The Big Band Era
Elgin played in a dance band in the 1930's- click the arrow above to hear some of the songs he might have played!
 |
| Texas St. Houston, 1930 |
Houston was booming in the 1930's. Downtown Houston was a growing city built on the petroleum culture. The Petroleum Building and the Gulf Building were completed in 1929, and soon fine department stores such as Sakowitz Bros. and Levys Dry Goods opened to consumers.
 |
| Sakowitz Bros. 1929 |
My dad was a stylish dresser in those days; but he was always thrifty - I wonder where he shopped for his clothes?
 |
| Elgin and Aletheia Garrison |
There were plenty of thing for a young man to do in the city of Houston; one of the biggest raves was to go to the movie theatre. The Metropolitan Theatre was built in 1926 on Main Street. This lavish theatre could seat over 2,000 people, and had an organ and a hydraulic orchestra pit that could raise and lower for performances. Nearby were several more movie theatres to choose from; including the Kirby and Lowes.
 |
| The interior of the Metropolitan with a lavish Egyptian theme- popular after the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922 |
 | ||||
| Gary Cooper "The Texan" and Laurel and Hardy- 1930 |
 |
| A novelty in 1930- the Metropolitan boasted air conditioning! Surely a big atraction in the heat of the Houston summers! |
As fond as he was of music and dance bands, I can imagine that he may have brought a few dates to the Rice Hotel to go dancing!
Elgin and Hacker played in "The Shell Serenaders." Dad loved music and never sold his coronet. He surely loved playing in this dance band!
 |
| Elgin, first coronet on far left, Hacker to the left of the drum. |
However, my favorite story about my father's life as a young bachelor in Houston
has always been about the time he went on a wild date to Galveston on his
motorcycle. Here is a picture (without the date!) Galveston is about 50
miles from Houston!
I bet that was quite a date!
 |
| Elgin Garrison on his motorcycle at Galveston Beach |
Some more 1930's dance band music!
My Grandfather, Martin Marrie is in the photo of the Shell Serenaders. Top row, in the middle of the 3 violinist.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to email me...
lisadeats@hotmail.com
Thanks so much for adding your comment, Lisa! Your grandfather and my father surely knew each other while playing with the Serenaders! If you know anything more about the band, I would love to hear all about it. Just as a side note, my father insisted that my sister and I play the violin when we were in school! My sister was very good at it and enjoyed it, however I was not very good at it and never did enjoy it! Had you ever seen a copy of this picture, or do you by any chance have any more? Thanks, Janice
Delete