The Ingenues
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, entertainment |
| Founded | 1925 |
| Founder | William Morris |
| Defunct | 1937 |
| Fate | Disbanded |
Area served | United States, Europe, South Africa, Asia, Australia, Brazil |
Key people | Edward Gorman Sherman (manager) |
| Products | Live performances, recordings, films |
The Ingenues were a jazz ensemble composed entirely of women, performing within the vaudeville circuit.
Early career
From 1925 until 1937, The Ingenues conducted tours across the United States and abroad. The ensemble was established by William Morris and overseen by manager Edward Gorman Sherman (1880–1940). Their acclaim grew through appearances in variety theaters, vaudeville shows, and cinema venues, frequently promoted as "The Girl Paul Whitemans of Syncopation."
In 1927, they featured in the Ziegfeld Follies production Glorifying the American Girl, delivering the first act's closing number "Melody Land," accompanied by twelve white baby grand pianos. Their musical selections encompassed contemporary hits, light classical pieces, and novelty tunes. Recognized for their adaptability, the musicians mastered both unusual instruments such as accordions, harmonicas, and banjos, alongside orchestral instruments, with standout soloist Paula Jones noted for her "trick trombone" performances.
Their international tours extended to Europe, South Africa, Asia, Australia, and Brazil, where they produced recordings under Columbia Records. The group also appeared in short films including The Band Beautiful, Syncopating Sweeties, and Maids and Music. The latter was created by Milton Schwarzwald's Nu-Atlas Productions and distributed as a 16mm home movie by Pictoreels. Portions were later reassembled into Soundies, such as "Ray Fabing's Versatile Ingenues" derived from Maids and Music.
Members
As reported by Variety magazine in 1927, the lineup consisted of:
- Mary Novak and Blanche Olson on piano
- Mary Donohue, Alice Plies, Dorothy Donohue, and Genevieve Brown handling saxophones and reed instruments
- Margaret Lichti playing harp and banjo
- Virginia Myers and Gladys Young on trumpet
- Paula Jones performing trombone and unaphone
- Jean Baumgarth and Bebe Colby on violin and cello
- Lucy Westgate covering flute and cello
- Frances Gorton on xylophone and accordion
- Pauline Dove on drums
- Billie Jenks playing bass
- Peggy O'Neill, serving as entertainer
Additional members throughout the group's tenure included:
- Grace Brown
- Ruth Carnahan
- Juel Donahoe
- Mary Donahoe
- Velma Grimm
- Margaret Henke
- Adelaide Liefeld
- Alice Locklin
- Margaret Neal
- Marie Novak
- Virginia Roberts
- Mina Smith
- Louise Sorenson
- Lora Standish
- Beth Vance
Later years
The final significant tour undertaken by the band occurred in 1932. While one of their concluding performances is said to have taken place at Mount Morris High School in Freeport, Illinois, the most recent primary record indicates a concert in Monticello, IN during July 1938.
Further reading
- Dahl, Linda. Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazz Women (New York: Limelight 1984)
- Dreyfus, Kay. Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of Australia's All-Girl Bands and Orchestras to the End of the Second World War (Currency Press 1999)
- McGee, Kristin. Some Liked it Hot: Jazz Women in Film and Television, 1928-1959 (Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press 2009): pp. 34–66