Events
| Exhibits
| Press Releases |
News
Archives | Newsletters
| Index
June 18, 2007
Rare Footage from Waring Archives Used in Les Paul Documentary
University Park, PA—A 90-minute documentary on the life and work of the legendary Les Paul, known as the “godfather of the electric guitar,” and inventor of multi-track recording, will premiere nationally on July 11, 2007 on PBS/American Masters. Les Paul: Chasing Sound will air on the local public television station WPSU, at 9:00 pm.
The producers of the documentary, Paulson Productions, are using several excerpts from a historical film owned by the Fred Waring Collection, known as Fred Waring’s America, in their tribute to Paul. Chesterfield Pleasure Time is a short promotional film made in 1940 highlighting one of the most popular daily radio programs of the time.
The excerpts from Chesterfield Pleasure Time being used by the filmmakers feature the Les Paul Trio, who Fred Waring hired to perform on his popular radio program. The producers of the documentary contacted the Waring collection looking for photographs, recordings and film footage that documented the time the Les Paul Trio worked for Fred Waring. After viewing the film made about the Chesterfield show, producer Jim Arntz said, “The film is so charming. Wish we could just run the whole thing.”
Famous bandleader, choral conductor and showman, Waring was a megastar throughout the 1930s and 40s who had produced dozens of Top Ten hits with his orchestra and hosted a series of nationally broadcast radio shows. His group was considered the premiere radio band of the day. Waring and his group the Pennsylvanians made their debut on radio in 1933 with a weekly CBS show. Starting in June of 1939, they went on the air with the Chesterfield Pleasure Time Show five nights a week, for the next six years.
Paul, a country musician from Waukesha, Wisconsin and his band mates Ernie Newton and Jimmy Atkins were hired by Waring in 1939, as featured performers for the Chesterfield Pleasure Time Radio Show. Very few people had heard the sound of an electric guitar in those days, and combined with the smooth, low voice of Jimmy Atkins and unique brush-bass playing of Ernie Newton, the Les Paul Trio had a unique sound Fred Waring must have recognized.
Fred Waring’s America, part of the Special Collections Library of the University Libraries, is housed in the Pattee and Paterno Library at Penn State and is accessible during regular business hours. Information about the collection can also be found at www.libraries.psu.edu/waring/, or by calling 814-863-2911. Research inquires are encouraged, and many materials are available for use by music educators, researchers, and community groups.
Editor's Contact:
Lana Munip, 814-863-4265