Harmony Isle

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

Just thought I'd bring up the subject of Dick McIntire to see what reaction comes along ... I have always been an ardent fan of Dick McIntire ... his tone was so beautiful as was his technic. Back in 1934 thereabouts, Dick had a 15 minute radio show called "Harmony Isle". It featured Dick's steel along with r/guitar, ukulele, string bass and vibes. Narration by a velvety voiced Ted Bliss. Ted's narration, though probably considered to be quite 'corny' by today's standards, nevertheless made you dream of a far off tropical island paradise. Strangely, the name "Hawai'i" was seldom spoken on any of the shows. I think Dick was fairly young at the time and was probably just starting out, however even back then, his tone was something to behold. I'm fairly certain he was using the E7th tuning on those old radio shows. I would imagine many of you old timers might recall those programs. They were an inspiration to me and I still listen to them many times never tiring of of his music even though today those radio shows are at least 71 years old !

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 23 June 2005 at 10:54 PM.]

Larry W. Jones · From: Longmont, Colorado

George, thanks for opening this discussion. Dick McIntire was a little too early for me, but history was my favorite subject in school. Here's an image of Dick along with other icons of Hawaiian music.
[img]http://www.elderly.com/images/accessories/POST/618-1.jpg[img]

Larry W. Jones · From: Longmont, Colorado

And, try that again!

Larry W. Jones · From: Longmont, Colorado

This is from the HSGA website. "Bill Creller repairing Hal Smith's frypan. This frypan was originally owned by steel great Dick McIntire." So, who owns and has the privelege of playing Dick's frypan today?

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Larry,

You wrote:

quote:

This is from the HSGA website. "Bill Creller repairing Hal Smith's frypan.... So, who owns and has the privelege of playing Dick's frypan today?

Look at your first sentence... Hal Smith.

Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

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

I'm not sure just who is buried in Grant's Tomb !

However, I do know that, like most of us, Dick went through many guitars. Hal's is one of them. Dirk Vogel in Minneapolis found another many years ago and I think he still owns it. Many of you have seen the pic showing Dick playing a Dickerson guitar, (small diamonds in front). The Dickerson was NOT named after Dick. Also, many feel this particular photo was for publicity purposes as McIntire preferred the Rickenbacher Frypans...any thoughts on this ?

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

I've got to hear Jack Montgomery play twice now on one of those MOTS wood bodied guitars. He is so dead-on McIntire sounding that if you told me the guitars were named after Dick, I'd believe you. He absolutely refutes the notion that a long-scale Rick frypan is necessary for the McIntire sound.

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

Jeff...I certainly agree with you. Hal Smith has a very close proximity to the sound of Dick McIntire. Another chap you have probably heard at conventions is Jack Montgomery of Toronto. He possesses an amazing closeness in tone and touch to Dick McIntire ... if you can ever get him to finish a song ! Jack's a fun guy !

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

As good as Dicks show was; it could not compare to your old radio show, Keoki. I still have and play the tapes you sent yrs ago. In 1950 I believe, Dick played a show for us guys stationed at Ft McArthur and he was playing a blue Dickerson. Sounded great. CC

Larry W. Jones · From: Longmont, Colorado

As an astute student of HISTORY, here's some more tidbits:

But I'm still on the trail of WHO is buried in Grant's tomb!?? I'll let you know.

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

You are certainly right George about Jack Montgomery being a fun guy. He is one of the reasons I go to the conventions. Sadly though, his current health problems prohibit him from leaving Canada because of insurance issues. We may get lucky this July if he feels up to coming to Winchester , which would be only for a few days. He didn't go to Hawaii this May for the reasons I mentioned.
BILL

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

It certainly was one of the big highlights of my HSGA 2004 convention experience ... knockin' back a few cold ones with Jack Montgomery in his room.

Him and Bobby were trading Spooky Stories of "Pele" and "Night Marchers" ... listenin' to old steel recordings on tape ...

How cool was that !!! ...

Workin' on Hal Smith's A25, meeting Dirk Vogel and Mike Scott ...

Speaking of super players ... not alot of folks got to hear Harry Dietrich last year ... but I saw him set his strings on fire ... usin' his own tunin' ...

This year I hope to hear alot more from him ... if I can stop laughin' long enough to listen.

As SpongeBob would say ...

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

Mahalo for your very kind words CC...appreciated.

