Original air date - Phantom Dancer :: 12:00pm 26th Jul 2022

Jones and Hare, Billy Jones and Ernie Hare, were a vocal duo who sang novelty songs, popular on radio in the 1920s and continuing on radio up to 1939. Billy Jones (1889-1940) was a tenor and Ernie Hare was a bass/baritone (1883-1939). Here's the 1924 recording of Jones and Hare's radio theme, 'How Do You Do?'... [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gg-yiSOqVc[/embed] The Phantom Dancer is your weekly non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week. LISTEN to this week's Phantom Dancer mix (online after 2pm AEST, Tuesday 19 July) and two years of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

RADIO

Jones and Hare began on radio October 18, 1921 on WJZ (Newark, New Jersey), where they were sponsored by the chain of Happiness Candy stores. Listeners mailed in their comments about the singers on cards supplied to retailers by Happiness Candy. They were billed as the 'Happiness Boys'. Beginning August 22, 1923, the Happiness Boys broadcast on New York's WEAF, moving to NBC from a run from 1926 to 1929. The Jones and Hare duo sang popular tunes, mostly light fare and comic songs, and they engaged in humorous repartee between numbers. Their theme song was "How Do You Do" (1924). However, only the words to this song were new at that time. The melody had been used for a variety of other songs in the past and is still used in the camp favorite "If You're Happy and You Know It (Clap Your Hands)". By 1928, Jones and Hare were the highest paid singers in radio, earning $1,250 ($20,000 today) a week. They also made highly successful personal appearances in the United States and Europe. (They mention the European tour fondly in their recording of "We Don't Like It, Not Much".) Radio's "Happiness Boys" changed their identities and allegiance whenever they changed sponsors. For Taystee Bread, for example, Jones and Hare became "The Taystee Loafers", and for Interwoven Socks they became "The Interwoven Pair." Regardless of their affiliation, they continued with their songs and jokes through the 1930s. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehZOCd9at80[/embed]

SONGS

Jones and Hare specialized in comic songs that commented on trends and popular culture. When the song "Collegiate" swept the country and prompted a host of similar tunes, Jones and Hare countered with "We Ain't Never Been to College". Gracious living and social propriety were skewered in Jones and Hare's "Etiquette Blues". America's fascination with radio triggered the parody "Twisting the Dials", maybe the first comedy sketch of its kind. Billy and Ernie simulate tuning a radio and getting snatches of random radio programs. One of their most pointed satires, recorded with full orchestra, was "We Can't Sleep in the Movies Anymore". Jones and Hare demonstrate how talking pictures have changed a restful evening in a theater into a noisy onslaught of "sneezes, squawks, and squeals". The lyrics also note that the actors' voices seldom matched their silent screen images: HARE: The sheik is from the ghetto. I thought he came from Spain. JONES: His voice is high falsetto! And he sounds like he's in pain! Jones and Hare kidded the "talkies", but were featured in A Movietone Divertissement (MGM, 1928) and Rambling 'Round Radio Row #4 (Warner Brothers/Vitaphone, 1932), both sound short subjects. The partnership ended with Ernie Hare's death on March 9, 1939. Hare's 16-year-old daughter, Marilyn Hare, joined Jones at the microphone, allowing the act to continue as "Jones and Hare" for about a year, until she left to pursue a movie career in Hollywood. You will hear her on this week's Phantom Dancer in a Saks Furniture Store program from WMCA NYC in 1939. Two selections from Jones and Hare's 1934 Taystee Loafers radio series... [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYAeRCZ6ETE[/embed]

19 JULY PLAY LIST

 

