Gene Essen And His Chicago Vellum Boys (1934)

Titles read: ’NOW Pathe Pictorial has pleasure in presenting - Gene Essen and his Chicago Vellum Boys in a Plantation Medley’. Pathe Studio, London. Various shots of Gene Essen and his orchestra of banjos of all shapes and sizes, plus pianist, playing ’The Old Folks At Home’ (aka ’Swanee River’) in a slow and soulful way. Two musicians play larger banjos with bows, like cellos. They are all wearing white suits with black lapels, black ties and a black stripe down their trousers. Gene’s suit is all white. Shots are intercut showing swamp land (?), a river with willow trees, an African-American woman fishing in a lake and an African-American man leaning against a tree and walking about. It sounds like the tune changes halfway through, but I don’t recognise this one. (Note: Gene and his boys are all white.) FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT’S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES.