David Wondrich, from whose book we nabbed this question, contends that the 20th Century, in an important sense, began on Saturday, January 27, 1917, when Nick LaRocca, Larry Shields, Eddie Edwards, Henry Ragas, and Tony Sbarbaro did something at 8th Avenue and 58th Street in New York City. They weren't New Yorkers. A month and a half later, they were nationally known (although not by their individual names), and had kicked off what is widely recognized as the first large-scale marketing of a new American phenomenon.
Under what four-word collective moniker did these men become famous? Answer this question, and their place of origin will probably be somewhat obvious.
First correct answer posted to comments wins a case of expired Sunny Delight. No Googling or calling Dave at home -- we hear he's nursing a Sidecar hangover. One guess per comment, please, but comment as often as you like.
**Note: the bonus point answer to last week's quiz was airplane pilots and technicians. Go figure.
birth
school
work
death
The Susquehanna Hat Company.
Posted by: terry on October 22, 2004 11:20 AMThe Lavender Hill Mob (just kidding)
Posted by: Jonathan on October 22, 2004 11:38 AMThe Utica Goldfish Swallowers
The Knot Hole Gang
Posted by: Jonathan on October 22, 2004 11:39 AMThe Bronx Cheer Leaders
(not officially part of New York until 1978, when Welcome Back, Kotter when into syndication)
(belatedly remembering the "not New Yorkers" thing)
The Burlington Coolidge Lickers
The Westminster Kennel Club
Posted by: Jonathan on October 22, 2004 11:50 AMThe Apple Dumpling Gang
Posted by: Sara on October 22, 2004 11:59 AMThe New Jersey Gems
Posted by: Jonathan on October 22, 2004 12:07 PMthe mile high club
Posted by: teenidol on October 22, 2004 12:10 PMthe Bay City Rollers
Posted by: teenidol on October 22, 2004 12:12 PM"The Washingtonians" (under the Duke) kicking off the big jazz craze.
Posted by: BoxJam on October 22, 2004 12:33 PM"The Charleston Quartet" introduced "The Charleston."
Posted by: BoxJam on October 22, 2004 12:40 PMOh yeah - 4 *word* moniker.
Charleston, West Virginia Quartet
Posted by: BoxJam on October 22, 2004 01:44 PMCharleston, South Carolina Quartet
Posted by: BoxJam on October 22, 2004 01:45 PMSorry for my absence here -- I'm at home today and for some reason when I tell my daughter "just chill out for a while -- I've got some Quizmastering to do" she doesn't seem to understand.
No right answers yet, although at least one of you has headed in the right conceptual direction.
Terry, as has been the case in the past, has struck an early lead for Best Nonserious Answer. I may rename the blog The Susquehanna Hat Company. It just has a nice ring to it.
Posted by: BT on October 22, 2004 01:47 PMor *Quintet*. Sheesh.
Posted by: BoxJam on October 22, 2004 01:50 PMKentucky Racoon Coat Brigade.
Posted by: BoxJam on October 22, 2004 02:15 PMThe San Francisco Quakers.
Posted by: BoxJam on October 22, 2004 02:17 PMThe New Orleans Jazzmen.
Posted by: BoxJam on October 22, 2004 02:18 PMThe acronym of the group's name was the ODJB. The name of their town of origin is not part of the group's name -- but it isn't hard to deduce.
Posted by: BT on October 22, 2004 03:33 PMThe Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
Posted by: Scraps on October 22, 2004 03:34 PMWhich I typed before the initials, dammit! (Not technically an acronym: doesn't make a word.)
Posted by: Scraps on October 22, 2004 03:36 PMStan and Ollie and I thank you for your kind words. We are happy to be your nonserious source.
Posted by: terry on October 22, 2004 03:50 PMScraps nails it (and nails my careless use of "acronym" to boot) -- the Original Dixieland Jass (sic) Band was the act, and both sides of their hit release on Victor records shortly thereafter opened the floodgates to the marketing of Jazz. Interestingly, the ODJB were also sued over both songs. Part of "Dixieland Jass Band One-Step" was stolen from a ten-year-old ragtime record by Joe Jordan. He won his lawsuit. But the band was also sued by its former clarinetist, claiming that the clarinet part he invented for "Livery Stable Blues" had been unlawfully reproduced by the band after his departure. That one didn't fly.
They were, one might guess, from New Orleans.
Incidentally, I tip my Susquehanna Hat to Terry, whose erudition in early film comedy far exceeds my own. But with respect, a little sniffing around suggests that it is Bud and Lou, not Stan and Ollie, who should be getting the co-credit?
Bud and Lou indeed. Oh well. At least it shows I'm not Googling, not even for nonanswers.
Perhaps subconsciously I was thinking of Bud and Lou and Stan and Ollie as another quartet that might be indicative of the twentieth century.
Posted by: terry on October 25, 2004 02:29 PMBy using the Internet, and their babe ruth website as just one more branch michael jordan of a marketing plan, including yao ming catalogs and strategic alliances, yao ming the company produces and distributes peyton manning hundreds of thousands of gifts tiger woods and advertising specialty items shaquille o'neal through retail, Internet and Advertising david beckham Specialties Institute reseller michael schumacher
Posted by: Kobe Bryant on December 4, 2004 05:15 PM