Play List - The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney LISTEN ONLINECommunity Radio Network Show CRN #554
107.3 2SER Tuesday 19 July 2022 12:04 - 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) and Saturdays 5 - 5:55pm National Program 5GTR Mt Gambier Monday 2:30 - 3:30am 3MBR Murrayville Monday 3 - 4am 4NAG Keppel FM Monday 3 - 4am 2MIA Griffith Monday 3 - 4am 2BAR Edge FM Bega Monday 3 - 4am 2BRW Braidwood Monday 3 - 4am 2YYY Young Monday 3 - 4am 3VKV Alpine Radio Monday 6 - 7pm 7MID Oatlands Monday 6 -7pm 6GME Radio Goolarri Broome Tuesday 12am - 1am 2SEA Eden Tuesday 6 - 7pm 2MCE Bathurst Wednesday 9 - 10am 1ART ArtsoundFM Canberra Friday 10 - 11am 2ARM Armidale Friday 12 - 1pm 5LCM Lofty FM Adelaide Friday 1 - 2pm Denmark FM (West Australia) Saturdays 10 – 11am Repeat: Wednesdays 10 – 11pm 7LTN Launceston Sunday 5 - 6am 3MGB Mallacoota Sunday 5 - 6am 3BBR West Gippsland Sunday 5 - 6pm
Set 1	The Voice of Experience
Lonesome Old Town (theme) + The Marine Hymn	Ben Bernie and all the Lads	'Ben Bernie War Workers' Program' WMAQ CBS Chicago 15 Sep 1942
Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home?	Ben Bernie and all the Lads (voc) Gail Robbins	'Ben Bernie War Workers' Program' WMAQ CBS Chicago 15 Sep 1942
My Great Great Great Grandfather	Ben Bernie and all the Lads (voc) Ben Bernie	'Ben Bernie War Workers' Program' WMAQ CBS Chicago 15 Sep 1942
Old Fashioned Swing + Idaho + Goodbye + Lonesome Old Town (close)	Ben Bernie and all the Lads (voc) The King's Jesters	'Ben Bernie War Workers' Program' WMAQ CBS Chicago 15 Sep 1942
Set 2	Stan Kenton
Artistry in Rhythm (theme) + Young Blood	Stan Kenton Orchestra	'All-Star Parade of Bands' Birdland WRCA NBC NYC 1 Jul 1955
The Thrill is Gone	Stan Kenton Orchestra (voc) Ann Richards	'All-Star Parade of Bands' Birdland WRCA NBC NYC 1 Jul 1955
Theme & Variations	Stan Kenton Orchestra	'All-Star Parade of Bands' Birdland WRCA NBC NYC 1 Jul 1955
Lullaby of Birdland + Close	Stan Kenton Orchestra (voc) Ann Richards	'All-Star Parade of Bands' Birdland WRCA NBC NYC 1 Jul 1955
Set 3	Selling Dessert
San Francisco	Phil Harris Orchestra	'Jack Benny Program' Westen Women's Club San Francisco via KFI NBC Red LA 9 Jan 1938
When the Organ Played at Oh Promise Me	Phil Harris Orchestra (voc) Kenny Baker	'Jack Benny Program' Westen Women's Club San Francisco via KFI NBC Red LA 9 Jan 1938
Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen	Phil Harris Orchestra	'Jack Benny Program' Westen Women's Club San Francisco via KFI NBC Red LA 9 Jan 1938
Playout + Close	Phil Harris Orchestra	'Jack Benny Program' Westen Women's Club San Francisco via KFI NBC Red LA 9 Jan 1938
Set 4	Jones and Hare
How Do You Do? (theme) + Hot Dogs and Sasparilla	Billy Jones and Ernie Hare (voc) Ben Selvin Orchestra	'Taystee Loafers' Columbia Radio Transcription New York City 1934
At the End of the Day	Ernie Hare (voc) Ben Selvin Orchestra	'Taystee Loafers' Columbia Radio Transcription New York City 1934
Speak to Me of Love	Gypsy Nina (voc) Ben Selvin Orchestra	'Taystee Loafers' Columbia Radio Transcription New York City 1934
Opera Sketch + Great Day!	Billy Jones and Ernie Hare (voc) Ben Selvin Orchestra	'Taystee Loafers' Columbia Radio Transcription New York City 1934
Set 5	Billy Jones and Marilyn Hare
We're on the Air (theme) + You Look Good to Me + Ain't You Got No Romance	Sam Ross Orchestra	'Saks Program' WMCA NYC 12 Feb 1939
Since Nelly Came Back From The City	Sam Ross Orchestra (voc) Esmarelda	'Saks Program' WMCA NYC 12 Feb 1939
They Say + Chopsticks	Sam Ross Orchestra (voc) Marilyn Hare	'Saks Program' WMCA NYC 12 Feb 1939
My Girl Don't Love Me + Confidentially + We're on the Air + There's No Place Like Home(close)	Sam Ross Orchestra (voc) Billy Jones + duet with Marilyn Hare + Close with Jim Brennan	'Saks Program' WMCA NYC 12 Feb 1939
Set 6	Valaida Snow
I Wish I Were Twins	Valaida Snow (voc and tp) Billy Mason Orchestra	Comm Rec London 18 Jan 1935
Dixie Lee	Valaida Snow (voc and tp)	Comm Rec London 25 Sep 1936
Singing in the Rain	Valaida Snow (voc and tp)	Comm Rec London 26 Apr 1936
Where is the Sun?	Valaida Snow (voc and tp) Johnny Claes Orchestra	Comm Rec London 7 Jul 1937
Set 7	Les Brown
Theme + OK for Baby	Les Brown Orchestra	'Spotlight Bands' Miami FL Blue Network 10 Aug 1943
We'll Be Together Again	Les Brown Orchestra (voc) Jane Harvey	'One Night Stand' Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania AFRS Re-broadcast 28 Dec 1945
Things Ain't What They Used to Be	Les Brown Orchestra	Palladium Ballroom Hollywood KNX CBS LA Nov 1943
Bizet Has His Day + Leap Frog (theme)	Les Brown Orchestra	Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WABC CBS NYC 7 Jul 1944
Set 8	1950s Jazz
Bensonality	Duke Ellington Orchestra	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 30 Jul 1952
Open + Sweet Georgia Brown + Embraceable You	Roy Eldridge Quintet	'Bandstand USA' Cafe Bohemia WOR Mutual NYC Mar 1957
All of Me	Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Bette Roche	Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 30 Jul 1952