Hawaiian Steel in old movies

Steve Honum · From: Oregon, USA

I recall seeing an old Charlie Chan movie on TV many years ago where he walks into a night-club and Sol Hoopii is on the bandstand in the background absolutely wailing. Unfortunately this was in the days before video tape. Since then I have kept an eye out for steel in old movies. In Lorraine Ruymer's book there is a section listing some movies which feature hawaiian steel. I have a video of Song of the Islands which is cool but only has glimpses of the players in outdoor settings. I saw Flirtation Walk the other day with Dick Powell on TCM. The first half of the movie is set in the islands. Again only glimpses of acoustic steel in luau settings, but nothing as hot as the Charlie Chan movie. I believe Sol was in several of the Chan films (the wise detective was based in Honolulu). I haven't seen Waikiki Wedding but it sounds like it would have potential. If anyone knows titles of additional old movies which feature Hoopii or other players of the day (specific titles of Charlie Chan movies would be appreciated) please let us know so we can keep an eye on TV listings or in the video store.
Hare Mae,
Steve Honunu.

Eric Stumpf · From: Newbury, NH 03255

Steve, since you live in LA (my old stompin' grounds) go to the Museum of Radio and Television in Bev Hills and check out their video archives. Many old TV shows had steel guitars popping up now and then. Ask to see their kine's of Spade Cooley and of Harry Owens Royal Hawaiians. I bet steel showed up on Arthur Godfrey's show and I know it was on Hometown Jamboree.

Sur Singh · From: Mass

" From Here to Eternity " starring Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, and most importantly Montogemery Clift (and another singer/actor whose name escapes me) had Hawiaan guitar in the background. It was a great move that was based in Hawii and had that famous beach kissing scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr.

-Surinder

Kenny Dail · From: Kinston, N.C. R.I.P.

Steve, I too saw "Flirtation Walk" when it was shown on TCM about a week ago. I believe after Flirtation Walk was finished, it was followed by an oldie called "Honolulu" which starred a young Robert Young with Goerge Burns and Gracie Allen. The steel work done on Honolulu was performed by Andy Iona Long, composer of "Sand." I might be mistaken but I'm thinking the steel on Flirtation Walk was shared with Alvin Isaacs (Barney's dad).

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kd...and the beat goes on...

Mitch Drumm · From: Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake

Steve:

can you post the major candidates mentioned in lorene's book?? just the title and alleged player would be sufficient. i would like to run them down.

there is a "charlie chan in honolulu" movie, but i do not know who is in it. sol h is supposed to be in waikiki wedding, but i have never seen it on the tube.

there are a lot of 1940s "soundies" short films which feature the hawaiian bands of the day--lani mcintire, ray kinney, etc.i have seen some of them which have tommy castro on steel. they are the type of thing that TCM or AMC might sneak in between movies, but the problem is their schedules never mention the shorts, so you can''t plan to watch or tape.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

I saw a short clip on TV recently, (had to do with great dancers), and they had a neat
segment with Eleanor Powell dancing a (so-called) "hula"....Hollywood style. Great group playing for her with the unmistakeable sound of Andy Iona's steel. You could see him but there was never a close-up shot. I missed the title of the movie...an old black and white flick. Andy is an old favourite of mine, I love his style. Many do not realize he was also an excellent alto saxophone player who did many recordings with Sol Ho'opi'i. Further, he played steel under a handicap...he had no thumb on his right hand. Amazing guy, he was!

Dave Mayes · From: Oakland, Ca.

I went huntin' for that sort of thing about a year ago and came up with a couple of winners from www.myriahs.com. "Honolulu" has an wonderful dance sequence with Eleanor Powell backed by an Andy Long "big band" (George Lake mentioned this one). Also a video containing two Harry Owens shows from the mid 50's. Eddie Bush on steel, Danny Stewart on guitar,Sonny Kamahele also on guitar. Everybody siging. A gem.

Steve Honum · From: Oregon, USA

Thanks Dave, This looks like a cool site. I will probably order a couple of tapes from the vintage video section. They have some of the titles on Lorene Ruymer's list in her Hawaiian Steel book.
Hare mae,
Steve Honunu

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

FYI: It is interesting to note that Hawai'i's veteran entertainer, Solomon (Sonny) Kamahele, is still very active along the Waikiki scene. He can often be seen and heard at the "House Without a Key"(Oceanside of the posh Halekulani Hotel), usually singing and playing backup rhythm guitar to the Alan Akaka trio or the Harold Hakuole trio,(also many other groups), as well as emcee duties. Sonny also plays a pleasant Hawaiian Steel Guitar on very rare occasions. He uses the D9 tuning only. Sol Ho'opi'i, Dick McIntire and many others used the D9 tuning occasionally back in the mid forties on a few of their recordings. It's a tuning which is seldom used by steel guitarists these days. Sonny, being one of the last of "Hawai'i's Living Legends" can be justifiably proud of his many years experience working the early days in the Hollywood movie scene and because of his accomplishments, he is known with respectful affection amongst his many friends, (and admirers), as "Mr. Hollywood". His falsetto voice was often featured on the old "Hawai'i Calls" shows during the mid sixties, early seventies.

