Spike Jones Fan site: Chatbox

Chatbox (all posts)

ted.hering on Tuesday 18 November 2008 - 17:01:13

Hi, Mike, Spike's harpists included Betsy Mills, Charlotte Tinsley, Mary Jane Barton, Corky Hale, and others. I was told last June that Corky is still living. I don't know which (if any) was also in the Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnez) band.

mikemc on Tuesday 18 November 2008 - 10:37:01

does anyone know the name of the harpist and where i can find info about her? also, is she the same harpist from the Ricky Ricardo orchestra?

ted.hering on Wednesday 05 November 2008 - 20:26:00

Hi, Ray, look for the DVD "Spike Jones the Legend." It countins 4 hours of early TV shows starring Spike. Paramount also issued 4 VHS tapes a few years ago of "The Best of Spike Jones" (more TV shows) - these are out of print, but you can find used copies fairly cheap.

The only other DVD is the movie "Thank Your Lucky Stars" from 1942, with Spike playing "Hotcha Cornia."

raythedrums on Wednesday 05 November 2008 - 13:19:00

I'm a new member of the fan club. Can anyone tell me, are there any videos or DVDs of the maestro?

ted.hering on Thursday 23 October 2008 - 19:34:31

Hi, Max, look for "William Tell Overture."

MaxB on Thursday 23 October 2008 - 04:22:58

Hello is it possible to get a download of the Spike Jones tune 'Beetle bom' ?

Bill Reed on Wednesday 22 October 2008 - 12:05:53

I am writing a career overview of singer Helen Grayco (Mrs. Spike Jones) for Japan's Jazz Critique Magazine. I think I have nailed down all of her commercial recordings under her own name. But I would also be curious to know how much she recorded commercially with the "Other Orchestra" and also transriptions and also how much, beyond None But the Lonely Heart, che recorded on Jones' RCA, Verve, Liberty, etc. releases. Thanks for any help you can lend me.

christopher on Friday 17 October 2008 - 22:10:46

Does anyone know where I can find a 45 recorded by Spike's wife, Helen Grayco? It's called "That's How Nature Made HIm" and was released in 1977.

EricC on Sunday 12 October 2008 - 01:51:29

I'm looking for "Hotter than a Pistol," the flipside to "Hot Lips," either as an MP3 download or on CD.

Roy on Tuesday 29 July 2008 - 04:01:27

Thanks to Ted Hering, the "Desperadoes Doom" is now available for download. - A hard to find novelty from Barbary Coast Records. This track is the final cut on the LP. The saloon band is picked off one-by-one by music critics.

ted.hering on Sunday 22 June 2008 - 19:30:44

Ron, you can find several with a Google or Yahoo search (click on "Images"). Flickr seems to have a growing assortment. Still, there aren't as many photos of Spike as you might expect. I wonder why that is?

Ronald E. Villa on Sunday 22 June 2008 - 00:58:35

Ted, thank you for this information. I have been trying to get pictures of the band from 1945 to 1960. I haven't located many on the internet. Can you direct me to a source for the pictures. Best Regards, Ron

ted.hering on Saturday 21 June 2008 - 03:26:56

Hi, Ron,
The Ink Spots parody starred band members Sir Frederick Gas (with the 'natural' hair), Freddy Morgan, and Bernie Jones.

Ronald E. Villa on Thursday 19 June 2008 - 02:42:28

can someone provide me with the names of the 3 band members in the "Ink Spots" parody " You only Hurt the One You Love. Thanks, Ron

ted.hering on Saturday 22 March 2008 - 19:30:39

Hi, Sunni,

I've posted a photo of Charlotte with Spike's Other Orchestra in the Forum section.

Sunni 1 on Friday 14 March 2008 - 01:31:05

I would like to find a photo of Spike Jones' orchestra showing harpist Charlotte Tinsley - because I have the harp
Charlotte used when she first worked with Spike.

ted.hering on Tuesday 19 February 2008 - 11:44:44

Hi, Glenn, Yes, sometimes Spike had has secretary sign his letters... so the letterhead doesn't prove the signature is really Spike's. Can you make a scan of your letter? I can probably identity the signature.

ted.hering on Tuesday 19 February 2008 - 11:37:15

Hi, Jaime! The Perez Prado number appears on the Paramount VHS, "A Spike Jones Musical Wreck-We-Um." Unfortunately the Art Tatum clip has never been issued, but the segment appeared on YouTube about a year ago. It might still be there.

countrydobro on Monday 18 February 2008 - 16:26:33

I found the answer to my question..."In a Persian Market."

G. Andes on Sunday 17 February 2008 - 15:15:31

I came across an old letter from Spike, on his letterhead, apparently with his classic signature, How can I tell for sure if it is authentic? Does anyone have a copy of his signature?

countrydobro on Sunday 17 February 2008 - 15:04:11

Can anyone tell me the name of the first song in "The Persian Market Medley?"

Jaime Jaramillo on Saturday 16 February 2008 - 10:02:40

I'm looking for copy (VHS or DVD) of programs where King of mambo perez Prado appears and another one with famous blind jazz pianist Art taum

Paulo on Tuesday 12 February 2008 - 07:46:37

Hi there!
I love all the songs I've heard on The Spike Jones Story documentary shown on the Brazilian TV a coule of decades back and I own "Radio Days" but I've looked all over for the COMPLETE lyrics of Spike Jones and all I've found were just a couple of them. Can anyone one help me out with this one? Thanks.

Paul Frees on Wednesday 06 February 2008 - 14:58:27

I have a Musicraft 78 by "Sherman Stewport and his Stimulated Six" and it sure sounds like Spike's sidemen.
Can anybody out there give me any details

ted.hering on Friday 07 December 2007 - 18:37:12

H i, DCM, look for a box set of DVDs titled "Spike Jones the Legend." You'll find 4 hours of Spike the City Slickers from their early TV shows.

bonestd on Tuesday 20 November 2007 - 09:20:00

I just love Doodles - Nature Boy

DCM on Tuesday 20 November 2007 - 07:58:48

Can someone please tell me about the availability of DVDs of the band?

grayling on Thursday 25 October 2007 - 12:47:26

Thanks, Ted - this is exactly what I wanted though I didn't know the name of the instrument.

ted.hering on Tuesday 16 October 2007 - 21:58:41

The "Sadivarious" was played by Sir Frederic Gas (real name: Earl Bennett). The sound was actually from a leather reed he had in his mouth.

The "Ink Spots" parody was done a couple times on television. The third member of the trio was Dick Morgan in 1952, and Bernie Jones (Ole Svenson) in 1954.

grayling on Tuesday 16 October 2007 - 04:10:09

Which of the City Slickers played a piece of wood like a violin in the "Poet and Peasant Overture" in "Fireman Save My Child"? He had a mass of black hair, sang "Chloe" and was one of the trio in a skit of "The Inkspots". Freddy Morgan was the second - who was the third singer? Thanks in advance.