What Do Al Jolsen, A Local Boys Band and a Church Have in Common?

Professor Al J. Palmer.

According to a story uncovered, while Dr. Dean C. Dutton was pastor of Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church (1919-1924) he learned that Al J. Palmer was living in Oklahoma City and called on him to see if he could come into Wesley Methodist Church and help with the "Epworth League" (youth organization of the M.E. Church).

 

Mr. Palmer was a composer and, according to the story of this source, had written several of the songs that Al Jolsen sang during his career.  Records do indicate Jolsen worked for a time with two Palmer brothers (Al and Joe) but they parted company around 1905. 

 

The first available program of a Band concert found by researchers in 1975 (for the history book written then), was dated June 19, 1923 under the direction of Al J. Palmer.

 

The boys band created had 38 pieces  and costumes in deep red with black trim and Mr. Palmer wore an all white suit.  They had stunts and band rehearsals and gathered on Sunday evenings for concerts.  People who belonged to other churches came to hear the band on Sunday nights.  The band was composed of youth of the church and at that time it was one of the few bands ever organized by a church group.  Palmer also directed an orchestra at Wesley.

 

Some identified with the band includes: Ed Fuller, Bob Sherman, Ruhl Potts, Harold Klein, Harold Hamlin, Warren McCreight, Everett Bradshaw, ....

 

In 1927, as Wesley turned ground to build their new sanctuary, the band was there under the direction of Palmer.   An ad from the time period is for "Prof. Al J. Palmer, Instructor of Band Instruments".  He listed he was Director of Wesley Senior and Junior Bands and was available for "special songs written to order...expression in dramatic art...words written to music and music written to words...entertaining material furnished for amateurs."

 

Interestingly enough, several of the band members could be heard over a local radio station WKY every Sunday evening in 1931 as members of the Oklahoma City Concert Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Weitz ("On WKY Every Sunday Night", Oklahoman (Aug.30,1930):40.

Boys Band, Wesley M.E., OKC, cal 1923.
Is the man shown here one of the Palmer's who once worked with Jolsen in Vaudville?

QUICK OKLAHOMA HALLOWEEN HISTORY

HALLOWEEN: OKLAHOMA TRICKS-N-TREATS 1900-1989.  

This fun little book shares the history of some ways Halloween was celebrated in Oklahoma between 1900 and 1989.  It looks at some of the influences that made the season sinister, safe, and sometimes silly.

Authored by Marilyn A. Hudson it will be of interest to any who enjoy their holidays with a dash of local history.

Now availale in Kindle format as well.  (ISBN: 0615711111 / 9780615711119)

IS THERE A REAL EVENT TIED TO DEAD WOMAN CROSSING?

In Oklahoma, near Weatherford, is a spooky area known locally as "Dead Woman's Crossing." Is it related to a famous murder case or something else?

Conflicting stories exist that have suggested that the germ of a real event, the kidnapping and murder of Mrs. Katie James in 1905, and a later tall tale/urban myth from local university students merged to create a jumble of ghostly tales related to this general area. [For more information: Dead Woman’s Crossing: http://www.ghost-investigators.com/Stories/view_story.php?story_num=15 ]

Dead Woman’s Bridge is located on the famous Route 66.

Prairie Ghosts has a pretty good account of it, except he misnames the detective who helped in the search. Sam Bartell was a well known early US Marshall and local Oklahoma City police officer and at the time was with the Oklahoma Detective Agency. I will load my profile of this man soon.

As for "Dead Woman's Crossing"? Well, a look at places in Oklahoma reveals several "dead man" or "dead woman" or "skeleton" locales. In fact just to the east is a "Dead Woman Creek" and the southeast "Dead Woman Mound" and to the south "Ghost Mound." If this was a "Dead Woman's Crossing" - it may be much older than the James crime and not have anything strange about it at all. Early maps of the region should reveal much. The terrain has changed by farming and road constructions.