| Leo Reisman with band. Reisman was a violinist with the Baltimore Symphony before starting his orchestra in the early 1920's. The band mostly played good dance arrangments and show tunes for the 'high society' crowd. In the late 1920's, he brought his orchestra to New York City where he played at the Hotel Brunswick (10 years), and in the Central Park Casino. Composer Jerome Kern called Reisman's orchestra "the String Quartet of Dance Bands." In the days when music stores were selling sheet music, classical and popular, customers had the services of a pianist who would play selections of their choice. At twelve years of age Leo Reisman was doing just that and playing his violin in the orchestra of The Bijou Dream Theater. He won a scholarship at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, became first violinist in the Baltimore Symphony, but deserted the classical field to put his own orchestra in hotels and on the Keith Vaudeville Circuit. His first broadcast was probably made as were those of many early radio performers, in connection with Keith. He was featured at The Waldorf Astoria, The Central Park Casino, and The Park Central Hotel and over the air for the Philip Morris Series. A quadruple threat man, Leo conducted, played both violin and piano, and announced his probrams. | ||
| Control Number: | 42.030 |
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| Collection: | LAB | |
| Provenance: | Havrilla | |
| CD Number: | 7293 3252 3824 | |
| Date: | 01/01/1935 | |
| Keywords: | bands, microphone, music, radio, | |
