The text on these pages was recovered from scanned images of the pictures embedded in the printed edition of THAT JACK THE HOUSE BUILT, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF Jack Wright. You may find the images themselves embedded in the new ePub 2nd edition of that book within the TJTHB_eBook folder. On the next page is the text “recovered” from the magazine article depicted in Picture Set #1, Page 12. It is provided because the article was interesting and the picture was too small to read. Several portions of the original picture were obscured by tape or high-lighter – neither of which scanned well when the actual article was apparently cut up and reassembled by Jack when he created the paste-up used for the picture in the book itself. Note that the byline in the article itself incorrectly identifies him as “D. H. Wright” of the class of 1939. It is possible the mistaken name “D. H. Wright” originated at Columbia Recording Corporation (now Columbia Records, part of Sony Music Entertainment) in response to Jack’s request to be a record reviewer – See Picture Set #1, Page 11, Picture #3. In the picture caption in the book, Jack corrects the byline in the article thus: “J.” H. Wright – “40”: Don’t believe everything you read in Variety The 'hep' honors, were garnered by William Count Basie for his Wednesday, April 3, 1940 version of the WPA workers' theme song, 'Well All Right! Dig! Dig! Dig!' Now the above observations are based upon the results of a general COLLEGE RHYTHM poll, as we have said. In effect, they prove one thing—swing is here to The first of a series of articles on collegiate likes and dislikes as sway. Of course, for dances, dance music is the keynote; but for plain regards dance music and dance bands. listening enjoyment—it's swing. The phono-maniacs are digging The writers, staff members of publications at their respective schools, Ellington, Basie, Shaw, Goodman, Hawkins, Miller and Harlan Leonard. have been asked by VARIETY to give the opinion of the student body as a Guy Lombardo is out. Brother Carmen sings as though he'd just whole rather than pass personal judgment. Neither has VARIETY given stepped out of a cold shower, and to the best of our knowledge is the only further instructions as to what was to be said or how. These articles appear man who sings while inhaling. as the undergraduates have written them, with the expressed opinions being Kay Kyser is a dud. When Kay recently played a theatre date nearby, their own. it was suggested that he contact Sec. Ickes and tell him of the enormous VARIETY publishes the series to give music men and band leaders-a premiums gained from plowing under every other row. Russ Morgan is cross-section of current undergraduate opinion on dance music and bands, not for us. His trombone leaves the impression that he plays by with the hope that it will be both informative and instructive. For what the alternately blowing and sucking, which is great—for harmonicas. college group has to say about dance music is deemed 'important in the The Faves trade. So far we've only told you what we don't like—now we'll-give you the real lowdown. For dancing, Glenn Miller is No. 1. His music is full, U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY rich and harmonious—no tricks there. Glen Gray's another favorite. Bob By D. H. Wright, ‘39 Chester, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, and Jan Savitt also rate dancer band (Annapolis Log) raves. Annapolis, April 2. The best bets in music are well scored tunes that offer a wealth of Rumors on Capitol Hill have it that there is at present before the tone color, and a variety of ideas, all ably executed by a full band, and not House Naval Affairs Committee a resolution to change the famous words one of these 'music-box' setups. This applies to sweet as well as swing. of the navy's battle song to 'Anchors Aweigh Navy, Truck on Down the Perhaps the mention of a few first-raters from where we are sitting is Field.' At any rate, a recent canvass of the campus indicates that the navy now in order. Lester Young is the favorite sax pumper. Les can be is definitely 'hep'. We are able to vouch for the following, and any counted upon to dig himself into a torrid tenor groove with a tone so solid similarity of these opinions to any other opinions is purely coincidental. you could sit on it. Boxman Basie is another well-felt sender, what with Last fall the general consensus was that Guy Lombardo, Shep Fields, his overpowering pianissimo effects. Tommy Dorsey is okay if you're et al, were the music masters of the present age. However, an extensive 'feeling that way.' but when 'on the Jersey