

The only film footage of Joe Frisco's clever dance routine is seen in the movie "Atlantic City" produced by Republic Pictures in 1944. 

And here is Joe's unique "Frisco Dance" - the forerunner of Michael Jackson's Moonwalk.

As I continue to research the history of Dubuque entertainment and entertainers, I'll likely find more on Joe. Come back to the blog often and you'll be surprised at more items I've uncovered. 

For instance, here is a review of Joe Frisco's act at a popular Los Angeles Club, Grace Hayes Lodge on February 18, 1939 

Another Joe Frisco Review from Variety October 7, 1942

Here's another Frisco review from The Olympia in Miami from March 25, 1943

In March of 1947, Joe was still making nightclub audiences laugh. 

 

If you don't own a copy of this limited edition hard-cover 510-page book which is loaded with photographs and old advertising, it is available at River Lights Bookstore. A signed copy can be obtained by contacting me at rdbqpaul@gmail.com

                                 Dubuque's Model Electric Home         August 1925

Recently I saw a post in the Facebook site "Dubuque-Past & Present" about the unique home at Kirkwood and Alta Vista. While researching "Entertaining Dubuque-The Untold Story (1900-1999)" I found many pages of information about the home which I saved and post here for all those interested. The pages are from August 23, 27 & 28 of 1925. I think you'll find them fascinating for not only information on the house, but the many local businesses involved. 

If you enjoy this, you'll enjoy my limited edition book which is still available either at River Lights Bookstore or a signed copy from me. Contact rdbqpaul@gmail.com. 

$50.00 / Free shipping or personal delivery.

rdbqpaul@gmail.com