Yes, hard to believe, 56 years ago when live talent was a regular feature on radio stations, I did have a Hawaiian radio program. It was the inspiration from constant listening to Dick McIntire's "Harmony Isle" show of which I have many transcriptions. The year was 1949 when I put together a group featuring my steel, along with vibes, r/guitar, ukulele, bass and vocal. We auditioned at the radio station and were granted a 13 week run which was the standard during that era. The station manager slotted the show to run Saturday evenings at 6:45 pm (at sunset) and it was decided to name the program "Hawaiian Sunset". The show featured Hawaiian music exclusively along with nostalgic narration and was rather relaxing to hear during the dinner hour. Recorded surf was included to lend authenticity to the show. Just one problem: Two of us were also featured on a c/w show at another radio station every Saturday evening which aired 7:00 pm. Of course it was impossible for us to get from one station to the other in a matter of minutes. Therefore it was decided to put my shows on to transcriptions earlier during the week for the Saturday evening broadcast. Those of you who might be unfamiliar with the term "transcription" ... a transcription is a huge 16" disc usually made of metal with a shellac coating. This was how recordings were made back in those days...there were no tape recorders. Once the cutting stylus hit the shellac, there was no going back, no erasing, no dubbing...if a mistake occured, you just lived with it and carried on. (A transcription could handle 15 minutes on each side of the disc). For whatever reason, once the 13 weeks had expired, management decided to allow the show to run indefinitely. I suspect the mail coming ino the station may have been partially the reason as many thought the program was actually being aired from Hawai'i. The bubble eventually burst in 1952, (4 years on the air), when Elvis came upon the scene and musical tastes were to change forever. Other than "Hawai'i Calls", I am sure my program was probably the last 'live' Hawaiian show to be broadcast in Canada. It was the end of a golden era of live talent on radio. I might mention here, I was able to purchase all the discs and have since transferred them to tape. During the 4 year run, we were also featured on the CBC Dominion Network for 2 months, (Vancouver to Toronto), also we were heard in Australia for 5 weeks on a cultural exchange, and I am quite positive we were the only Hawaiian radio show to be aired in the far northern reaches of the Yukon. The pay was lousy, however the experience was absolutely priceless !

I'm so sorry to learn of Jack Montgomery's illness. As I mentioned, he is a fun guy especially when the jokes were flying around at Winchester. His fondness for Dick McIntire was very obvious in his playing.

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 24 June 2005 at 09:33 PM.]

Gary Boyett · From: Colorado

George,
Have you ever thought of putting those shows on CD? I know I would love to have them. Since I was born in 1954 snd in the USA I could not hear them from here

I think you could get quite a few orders. I love that old stuff whe I can find it. My wife bought an old record player from a garage sale a few years ago to listen to her dad's 78's Some of those are just incredible!

I am sure I am not alone here!

------------------
JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member since 2005
Fenders- Georgeboard- Melobar
Boyett's Glass Bars

Larry W. Jones · From: Longmont, Colorado

Gary, you beat me to it. I was thinking the same. I hear that "digital remastering" can do some wonderful things to older recording technologies. Also, Gearge, that was a "good read" on your bio. We want to hear more of your history. Did you ever meet or work with Dick McIntire? Also, I can't find any info on "Narration by a velvety voiced Ted Bliss." What's his story?

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Return to paradise with Island Song Lyrics

It ain't got that FEELIN' if it ain't got that STEELIN'

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

"...Did you ever meet or work with Dick McIntire? Also, I can't find any info on "Narration by a velvety voiced Ted Bliss." What's his story?...."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fellas, I really wish I knew the story of narrator TED BLISS. I'm sure some old tymer of radio who was around the Los Angeles area during the mid-thirties might might recall his name, or his name might be found in the archives of early radio ? He had a very relaxing speaking style, what I termed for lack of a better word as a "velvety" voice.

As for me ever meeting Dick McIntire, sadly neither myself or our great JB ever had that privilage.

My shows are very old, (over 50 years ago). I was very young, (in my early twenties). I highly doubt they would be of any significant interest today. I have considered putting them to cd for the family as a keepsake of their dad and may follow through with that thought as tapes can also be fragile.

Patrick Thirsk · From: Lancashire U.K.

What a great story George. I just love to read stuff like that. I'm getting on a bit too, (65 last Feb.) and used to play r/guitar for a guy in Yorkshire where I lived at the time,late 1950's. He was Django and Sol rolled into one!!. I've just started again on lap steel after many years. My only regret is not keeping it going all this time. Best wishes from Wales..U.K.

