National Orchestra Service - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The National Orchestra Service, Inc. (NOS), was the most important booking and management agency for territory band

Territory band

Territory bands were dance bands that crisscrossed specific regions of the United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. Beginning in the 1920s, the bands typically had 8 to 12 musicians. These bands typically played one-nighters, 6 or 7 nights a week at venues like VFW halls, Elks Lodges,...

s across the Great Plains

Great Plains

The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...

and other regions from the early 1930s through 1960. NOS managed black, white and integrated orchestras and was headquartered in Omaha

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

About

National Orchestra Service specialized in booking ballroom dance

Ballroom dance

Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....

orchestras known as territory band

Territory band

s. The company's reputation as the premier booking agent in that genre helped them dominate their industry for almost 20 years. Bands that NOS represented were typically smaller than the Glenn Miller

Glenn Miller

Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...

-type orchestras, usually featuring about 12 pieces, sometimes 15; though ensemble sizes tended to wax and wane with the economy.

Origins

February 1930 — National Orchestra Service was founded in Omaha. Serl Frank Hutton was its founder and sole proprietor until 1952, when Lee Williams joined as a partner.

By way of merger with Music Management Service in January 1954, Royce Stoenner and David Wenrich, who formed Music Management Service, joined NOS as salaried employees. In September 1959, Royce Stoenner left the NOS agency to join as a 50% partner with the Dave Brumitt Agency, a territory band booking agency in Atlanta.

In 1939, the NOS headquarters at located at 709 World-Herald Building, Omaha, NE. Later, NOS moved to the eleventh floor – the top floor – of the Omaha National Bank Building

Omaha National Bank Building

The Omaha National Bank Building was built in 1888-89 at 1650 Farnam Street in Downtown Omaha, Nebraska. Built in the Italian Renaissance style, the building was saved from demolition by a rehabilitation in 1978...

in Downtown Omaha

Downtown Omaha

Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...

.

In February 1960, National Orchestra Service, Inc., folded.

World War II

In August 1943, Lee Williams was the only band working for National Orchestra Service due to war rationing (gasoline, tires, and the like) and shortage of musicians (the draft).

Business model

A booking contract consisted of an agency fee, typically 10% for "on location" dates (a week or greater) and 20% for one nighters. One nighters paid more than "on location" dates. In the 1950s, a one nighter could range from $750 to $1,000 for a Monday or Tuesday and $15,000 to $20,000 for a Friday or Saturday for some of the top bands. "On location" bookings could range from $15,000 to $20,000 a week. NOS required the hiring party to make a 50% deposit to solidify the contract. The musicians, in theory, belonged to the Musicians Union through their local. A component of a union contract required a rate to be paid to each musician based on traveling distance to the engagement. The union also collected a fee from the ballroom operator (or employer), typically $10 per musician for an engagement.

Sleeper buses & trailers

Many territory bands from NOS traveled in sleeper trailers connected to tractor-trailer trucks

Semi-trailer truck

A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...

. The most popular sleeper was manufactured by Wilson Body Company in Sioux City, IA. They were purchased, owned, and maintained by the orchestras. Lawrence Welk

Lawrence Welk

Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...

is thought to have been the first to design and use a sleeper.

