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Ben Bernie
Real Name:
Benjamin Anzelevitz
Profile:
American jazz violinist, bandleader and radio personality.

Born : May 30, 1891 in Bayonne, New Jersey (or) New York City, New York.
Died : October 20 (or) 23, 1943 in Hollywood (or) Beverly Hills, California.

Wildflower or The Wildflower (as styled on the sheet music), is a musical in three acts with book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Herbert Stothart and Vincent Youmans. The plot concerns a pretty Italian farmgirl, Nina, who has a fiery temper. She stands to inherit a fortune provided that she can keep her temper under control for six months. If she fails, the money goes to her cousin Bianca, who tries to provoke her. She manages to do it, and gets the money, as well as her man, Guido. Several of the songs were published, among which "Bambalina" and the title song were the most popular. The musical proved to be Day's last Broadway show before moving to London.[1]

The original Broadway production at the Casino Theatre on February 7, 1923[2] and ran for 477 performances, closing on March 29, 1924.[3] "Wildflower was one of the biggest successes of the Twenties."[4] It was directed by Oscar Eagle and choreographed by David Bennett, with orchestration by Robert Russell Bennett. Costumes were by Charles LeMaire. Arthur Hammerstein produced the production. The cast starred Edith Day as Nina, Charles Judels as Gaston and Esther Howard as Lucrezia.[2] The musical then toured for two seasons and was given an Australian production in 1924 and a London West End production, opening on February 17, 1926 and running for 114 performances, starring Kitty Reidy as Nina, with Peter Gawthorne as Alberto and Mark Daley as Gabrielle. Its London run was hampered by the 1926 national strike in Britain.[1][5]

Wildflower was Oscar Hammerstein's first successful musical and Vincent Youmans' second show. It ran over a year because of its simple-minded story.[6]

The New York Times' opening night review stated erroneously that the show "contains the most tuneful score that Rudolph Friml has written in a number of seasons" and never mentions Youmans or Stothart. The review goes on to say: "To be sure, it is practically never funny, and now and then even a little dull."[7] Other critics also dismissed the show, although they conceded that the songs were good.[8] Notwithstanding the reviews, Wildflower was an instant success for its operetta-like score, Edith Day's performance, and the singing, dancing and Italian setting.[1][6]


   [ Ben Bernie And his Orchestra]
b. May 30, 1894, Bayonne, NJ, USA> d. Oct. 20, 1943, Beverly Hills, CA, USA.
nT: Bernard Anzelevitz
Theme Songs:
In-theme: "It's a Lonesome Old Town"
Out-Theme: "Au Revoir, Pleasant Dreams"
Intro: "How do you do Ladies and Gentlemen, This is Ben Bernie, The Ol' Maestro, Yow-sah".
Overview:
Ben Bernie and Friends, who include Harry James and his wife, vocalist Louise Tobin, plus fellow leaders Tony Pastor and Jimmy Dorsey. Technically, Ben Bernie can be called a Jazz Age personality because of his having an orchestra during the period. Ben and his 1920s band, way back in the "Jazz Age". But in reality, he is more of an emergent from the 'roaring 1920s'.

Ben eventually formed a band which led to a career in radio and motion pictures. He was a wonderful Master of Ceremonies, Comedian, Bandleader, and sometime Singer (of sorts). Ben began his career in pre-WW1 vaudeville. By 1922, he was leading his own band.

Ben Bernie's orchestra, in the 1920s, included Jack Pettis, formely of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, and now with Bernie has a very nice solo on this tune. This also made him one of the first Jazzmen to appear on film.

From 1933 to 1937 he had his own very popular radio show, sponsored by the Pabst Brewing Company. The band recorded a great many songs, and also appeared in films. (One with Walter Winchell co-starring.) Bernie's hallmark was his saying 'Yowsah, Yowsah' at the beginning of, and all during his radio or stage performances.