Don Janse and the Original Idlers — Fall 1957
Thursday, April 20, 2006
[Photo courtesy CDR Finan: The Original Idlers — Fall 1957: (top row) Bill Campbell, ’59; Ralph “Bink” Sanford, ’59; Robert “Buzz” Thornton, ’59; Frank Lange, ’60; Frank Fredenburgh, ’60; (middle row) Paul Landry, ’60; Joel Sipes, ’59; Pat Noble, ’59; Joe Vorbach, ’59; Stan Loosmore, ’59; (bottom row) Tom Cunningham, ’59; Jack Deck, ’59; Bob Finan, ’60; and Pete Henning, ’61 (Not Shown: Our Director, Chief Bandmaster Donald L. Janse)]
by Commander Robert Bob Finan, USCGR (Ret), ’60
There is a beautiful song from the musical production “Pal Joey,” “I could write a book.” That is the way I feel about this fascinating subject, which is certainly worthy of an entire book. In the meantime, however, I want to set the record straight about how the Coast Guard Academy’s Singing Idlers first began. This is based upon first-hand experience, as one of what I consider to be the “Original” Idlers, and my affection for its
When I became a cadet, in 1956, the Academy each year had what was called a “Musical Evening.” This was typically in the spring, and was a variety show of sorts. In 1957, certain members of the Class of 1959 (all third-classmen) asked then Bandmaster (later Professor) Donald L. Janse to help them put together a few songs under the name of “The Idlers,” to perform at the Musical Evening. He did so, and the songs were a success. They were a fine group. But a few months later, in the fall of 1957, all involved decided to open up the group to all classes. Auditions were held, and the result is evidenced in the photo that accompanies this article. I was lucky enough to be one of the Fall 1957 Idlers, and eventually even a soloist with the group, for the remainder of my Academy years.
Don was incredible. All of us enjoyed a camaraderie that had no parallel in any of our other cadet activities. We spent a lot of time together and worked to better the group. Don lived just a few blocks north of the Academy’s North Gate, and we spent many weekend hours at his apartment, as well as in the auditorium, rehearsing, listening to music, discussing various new numbers, just rapping, as people would say now, and talking about life. It was, for me, one of the finest experiences of my Academy days. It’s hard to explain how terrific was the feeling of being with such good friends, including the perceived image of the so-called “hated upperclassmen,” who turned out to be “good guys” after all!
Examples of what we did during the first few years: (1) We sang at the White House as THE entertainment for an Eisenhower State Dinner for President Charles de Gaulle of France (that means that we were THE only entertainment for the entire evening in the East Room); (2) We performed on the Bell Telephone Hour on NBC (live), with Burgess Meredith as M.C. and many big stars, including singer John Raitt, the Four Lads, Jacque d’ Ambois (the famous dancer), Johnny Desmond, etc.; (3) We had a weekly radio show on local TV and radio; (4) We sang before a joint session of Congress at the Lincoln Sesquicentennial, with Carl Sandburg present (Joe Vorbach and I did a duet of the Gettysberg Address), also on national TV. We performed at the Azalea Festival in Norfolk, VA; and did many other things locally and in New England. Of course, that included singing at many, many college dances and other functions, and cutting a number of records on the Design and MGM labels.
All of the foregoing was the result of the unsurpassed talents and efforts of the late Don Janse. Yes, a book I could write. But there is at least one particular item I must mention about Don that is vivid in my memory. When we flew to Anacostia Naval Air Station for our performance at the White House, which was in early 1960, the proffered quarters were simply not acceptable to him (They were hot, and full of cobwebs, and dust.). “How often do we get to perform at the White House?” Don said. The Navy Commander, who escorted us to these quarters said, “This is where you are to stay.” Don (as a much lower-ranking warrant officer at that time, replied, mostly to us, sitting on the bus), “Men, this will cost me my job — but, driver, take us to the finest hotel in Washington, DC.” Again, the Navy Commander protested, but off we went, to the Sheraton Park, and adjoining fine suites. That evening we had room service and food of the best quality. We all thought that Don had sealed his “death warrant,” in terms of his Coast Guard career. Don, too, was convinced that he had lost his job, but thought that it was worth it, under these circumstances.
The next day, however, during rehearsals at the White House, Mamie Eisenhower’s press secretary somehow heard about what had happened, and a call went out to the Commandant from the “White House” (or so we learned later). After our performance, and a long (would today’ s cadets believe this?) bus ride back to New London, the South Gate Guard told Don that the Commandant of Cadets wanted to see him immediately at his quarters. Don, and all of us, thought that he was about to be fired and maybe even court-martialed. Instead, as we learned, he received the apology of the Commandant for the way we had been treated in the DC visit. What a gutsy guy!
Donald Janse was an incredible influence on my life. He was a singing mentor, a personal mentor, and a good friend. We should all be so lucky to know such a person.
His incredible achievements should be etched upon the annals of Academy history. |