BANJO AND UKULELE MUSING–“FOOTBALL HEROS”

UKULELE MUSING 41, 19 OCTOBER 2019: “FOOTBALL HEROS” AND FOOTBALL UKES!

Alison and I are on the road this week. A highlight was visiting the University of Wisconsin, in Madison, to visit our oldest granddaughter, a first-year there.  We, of course, caught a football game with all the hoopla of college life—to say nothing of the cold and wind of Camp Randall Stadium!  Since I was a bit too busy to research and write a fresh ukulele blog this week, bear with me if I expand on one of my postings from a few years ago—one that is certainly on topic! 

This is from the year that I focused on ukuleles from my collection and grouped them by various themes.  This one is all about football!  Enjoy.

Here are three little soprano ukes from those days, one showing those “leatherheads” in action and the other two showing cheerleaders—known as “pep leaders” in those days—doing their thing.  These probably sold for three or four dollars back in the 1930s.  Fun to find today!

Football Hero: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0reywtH5Cw

Or, a racier version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTXhhkgwcJ0

Besides ukuleles and doing “The Charleston,” a passion of the Jazz Age was FOOTBALL, particularly college football. It became a Saturday ritual in the Ivy League, Big Ten, and a host of other conferences to put on your raccoon coat or flapper dress, hop into a flivver or a trolley, and grab your flask and ukulele and head to the stadium.

This was a chance to see your favorite players in action and cheer your heads off for your favorite team.

Mr. Touchdown:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up8kcyLOfzM

Ah, memories of the sweet old days sitting in a cold, often wet, stadium and, after the game sadly or happily heading out for a teacup of prohibition rye and a tune on the uke!

 Stay Tuned!