music and a Packard

[TC Chris]

I know we have Packard fans here, and some jazz listeners.

Google's little logo today was in honor of Adelaide Hall. Who? She was a jazz singer who is in the Guinness book for recording in 8 decades. She recorded with Duke Ellington, among others. But I needed Wikipedia to learn about her, and it included this:

In New York in October 1927, Hall recorded her wordless vocals on "Creole Love Call" and "The Blues I Love To Sing" with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra,[41] and on November 3, 1927, Hall recorded "Chicago Stomp Down" with Duke Ellington and The Chicago Footwarmers for Okeh Records.[42] "Creole Love Call" became a worldwide hit and catapulted both Hall's and Ellington's careers into the mainstream.[43][44] For historical reasons, the story behind "Creole Love Call"'s conception is interesting to recount: In 1927, Hall and Duke Ellington were touring in the same show, Dance Mania. The show played several large cities before reaching New York City. In mid-November, Hall travelled from Chicago (where she had been performing at the Sunset Café)[45] to New York City in her Packard automobile with her husband Bert. When they arrived in New York, Hall was approached in 7th Avenue by a reporter, who enquired about her career plans.[46] Hall, however, declined to enlighten the reporter. Nevertheless, Miss Hall's reappearance in New York City garnered much speculation, as she was featured on the front pages of several newspapers, encouraging rumours she would soon be starring in a big Broadway show.

What came to mind is that Chicago to NYC by car was a big undertaking in 1927. I remember pre-freeway cross country travel in the 1950s, and by then the signage was well developed and the major routes were well known. But 1927... not so much. And even for white folks, lodging for travelers was also problematic.

Chris Campbell

[William]

Interesting story, Chris, thanks for sharing.

Bill

[walyfd]

Chances are they drove non stop.

[TC Chris]

Maybe nonstop... but today's road distance is 790 miles via freeways,and they had none of those in 1927. And if highway speed back then was 45 mph, let's assume they averaged 40 mph, probably optimistic considering the roads went through central cities along the way. The means about 20 hours of travel. But they had to stop for gas and food... and maybe tire changes. Then there's the issue of getting lost or misdirected when the highway system was less well marked. It's likely their distance was greater and speed less.

I had a wonderful elderly neighbor back in Lansing. She was from Ohio. Her mother died when she was a girl and her dad decided they would drive to the west coast back in the 20s. I was hoping she'd have some photos but no luck. In about 1935 my aunt had a sorority convention in CA, so my grandmother packed her and another sor. member and my Mom into the car in Alabama and headed west. Again, no photos and not enough info.

But even in the 1950s highway travel was not the simple thing it is now. My parents hauled us kids all over the country in various station wagons--west coast, east coast, Gulf coast, Canada. My Mom would navigate using AAA "Trip-Tik" strip maps. Even with those there would be uncertainty about where to turn, or unexpected detours. And all the highways went right through the cities.

So whenever i read about early road trips, I wonder what the experience was like.

Chris Campbell

[19&41]

There was a film that touched on the subject of such travel for African Americans during the pre-civil rights times. The Green Book.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6966692/?r ... en%2520boo

[William]

Thanks, Rex, you always post interesting things on the forum.

Bill

[TC Chris]

I saw the film when it was new. It did illustrate the issues of travel in the south in the 60s for black folks, but of course the mechanics of travel, the roads and signage and such were much improved by then. The very notion of a highway system is relatively new. Back in the 20s it was mostly just a series of roads of varying quality, not necessarily marked and continuous. We take all that for granted now. I was trying to include a Dixie Highway link but our ISP is having problems tonight so I can't pull it up.

Chris Campbell