Bright Moments Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 What is known about Pee Wee Marquette, the famous Birdland Announcer? B) Quote
rockefeller center Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 There are some stories in Bill Crowe's books but I can't remember them. Quote
Guest ariceffron Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 PEE WEE MARQUETTE WAS FRIENDS WITH BABY FACE WILLETTE Quote
jazzbo Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 According to Lester Young, "Half a mohterfucker." If an artist didn't tip him to his satisfaction he'd mispronounce or otherwise mangle your name in announcements. . . . Quote
Christiern Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 (edited) She was a nasty person, and Lon is right, she deliberately mispronounced musicians' names unless they gave her money. After Birdland closed, I used to see her in front of a tourist trap restaurant, Hawaii Kai, hawking to lure out-of-towners in. Edited June 3, 2004 by Christiern Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 3, 2004 Author Report Posted June 3, 2004 any pics or bio info? how did he get his job? Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 3, 2004 Author Report Posted June 3, 2004 see! i'm learning already he was a SHE!!!!! Quote
vibes Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 see! i'm learning already he was a SHE!!!!! I always thought Pee Wee was a "he" too! Hot damn, I have learned something from this place! Quote
rockefeller center Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 The scan above is from Crowe's "Jazz Anecdotes" (page 310). I don't know what's up with Christiern but maybe he learned some trivia from this place. Quote
mgraham333 Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 So is it HE or SHE? If it's HE, I've always thought that Gary Coleman could play him in a movie about Birdland. (Look at the Art Blakey - A Night At Birdland Covers (rvg)). Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 3, 2004 Author Report Posted June 3, 2004 from: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/articles/ftis0802.htm Lullaby of Birdland By Rob Mariani You descended another flight of stairs and the light became a kind of midnight blue. A hand lettered sign overhead read: "Welcome to The Jazz Corner of the World. Through these doors pass the most." There were shadows moving around inside, and a silvery white glow coming off the tablecloths. You were greeted  if that's the word for it by the strident and irascible Mr. Pee Wee Marquette, the tuxedoed midget who also worked as the MC. (I can't tell you the number of times I was summarily turned away by Mr. Marquette because I could not produce proof that I was 18 years old. And even after I had my draft card, he still insisted I show it to him every time I came.) curiouser and curiouser!!! Quote
John L Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 I recall that we had a thread a while back on a now defunct jazz BBS with the subject "whatever happened to Pee Wee Marquette?" There were some knowledgeable participants, and nobody could recall an obituary or any such information. Is Pee Wee still alive? Quote
Christiern Posted June 3, 2004 Report Posted June 3, 2004 Marquette was generally believed--by me and others--to be a male, but I have heard many people who worked with him/her say that this was a woman posing as a man. Not having seen Marquette sans clothes (tux or ridiculous Hawaii Kai costume), I cannot say for sure, but while it may be nothing more than a rumor, it surely is within the realm of possibilities. Hmmmmm Quote
rockefeller center Posted June 4, 2004 Report Posted June 4, 2004 Marquette was generally believed--by me and others--to be a male, but I have heard many people who worked with him/her say that this was a woman posing as a man. Not having seen Marquette sans clothes (tux or ridiculous Hawaii Kai costume), I cannot say for sure, but while it may be nothing more than a rumor, it surely is within the realm of possibilities. Hmmmmm Reading this post of yours makes me wonder about the "He?" in your second post in this thread. It's illogical. Quote
Christiern Posted June 4, 2004 Report Posted June 4, 2004 Perhaps I should have asked: he? she? Quote
danasgoodstuff Posted June 4, 2004 Report Posted June 4, 2004 Perhaps Pee Wee was a hermaphrodite, which would make Lester's "half a motherfucker" comment exceptionally perceptive, even for him! Quote
JSngry Posted June 4, 2004 Report Posted June 4, 2004 He/She was on Letterman about 7-8 years ago. Supposedly he announced Teddy Kotick as Teddy Kotex. Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 4, 2004 Author Report Posted June 4, 2004 just learned he was 3 feet 9 inches and born "william clayton marquette." Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 4, 2004 Author Report Posted June 4, 2004 from: http://home.achilles.net/~howardm/tsmonk/hentoff.php Memories of Thelonious Monk from "Listen to the Stories" by Nat Hentoff When Monk's music was played, there was never any doubt as to its source. Pee Wee Marquette, the small, round, vinegary man who used to act as the town crier at Birdland, would introduce Thelonious as "the onliest Monk." B) Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 5, 2004 Author Report Posted June 5, 2004 can anyone find any other pics of pee wee marquette? Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 28, 2004 Author Report Posted June 28, 2004 come on people, keep looking! Quote
Bright Moments Posted December 13, 2004 Author Report Posted December 13, 2004 i still would like to see some other pics of him. i found another voice clip of him on Tito Rodriguez - Live at Birdland (1962) Palladium Records. he got the name right! B-) Quote
wesbed Posted December 13, 2004 Report Posted December 13, 2004 I watched Clint Eastwood's 'Bird' a couple of weeks ago. If I remember correctly, and I might no be doing so, Pee Wee (an actor portraying Pee Wee) makes an appearance when Charlie Parker plays at Birdland. Again, maybe I'm thinking of a different movie, I can't remember. Anyhow, when I saw Pee Wee, wherever it was that I saw Pee Wee, I was reminded of this thread and Christiern's words of Pee Wee possibly being a 'she.' Quote
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