Jordan, James Roy 1974-10-30
James Roy Jordan, former theater drummer for silent films and jazz band member, identifies photographs in a band scrapbook and discusses the life of musicians in the 1920s and 1930s.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: James Roy Jordan
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: October 30, 1974
Location: Corsicana, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Carpenter
Length: 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Fred Carpenter introduces interview by referring to Lester and William Harris, Camp Dick Jazz Band,
Jordan’s early musical experiences,
Played theaters as a drummer,
Enlisted in Army Air Force Band (1918),
Following discharge, Jordan and Harris form a band,
Identifies all members of band from a photograph,
Explores arrangement for band in the service and in civilian life,
Follows process for vaudeville circuit,
Repeats introduction of jazz band’s members,
Continues with labeling of scrapbook photos,
Mentions John Rucker, black comedian,
Anecdote: Salt Lake City performance.
Tape 1, Side 2: Talks about BVDs,
First theater that he played was in Teague,
Received $15 weekly,
Traces salary growth and job locations,
Discusses Depression and fair jobs,
Describes association with Wright Armstrong of Brownwood,
Talks about disintegration of the band in Corsicana,
Moved to Waco, then to Dallas as theater drummer(1919-1931),
Mentions Dallas symphony, park programs and State Fair,
Defines "girls’ show," with a chorus, comedians, band and singer,
Talks of musicians’ recreation,
Describes first encounter with marijuana in Kansas City,
Retired in early 1960s.
Range Dates: 1918-1960s
Bulk Dates: 1918-1960s
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