Steve Honum · From: Oregon, USA

Mitch, there are quite a few titles in Lorene's book (The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and It's Great Hawaiian Musicians) now that I look once again. Unfortunately these films are rarely, if ever shown on TV. Maybe I should write to TCM and AMC with requests. Her list includes Flirtation Walk, Song of the Islands, Hawaiian Buckaroo, White Woman, Waikiki Wedding, Paradise Isle, Bamboo Blonde, Honolulu, South Sea Rose, Bird of Paradise, Hawaiian Nights and Charlie Chan's Greatest Case (this may have been the Charlie Chan movie I saw and mistook Sol Hoopii for Sol Bright who is listed as having a speaking part). Sol Hoopii is listed as being "featured in" Bird of Paradise. I wonder if that means appeared in?
Hare mae,
Steve Honunu

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Back in 1994, my wife and I were invited to the Hawaiian Yaught Club for a special viewing of a very old 1934 b/w movie, (the name of which escapes me at the moment). The star of the movie was Pualani Mossman(Avon) who,in 1994,lived in New York City. She was portrayed as a lovely young Hawaiian Princess in the movie who ran off with a Prince from a neighboring island. Maybe someone might recall the name of that movie. Pualani, in later years, sang with the Ray Kinney Orchestra at the Hotel Lexington in New York during the forties. She was a very elegant lady with a powerful singing voice when I played steel to her vocals after the showing that evening. The organization which sponsored the showing had invited her to Hawai'i to see it. It had laid undiscovered for some 50 years in the Hawaiian home of Lowell Angell. Luckily, the conditions were right and the film did not disintigrate in the tropic humidity. Lowell donated the film to the Bishop Museum in the care of DeSoto Brown. The film also featured some narration by famed poet Don Blanding and the music throughout was played by the Keamoku Lewis Trio. Keamoku played acoustic steel in the movie. He also had an orchestra which was featured at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel shortly after it opened in 1927. The reason we were invited was because the only other 'star' of the movie still living is our very dear friend, Jacob Kaleikini. Jacob portrayed duo roles in the movie. His youthful agility in climbing the coco palms so quickly and effortlessly was most impressive. Today, Jacob who still plays the steel guitar, entertains weekly at the Elks Club in Waikiki. Jacob is now in his mid-eighties. He no longer climbs trees...he has been tempted to do so many times but his ever-watchful wife Ana makes sure he keeps his feet firmly on the ground !

Dr. Ike · From: Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA

Check out "Donovan's Reef" with John Wayne and Lee Marvin. I think Uncle Barney Isaacs is in that one. Doc

Dave Mayes · From: Oakland, Ca.

Hey Steve,
I found that Charlie Chan movie with Sol Hoopii wailing during the nightclub scene. The film is "Charlie Chan at Treasure Island". Treasure Island as in 1939 Worlds Fair. It's on video - found it on ebay.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I have an old B/W movie clip featuring soloist ROY SMECK playing a National TriCone, that was only a guess as I'm not old enough to know what it really was......
a great job on his Ukelele and miniature harmonica. As he'd finish one song on the steel, an arm would extend the next instrument to Mr Smeck from the edge of the picture frame, etc. No words were spoken...
These were Hawaiian tunes...

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

The Great Ralph Kolsiana who just passed away a couple weeks ago played the luau scenes from the original "Mutiny on the Bounty" w/Charles Laughton.Of course steel guitar in that historical time frame is quite an anachronism just like electric guitars in cowbow movies - but that's Hollywood for you.He also played on the tracks for the marrige scene in "Waikiki Wedding" w/Bing Crosby and the night club scenes in "The Horizontal Lieutenant" w/Jeff Chandler and Debbie Reynolds.I don't think he actually appears in those movies though. -MJ-

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Yesterday I happened onto the end of "It's A Date" from 1940 and heard some nice Hawaiian guitar stuff right before the ingenue sang "Ave Maria" closely followed by credits to Harry Owen and his Royal Hawaiians.

Dave Mayes · From: Oakland, Ca.

That was Freddie Tavares on steel in "It's a Date".

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Years ago, when I was just a kid coming up on steel, I saw an old b/w cowboy movie...could have been Roy Rogers, but I don't recall. Anyway, in true Hollywood fashion, all these cowboys were sitting around an open fire with their guitars and singing cowboy songs. Being aware of "electric" guitars in those days, I couldn't understand how one guy was sitting there with what looked like a Gibson EH-150 on his lap. I wonder if his amp, (not shown) was plugged into the nearest cactus?

Paul Warnik · From: Illinois,USA

Check out an old Buddy Ebsen(pre-Hillbillys)flick called "Sing Your Troubles Away" (or something similiar to that)has some cool shots of Alvino Rey playing "Hold That Tiger" on the Gibson Console Grande-for one shot they super-impose the clear fretboard grapics on screen somehow-with the camera shooting upwards toward Alvino while playing-maybe Chas can explain how they did it!

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