Eddie Edwards Gives
The late Margaret Mitchell-when asked how she wrote "Gone With The Wind"-replied that she just jotted down a series of anecdotes that briefly flashed thru her mind, placed them in a desk drawer, and later assembled them. That seems to be the best course to pursue in writing memoirs of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Pioneers are not all eulogized, and a prophet is not without honor save in his own country.			down Wabash Avenue in zero weather, with fancy hot-weather N.O. duds on!
			We opened at the New Shiller Cafe, owned by Sammy Hare, and managed by Harry James (no relation to the contemporary trumpeter). The ODJB often played soft: the clarinet would remain in the lower register, the drums would take to wood blocks and bass drum, the trumpet used a "shell", while I used a homemade mute on trombone (made by an uncle of mine because I couldn't afford the S15 for a store-bought one!). I believe that it was the first mute used in a jazz band, and it was modelled after a French horn type.
A "pioneer" frontiersman by the name of Davy Crockett, suddenly finds all his sins forgiven (even tho' they
appear quite numerous on close inspection), and becomes a national hero, with T-shirts, packaged butter, patented hammers, vitamin pills, hats and liquors, all named after him. The ODJB suffered many annoyances and much abuse when making their debut at Reisenweber's. Tipsy wine-salesmen and certain members of the "straight" (NOT Straight's Orchestra') orchestra which was alternating with the ODJB in the same room, conjured up many tricks and schemes by which our music would be interfered with. For instance, the violinist would release the cymbal on the bass drum, permit it to clatter on the floor and give them a "bronx cheer", right in the middle of a number! The customer, of course, is always right even if he is a louse.
			One night a Schiller patron became so emotional and excited over our music that he twirled a walking cane above his head and let it fly, shouting, "Jazz her up fellers, jazz her up!" From then on, Harry James advertised the band as a "Jazz Band."
			Emile Christian was supposed to be our cornet player, but could not leave New Orleans because he had a 3-dollar parade to make the following Monday, and he had taken "an advance" on it! Our contract at "Schillers" was for 3 months, with an option for 3 years-seven days a week from 9 P.M. to 5 A.M. It was "iron bound" as far as the boss was concerned. If the band was a failure, he could have given us the usual 2-week notice. On the other hand, had he decided we were to be a "hit". he could hold us to the contract. Realizing the unfairness of the contract, I hired a lawyer (out of my own pocket) who immediately obtained a judgment in our favor. Without losing a day, we went to work at the "D'Labeey", 420 Wabash Avenue under the management of the Normandie Hotel, at $30 per week per man. It was an all-marble
We left New Orleans for Chicago en Thursday, March 2nd, 1916, and arrived next morning at 9:30 (the train being late, due to a severe snow storm). As we were leaving N.O. Mom said "Take your overcoats". But to young husky guys. Mom was old fashioned and didn't know, and we could not be bothered with those heavy things. On the other hand, we did take our new straw hats, and walked
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THE SECOND LINE, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER. 1955   9