The TONY LIMARDI BAND

Both of these photos come from the Betty Schnabel estate. I'm guessing they belonged to her father.

There's no information given about when they were taken, just that they were both of the Tony Limardi Band and/or Dance Orchestra.

Click on images to see them larger.


Tony Limardi Dance Orchestra, 76 Inf. Div., Camp McCoy, Wisconsin


Tony Limardi Band, U.S.O., Sparta, Wisconsin

There's always been one thing I feel I missed out on being born when I was and that was the opportunity to hear the big bands play. It's the music I grew up with and the bands my mother went to see. Sadly you can't even find it on the radio anymore. For a long time there was a station in San Francisco that played the music, but I think the station eventually became an internet station. Admittedly those who remember the bands are passing away, but I hate to think the same will happen to the music.



This is my submission to this weeks Sepia Saturday "let's put on a show" theme.

THE PARTY is in full swing

I hadn't even noticed this shot went with yesterday's shot of the musicians. I had it separated into a different envelope. There are, I believe, 12 large envelopes full of photos and ephemera from the Ten Buck Box.

This is proof there was a party. These are the ladies of the party. If you look closely you'll see the band still sitting next to the building off in the distance.

Still no information as to where this was taken. Time period would be late 1940s to early '50s. Neither photo has any information on the back. Usually for photos that Arthur took he had them processed in Wiesbaden and there is processing information on the back; no such luck with this and yesterday's image.

Click on image to see it larger.

Take a moment to imagine the sights and sounds of the party. The little band sitting in the warmth of the sun playing a little swing while others drank, smoked, and chatted. No raucous noise; nothing amplified. Hoping they had a good time. Also hoping food was provided, though there's none to be see in either photo.

THE PARTY was just getting started

Another vintage snapshot from the Ten Buck Box.

I believe the fellow standing at the fence may be Gertrude's son, Arthur Bowen. As I've mentioned in a previous post he was in the military stationed in Germany following the war. At some point I believe he became a civilian contractor of some sort for the US government, still in Germany.

Perhaps this shot was taken on a military reservation in government housing. I really have no idea where it was taken; no information is provided on the verso of the image.

It appears these folks are getting ready for a party. It looks like there are several containers full of cold beer against the fence. The lady and the gent, probably the mixologists for the evening, might be studying a "cookbook" which means it probably got more interesting as the evening wore on.

The band consists of drums, fiddle, and guitar. The fellow shading his eyes is holding something, but I don't know what it is. Perhaps a flute?

So what do you think was their speciality? Bluegrass? Swing? Bach concerto? Bloody Mary's?

Let's hope a good time was had by all, including the neighbors who were hopefully invited.