The Firehouse Five Plus Two Goes Digital
The Firehouse Five Plus Two Goes Digital
Here’s a column about Disney studio employees, who when they weren't making magical motion pictures, made some pretty memorable music.
Note: This information appeared on Jim Hill Media on May 26th and July 7, 2005.
If you have ever watched "Dateline Disneyland" (ABC's Opening Day live television broadcast), you may have seen a group of musicians nattily attired as firemen. They were first seen at the Fire House when Main Street's Town Square was first shown; proudly tending to the department's spiffy new chemical wagon.
Moments after the dedication of Disneyland, they appeared in the first Disneyland parade, marching down Main Street to the hub, behind Bob Cummings.
Finally, they showed off their Dixieland jazz talents as part of a rousing song and dance number at the "Plantation House" restaurant in Frontierland.
So, just who were these guys? Would it surprise you to learn they all worked at the Disney Studio in Burbank? Turns out that the group got its start enjoying classic jazz records in Ward Kimball's office during lunchtimes. That led to playing along with the phonograph. When it broke down one day, they just kept on playing. And they sounded pretty good, too. So much so, that the group started getting invitations to parties and other gatherings to provide entertainment.
Among all of the other interests this group shared was a passion for antique automobiles. For one gathering, Ward Kimball found a 1914 American LaFrance fire truck in Venice, California. It took about six months, but he restored it to bright and shiny operation with all of the appropriate apparatus. With the boys outfitted in red fire shirts, white suspenders and leather fire helmets, they made their debut as the "Firehouse Five" in 1949. The addition of two more musicians made for the "Firehouse Five Plus Two."
While Dixieland jazz was not dead, it certainly was not familiar to many people outside of New Orleans back in the days that the FH5+2 started appearing around Southern California. There was something infectious about the energy that it generated that seemed to appeal to folks - musicians and audiences, alike! So while you can't give exclusive credit to the band for reviving Dixieland jazz, they get their share of it for doing what they did.
And today, the genre is alive and well, as seen at events all around the world - especially this coming weekend at one of the largest events of it's kind -- the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. Bands from Poland, England, France and Guatemala (as well as from all around the U.S.A.) will be performing all around town, including the Old Sacramento area along the Sacramento River. The appeal of this music is still growing today, almost 60 years after groups like the FH5+2 brought it back to the public's attention.
Now after Opening Day, the Firehouse Five Plus Two played many times at Disneyland, and even appeared on an episode of the "Mickey Mouse Club". One of their appearances is immortalized on an album, "Firehouse Five Plus Two at Disneyland." Highlights from the evenings of July 27th and 28th of 1962 from the Golden Horseshoe truly provide a great look at a live performance by the band.
That's only one of many recordings the band produced; everything from appearances on various compilation records to long playing 33-rpm albums of their own! Thanks to the folks at Fantasy Records here in Berkeley, the Good Time Jazz label lives on, and the FH5+2 is a great part of their collection.
The albums all were themed, with music to match the concept (much like the attractions at Disneyland). Here's the list of Compact Discs on the Good Time Jazz label - now part of Concord Music Group - (available on Amazon) and some samples of the covers (in roughly the chronological order they were recorded):
"The Firehouse Five Plus Two Story"
(Previously released as three albums, Parts 1, 2 and 3)
"Firehouse Five Plus Two Goes South!"
"Firehouse Five Plus Two Plays For Lovers"
"Firehouse Five Plus Two Goes To Sea"
"Firehouse Five Plus Two Around The World!"
"Firehouse Five Plus Two Crashes A Party!"
"Firehouse Five Plus Two At Disneyland"
"Firehouse Five Plus Two Goes To A Fire!"
"Firehouse Five Plus Two Twenty Years Later"
As gathered at Ward’s San Gabriel estate...
"Firehouse Five Plus Two Dixieland Favorites"
The last album features a few songs you'll still hear today on a visit to Disneyland. The next time you take a voyage down the Rivers of America from the Frontier Landing aboard the paddle wheel steamer, "Mark Twain," listen up! You may hear "Fidgety Feet,""Come Back, Sweet Poppa" and "Muskrat Ramble" as well as other favorites recorded by the FH5+2.
The band was (and is) a great salute to the talented Disney folks who shared so much with us all during their careers. While Ward Kimball (as the leader of the group, played trombone and siren) generally is remembered, there were many others who played on the records and at the live appearances. Here's a list (likely incomplete) in no particular order of appearance:
Danny Alguire (Trumpet and Coronet)
Ralph Ball (Tuba)
George Bruns (Tuba)
K.O. Eckland (Piano)
Eddie Forrest (Drums)
Harper Goff (Banjo)
Jerry Hamm (Drums)
Don Kinch (Tuba)
John Lucas (Trumpet)
Jimmy MacDonald (Drums)
Clarke Mallery (Clarinet)
Monte Mountjoy (Drums)
Bill Newman (Banjo)
Ed Penner (Tuba)
George Probert (Soprano Sax, Clarinet and Ocarina)
*** Roberts (Banjo)
Tom Sharpsteen (Clarinet)
John Smith (Soprano Sax)
Frank Thomas (Piano and Celeste)
Now that is one impressive list of Disney alumni!
From what I've been able to find, the group's last performance was in Anaheim on November 17, 1971 at a car show at the Anaheim Convention Center (directly across Katella Avenue from Disneyland; where they had played so many times). From an account of that event, they brought the house down with a rousing rendition of the "Tiger Rag" as their grand finale.
Thanks to those tracks used in Disneyland as well as the Compact Discs, the sounds of the Firehouse Five Plus Two will live on for a long time to come. And earlier this month during the Disneyland Press Event, there was a salute to the group. As their appearance was recreated by another group of musicians, appropriately attired, playing some of the same Dixieland jazz classics before and after the ceremonies to open the new "Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years" exhibit being presented in the Main Street Opera House.
And in a final interesting twist... The second half of Ward Kimball's vast toy collection was being auctioned off in Philadelphia by Noel Barrett Auctions. Among the many fantastic items for sale and very popular with bidders - a white Firehouse Five Plus Two leather firemans helmet. It was worn in an appearance by the band on their own float in the 1951 Tournament of Roses Parade. Made for spirited bidding I’m sure.
Now after this first column ran, I heard from a number of folks who shared their enjoyment of the Firehouse Five Plus Two. It is a pleasure to see that their music continues to entertain so many of us today. A wonderful find related to the FH5+2 was learning about the "Firehouse Stompers".
These Southern California musicians (including a few who have played at Disneyland over the years) perform Dixieland jazz in the style of the FH5+2, among others. The leader of the band, Robert Butler, shared a few tidbits about the Stompers and some of the members of the FH5+2:
"I was a friend of Ward Kimball (he called me his little buddy in Cypress) and visited him several times at his Grizzly Flats Railroad and I had many, many humorous and informative conversations with him. He gave me his permission to use the Firehouse name. When I asked him, he said "Well, that's ok, go ahead." He gave me the complete GFRR tour and I got to try on the FH5 +2 helmet #2, which was Probert's. I could always call up Ward anytime I wanted to ask more FH5+2 questions and I'll always cherish those conversations and visits.
I talk with George Probert (FH5+2 alumni 1954-1971 on soprano sax) pretty much every day and he has guest starred with us several times.
I became friends with Frank Thomas (FH5+2 alumni pianist) and called him every month for more FH5+2 stories. He had hundreds of them and he was very nice and had a sharp memory of everything.
K.O. Eckland (who took over for Frank on piano in the early 1960's) sat in with us twice.
I got to visit with Eddie Forest (FH5+2 drummer) just months before he passed away.
Clarke Mallory's nephew came to one of our FH5+2 tributes and gave me a copy of the last known photo of Clarke.
I got to visit with John Lucas (FH5+2's original trumpet player). Such a sweet man. His family gave me one of his horns, his two (rare) metal derby mutes and some wonderful early FH5 photos.
This November, at the Ocean Shores, Washington Jazz Festival, Don Kinch (FH5+2 alumni on trumpet and tuba) just might come and guest star with us. He's 86 and in great health.
I played at Ward's memorial, with George Probert, John Kimball and other FH5+2 enthusiasts at the L.A. Sweet & Hot Jazz Festival. The entire Kimball Family came. They brought the FH5+2 red & gold banner and several of the FH5 helmets. They gave George his #2 helmet and I got to wear Ward's #1 helmet.
I have spent nearly twenty years collecting everything Firehouse Five Plus Two (all of their recorded material, pirated material, T.V. shows and movie footage, movie prop, etc) and I'll always be sad that I didn't have a spare $3,000 plus to buy the FH5+2 helmet on eBay.
I could just go on and on and on but I'll spare you too much more. I was just thrilled to come across your article, that you took the time (and the interest) to do such a nice piece on the FH5+2. I'm also glad that Disneyland took the time and energy to acknowledge the FH5+2 for their 50th anniversary. I wish that that could have been us, however playing the music of the FH5. Yes, we do "those special tunes" that the FH5+2 did: Firehouse Stomp,Brass Bell (Frank Thomas wrote it and gave us permission to record it), Lassus Trombone, Anvil Stomp, Fireman's Lament along with Muskrat Ramble, so many others and that ol' Tiger Rag."
If you want to catch them in the act, so to speak, you can do just that at the El Patio Restaurant in Anaheim on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month. Check out their web page for more details (and other performance dates and locations) - including their compact disc, "Leaving Our Mark".
All in all, the gentlemen who brought the Firehouse Five Plus Two and their brand of Dixieland jazz to millions of fans are still well remembered for their efforts today - for their artistry in music as well as animation.
Classic Roger
Thursday, June 7, 2007