Bands under management

Bands Managed by National Orchestra Service, Inc.
Name	Notes
Verne Byers Verne Byers Verne Byers, aka Vern Byers, was an American bandleader of a territory band, a bassist, a concert promoter, and an owner-operator of several live music clubs and restaurants in Denver...	Herbert Daly Phillips Herbert Daly Phillips Herbert Daly Phillips , better known as Herb or Herbie Phillips , was an American jazz trumpeter, big band composer, and arranger. He was prominent in the Las Vegas music community... played with this band in the early 1950s
"Chan" Chandler and His Orchestra	According to Royce Stoenner, Chandler had the best band ever at NOS and was one of the reasons he was lured to work for NOS. Former musicians: David F. Barnett (1926-2009); Marjorie King, singer. Chandler, a saxophonist, was known in some quarters as "America's most handsome orchestra leader." Before NOS, Chandler's orchestra had been managed and booked by McConkey Orchestra Company.
Jerry Mosher
Preston H. Love Preston Love Preston Haines Love was a renowned alto saxophonist, bandleader and songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska.-Biography:Preston Love grew up in North Omaha and graduated from North High....	NOS became the booking agent for Preston Love in January 1954 by way of merger with Music Management Service, a booking agency founded by Royce Stoenner and David Wenrich.
Del Clayton	Musicians: Harry Bernard Risvold, drummer (1932–2001) — traveled with Clayton for 3 years; Glenna Fraser, singer; John Walter Nelson, Jr., drummer (1930–2006)
Wayne Chapman	Chapman was an organist who once played with Lee Williams
John Paul Jones Orchestra
Al Hudson	Hudson was a trumpet player who once played with Lee Williams. His band, essentially, was the former Lee Williams orchestra.
Red Perkins Red Perkins Frank Shelton "Red" Perkins was a bandleader of one of the oldest Omaha-based territory bands, The Dixie Ramblers. Born in Muchakinock on December 26, 1890, Perkins' band was based in the city's Near North Side. National Orchestra Service booked his gigs... & His Dixie Ramblers
Larry Elliott
Kliff Riggs
Lee Williams	( William Brammer Leacox, b. 1918; d. 1995) Several new bands were launched by Lee Williams. While touring for a half year, he would book the next half, then sell the band and take time off. In 1952, he became a partner with National Orchestra Service (see comments below, under "Principals, employees").
Mickey Bride	The Little Man With a Big Band. Bride was a drummer who once played with Lee Williams
Oklahoma City Blue Devils Oklahoma City Blue Devils The Oklahoma City Blue Devils was the premier Southwest territory jazz band in the 1920s. Originally called Billy King's Road Show, it disbanded in Oklahoma City in 1925 where Walter Page renamed it...	NOS launched the Blue Devils on a tour of the Northern Territories in 1930.
Nat Towles Nat Towles Nat Towles was an African American musician, jazz and big band leader popular in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, North Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago, Illinois. He was also music educator in Austin, Texas... and his Quintet	Towels, an African American, played trumpet. His band was one of the best territory bands managed by NOS. Many well-known musicians are alumni of Towels' band.
Sammy Stevens Sammy Stevens Samuel "Sammy" Stevens was an English footballer who played for Hull City, Notts County and Coventry City in the Football League.-References:...	Stevens was a drummer
Anna Mae Winburn Anna Mae Winburn Anna Mae Winburn, née Darden was an African American vocalist and jazz bandleader who flourished beginning in the mid 1930s... and The Cotton Club Boys Cotton Club Boys The Cotton Club Boys was a territory band based in North Omaha, Nebraska in the 1930s. It was initially fronted by Anna Mae Winburn.-About:Personnel in the swing band included a variety of players. Trumpets players included Lloyd Hunter, Park King, Willie Long and Raymond Byron. The reed section...
Little John Beecher	Beecher, a trumpeter and valve trombonist who once played with Lee Williams, became a singer of novelty songs, leading his own band called "Little John Beecher and his Orchestra" throughout the 1950s. The band finished 1959 using NOS as its booking agent. When Royce Stoenner left NOS and moved to Georgia, Beecher followed and started working there through his agency. Beecher donated his music library to Auburn University Auburn University Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts... before his death.
Jimmy Thomas
Tommy Allan	An excellent band, Allen played trumpet
Leo Peiper	This band was likely not with NOS (reviewing - Oct 2009) This band was with the McConkey Music Corporation in July 1947. Former musicians: Lauren Brown, trombome (1915–1994)
Jack Russell and His Sweet Rhythmic Orchestra	Roy Turk Roy Turk Roy Kenneth Turk was an American songwriter. A lyricist, he frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert – their popular 1928 song "Mean to Me" has become a jazz standard. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics... wrote the words and Fred E. Ahlert Fred E. Ahlert Frederick Emil Ahlert was an American composer and songwriter. He received a degree from Fordham Law School, but instead of pursuing a legal career he began work as an arranger, initially for Irving Aaronson and his Commanders and then for composer and band-leader Fred Waring... wrote the music to Into My Heart, which became the theme song for the Jack Russell's Orchestra.
Billy Thompson and His Melody Cowboys	Not sure whether this band was with NOS (reviewing - Oct 2009)
Tillie Newell and His Orchestra	Not sure whether this band was with NOS (reviewing - Oct 2009)
Walter J. Martie	(b. 1923; d. 1994) Not sure whether this band was with NOS (reviewing - Oct 2009) Former musicians include Art Delaney, Gordon Boore (drummer), and Delores Morgan (singer; Dolores Helen Morgan; b. 1923; d. 2009). Delores married Walter in the 1940s.
Earl Gardner and His Orchestra	The Band With a Million Friends
Bob Calame and his Music	Robert Marvin Calame (15 Jan 1911 Grand Island, Nebraska Grand Island, Nebraska Grand Island is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 48,520 at the 2010 census.Grand Island is home to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center which is the sole agency responsible for training law enforcement officers throughout the state,... – 3 Sep 1967 Omaha, Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River... ) wrote the music for Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982... 's theme song, "Bubbles in the Wine." Calame's band played a sweet style, similar to Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982... . His daughter lives in Omaha.

