78rpmnut: >I notice the chord changes but I can't >recognize the tune. It's 'Study in Brown' by Bunny Berrigan - only obv a bit more jaunty with the melorimba girls. Every time I watch this I'm increasingly convinced that, when we die, this is where we go. Grab yourself a set of mallets because you're going to be busy. Tune identified pedant 2007-07-26 15:13:16 2004-08-22 05:26:13 4 (Sorry, didn't mean to bump this up, just wanted to say thank you Cyndy for posting!) Pedant is exactly right. Putting aside the question of persistence of conscious awareness after death, there is something about this video that keeps drawing me back in. Is it the mysteriously smiling maraca lady who sensually waves her maracas over her head while swaying to and fro, and doesn't get to put her arms down the whole time? Or is it the bass player who sails his arms out to the side between notes, then air-bangs his head in anticipation of Heavy Metal performances two generations later? Or is it that addictively hypnotizing melody? Astounding what they do with just three notes! And even though you can't actually hear the wacka-toos being sung, you know they'll be there tomorrow at work when the tune plays back over and over and over again in your head. Was this band a popular act on the "night club" circuit at the time? And if so, where? Southern California? They seem to have a pretty polished performance. I wonder whatever happened to them. Wacka-too Wacka-too Wacka-too 5 BraddS 2005-03-10 14:28:07 2005-05-29 19:12:44 39146 The bass player is absolute comedy! Great! JimPAS 2005-04-20 12:07:12 2005-04-20 10:06:41 5 39819 Just watching that crazy cat wailing away on his upright bass makes this clip a classic. Highly recommended! A really wigged out bass player! hoodoo 2005-04-27 06:31:16 2005-04-27 06:31:16 5 40421 There's so much wonderful stuff at this site that one is loathe to label one film "best." Yet, until they finally unearth a copy of "The Extraordinary World of Zinc," this soundie holds the #1 spot. Some of the girls look oddly familiar. Where have I seen them before? I was mesmerized... jademko 2005-05-03 05:17:26 2005-05-03 05:17:26 5 40555 I saw this Soundie sometime in the late 1970s. It may have been played on the old PBS series, "Matinee At The Bijou". The clip was not cut off at the beginning, as it is in this collection. I think the title was "Rhumba Queens" (at least, I remember the title contained the word, "queens"). Incidentally, after I downloaded the "MPEG" file from this site, I corrected the "mirror image" appearance with Windows Movie Maker. May be titled "Rhumba Queens" Drexel Gal 2005-05-04 09:21:42 2005-05-04 09:21:42 5 Yes, this was shown about 15 years ago on the PBS noontime program Matinee at the Bijou. I made a VHS copy then, and it is my favorite of these musical shorts by a large measure. Here's Reg Kehoe on the standup base, bouncing around like a maniac going to town on it, surrounded by a half dozen babes in evening wear all playing marimbas. Amazing, brilliant, DON'T MISS THIS ONE. Mind-bendingly great.... Reg Kehoe and his Marimba Queens 5 Kazoo 2005-05-10 14:01:26 2005-05-10 14:01:26 I never thought I would see my mother on the internet. She was one of Reg Kehoe's Marimba Queens. In the movie clip she is to Reg's far right. I have many wonderful memories of the band and traveled with them often as a young girl. What a fantastic way to share this wonderful band of the past. Please feel free to email me for more information about the band. Reg is playing the marimba and skips up to an electric vibraphone. Frank Denunzio plays the base, and yes the clip is a mirror immage, my mother usually was on the far left and may be the one referred to as rolling her eyes so show how much fun this was. My mother loved to play in this band. The woman next to the maraca player is Reg's wife. A few of the Marimba Queens are still living. The Kehoe Band opened and closed the Hershey Park season in PA for many years and was something I looked forward to each year. This clip was titled "A Study in Brown" and was played before a movie. I don't remember the name of the movie. My mother played with the band from about 1938 until 1955. She also did stand up comedy and a 'contortionist' doing an acrobatic act. I am delighted that people can still enjoy this great band of days gone by. My mother a Marima Queen 5 CyndyM18 2005-05-28 22:25:53 2005-05-28 22:44:17 