Clark Earl W. - Beverly Hills Country Club

In 1951, pianist Gardner Benedict came to Beverly Hills for a third engagement and invited local saxophonist Earl Clark to join. The 10-piece orchestra (seen here) provided all the music at Beverly Hills, although up to 20 pieces were sometimes needed. Pictured from left to right are (first row) Gardner Benedict, Fritz Mueller, Bill Mavity, Dick Benedict, and Glenn Seaman; (second row) Bud Ruskin, Wally Hahn, Ted Tillman, Andy Jacob, and Earl Clark.

Earl Clark picked up the saxophone at age 13. By the next year, he was playing seven nights a week all over the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area and abroad. At Beverly Hills, he backed hundreds of the worlds greatest entertainers. When the club closed in 1962, Clark laid down his saxophone and took a full-time job, playing part time when he could.

It is the night before vacation in the musicians dressing room. The Gardner Benedict Orchestra is ready to take some much-needed time off while the Ted Lewis Orchestra stands in. Holding a box of dance music, Gardner Benedict (center) toasts to two weeks of happy relaxation. The bottle of Coca-Cola he holds came from the backstage vending machine. Pictured from left to right are Earl Clark, Bill Mavity, Gardner Benedict, Andy Jacob, Fritz Mueller, and Harold Marco.

Between shows, the musicians often passed the time by drinking Coca-Cola and playing Hearts in their dressing room. The casino down the hall provided the cards. When they tired of this, the musicians drove to the drugstore to buy milk shakes. Dressed in grey jackets, from left to right, are Hap Seaman, Wally Hahn, Earl Clark, and Fritz Mueller.

The musicians grow restless as they finish up another card game close to show time. Famous nightclubs like Beverly Hills maintained tight security. In addition to a high-tech security system on the grounds surrounding the club, steel bars covered all windows, even in the musicians dressing room. Clockwise, starting at far left, are Andy Jacob, Dick Westrich, Earl Clark, Bill Rank, George Thomas, and Ted Tillman.

The musicians played until 2:00 am and even later on Saturdays. If the crowd was small, the band expected to leave early. Bedecked in their red jackets, the musicians joke in their dressing room while waiting to go onstage. Dick Westrich (seated) is dressed and ready. Note the full ashtrays and empty Coca-Cola bottles in front of him. From left to right are Andy Jacob and Carl Grasham (seated behind Westrich), along with visiting Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra trombonist Tony Chipburn and Al Miller (standing).

The activities in the musicians dressing room frequently attracted attention. That nights production singer, standing near the door, has come to check things out. Clockwise from forefront are Dick Westrich, Bud Ruskin, and Shooky Shook. The sign on the door advises musicians against practicing backstage because audience members could hear them. A smaller sign warns Thieves and Fake Agents Keep Out.

At the end of a successful two-week engagement, the headlining act traditionally gave the house musicians a thank-you gift, usually jewelry or liquor. Jimmy Durante had the kitchen prepare them the ultimate dessert. The Gardner Benedict Orchestra is enjoying strawberries and creaman item not on the menu. From left to right are Andy Jacob, Dick Westrich, Bill Rank, Fritz Mueller, Gardner Benedict, Al Miller, and Bob Wheeler. A plate of Oreo cookies sits in front of Wheeler.

The first show ended at 9:30 p.m., the second began at 11:00 p.m. During intermission, the Jimmy Wilbur Trio played dance music for audience members. Pictured here is the trio posing with a dancer costumed for an Indian-themed ballet number. From left to right are Frank Gorman, Dick Garrett, the unidentified dancer, and Jimmy Wilbur. Another unidentified dancer steps off to the right.

The Jimmy Wilbur Trio often invited guest singers. The woman posing with them is the stooge in a comedy-supporting act and appears on page 74. Since she was a singer, the trio asked her to join them. Here they pause between songs while audience members behind them smile and applaud. From left to right are Dick Garrett, Bill Kleine, the unidentified singer, and Jimmy Wilbur.

Although the signs warned against practicing backstage, this spontaneous jam session broke out on the couch by the wings. At left, the Jimmy Wilbur Trio jams with musicians from Carmen Mirandas band to the right. Two chorus girls and Wally Hahn (far right) watch them with unbridled delight.