News To Me: Glenn Miller Had A Brother and His Name Was Herb
Here was occasion to learn something new, an ad
from 1943 touting Glenn Miller's brother as bandleading attraction at Cleveland's RKOPalace. I never realized
Glenn had a sibling who also performed, let alone that they resembled each
other so. Turns out Herb managed Glenn's band through the 30's, had played atrumpet himself since age 12, and carried on the Miller legacy right into
the 80's. Herb did trumpet duty with Charlie Spivak after the manager stint
with Glenn, then formed his own group while earning a master's degree at the University Of Michigan. This ad finds Herb sharing a
bill with Ann Corio, a burlesque name who also did a string of exotic cheapies
for PRC, then Monogram. These paved way for successful stage appearances
through the war, rather like Bela Lugosi's traveling spook show getting tread from
budget pics he headlined for those same companies. Her mild (assuredly very
mild) strip act assured Ms. Corio top placement on the Palace's bill, even as
her "UndressWith Finesse" act would need to be toned way down for
family patronage. To satisfaction of latter came Eddie Foy, Jr., a vaude face
since forever and lately onscreen in Yankee Doodle Dandy, in which he played Eddie Sr. Final
note re Herb Miller --- at first when I saw he was "Carrying On In The
Miller Manner," I thought the performance was post- Glenn's demise, but
turns out Palace date athand was October 8, 1943, so Carrying On must have been
in terms of Herb continuing while Glenn served with armed forces.
"The Sultan's Daughter" turned up on TCM a while back. Corio was a good girl in a harem outfit; it played like a very, very, very, very cheap version of a Hope-Crosby road picture.
No Miller, but another odd band and Irene Ryan a few decades before "The Beverly Hillbillies".
I have perhaps an unusual reaction to Priscilla Lane. I actually cannot watch her in any film.
She is the only actor/actress I can think of that I cannnot stomach. I believe this is the reason why:
When I was young, I watched the film "The Roaring Twenties" (1939, Warner Bros.) repeatedly on television. In that movie, Jimmy Cagney plays Eddie Bartlett, a tough guy who is in love with Priscilla Lane's Jean Sherman. Priscilla's character dumps Eddie for another guy, whom she marries, and Eddie is devastated and carries a torch for her. Priscilla's character later goes to Eddie and asks his help to save her husband from a life-threatening gangster. She pretty much uses Eddie here, and Eddie, out of his unrequited love for her, does her bidding, killing the gangster, and getting killed himself in the process.
I can't get past the way Priscilla/Jean used Cagney/Eddie in this movie. It's not her fault, of course. As an actress under contract, she was just doing her job. Playing a role. But now, just the sight of her makes me cringe.
Staying off topic, loved both Stinky's and Tom Ruegger's comments! I too think Priscilla Lane is just about the cutest thing! Am struggling to remember what grizzled Hollywood veteran told the story of his first day working at a studio and the accompanying blast of disillusionment when he heard sweet little Priscilla on set dropping f-bombs when she continually fluffed the same tricky line. As to THE ROARING TWENTIES... one of my all time favorites in no small part because, for once, Jimmy plays such a dope. Talk about a just-doesn't-understand-women-at-all guy! The ending with Gladys George always gets me.
I remember my straight arrow dad chuckling out loud seeing a newspaper ad back in the 60's announcing a local personal appearance of Ann Corio.
In my book, Priscilla could get away with just about anything. But I'm a sap for a pretty face. And knowing she dropped f-bombs makes me like her all the more!
8 Comments:
Off topic, but isn't Priscilla Lane just about the cutest thing ever?
"The Sultan's Daughter" turned up on TCM a while back. Corio was a good girl in a harem outfit; it played like a very, very, very, very cheap version of a Hope-Crosby road picture.
No Miller, but another odd band and Irene Ryan a few decades before "The Beverly Hillbillies".
I have perhaps an unusual reaction to Priscilla Lane. I actually cannot watch her in any film.
She is the only actor/actress I can think of that I cannnot stomach. I believe this is the reason why:
When I was young, I watched the film "The Roaring Twenties" (1939, Warner Bros.) repeatedly on television. In that movie, Jimmy Cagney plays Eddie Bartlett, a tough guy who is in love with Priscilla Lane's Jean Sherman. Priscilla's character dumps Eddie for another guy, whom she marries, and Eddie is devastated and carries a torch for her. Priscilla's character later goes to Eddie and asks his help to save her husband from a life-threatening gangster. She pretty much uses Eddie here, and Eddie, out of his unrequited love for her, does her bidding, killing the gangster, and getting killed himself in the process.
I can't get past the way Priscilla/Jean used Cagney/Eddie in this movie. It's not her fault, of course. As an actress under contract, she was just doing her job. Playing a role. But now, just the sight of her makes me cringe.
Movies can have a powerful and lasting effect.
Staying off topic, loved both Stinky's and Tom Ruegger's comments! I too think Priscilla Lane is just about the cutest thing! Am struggling to remember what grizzled Hollywood veteran told the story of his first day working at a studio and the accompanying blast of disillusionment when he heard sweet little Priscilla on set dropping f-bombs when she continually fluffed the same tricky line. As to THE ROARING TWENTIES... one of my all time favorites in no small part because, for once, Jimmy plays such a dope. Talk about a just-doesn't-understand-women-at-all guy! The ending with Gladys George always gets me.
I remember my straight arrow dad chuckling out loud seeing a newspaper ad back in the 60's announcing a local personal appearance of Ann Corio.
In my book, Priscilla could get away with just about anything. But I'm a sap for a pretty face. And knowing she dropped f-bombs makes me like her all the more!
Love the artwork for 'Angel Face'. Even the spoiler!
AUGH! A color photo of Priscilla Lane is today -- June 24th, 20016 -- the image in the Greenbriar Picture Shows banner! CRRRRRIIIINNNGGGGEEE!!
YES. I just saw HERB MILLER and his band on a British Game Show from the 70s(1-2-3). Maybe he was better known in Britain!
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