Monday, August 06, 2012

Tales From the New Depression

From our Department of A Picture Really is Worth 1000 Words, But I'll Keep It Somewhat Briefer:

From sometime in the 1930s, here's a truly amazing photo of none other than James Cagney playing -- and I'd say with a pretty fair degree of skill from the look of it -- a gorgeous Martin C-2 guitar.

What I wouldn't give to know what kind of music he was essaying here. Country music a la Jimmie Rogers? Some of kind of blues or folk, in a Woody Guthrie-esque vein?

And before you scoff, that kind of cultural assimilationism isn't particularly far-fetched. In fact, in one of his early pre-Code films (where he was playing a cab driver, if memory serves) Cagney -- who grew up on New York's Lower East Side -- can be heard speaking highly credible and fluent Yiddish. Go figure.

[h/t Buddy Zech]

11 comments:

Gummo said...

Looks like an A7 chord. So maybe something bluesy?

steve simels said...

Cagney speaks Yiddish here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynpOEcPdjdk

FD13NYC said...

And a pretty good hoofer too.

buzzbabyjesus said...

Jimmie Rogers is a good guess. I looked and found another picture with him holding a different, slot headed parlor guitar, and playing an "A" chord, but not a barre.
I found this comment, too:

"If you want to see Cagney play guitar, he's good, rent or get the movie "Oklahoma Kid"
with Cagney and Bogart!"

steve simels said...

Alas, that clip on YouTube has Roy Rogers dubbed in on the soundtrack.

Damn -- I may have to rent that flick; I remember it as a lot of fun....

fmcg said...

I think Cagney grew up in Yorkville (the East 80's) rather than the LES. No clue as to what he might be playing.

steve simels said...

fmcg:

According to Wiki, Cagney did in fact grow up in the downtown land of my ancestors.
:-)

Donald J. Rickles said...

His brother was a dentist, you know. The dentist of none other than a young Donald J. Rickles. As I inform every person who attends one of my shows. Dr. Cagney introduced me to his brother James, who asked me if I was ready for show business. If I was ready for [in Cagney voice] rejection, rejection, and moooore rejection?

I never saw him play the guitar, but I saw him sing and dance. Again, if you see my show, I do a poor I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy and hoof it up [at age 86, mind you].

FD13NYC said...

Am I seeing things? Did the great Don Rickles actually comment on PowerPop. Unbelievable!

Anyway, Mr. Rickles, you're one of my favorite comedians of all time. Stay well.

Woodworker said...

He played Classical guitar. See
http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/78117

Don Rickles said...

FD13NYC:

Thank you for your kind words. I remain in good health.

Nice scowl, smiley; did you sit on a duck?

Anyways, gang, Imposter Rickles tells the right story.

Just not as well as I tell it. . . .