Bridgeport Band 1926

The researchers were interested in this photo when it was donated and wanted to learn as much about it as they could. By reviewing the 1926 newspapers they have learned that the Bridgeport band had a busy schedule that summer.

The band gave its first open air concert on Friday night June 5, at Lanterman Park under the direction of Merle Schmalhausen. They played 10 or 12 numbers in a concert that lasted a little over an hour.  The pieces were all well rendered and drew plenty of applause.  The rather cool evening perhaps limited the number of those attending.  Many people preferred to remain in their cars which circled the park although quite a few were near the pavilion on which the band was located. The band also had a refreshment stand at the park with all proceeds going to the band.  Having the concerts at the park had several advantages over the previous year’s method of having them on Main Street because there was plenty of parking space, plenty of standing room and almost no noise.  The band was as large as the year before and contained many fine musicians. Unfortunately, none of them were named.

The second concert of the season was given on June 29 and was attended by a much larger crowd than attended the first.  It was given at the corner of Main and Chestnut, starting at about 8 o’clock and lasting about an hour.  Cars were parked crosswise across the streets thus preventing the musicians from being annoyed by traffic as has usually been the case in former street concerts.  The crowd especially liked the old-time pieces that the band played.

The newspaper noted that the band secured the Southern Amusement Company for the Fourth of July that year. A baseball game was set to be played in the afternoon. Since the Fourth fell on a Sunday, the celebration was held on Monday July 5th. The program included an all-day concert by the Bridgeport band, with speaking and a ball game in the afternoon.  A merry- go- round and a Ferris wheel furnished amusement and there were several stands. The band sponsored the event. The ball game was the regular Lawrence County League with the Bridgeport and St Francisville nines locking horns.  It was played on the local diamond near the Ohio Machine shops.

The newspaper noted after the event, that the crowd attending rivaled that of a fair day. Even though the carnival company located in the park was a small one with the chief items of interest being a merry- go- round and a Ferris wheel they were heavily patronized by the crowd.  Several stands did a thriving business, the one run by the Bridgeport American Legion selling out all it had in the afternoon. 

The Bridgeport band that sponsored the celebration played through the entire day starting just before noon. The band was in the pavilion which was the center of the crowd.

The hot weather of the afternoon probably caused many to stay away but with the cooler weather of the evening a continuous line of cars began to move into the park.  Since this was the only celebration in Lawrence County people were present from all parts of the county.  The ball game was played between Bridgeport and St Francisville with the Saints being victorious 9 to 7.

The next event was when the Bridgeport band played for the Farmers’ Picnic on August 18, 1926, at Lanterman Park beginning shortly before noon and continued all through the remainder of the day until five o’clock.

The band then began advertising for the Lawrence County fair by going to Sumner and Olney to give a free concert. Fair boosters traveling as a delegation of fifteen or twenty cars escorted the band. Small red and white caps advertising the fair were worn to let everyone know where the delegation was from.  Following this concert two nights later they gave another one in Flat Rock and Robinson.

In September the Lawrence County Fair was held and the Bridgeport band furnished plenty of music.  The newspaper said they played for the 8 free acts and played a short concert before each session.  Researchers believe the picture was taken at this event and includes the “entertainers” or free acts.   These were: The Haas Brothers with their aerial act, the Larazolas, a trapeze act, Grudie Mack, the Franklins, the Weber Girls and the Gordon Brothers-all skilled in tumbling, Lamont with his trained birds and the four Girton Girls performing on bicycles.  Bobby Brooks of Lawrenceville supplied a bit of local talent with his dancing the Charleston. Once again none of the band members nor performers are identified in the actual photo.  If anyone has any information about the band or any of these people, or if you would like to become one of our history detectives please contact lawrencelore@gmail.com