Comments from tjordan

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tjordan
tjordan commented about Paramount Theatre on Feb 28, 2005 at 5:29 pm

If you can find a copy of staff organist Don Baker “At the New York Paramount Theatre Organ” the 33-1/3 jacket has a great color picture of the Paramount entrance.
The record was produced by Harmony as HL7021 (a product of Columbia Records). I think Harmony was to Columbia as Camden was to RCA.
Cheaper price.

tjordan
tjordan commented about Paramount Theatre on Sep 21, 2004 at 4:19 pm

Thanks for the info on Jesse Crawford. I discovered that Helen (nee Anderson) Crawford played in Chicago a couple of blocks away from where Jesse was playing. She pursued him and they married in 1923. Jesse was already married and sent his first wife back to California.
Helen accompanied Bing Crosby on the organ in the 1931 rendition of “Can’t we talk it over”. She played with a jazzy style and was probably a better organist. They split when Jesse refused to sign a new contract at the Paramount in NYC (lower wages) during the depression. Helen signed and the marriage ended.

tjordan
tjordan commented about Paramount Theatre on Sep 20, 2004 at 7:13 pm

Anybody have bio info on Helen Crawford who, with her husband, Jesse, were top stars in Chicago and New York. I know she was killed in an auto crash in 1943. She evidently didn’t record much..and I understand she didn’t like the studio organ …too stuffy.. she prefered live performance.