The Muses were the source of inspiration for all the arts. The Greeks recognized that the intellect could not reach the highest level of expression. The word "Muse" is the root for music. They included dancing as an integral part.

The Paulos family owned an RCA Victor Victrola record player. You cranked a handle to wind up the spring-operated turntable. Our records included Harry Lauder talkies "Through the Gloaming", a Rudolph Friml operetta (In English), a song called "A Gay Caballero", an Enrico Caruso of several opera selections, a Madame Schumann-Heinke, some Walter Damrosch,etc. They were about 14 inches in diameter and weighed about a pound. Later, we got a Paul Whiteman orchestra performance. (Orchestra meant the circle in front of the stage where the chorus danced; later it was shared with the musicians and they became known as the orchestra.)

We bought a Cable player piano and owned maybe 40-50 rolls we used on it. "It's Three O'clock in the Morning", "Casey Was Dancing With a Strawberry Blonde", "Missouri Waltz" were some I remember. The words were printed on the rolls so you could sing along. No one learned much beyond "Chopsticks" and "Pony Boy". But Dolly could pick up the piano when Mother wanted to vacuum behind it. We kept the player rolls in the dining room closet.

Then I heard Polonaise in A Flat. I needed to play it. Mother found a piano teacher for 50 cents a lesson. (I don't know where she found 50 cents). I don't remember the teacher's name. She told me to play the scale. I played the first four bars of Polonaise to the phrase where I couldn't get the fingering. I said, "How do I reach all those keys?" She said, "Play the scale". I left.

Dolly and Bobbe learned a little harmony and would sing some songs from the Lucky Strike Hit Parade, a radio show with Dorothy Collins and Snookie Lanson, and an ochestra leader named Skitch Henderson. "There's An Old Spinning Wheel in the Parlor", "Red Sails in the Sunset", "Deep Purple", "Now Is The Hour", "Lullaby On Broadway", "A Lonesome Cowboy" were some they could almost sing.

Bud was the social mentor. He went to dances (if his date could afford the tickets) (and the drinks), (and had a car) and was considered a hot hoofer. I recall the time he taught Bobbe to jitterbug, including throwing her over his shoulder. I've never seen Bobbe move so much since.

In Seventh grade at J.B. Young Junior High School we had a music teacher, Miss Meyers I think. She prepared a show for the parents. We sopranos were urged to greater heights until I was the only one who could hit F over high C and sustain it. This was required for the Bell Song from Delibes Lakme. She loaned me a Lily Pons recording that I played five million times at home to learn the piece. In French, no less. Although there were only a few words and I didn't know what they meant. My parents did not come to the show. I don't know why. The next year my Bel Canto became Can't Bellow. Emily told me she saw a movie called "We Dreamed Too Much" (or some such title) with Joel McCrea featuring Lily Pons singing the Bell Song. I am on the trail of that movie. Maybe I'll find it. I could not find any recording of Lily singing it. (Late bulletin: I found one but not the same one I heard.) The first radio I think we owned was bought by Dolly from her huge wages from her job as a bookkeeper with Ira Miller. How much did you make, Dot? What year did you start? I guess she earned $3.50 a week, started in 1938. The radio was a floor model called Trutone from Western Auto (?). The dial was lighted and it had several wave bands. Thank you, Dolly.

We acquired a thing called a zither. It had a string-board which was struck with a small set of keys at one end. It made a tinkly sound and no one learned much on it. But I liked it anyway. I don't believe I ever heard Mother sing, not a note. Dad had some weird moans he made and said he was singing a couple of Greek songs but nobody could figure it out. I liked the way we sang songs in the car when we traveled. "Springtime In The Rockies", "Halellujah, I'm a Bum", "There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder", "The Prisoner's Song" were some of the selections. Bud never sang.

My music appreciation may owe much to the quaint little habit elementary school teachers had of playing a classical record (on what must have been their own record player) for the class when we were required to put our pointy little heads on our arms across our desk top. I clearly recall the "Peer Gynt" Suite, Friml, "Finlandia", etc. From there I became a firm listener to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts on Saturday starting at 1:00 P. M. as I read my three or four books for that day. I don't see where most children now have any introduction to classical music.I wish to go on record to express my deep admiration for the efforts of my children in learning to play instruments and to study music. I include the dance of course. I have been impressed with their talents ever since Dickie got a noise out of that Golden Conn Sax. One of my stronger desires is to have several of them cooperate in some common musical endeavor. No luck.

Maggie did somewhat better. She played the clarinet in the school marching band in Gowrie. That must have been cute. But she quit. She took music appreciation class with Dr. Clapp at Iowa University. A real drag. But he did know the German composers. Dolly, Bud and Bobbe have no connection with music today and none of their eleven children play anything or dance. I have not heard of the third generation being in music either. Why?

Now Rachel is searching for THE job as a horn player. She is working in Aspen, Colorado for seven weeks and has taken a TA job at Missouri U. in K.C. where she will also advance toward a Masters. Some trumpet guy she knows will be in Chicago this late summer so she has priced a round trip ticket already from KC to Chi. Her beau Matt Peterson, might go to St. Louis. (Update: Rachel has won several competitions and will go to Intl.Horn session in Munich in September.)

Emily started playing violin in grade school, moved to the cello in Sudlow, the oboe in Central HS, was asked to play the bassoon. She brought one home to see how to blow it. Next day she started lessons with Mrs. Mortiboy who listened for a couple of minutes and said, "Who have you been taking lessons from?" Emily is facile. And now, because she got dumped on at Iowa U., she quit music and has settled on a major in Art. It would be nice if she played some for her own pleasure but it might take a musical group (like a symphony orchestra).

Bentham is playing lead guitar in a band called Laughing Academy in the Boston area. They have recorded an album and a tape but another one that was to be promoted by Cherrydisc Records has been blocked, Cherry has gone broke like two halfs. L. A.'s agent Adrian Lenhoff, 19th Street, Manhattan, has had them do shows in NYC for several other companies. They also lost their drummer for a-courting too slow. Another late news squib: The Laughing Academy is no more. But Bentham has organized another , with Tom Webb on the drums, et al. They call themselves BENTHAM and play only his compositions. He recently recorded a new tape in a good studio in Chicago with a friend guitarist and will use it as a demo. The BENTHAMS have had a few gigs but their recording has been slow.

Let's see. I started the subject of music in the Paulos family. I wrote a couple of songs one time but had the good sense to throw them away. Bah. Rachel tells me she won $3000 last year in competitions. She was also given a few grants to get to Munich and Florida. I believe it is quite probable she will become a known performer nationally, she is that serious about it. Late Bulletin: Rachel is nearing her Masters and had a fine recital in early April; she has signed with the World Symphony, of Miami. They will tour the U.S. a little (Kennedy Center, Fisher Hall) and then go to Monte Carlo for a couple of weeks. I forget to cover Scott. He is also a lead guitarist and still gets an occasional gig in the Bay area. Not bad for a V.P. of Star Nine.