bertrand Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 I was at the Haven Lounge in Baltimore, MD last night. In the back, they had a poster announcing an upcoming Charlie parker gig. The year (1955) immediately caught my eye. I figured, wow, one of his last gigs. But then, as I got closer, I saw the date that was hidden by a lamp: Saturday, April 26th, 8:00 PM., at the Capitol Theatre, in Washington D.C. I asked the owner Keith Covington about this. He said a friend of his got it from a movie set (for a movie filmed in D.C.) after the set was torn down. He siad he wasn't even sure this gig was actually booked. I said I'd look into it and get back to him. I'm now pretty sure this was a prop. Why? Because, according to a calendar for 1955, 4/26/55 was a Tuesday! So the guy who did the props was clever enough to make up a fake poster for a gig scheduled after Bird's death (3/12/55, apparently a Saturday), but not clever enough to get the day of the week right. Also, was there ever a Capitol Theatre in D.C.? I've never heard of it. Let me know your thoughts before I get back to Keith. Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Ken Vail's 'Bird's Diary' confirms that March 12, 1955 was a Saturday. That poster looks like a prop. Sure Bird would have liked to play the gig. Would have loved to attend it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 I would grab that poster and hide it, as that is very interesting and potentially very valuable - sort of like Elvis tickets to the last show that he never performed - I would wait, however for cover of darkness or a power failure - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 whoops, missed prior post - never mind - I saw Bird, anyway, recently, at the mall - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 whoops, missed prior post - never mind - I saw Bird, anyway, recently, at the mall - ← Hangin' with Elvis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Bird actually was booked to play a gig somewhere though, wasn't he, when he died? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Fitzgerald Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) Hey, I'm just happy they didn't get the day correct or else it would be more readily accepted as authentic. Mike And yes, Bird was scheduled to play in Boston, MA in a quartet that included Lennie Tristano. Edited October 17, 2005 by Michael Fitzgerald Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalupa Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) I too remember and attended many movie houses in DC, in particular the Capitol theatre on F St. at 14th. it was a magnificent theatre. For under a dollar one could see a movie, short subjects, cartoons, a stage show with the likes of Mel Torme, Kay Starr, a full orchestra (Sam Jack Kaufman), sing along with a huge pipe organ played by Milt Schlosser, a Pathe news reel, (our picture news pre TV). http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/4759/memories8.html (2nd paragraph) Edited October 17, 2005 by Chalupa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalupa Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 12 - Snootie Little Cutie 18.8.1942: The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (NBC Radio/Raleigh) taken up live in the Capitol Theatre, Washington DC http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bichos Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 The Post-Standard, Syracuse - March 13, 1955. One gig Bird would never make.... this is from this wonderful site about the bird: http://www.birdlives.co.uk/ keep boppin´ marcel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 wow, interesting find Bertrand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fer Urbina Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 And yes, Bird was scheduled to play in Boston, MA in a quartet that included Lennie Tristano. Hello Mike, Is that definitive? According to Peter Ind's Jazz Visions, George Wein invited Bird to join Lee Konitz's quartet (Konitz, Ronnie Ball, Ind and Jeff Morton), who were having a long residency at Storyville. That would've been a curious two-alto gig. Were Woods and Quill already gigging at that time? F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 Ken Vail's 'Bird's Diary' confirms that March 12, 1955 was a Saturday. That poster looks like a prop. ← After you die, which day of the week March 12 turns out to be really doesn't matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 well, at least I got Bird's axe - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKE BBB Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 well, at least I got Bird's axe - ← This one? http://www.theallineed.com/news/0502/209950.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 nah - I got the REAL one - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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