Title: Eddy Hanson Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1970-1975

Creator:

• Hanson, Eddy, 1893-1986

Call Number: SC 1139; Tape 604A; Disc 143A

Quantity: 0.1 c.f. (1 folder), 5 tape recordings, and 4 disc recordings

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Material concerning professional organist Eddy Hanson, Waupaca, Wisconsin. Included are three oral history interviews with Hanson, his friend and fellow musician Dan Barton of Oshkosh, and another friend, record producer Al Rollo of Appleton; four commercial disc recordings of Hanson performances; and one folder of sheet music, notes on the interview contacts, and other papers. Included is information on Hanson's youth in Waupaca, making piano rolls in Chicago, Prohibition experiences there, a friendship with Cole Porter and other composers and celebrities, World War I experiences in John Philip Sousa's military band, and other reminiscences. Barton discusses work playing with big bands in the early 1900's, his invention of the Bartola (widely used in silent movie theaters) and of the Barton Pipe Organ, and of his company's attempt to get into the church organ market.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-tape00604a

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Acquisition Information

Papers presented by Eddy Hanson, April 10, 1975; tapes recorded by Frank DeLoughery of the Historical Society staff or loaned for copying by Al Rollo, 1973; discs presented by Eddy Hanson and Al Rollo, 1973. Accession Number: MCHC73-52, MCHC73-54, MCHC75-39, MCHC73-55

SC 1139 Folder   1	Sheet music, field reports, miscellaneous papers
Tape 604A	Hanson interviews
No.   1	Eddy Hanson interviewed by Al Rollo, February 29, 1972 Physical Description: 58 minutes  Scope and Content Note: Hanson reminisces about actors, composers, royalty, prizefighters, authors, and other celebrities he has known.
No.   2	Eddy Hanson interviewed by Frank DeLoughery, April 18, 1973 Physical Description: 54 minutes  Scope and Content Note: He discusses his childhood in Waupaca, his father's work at the King Veterans' Home, becoming an organist, the development of keyboard technique and dynamics, compositions, his friendship with Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Noel Coward, Carrie Jacobs Bond, and others, the illusions created by silent movies, and making piano rolls for two Chicago publishers.
No.   3	Eddy Hanson, Al Rollo, and Dan Barton interviewed by Frank DeLoughery, April 18, 1973 Physical Description: 62 minutes  Scope and Content Note: Barton discusses his childhood and playing for the Oshkosh G.A.R. orchestra, mentions some of the big bands he played with in the first decade of the 1900's, describes his invention of the Bartola (a combination of organ and percussion widely used in early silent movie theaters) and of “the Golden Voiced Barton Pipe Organ,” and tells of his company's attempt to get into the church organ market.
No.   4	Eddy Hanson and Al Rollo interviewed by Frank DeLoughery, April 4, 1973 Physical Description: 61 minutes  Scope and Content Note: Hanson describes his World War I experiences with John Philip Sousa's military band and mentions celebrities he has known. Rollo describes Hanson artifacts he has collected in his studio.
No.   5	Al Rollo continues his description of Hanson artifacts, followed by another interview with Hanson by Frank DeLoughery, April 9, 1975 Physical Description: 66 minutes  Scope and Content Note: This interview generally relates to the period from the beginning of Prohibition to about 1929 and to Hanson's experiences with Chicago bars and theaters and the people he encountered there. Included is mention of the introduction of the shimmy by Gilda Gray, Ben Bernie's rescue by broadcasting, the emotional response to the first presentation of the song “Romona” at the Chicago Theater, his experiences with the musicians union and with Balaban and Katz, and his memory of Baby Face Nelson who was his chauffeur.
Disc 143A	Recordings of organ performances by Hanson Note: Published by Rollo Music, Appleton, Wisconsin.
No.   1	“The Joy and Pain of Love”, circa 1972, and “Solitude” Physical Description: 45 rpm, 7 in., 5 min. total  Scope and Content Note: Side 1 contains “The Joy and Pain of Love” and Side 2 contains “Solitude”.
No.   2	“The Joy and Pain of Love”, circa 1972 Physical Description: 33 1/3 rpm, 12 in.  Scope and Content Note: Contains 13 songs.
No.   3	“Liquid Soul”, circa 1970 Physical Description: 33 1/3 rpm, 12 in.  Scope and Content Note: Contains 13 songs.
No.   4	“Eddy Hanson, Master Organist”, undated Physical Description: 33 1/3 rpm, 12 in.  Scope and Content Note: Contains 12 songs.