FF+2, Clara Ward -- Memories of the Golden Horseshoe

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Date Posted: 13:27:18 12/02/04 Thu
Author: David M. Currie
Subject: FF+2, Clara Ward

Working at Disneyland in the late 60s was a treat. Each Friday night during the summer, the Golden Horseshoe would rotate guest performers. One weekend it would be the Firehouse Five plus Two, the following weekend it would be the Clara Ward Gospel Singers. If I was working on the Jungle Cruise that night, I'd have to slip over during a break to listen. If I wasn't working, I stayed at the park after my shift to listen to great dixieland and gospel music.

There is a DVD from Swing Era that contains some FF+2 videos recorded in the early 50s. The title is 'Dixielanders: Firehouse Five Plus Two, Red Nichols' (IDVD 1056). I purchased mine through Worlds Records. The DVD is the closest I've come to reliving the Friday evenings.

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Thanks David for the information. I will definately look for this DVD. -- Jan @ Jan's World.net, 22:06:31 12/06/04 Mon [1]

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[> [> Re: Thanks David for the information. I will definately look for this DVD. -- Roger Vandermeer (Clara Ward Singers Strike Pay Dirt), 20:05:32 02/27/07 Tue [1]

>When Clara Ward and the Ward Singers were singing at Disneyland starting in 1962, I was there every weekend and fortunately got to know several of the singers. The above quote was from Life magazine and continues 'Disneyland's Golden Horsehoe 'Saloon' fairly shook on its foundation when the Clara Ward Singers gave out their special brand of 'soul' singing that kept capacity crowds intoxicated with generous servings of Gospel songs, hand clapping and foot stomping.' There is a yahoo group dedicated to Clara Ward so check it out. There was a LP released under Disney's Vista label, 'The Ward Singers Live at Disneyland. It is now unavailable but if you have the right connections, you can get a copy of it on CD.

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[> Re: FF+2, Clara Ward -- Paul Hagglund, 12:08:10 02/12/05 Sat [1]

>Working at Disneyland in the late 60s was a treat.
>Each Friday night during the summer, the Golden
>Horseshoe would rotate guest performers. One weekend
>it would be the Firehouse Five plus Two, the following
>weekend it would be the Clara Ward Gospel Singers. If
>I was working on the Jungle Cruise that night, I'd
>have to slip over during a break to listen. If I
>wasn't working, I stayed at the park after my shift to
>listen to great dixieland and gospel music.
>
>There is a DVD from Swing Era that contains some FF+2
>videos recorded in the early 50s. The title is
>'Dixielanders: Firehouse Five Plus Two, Red Nichols'
>(IDVD 1056). I purchased mine through Worlds Records.
>The DVD is the closest I've come to reliving the
>Friday evenings.

That is a good disc, I have it, but there is most definately one thing missing from that program that you would have experienced while working at Disneyland. That DVD has Clarke Mallery on clarinet, but when you worked ther, the incomperable George Probert was with the band.

He is still alive and playing with various groups in the greater LA area. He sent me a copy of a program that he recorded in 1966 at Disneyland in the New Orleans Square bandshell, and it is fascinating to hear what they actually sounded like in person. Their records are very good, but there is definately something different about how they played live.

The tuba player from that era is also still living. I purchased his horn last year, which a fascinating piece of Disneyland history. If you have any questions regarding the band, please post them and I will ask the people who are still around from the band.

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