Swing Show: 1940
Les Saefke described a big Swing show at the Orpheum in the fall of 1940: (Hennepin History, Fall 1991)
[Harry] James formed his own band, the Music Makers, and came back to the Orpheum in the fall of 1940. He featured Dick Haymes on vocals, who had just replaced Frank Sinatra, and the newly popular, Ink Spots. The Ink Spots stole the show with their renditions of their hits, “If I Didn’t Care” (their theme); “We Three,” “Do I Worry,” “Maybe,” “Java Jive,” etc. It was ironic that Gloria Jean, Universal Studios child singing star, attracted the biggest crowd on the weekend and she didn’t even sing. She was just interviewed by James, in an apologietic manner while the rest of the show was devoted to the great Swing of his Music Makers. Each show ended with his greatly anticipated, loud and exotic, “Two O’Clock Jump.”