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

I'd also love to have those shows to listen to. Great music like that is so difficult to find today. I was born in '71, so I also missed out on all of that. It's "new" music to me. Please consider preserving those! If anything happens to the recordings, those great shows may never be heard again.

Larry W. Jones · From: Longmont, Colorado

George, I uncovered another piece of your history. Here it is for all the world to see. (hope you don't mind).
http://www.hawaiimusicmuseum.org/forum/perf/tp100.html

Posted on 3/8/01 at 8:07pm

A hundred years ago, (back in the forties actually), I had my ears glued to my old radio every Saturday to hear David Keli'i on Hawai'i Calls. Hawai'i was but a mythical dream place to me and in those non-jet days, I often wondered if such a place with such beautiful music actually existed! Later, in the mid-fifties, I was working in a musical instrument store when 4 gentlemen walked in. I had never seen men quite like these fellows before, they were dusky brown and most interesting. I asked where they were from and they replied "Hawai'i"! Wow, actual Hawaiians, the first I had ever seen! In conversation, I asked them what ever became of that great steel guitarist of Hawai'i Calls, David Keli'i ? One of them replied, "He's standing right behind you!" That was the same as saying God was standing behind me !! I couldn't believe it! Anyway, they gave me a couple of complimentary tickets to a private show and it wasn't until my wife and I were seated that, in the show was Hilo Hattie. Also, one of those gentlemen who came into the store was Sol K. Bright whom I got to know very closely towards the end of his life. That night I think I died and went to Heaven !

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

Nah Larry, I don't mind. The story is TRUE. It was a great experience to have met David Keli'i.

Derrick Mau · From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Keoki,

Do you happen to know the title of the steel instrumental theme song for this show? It's the one that's playing in the background while Ted is talking.

Ted and Webley Edwards are the coolest! They always had these 1000 + adjectives in their vocabulary to describe things about Hawaii.

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

Hi Derrick...The theme song you are referring to is the very old standard "DRIFTING AND DREAMING". Dick took it at a very slow tempo as you know. Not many Hawaiians have heard, or even are aware of the Harmony Isle
program. Where did you hear it ? Over the years Dick McIntire's style changed quite a bit, but even back in the Harmony Isle days he had that "magic" tone which I loved in his playing. And yes, I agree when it comes to Ted and Webley's narrations. However Webley narrated about Hawai'i whereas Ted's narration was usually about the 'fictitious' place called Harmony Isle which we presumed had to be Hawai'i. If you heard many of the shows, you'll recall he seldom if ever mentioned "Hawai'i"

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 26 June 2005 at 08:04 PM.]

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Dick McIntire had a unique touch and feel for the instrument. I love his playing. He was the Paul Desmond of the lap steel in that he could build around a melody with less notes per measure than many players but say much more musically. He may not have been the most exciting steel player ever (Speedy West and Joaquin get my vote for that catagory) but Dick's music has to be among the most pleasurable and relaxing lap steel ever recorded.

[This message was edited by Andy Volk on 27 June 2005 at 05:09 AM.]

Derrick Mau · From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Hi Keoki,

Yes, Ted did use the song "Drifting &
Dreaming", but this is a different song I've never heard before and he does mention Hawaii on occasion. Maybe Ted changed his format somewhere along the line? How long did this show run? Not sure where I have gotten the material from.

Doesn't Ted's voice sound close to Alfred Hitchcock?

Larry W. Jones · From: Longmont, Colorado

I ran across these lyrics, which I think is the mele mentioned.

code:



DRIFTING AND DREAMING (Sweet Paradise) A Hawaiian Love Song 1925





Lyrics: Haven Gillespie


Music: Egbert Van Alstyne, Ervin R. Schmidt, and Loyal Curtis


Sheet Music: Fox Trot with Ukulele arrangement. 


Published by L.B. Curtis, Music Publisher, 1595 Broadway, New York


Hawaii Calls, Hawaii's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2








Down by the southern sea


There at Waikiki


Someone waits for me


Beneath the dreamy summer moon


Hearts are all in time


Lovers softly croon


Their plaintive melodies of love





Far, far away in dreams


Where the moonlight gleams


There I stay it seems


And while my fancies come and go


One that I love so


Whispers sweet and low


Come back to dreamy paradise





CHORUS:


Drifting and dreaming


While shadows fall


Softly at twilight I hear you call


Love's old sweet story, told with your eyes


Drifting and dreaming, sweet paradise

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