Rare 1953 Kineoscope of George Lewis and his Ragtime Jazz Band (who were then in residency at San Francisco's Hangover Club) performing five songs:
'Careless Love'; 'Panama Rag'; 'Bugle Boy March'; 'Closer Walk With Thee' and 'Ice Cream'
. This is the same lineup, managed by Dorothy Tait, that performed on tour dates throughout the US and Europe during this early 50's era and recorded the album "George Lewis on Parade" in 1953
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This 'kinescope' recording was originally made in 1953 by filming the TV show Discovery from a live video monitor. KPIX-TV presented this program as part of the San Francisco Museum of Art series 'Discovery', it was hosted by chatty Dr Lloyd Luckmann with analytical SF music critic Phillip Elwood. Before the main musical segments start, very brief perfunctory interviews with New Orleans' clarinetist George Lewis and trumpeter Avery "Kid" Howard occur. Throughout the rest of the show, Dr. Luckmann and co-host Elwood go about analyzing the motivations & stylistic choices of the 'negro musicians' as if they were perhaps well trained lab animals, and never once engage them in a further conversation, despite being in the same room. Elwood does am admirable job giving context to the music and expounding on the historical roots without attempting to sound too pompous
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PERSONNEL: Avery Kid Howard (trumpet); George Lewis (clarinet); Jim Robinson (trombone); Alton Purnell (piano); Lawrence Marrero (banjo); Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau; (bass); Joe Watkins (drums, vocals)

TUNES PLAYED: (intro excerpt only) 1. Just a Little While to Stay Here 2. Careless Love 3. Panama Rag 4. Bugle Boy March 5. Just a Closer Walk with Thee 6. Ice Cream (close out credits read over this song)

There is also a segment of Barbara Gifford explaining that having jazz music presented via the San Francisco Museum of Art's TV program makes sense, because music is one of the 7 arts and the San Francisco museum's have presented jazz concerts as early as 1943. Gifford then goes on to mention some of the other types of "varied in scope" musical programs presented at the museum including string quartets, choirs, soloists. The program closes with Luckmann saying he appreciated learning about how jazz is played, and the history and influence of jazz music on American culture through the contributions of George Lewis and the New Orleans musicians of 40 years ago.