Big bands and St. Patrick’s Day events part of Georgia’s history

Q: I am in my early 70s and my family saw some of the A-list big bands in Atlanta when I was a child in the 40s and 50s. I am almost certain we saw Harry James at the Fox and possibly Benny Goodman. I am fortunate to have seen Goodman as he was the ultimate musician. I would love to know which bands played at the Fox, Municipal Auditorium, Loews or the Paramount and the year. I certainly would appreciate any information you can share.

—Donna Patterson, Peachtree Corners

A: Your musical memory is on pitch.

Well-known orchestras led by Goodman, as well as bandleaders Ozzie Nelson, Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw, made Atlanta a “music center” in the 1940s, as written in “Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of its People and Events, Volume 3.”

The orchestras performed in the theaters on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, including the Paramount, the Fox, the Capitol Theatre, the Loew’s Grand and the Roxy.

“The town during the war years also was rich in vaudeville, notably at the Roxy, where big-name band leaders shared billing with top Hollywood stars,” the book stated.

Here’s one example we found, with help of Bob Scarr, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra archivist. Benny Goodman performed with the ASO on Feb. 21, 1952 at the Municipal Auditorium on Courtland Street.

A 1952 story in the Sunday Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution described Goodman as having a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” personality as a musician.

“Mr. Goodman can appear as America’s ‘King of Swing’ with his band, then quickly change his role to the clarinet virtuoso with the country’s major symphony orchestras,” the story said.

I’d love to hear your memories of other big band performances at Atlanta’s old theaters. Give me a call or send an email.

Q: I noticed Georgia’s Dublin has a number of St. Patrick’s Day events. How did the city get its name?

A: The credit goes to Jonathan Sawyer, a native of Ireland and the town's first postmaster.

He donated a site for public buildings, provided they named the middle Georgia town after Ireland’s capital.

“It was said he did this to please his wife who was from Dublin originally,” author Ken Krakow wrote in “Georgia Place-Names.”

Dublin was incorporated on Dec. 9, 1812. This year's St. Patrick's Day events in Dublin include a parade and arts and crafts festival on March 18, along with concerts and golf and tennis tournaments.

If you’re new in town or have questions about this special place we call home, ask us! E-mail q&a@ajc.com or call 404-222-2002.