L-R by trunk - Gabe Ward, Ken Trietsch, Hezzie Trietsch. L-R in front Tim Brown, Mark Schaefer, Mrs. Schaefer, Art Sorenson. 3 July 1927 Jordan car for Loew's New Orleans publicity shoot.

In October of 1923, The Revlers were in Elwood, Indiana when Bill Whitehurst, the clarinet player broke his arm. A young main who went by the name Otto (full name Charles Otto Ward) was selected to replace him. And that night, sealed with a trip over to the Terrace Theatre in Danville, Illinois, was the start of an association that lated until 1980. Back in those days Ken was, on stage, Rudy Vaselino, while Otto became Gabe Hawkins and Paul was Hezekiah. The leader, Ezra Buzzington was a Hoosier with the real name of Mark Schaefer.

In the beginning the group went through a number of people including a couple more of the Trietsch brother, Guy Merril and even Max Terhune. By the mid twenties the group had pretty much become a permanent association of our boys and Mark, Tim Brown (one of Gabe's best friends) on Banjo, Art Sorenson on trombone and Mark's wife. In the last couple years a fellow by the name of Frank Kettering joined playing flute.

The group enjoyed good reviews and placed high on the vaudeville circuits lists of performers usually playing in one of the two best positions. Unfortunately, movies came along and vaudeville died. With the death of vaudeville the group disbanded. Paul, Ken and Otto headed back to the Ft Wayne area (to work at Montgomery Wards), Tim contracted TB and suffered an early demise. We don't know where Art went but after a while Mark was back doing live shows (as part of the live portion of a theatre movie and music double feature) and later headed up the Lum and Abner studio band. Mark's grandson, Jon Harris (who goes by the professional name Ezra Buzzington) has more pictures on his site which can be reached by clicking HERE.

The photo with the ovals was made in Muncie, Indiana in 1926. Left to right, top to bottom we have Hezzie, Samantha Schaefer, Ken, Mark (Ezra), Tim, Art and Gabe.

For more photos click Page 2 HERE