Victor Arden
Victor Arden | |
|---|---|
 Victor Arden and Phil Ohman | |
| Born | Lewis John Fuiks March 8, 1893 Wenona, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | July 31, 1962 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Pianist |
Victor Arden was the stage name of American pianist Lewis John Fuiks (8 March 1893 — 31 July 1962)[1] who was best known as the piano duo partner of and co-orchestra leader with Phil Ohman from 1922 to 1932.[2] He was the pianist in the All-Star Trio, who made several hits for Victor Records between 1919 and 1921.[3]
Early years
[edit]Arden was born March 8, 1893, in Wenona, Illinois.[1]
Radio
[edit]In 1935, Arden was described in a newspaper article as "well-known to music lovers and radio listeners."[4] At the time, Arden's orchestra was featured on Musical Moments, which was carried on over 300 stations weekly.[4] Arden and his orchestra also provided the music for Mr. Chameleon, a detective fiction radio drama that ran on CBS Radio from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. [5]
Recording
[edit]Before 1920, Arden was making piano rolls to be reproduced on player pianos manufactured by the American Piano Company.[6] He also cut numerous rolls for QRS.
Death
[edit]Arden died July 31, 1962, in New York City.[1]
Selected compositions
[edit]1909
- Safety Pin Catch
1918
- Just Blue, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)
1919
- In My Dreams
- Lucille, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)
- Marilynn, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)
- Honeymoon Waltz, words by Ray Sherwood (born 1895), music by Victor Arden
1920
- Hy n' Dry
- Rose of the Orient, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & George Hamilton Green
- Dolly, I Love You, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & Dick Long
- Molly, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & Dick Long
- Who Wants a Baby?, also by George Hamilton Green
- Dottie Dimples, also by George Hamilton Green
- In Blossom Time, also by Louis Weslyn (pseudonym for Weslyn Jones) (1884–1937)
1921
- 'Round the Town
- Hand Painted Doll, also by George Hamilton Green
- Lonesome Land, also by George Hamilton Green
1922
- After A While (You're Goin' to Feel Blue), also by George Hamilton Green & Walter Hirsch (1891–1967)
- My Sweet Gal, also by George Hamilton Green
- I'm Happy: Fox Trot, also by George Hamilton Green
1930
- Dancing the Devil Away
1941
- Hearts in Harmony
- We'd Rather Die Upon Our Feet Than Live Upon Our Knees, words by Henry A. Murphy, melody by Joseph Russel Robinson (1892–1963) & Victor Arden
- Unity, words by Henry A. Murphy, melody by Joseph Russel Robinson (1892–1963) & Victor Arden
- Let's Incorporate, also by Lawrence M. Klee (died 1957)
Education
[edit]Arden was a graduate of the University of Chicago and studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.
Family
[edit]Arden was married twice. He first married Ilse Alma Spindler (born April 1894) – a 1916 graduate of the University of Chicago – in Chicago, on May 2, 1917.[7] The couple had two sons: Robert Spindler Fuiks (1921–2009)[8] and Lewis John Fuiks Jr. (1919–2004). Arden remarried in the 1950s to Frances Newsom, a classical soprano.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. Pp. 14-15.
- ^ The New York Times, August 1, 1962
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 22. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ a b "WKBO". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. Harrisburg Telegraph. September 13, 1935. p. 19. Retrieved February 11, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cox, Jim (June 14, 2015). Radio Crime Fighters: More Than 300 Programs from the Golden Age. McFarland. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-4766-1227-0. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ "Answering a Question". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 18, 1919. p. 7. Retrieved February 11, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920
- ^ Obituaries: Robert Spindler Fuiks, TCPalm.com, Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group, Stuart, Florida, December 1, 2009