Several people have commented that this has shown up on 'Matinee at the Bijou'... I'm sorry? Where was I during that episode? I thought I caught every episode of that series!! (I want to see the classic Porky Pig Cartoon 'I havent got a hat' as well as the classic 'Cajun Moon' again!). Anyways, about this soundie... FANTASTIC!! Some pretty xylophone players, a mean macaras shaker, and an even MEANER bass player. Honestly, Georgia Sothern, the accordian player from the 'Beyond the blue Horizon' and this bass player should have put an act together. Great great stuff! Where was I? 5 Spuzz 2005-06-16 21:08:35 2006-01-21 19:20:52 Wow, what a really cool cat story. I wish there were more film of the band around. Bless you, Ray To Cindy, 5 Ray Double 2005-06-21 12:48:13 2005-06-21 12:48:13 I can't help thinking I saw this wonderful group in the early 50's at Willow Grove Park,Pa., where my Grandfather's band used to perform. I'd love to know if they ever recorded any 78 RPMs? And anything else about the band...what other Parks they played in, any of the local Dance Halls... This is a wonderful histort lesson! I might have gotten my love for Marimba's from the Queens!!! Docterry Reg Kehoe and Marimba Queens 5 Docterry 2005-06-22 18:30:30 2005-06-22 18:30:30 Well, not all of them. Somebody mentioned that they seem familiar and sorting through many dreams and nightmares it was revealed to me that the main marimba player is Mr.Rogers and the base player is none other than Jon Lovitz. I'm still working on the girls however. Do I see a young Barbara Stanwick........? I know who these people are! 5 'Chive Lingerer 2005-07-18 22:08:15 2005-07-18 22:08:15 This is one of the better films I have downloaded. The xylophone player in the front looks EXACTLY like LBJ (36th President Lyndon Johnson), and some of his "queens" look quite tired, to say the VERY least. I also happen to love the set, is it supposed to be some Greek arch? Anyways, this is truly a great film, and the maracas girl seemingly has no brain!!! A Great Little Musical Film 5 Ja30fitz 2005-07-24 17:29:35 2005-07-24 17:29:35 This is one of those films here I could watch all day long, it's got everything you could want; wierd music, creepy girl xylophone players, a great set and a kick ass bass player. And he's the one who sends this short over the top. For the first minute he does some great boppin' in the back, but then he comes down and starts headbanging and beating the hell out of that bass. Great, great stuff. And is it just me or are those girls really really creepy, they look like they're wearing wigs and being forced to smile. Download this now, you won't be sorry. Does it get any better than this? 5 stinky wizzleteats 2005-08-19 11:08:08 2005-08-19 11:08:08 Download this film! Absolute genius. I've been sitting here crying laughing. Marvellous stuff Head banging bass genius 5 hugebigpig 2005-09-18 15:46:44 2005-09-18 15:46:44 Sad news on Mrs. Kehoe, a classy lady. Fern Marie (Henry) Kehoe, 2351 Columbia Ave., Lancaster, passed away July 15, 2006 at Brethren Village, Lancaster in her 98th year. Born in Gordonville, she was the daughter of the late Sarah Salome (Sentman) and William Lightner Henry Jr. She was a 1926 graduate of Lancaster High School. The wife of the late J. Reginald Kehoe, she helped entertain audiences in the U.S. and Canada while touring with the Reg Kehoe All-Girl Marimba Band in the 30's, 40's and 50's. Besides playing and dancing with the band, she also designed and made many of the costumes. In her retirement years, she taught tap, acrobatics, ballroom and jazz dance to many local students. The lives of many extended family members were positively impacted because she so generously shared her time and talents with them to build enduring and happy memories. She loved to dance, take daily walks through her neighborhood, do aerobics and take care of her dog. She was a member of First Reformed Church, Lancaster. Her daughter, Karen Lynn, passed away on May 18 at Crozer-Chester Medical Center from complications due to thermal burns sustained in a house fire on April 24. Obituary of Reg Kehoe's wife 5 March Drummer 2005-10-16 10:10:54 2006-07-19 01:24:21 A bit of music history worth a million bucks. A Must See 5 autoguy 2005-11-07 21:41:38 2005-11-07 21:41:38 This soundie is an amazing glimpse into American pop culture of the World War II era. Memo to the bass player: Next time, switch to decaf! A rare gem 5 K.Y. 2006-03-01 18:20:55 2006-03-01 18:20:55 All of the previous reviews hit well on the mark with regards to this most interesting "soundie". For me as well, the hi-light is that "hepped-up" bass player,he could of easily played in a rock'n'roll band if he were so inclined.Choice piece of Americana and well worth the download,wish there were more like it. Bob. What a cool video! 