Alexander Breton, Thereminvox

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Welcome to Bud Averill's Paradise Cafe!
My name is Trixie. Would you like a drink
before I take your order? You're just in time!
Mr. Averill will be playing his Theremin shortly.

Mr. Averill was proprietor of “Bud Averill's Paradise Cafe” sometime in the 30's. Bud used to entertain his customers at “Paradise Cafe” with the Theremin. Oh yeah, Kansas City Steaks and Georgia Fried
Chicken were their specialty! These pictures are from a very rare matchbook that is over 70 years old.
Manufacturer is Crown Match Company, LA.

Bud Averill was also proprietor of Averill's Airport sometime in the 30's. The address is the same as Paradise Cafe. I am not sure which name was used first... To the best of my knowledge, there was never an airport or air field located at or even near 674 S Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles. That location, which is just south of Wilshire Blvd, and east of Koreatown (which wouldn’t have been in existence yet, in the late 1930's, when this matchbook cover was made) is just too full of streets and buildings to have an open space for a plane to land. This matchbook featuring a red bi-plane on its back cover, and a modern silver one sky-writing on its inside, specifies that Bud Averill’s Airport was an “exclusive prop and wing club for the flying fraternity” and advertises on the front cover that the establishment is a place “where time flies.” Manufacturer is Diamond Match Company, NYC.

Averill's Airport

Bud

A lapel pin from Averill's Airport.

(Photo: Danny Taylor.)

Bud Averill, 189? - 1957

Looks like “Bud” had a few too many Kansas City Steaks and Georgia Fried Chicken!

The album... Special thanks to Chuck Collins.

Click here to hear these rare Bud Averill recordings.
Other things Bud Averill had a hand in...

All connoisseurs of risqué records are familiar with the HOLLYWOOD HOT SHOTS label. Starting in 1935, this was the first under-the-counter "party" record company, catering to discriminating, double-entendre-loving adults. Such mainstream artists as
CLIFF EDWARDS and CLEO BROWN found an outlet for their "hot" stuff there, resulting in some highly desirable records.
Pictured here is a curious, possibly one-off, "mule" pressing - a cross-coupling of two versions of the same song - the raunchy "The Girl From Atlantic City"- from two different HHS releases. One side (317) is by BEN LIGHT AND HIS SURF CLUB BOYS; the other (416) is by BUD AVERILL AND HIS ORCHESTRA. Maybe this pressing was made as a favor to the anonymous songwriter! This original 78-rpm Hollywood Hot Shots 317 / 416 is in V+ or better condition. The Ben Light side is somewhat noisy, whether from needle wear or the pressing itself I can't tell. The Bud Averill side sounds cleaner, closer to E than V.

Click here to hear "The Girl From Atlantic City".
Side B, Side A coming soon...

Bud may be on this recording as well:
"Two Old Maids In a Folding Bed", RACY RECORDS HS 418, HOLLYWOOD HOT SHOTS 316 A (HS 418)

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not be used or reproduced without prior express written authorization from the publisher.
Copyright © 2005 Alexander Breton, All rights reserved.

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