Klarinet Archive - Posting 000682.txt from 2004/10

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Benny Goodman in pornography - an update
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 17:20:23 -0400

You may remember an incident that I related to this list in the
summer of 2003. I was in Washington at a conference and ran out
to do some quick research in a copy of the New Groves Dictionary
of Music that was in a large bookstore across the street from the
hotel.

I did the lookup quickly and then, on the way out, passed a table
on which there was a book entitled "Tijuana Bibles, Art and Wit
in America's Forbidden Funnies, 1930s-1950s," compiled by Bob
Adelman and published by Simon & Schuster Editions, NY, ISBN
0-684-83461-8. For those who did not grow up in the 30s and 40s,
Tijuana Bibles were crudely drawn 8-page pornographic booklets
that little boys, like me, used to read in dark closets while
holding a flashlight.

Well, now they are the subject of scholarly studies and that is
what Adelman's book effectively is. A study of dirty books that
began in the 1920s, reached their peak in the 1950s and then died
out. Today they are an element of our culture. Wow, if that's
the case, we need a more sophisticated culture.

So what does all this have to do with Benny Goodman? Good
question.

Adelman's book is divided up by various characters used as the
principal actor (or actress as the case may be) in each Tijuana
bible. Many were funny page characters such as Popeye, Donald
Duck, Minnie Mouse, etc. And then there were anonymous characters
such as the Fuller Brush Man (whose 8-page ditty was entitled
"The Amorous Mrs. Twirp"). A third category were assorted
tyrants, gun molls, heavyweights, and crooks such as John
Dillinger.

But one category was reserved for Show Bizness [sic] stars. And
in the late 30s, 40s and 50s, Benny Goodman was one such
character who got selected to be the star of his own Tijuana
bible. While his particular 8-pager was mentioned in Adelman's
book, there were no details. The title was (please prepare
yourself), "Hot! Benny Goodman -- Swing on This" with a subtitle
of "Bring your own gobble stick." As I said, it does not leave
very much to the imagination.

By the way, I'm not making this up.

So I set about to get a copy of the Goodman book, because I knew
him and once played in an orchestra in which he performed the
Weber 1 or maybe it was the Weber 2. I don't remember. And after
a year of trying, I finally got it. It measures 4 inches by 3½".
The story is stupid and the setting absurd, but there is Benny
Goodman involving himself in sexual acrobatics with someone
referred to as "a solid sender." She is obviously a lover of his
clarinet playing. There are a number of references to Benny's
playing, his tunes, his band, and even Harry James peeks in on
the activities to say, "Keep it up Benny. You're in the groove."
(Very subtle, of course.)

And to think that when I was 12, this badly printed, crudely
drawn, almost antisexual activity was hot stuff, though I never
saw the Goodman bible. Mostly what I saw were Mutt and Jeff, or
L'il Abner, etc.

Now if after this appetizing description, any one else is foolish
enough to want a copy of "Hot! Benny Goodman Swing on This," go
to http://www.tijuana-bible.com where you will find Benny's
masterpiece for sale at about around $4. Or else drop a note to
gumball@-----.

It is a bit of Americana and clarinet playing history you won't
find anywhere else.

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

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