5 bobair 2006-04-29 09:42:40 2006-04-29 09:42:40 This is so cool. I just loved it. The bass fiddle player especially caught my attentiion. This is a one of a kind winner. da da dada da ta da da 5 skunkgoddess 2006-06-14 09:12:54 2006-06-14 09:12:54 Wowwwwwwwww,that kool kat playing the bass was none other than the one and only Frank DeNunzio Sr. of Hersey,Pa.He played his stand bass up til he was in his early 90's.Sadly he passed away in febuary 2005,i had the honor of meeting this man in 1997,i married one of his grand daughter's,although i only knew him a few short year's,i could tell he was quite a caracter,i heard just a few storie's from "back in the day" and i wished i could of been there,everybody seem to have a good time...miss you pop pop they were sum kool kat's 5 katlac 2006-06-23 21:02:51 2006-06-23 21:02:51 There's something about this clip that is almost surreal--The grainy black and white images, the sameness of most of the performers (all quite thin and "brunette" as they said back then, with the exception of the marimba player at Reg's right hand) and most of all the music. I too can watch this over and over and get teary when I do--I wonder what is the name of the tune. Does anyone know? Name that tune 5 awgertoo 2006-12-21 22:52:36 2006-12-21 22:52:36 How much fun can you have with several marimbaphones? Nice. I notice the chord changes but I can't recognize the tune. And How 'Bout that guy slappin the bass??? Gee, it's swell!! How much fun CAN you have... 4 78rpmnut 2006-12-22 16:32:30 2006-12-22 16:32:30 An enjoyable musical number. Good showmanship, with the bass player antics contrasting the sedate ladies. Lots of fun 4 ERD. 2006-12-26 22:56:03 2006-12-26 22:56:03 So here I sit, a professional drummer/percussionist who always wondered if anyone else ever played marimba "rags" like I did in college. Sure enough, a friend links me to this site and I am HOOKED! I got quite a kick out of watching these ladies. Not only are they all terrific musicians, the song itself has tremendous appeal and really hooks you with it's bounciness and frivolity. Makes me miss my days of George Hamilton Green and hanging in the Percussion Room. I could kick myself to think that they played so close to NJ and I never got a chance to see them, but they were a little before my time! If anyone has any info on any professionally done recordings of them, please feel free to respond to my post, I'd love to hear more. ;) The college days!! 5 PitPercussion 2007-01-05 20:45:16 2007-01-05 20:45:16 I am the daughter of a marimba player and am working on a book about the band and life on the road. If anyone has input, please email it to riverdancer18@gmail.com. Thanks Marimba music Riverdancer18 2009-02-24 19:10:17 2007-04-11 16:28:37 5 If Reg and crew don't cheer you up, you are a candidate for euthanasia. ...Lorenzo Cheer Lorenzo B 2008-01-01 02:45:35 2008-01-01 02:45:35 4 Joyous music and swinging showmanship make this Soundie an absolute delight. This is like a handbell choir with rhythm and spunk! An absolute delight apkat 2008-11-08 08:17:06 2008-11-08 08:17:06 5 I love this charming warm clip from a more decent and hopeful time. I am strangly drawn to it,and the unabashed fun and openess. I play it when I'm down and need a lift. Thank you all Marimba Queens oldstudmo 2009-04-15 17:08:08 2009-04-15 17:08:08 5 Hi, It's wonderful they gave the bass player that kind of freedom. And all of the reviews below are great as well. Congrats to those of you who were able to find this piece of your personal history. Even with the war, it was an interesting and creative time to be alive. Pitt Cairn Marimba Queens Pitt Cairn 2009-05-28 13:42:03 2009-05-28 13:42:03 5 That is some wild bass playing! He is getting on down!! Anyone know if Frank owned Dinunzios Lounge in Hershey, Pa? Also, did he ever play with Sonny James and the Southern Gentlemen when they were in town, back in the 60's? Thanks!!!! Frank Dinunzio Mustang66r 2009-06-05 04:40:04 2009-06-05 04:40:04 5 31 4.87