The Syncopators Hardtop Mystery (Update)

Update by Roger Bowers: "Velzoe Brown has been teaching at PSGW since 1893. Raised in Nebraska, Velzoe was one of five children born to a mother and father who played piano and trumpet, respectively. Velzoe's first instrument was the piano, which she says she learned without lessons--"I gathered it in with my mother's milk I think." At 13, Velzoe started playing trombone, teaching herself from an instruction book. She worked her way up to first chair in the girls' marching band at Omaha Tech High, and at 16, in 1926, became a full-time musician with the all-women group, The Pollyanna's Syncopators. This traveling orchestra was organized in 1923 by Ruth Randall in Lincoln, Nebraska. This group played ballrooms and theaters from the east coast to California. After The Pollyannas broke up under pressures of the Depression, Velzoe moved to California, where she spent many more successful years playing with top-notch bands. She still plays regular gigs with her quintet, Velzoe Brown and The Upbeats. When asked what she thinks of living a musical life, Velzoe says, "I'm for it, honey!"

EARLIER:When you meet thoroughbred car historian Kit Foster today at the Hershey grounds - near the SAH stall for instance- you can spoil his day by telling him what car this is. It is one of the very few that he doesn't know, or at least couldn't identify so far. You can't see too much of the other girls, but Kit maybe was inside the car as he reports that seven ladies are there. They are the "Pollyannas Syncopators from Omaha, Nebraska" (syncopators play 'syncopic' jazzy dansemusic). Furthermore Kit says that the car has "a California top, a removable hardtop to fit a touring car". Please also take note that ladies left the this side spare at hoem and added a drum instead. (photo from collection Kit Foster; found at Beaulieu, September 2003)

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