side' you can't overlook that educational program was undertaken and gained such impetus that soon master slush-pump pusher, old Jackson 'T'. Krupa is king of the drums— the popular cry was, 'Out of the cornfields by Christmas.' For purposes of as long as he doesn't get caught in one of his traps—and drumming is not simplicity, the navy divides popular orchestras into three categories, a cymbal task. Vocalists are rare these days, ability being sold short for namely, 'Off-the-cob,' 'Semi-solid-schmaltz' and 'Hep'. glamor. However, we all agree that Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald have The outstanding off-the-cob titbit was undoubtedly Orrin Tucker's had a corner on the chirpin' chores for several years now. rendition of 'Oh, Johnny'. The chief fault we can find with this one was The music world’s forgotten men, the arrangers, can also take a bow that Bonnie Baker sang loudly enough to be heard, but the aggravating from our end of the hall. Hats off to Glenn Miller, who has, by virtue of 'singing strings' in the last chorus 'crawl-out' cinched this selection. his brilliant orchestrations, banged out more hits than the Yanks amassed The semi-solid-schmaltz crown goes to Horace Heidt's Musical in last season's World Series. It's Glenn and his boys, by the way (stand Blight. For best results, when-playing records by Horace, we suggest you by for station identification) who will be dropping anchor hereabouts remove the needle from your pick-up. during June to play for the Ring Dance. L I F E TIME & LIFE BUILDING ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK EDITORIAL OFFICES April 10, 1940 Mr. D. H. Wright U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland Dear Mr. Wright: After reading your piece in the April 3rd issue of Variety we are interested in illustrating the story of College Rhythm. We would like to send a photographer to Annapolis to take pictures of the students at the Academy sitting around informally listening to music. Perhaps some small party might be planned, or possibly we could bring to Annapolis one of the Academy’s favorite (smaller) bands, and take photographs with the band in the background. We would appreciate it very much if you could obtain the necessary permission for us to send a photographer. Or would you tell to whom we should write for such permission. We would be very glad if you would help us in planning some of the pictures. Sincerely yours, Alexander King AK/R The text from Jack’s USNA Graduation announcement in the Washington Post and a related article about the USNA graduation from the New York Times-Herald. Both shown in Picture Set #1, Page 15, Picture #1: T I M E S – H E R A L D WASHINGTON Be Ready, Edison POST Tells Middies At Graduation 456 Get Diplomas; 396 Commissioned As Naval Ensigns Special to the Times-Herald ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 6. With national preparedness as his keynote, Navy Secretary Charles Edison sounded an ominous warning on this day of days for 456 graduating midshipmen in his address at the eighty-third annual exercises of the United States Naval Academy. Edison told the graduates: JOHN HERBERT WRIGHT, "At few times in our nation's son of Mr. and Mrs. H. F. history has the attention of the Wright, of 4315 Thirteenth American people been more focused Street Northeast; he attended St. on a Naval Academy graduating Anthony's. High School and class and their brothers in the service Columbian Preparatory School; than today. The unhappy series of received numerals in battalion events of this year belatedly has baseball; was a member of the awakened our citizens to keen and reception committee and was a active interest in our nation's defense. feature writer and contributor to "Fleet Must, Be Ready" the Log "We are determined, if needed, our first line of defense will not fail. In the words of our Commander-in- Chief, the President, “The fleet must be ready.” "Like the fleet, each of you must be ready. I am confident that you will. The nation trusts that you will." But the blanket of gravity, which covered the graduation exercises, gave way to the happy enthusiasm of the traditional hat-tossing ceremony after the coveted diplomas were awarded at the ceremonies in Thompson Stadium. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA John Crocker Rait, Harold Woodall Biesemeir, William Whiteley Bush jr., James Charles Longino jr., Marshall Eugene Draby jr., John Herbert Wright, Lawrence Francis Fox, Royal Knight Joslin. Richard Lull Cochrane, Norbert Frankenberger, Hugh Blanchard Vickery, Leigh Cosart Winters, Michael Joseph Hanley jr., Miles Augustus Libbey, John Douglas Seal.