Principals, employees

Serl Frank Hutton	(b. November 6, 1901, Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River.... - d. November 1965, Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River... ) — Hutton was founder and sole owner of NOS until 1952, when began sharing ownership with Lee Williams, who he recruited as a partner. Serl's father, Frank Hutton, was born March 8, 1872 in Iowa Iowa Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New... and his mother, Adelaide Searles, was born in Iowa too. Serl married to Fern Marguerite Butler (maiden) on November 29, 1924, in Gregory County, South Dakota Gregory County, South Dakota As of the census of 2000, there were 4,792 people, 2,022 households, and 1,290 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 2,405 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile... . Fern was born December 1898, in Omaha. Fern died February 1985. Fern's father, George W. Butler, was born in Ohio Ohio Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus... and her mother, Amy Ann Davis (maiden), was born June 15, 1876 in Horton, Nova Scotia.
Lee Williams	( William Brammer Leacox, b. 9 March 1918 – d. 4 September 1995), a territory bandleader himself, joined NOS as a partner in 1952. Laura Beth Barr ( Mahorner), Lee's widow, resides in Omaha. Several territory bandleaders and well-known musicians were alumni of Williams' Orchestras.
Claude Orr	(b. 24 July 1899 – d. October 1967 Omaha, Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River... ) Orr, a piano player, had been on the NOS booking staff from 1935 until it folded in 1960. He was a salaried employee and the company's only traveling salesman. His territories were the Dakotas and Minnesota. He also had accounts in northern Iowa and northern Nebraska. Orr's son, as of 2009, lives in Omaha.
Dave Wenrich	Wenrich was on the booking staff.
Royce Harold Stoenner	(b. 26 March 1919 Independence, MO) Stoenner, an ex-territory bandleader and trumpeter, joined NOS as a salaried employee in 1954. At NOS, Stoenner managed the booking staff. Stoenner left NOS in 1959 to become a partner with the Dave Brumitt Agency, a territory band booking agency in Atlanta. At the age of , Stoenner resides in Iowa. Before the war, Stoenner directed his own Orchestra and owned Music Management Service in Omaha. When Pearl Harbor Attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941... was attacked December 7, 1941, Stoenner wound-down the operations of both his orchestra and booking agency. In 1942, Stoenner joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving as a bombardier Bombardier (air force) A bombardier , in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, or a bomb aimer, in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, was the crewman of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft's bomb... . In 1943, while in the service, Stoenner, stationed at Maxwell Field Maxwell Field Maxwell Field was the football stadium located behind the former location of Louisville Male High School, 911 S. Brook St., Louisville, Kentucky, 40203 which was bounded by the streets of Brook, Breckinridge, Floyd, and Caldwell streets in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1984 a double murder known locally... , directed a marching band of 90 to 100 musicians and a 19 piece stage band featuring a 36 voice glee club that had a Fred Waring Fred Waring Fredrick Malcolm Waring was a popular musician, bandleader and radio-television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing." He was also a promoter, financial backer and namesake of the Waring Blendor, the first modern electric... sound. Upon discharge from the service in 1945, Stoenner joined Frederick Brothers in Chicago, a territory booking agency. In 1947, he joined the Allsbrook-Pumphrey Agency in Richmond, Virginia Richmond, Virginia Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area... , and reformed his orchestra, performing and working as a booking agent.
Robert L. Dahlstrom	Employee
Johnny Sanna	( Giovanni Maria Sanna; b. 11 November 1901 Sardinia Sardinia Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun sard[],... – d. December 1965 Omaha Omaha Omaha may refer to:Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas... ) Sanna was a former vaudevillian comedian and dancer. At NOS, he handled bookings for acts, or music featuring acts. He had been a member of the American Guild of Variety Artists American Guild of Variety Artists American Guild of Variety Artists is an American entertainment union representing performers in variety entertainment, including circuses, Las Vegas showrooms and cabarets, comedy showcases, dance revues, magic shows, theme park shows, and arena and auditorium extravaganzas. It awards the "Georgie... .
Frederick William Burgi	(b. 10 June 1922, Yankton, South Dakota Yankton, South Dakota Yankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans... - d. 3 August 2002 Casper, Wyoming Casper, Wyoming Casper is the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States.. Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming , according to the 2010 census, with a population of 55,316... ) Burgi was a member of the booking staff and worked under Stoenner.
Thorne Dillon	Dillon was a member of the booking staff.
Jim Fuhs	( James John Fuhs; b. 6 Apr 1929 Portsmouth, Iowa Portsmouth, Iowa Portsmouth is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 225 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Portsmouth is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... ) Fuhs handled accounting and advertising. He worked with NOS from 1952 to 1957. He landed his position at NOS upon completion of studies at Commercial Extension School of Commerce in Omaha. At the age of , Jim Fuhs, and his wife, Geraldine Ann ( Feller), reside in Milwaukee.

External links

Territory Bands Data Base

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