In a recent fascinating interview Jack Smith remembers his time with

The Joe Maycock (Gayle Gordon) Orchestra.

This band was founded and led by Ted Palmer a sax player and teacher.  The band rehearsed for a full year before taking any jobs, the first of which was at Ipperwash Beach. The casino there is long since gone. The next engagement was at the Brant Inn, Burlington Ontario, which lasted for a full year - normally the Inn closed during the winter months. Ted Palmer left the band during this engagement due to a problem with management.  Joe Maycock who was a vocalist and played fourth sax was given the job of front man or leader, and one of his jobs was to take requests from the dancing public. His name was changed to Gayle Gordon at the request of management.  The next engagement was at the Silver Slipper night club, which was located on the Humber River in West Toronto; here, the band began to broadcast over a local radio station.  Joe, as leader, was required to start the band on cue from the station's announcer who, of course, was present.

This engagement lasted for six months, at which time the band moved to Montréal.  The building in Montréal was called “The Stadium”, a two-storey brick structure that covered a full block with a ballpark at the rear. The upper floor was built with hardwood flooring; one half used as a roller rink with the other half a dance hall.

Members of the band belong to the musicians union, and being a traveling band each member had to carry a card, which had to be deposited at the local union office when they were playing. Following this engagement, the band returned to Toronto's “Silver Slipper”, where trouble began.  Band members had not deposited their cards to the Montréal office at the request of the hall’s manager who wanted to save some money.  The reason being that a traveling band was required to receive 15% above scale to protect the local musicians. For this infraction, the Toronto office decided that a fine was in order, but since it did not happen in their jurisdiction they contacted Montréal.  That office decided not to get involved so Toronto decided to write it up to New York and to make it an international fine, which they claimed would amount to about $2000 per player. This did the trick. The band disbanded.

This is what Toronto wanted so they could offer the job to local musicians.  Later some of the members formed a group to play at an open-air dance spot near Sarnia.  At this time the fine came through - it amounted to $25 per man. This could have been paid out of one week’s salary! 

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Footnote. Shortly after the above events Jack left the music business and embarked on a very successful career as Graphic Artist and art teacher. Now in his middle nineties he looks back with fondness on his life as a professional musician.