In 1949, I wrote my first song that I published, I Built Dreams. I also published manuscript books under the
Vix label. We started to perform on station WKBS Oyster Bay, on the Saturday morning show Ed Tobey's Milk Route.
My brother Bob and I played during intermission for the play Dear Ruth. We played at many outings and picnics
including Reinhardt Park in Bayville, Walls Beach, and the Sons of Italy in Oyster Bay, which gave us a number of jobs in 1949
and 1950. The exclusive Sewanhaka Yacht Club on Centre Island hired us. The American Legion in Oyster Bay also booked us for many dance affairs —
Mr. Mullins was in charge under the banner of The Victorians.
During this same time I also did solo engagements for many prominent people. One evening, at Caminari's in Locust Valley,
I played strolling accordion for Gary Cooper, his wife Veronica, David Niven and Joan Fontaine. I entertained guests at the Centre Island estate of
Dr. Conrad Berens,
a world-renowned eye specialist and associate of Helen Keller.
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| Now, Voyager trailer with Ilka Chase. |
Also on Centre Island, Mrs. Edward Tulley and her great family (Tulley-DiNapoli) gave wonderful parties.
Others I entertained included Sterling Grace & Co. co-founder and longtime Bayville Mayor
Duncan Sterling; Broadway producer Carl Shmidlapp, recently married to the actress
Carole Landis;
Ilka Chase,
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| Mrs. Harrison Williams gracing the cover of Vogue Magazine, May 1, 1940. |
an actress in films such as Fast and Loose and Now, Voyager; and Mrs. Harrison Williams
(nee Mona von Bismarck), who for many years was considered the best-dressed woman in the world.
(In Cole Porter's 1936 musical Red, Hot and Blue, Ethel Merman sang a song entitled
Ridin' High with the lyrics "What do I care if Mrs. Harrison Williams is the best dressed woman in town?")
As we entered the 50s, my band The Victorians got a call one day from Vince "Blue" Mondi who had a nightclub
in New Hyde Park of the same name. Mondi was an original winner on The Major Bowes Amateur Hour radio show
in 1935 — the show which would later become The Ted Mack Amateur Hour on television. Mondi
was a one-man-band who played drums guitar, banjo, harmonica, trumpet, and sang while usually wearing a top hat.
His hit song was Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho. He made a wire recording of The Victorians to
be used on radio — TV had not quite caught on yet. Who knows what ever became of that recording?
Next page: Drafted! To Korea? No, Alaska!
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