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The Orchestra at the Hotel A Documentary Proposal

by Moses Hershberger

The Story

It was an unlikely time and place for what was known as the Greatest Generationin this small Tennessee town. The world was swept up by the mesmerizing musicof the greats: Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, George Hamilton, Buddy Moreno andother era greats.

During the 30s and 40s, the Peabody Hotel Skyway Ballroom was one of threenational radio broadcast sites for CBS Radio which aired coast-to-coast live big

band music. One of their weekly programs, called Saturday Afternoon TeaDance was hosted by a young Sam Phillips , who would later go on to change therecord industry forever.

So, in this rich and brief moment in Memphis history, why hasnt it beenromanticized since then? Or better yet, why has it been left abandoned if it merits atimeless era of music and culture of the arts? What secrets lied within this historic

place? Were not chasing after ghosts or lookin g for any truths or myths, but therewas something more to it than just a radio show, music and a hotel.

Background

No hotel in Memphis had more magic and luxury associated with its name. ThePeabody Hotel. It chimes with such gusto. The original Peabody was built byRobert Campbell Brinkley in 1869 and named the hotel after George Peabody, whohad contributed to the South.

The building was located on the corner of Main and Monroe. Designed byChicago architect Walter Ahlschlager , the hotels style was th at of Italian

Renaissance. The original Peabody closed in 1923. The current Peabody on UnionAvenue, was built in 1925. One of the most recognizable features of the hotel isthe neon "The Peabody" sign where the Skyway Ballroom stands.

Imagine that. You, dancing your loving partner, set to the music of love and loveof life, where the city lights are as every bit as magical as New York or Paris.Truly, the long term consequences would endure in this disappearance.

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Characters

Historical narratives can often times be very subjective in their conclusions. This isdone because those speaking about said topic or subject of history doesnt have adiverse set of historians. Not so much speaking about their respected ethnicities,

but their background of their fortes as historians, and in this case, musicians aswell. Here is a list of people who would appropriately fit such characters:

1. Jack Belz - chairman and CEO of Belz Enterprises, Belz heads one of theSouths largest real estate and development firms. A longtime booster,activist, and participant in downtown development, probably best known for

bringing back The Peabody hotel.On August 1, 1975, The Peabody was

purchased by Belz Enterprises, spearheading downtown redevelopment.After a six-year, $25 million renovation, The Peabody reopened onSeptember 1, 1981. Its restoration and reopening were greeted withenthusiasm, quickly restoring The Peabody to its rightful place in Memphissociety.

2. Charles W. Crawford - As Director of the Oral History Research Office, hehas conducted or supervised the completion of more than 2,000 oral historyinterviews dealing with historical and biographical topics throughout theMid-South area. He was the first person from a southern institution to beelected president of the international professional association, the OralHistory Association, and has participated in scholarly programs on oralhistory throughout the United States and in several foreign countries.

3. Anna Neal - Head, Music Library. She manages collection development forMusic Library; creates and maintains Web pages for U of M branchlibraries; provides reference and instructional assistance.

4. John Baur - holds a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor ofMusical Arts degrees in composition from the College-Conservatory ofMusic, University of Cincinnati. As a 1971 Fulbright Scholar in England,Baur studied with Thea Musgrave and Richard Rodney Bennett. Dr. Baur

has received numerous commissions, including grants for new works fromthe National Endowment for the Arts. In 1982 he was designated TennesseeComposer of the Year" by the Tennessee Music Educators Association.

5. Lawrence Edwards - Director of the University of Memphis ChoralProgram. He directs the University Singers, University of MemphisChamber Choir. He is the coordinator of the graduate degree in conductingand mentors the graduate students in Choral Conducting.

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He is also Artistic Director of the Memphis Symphony Chorus, and frequentconductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

6. Jack Cooper - Associate Professor and Jazz and Studio Music AreaCoordinator. As a saxophone/woodwind performer and staff arranger, Dr.Cooper performed, recorded, and toured with the U.S. Army "Jazz Knights"from 1989 to 1995. His compositions and arrangements have been

performed and/or recorded by the Dallas Wind Symphony, the WestchesterJazz Orchestra, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Memphis SymphonyOrchestra, the Grand Junction Symphony, the Summit Jazz Orchestra(Germany), the U.S. Army "Jazz Ambassadors," the U.S. Navy"Commodores," the Rob Parton Jazz Orchestra, the Cavani String Quartet,

the Ceruti String Quartet, Alma Latina, DEKA Jazz and the Brass 5.7. Jeff Cline - is the Division Head of the Music Industry Division, andCoordinator of the Recording Technology Program at The University ofMemphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. As an Associate Professor andRecording Studio Manager, his responsibilities include instruction andactivities in audio and music production, electronic music and multi-mediacomposition techniques and technologies, studio management, programadministration, and curriculum development.

The Point

Memphis has struck a criterion in the mystery and essence that is music. Nobodyor no one will take that away from it. The name alone is an icon to music itself.The overall meaning behind this story is to remind audiences why that is. True, itdoes pertain to a specific audienc e, but shouldnt deviate from its universal theme:the consequences of a forgotten culture. The music of big bands, swing and even

jazz will not fade away into nothing. They will remain, so long as people decideits fundamental to preserve them.

The city of Memphis has a say and place in soul, rock n roll and blues music. This piece of musical history; from the select songs from the Great AmericanSongbook, cannot be forgotten by the people of the city of Memphis. The spirit ofthis documentary will show and resonate why that is.

Moses Hershberger

October 12, 2014