Charlie Parker

[bertrand]

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.

[brownie]

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

[AllenLowe]

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 -

[AllenLowe]

whoops, missed prior post - never mind - I saw Bird, anyway, recently, at the mall -

[ghost of miles]

whoops, missed prior post - never mind - I saw Bird, anyway, recently, at the mall -

←

Hangin' with Elvis?

[ghost of miles]

Bird actually was booked to play a gig somewhere though, wasn't he, when he died?

[Michael Fitzgerald]

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

[Chalupa]

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

[Chalupa]

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

[bichos]

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

[CJ Shearn]

wow, interesting find Bertrand

[Fer Urbina]

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

[John L]

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.

[AllenLowe]

well, at least I got Bird's axe -

[EKE BBB]

well, at least I got Bird's axe -

←

This one?

http://www.theallineed.com/news/0502/209950.htm

[AllenLowe]

nah - I got the REAL one -