Cool old photo

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 5 Jul 2016 6:58 am

Cool old pic posted by Clayton Willoughby of his dad in the Navy in 1942 playing lap steel.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Jul 2016 7:36 am

Neat!

David DeLoach · Post by **David DeLoach** » 6 Jul 2016 3:11 am

So cool. Music had to be such an escape for the those faced with war.

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 12 Jul 2016 11:52 pm

I hope you don't mind me jumping on here, Andy, but I love these historical pictures and I'd like to share one.
I found this on the wall of a very remote lighthouse on Kangaroo Island in South Australia a few years ago. The picture was taken in 1927 and it shows just how global the reach of the steel guitar was in those days. The lighthouse keeper and his family would have had to make their own fun and how better to do it than a family band.

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/ ... ation-park

Peter Harris · Post by **Peter Harris** » 13 Jul 2016 2:59 am

Hi Guy,
That was great! FWIW, the Web list of lighthouse keepers for Cape Willoughby (yes, I have actually been there about 40 years ago!) is incomplete for the 20s, but a 'Bertram Jackson' was listed as a keeper of one of the Tasmanian lighthouses at some point... so he & his family obviously moved about..

Thanks so much for sharing that!

Cheers,
Peter

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 13 Jul 2016 5:14 am

Love the old pics!

Guy Cundell · Post by **Guy Cundell** » 13 Jul 2016 5:41 am

They are great, Doug. Is that 1956 or 1950 on the National Music Association poster? I am most interested in any details about Mr Ball's Academy in California.

Tim Weaver · Post by **Tim Weaver** » 13 Jul 2016 7:18 am

Allan Jackson looks like he's rocking it on that ukulele.

Any idea if it was common for people to finger chords on lap steel for photos? In Doug's set of pics. The two guys in the 2nd photo and the kid in the 4th all are playing guitar looking chords!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Jul 2016 7:26 am

In that one picture, it looks like that little boy is playing a ukulele with a bar. In the lighthouse picture, it looks like that little boy is having the time of his life!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 13 Jul 2016 7:46 am

Is that 1956 or 1950 on the National Music Association poster?

It has to be 1956. The fender amps in that picture are "narrow panel", 1955 - 1959.

A lot of music stores/teaching studios had store bands back them. Mostly for promotion, selling instruments, keeping the kids motivated, and keeping the parents happy!
Man, look at all those Fender steel guitars, 11 of them in one band!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 14 Jul 2016 10:02 am

This group puts the steel front and center... where it belongs!

Tony Lombardo · Post by **Tony Lombardo** » 14 Jul 2016 12:19 pm

Here's a shot featuring the late great Irvin Payne and his students.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 14 Jul 2016 12:26 pm

Here's one of some left-handed Norwegian in Minnesota:

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 14 Jul 2016 2:32 pm

Nice pictures. Here's one from Minnesota. 1950? 60s? Grandpa makes sure the boys practice their lessons daily!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 15 Jul 2016 7:19 am

Doug,
That one could actually be from the '40s.

Tony Lombardo · Post by **Tony Lombardo** » 15 Jul 2016 8:04 am

'Loving these pictures!

Mike Spieth · Post by **Mike Spieth** » 15 Jul 2016 8:30 am

I notice that in the original posted photo it's an acoustic steel. An old luthier here in Santa Fe told me that he played an electric lap steel while in the navy because it was small enough to fit into his locker. Not sure about the amp, though!

Gary C. Dygert · Post by **Gary C. Dygert** » 26 Jul 2016 6:18 pm

These are great. Keep 'em coming!

Barbara Berg · Post by **Barbara Berg** » 2 Aug 2016 5:15 pm

Wow what a treat! Keep em coming, I took lessons in 1956 with my Supro (which I still have, amp included) My instructor had lots of pictures in his studio, so fun to look at!

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 3 Aug 2016 6:38 am

Does anyone have any idea who this is?

It's a pro publicity photo, so presumably he's at least a semi-well known player. Looks like 1940s to me.

Not Alvino Rey?

Is that a mustache or a shadow?

I don't think that's an Epiphone Rocco. Maybe a National?

Pic came from the web site of Ziggie's Music in Phoenix, so maybe an Arizona connection?

But the photographer is from Chicago, so?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 3 Aug 2016 7:05 am

Andy Sanella and his cat:

Actor Gary Cooper:

Unknown European Player:

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 3 Aug 2016 6:10 pm

Jane Whisnant was an armless steel guitarist and a circus performer, as was Roy Meyers back in the day.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 3 Aug 2016 6:21 pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pester

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 3 Aug 2016 6:24 pm

Letritia Kandle

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 3 Aug 2016 6:53 pm

Andy:

Do you think that could be Andy Sanella in the picture I posted above your picture of Sanella? Looks quite similar, but I can't be sure.

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