Meet...
The HOOSIER HOT SHOTS
KEN TRIETSCH Leader, guitar and tuba
Kenneth Henry Trietsch, one of 9 children, was born to J. Henry Trietsch and Emma N. Trietsch (nee Berg), on a farm near Arcadia, Indiana.
The leader of the Hot Shots, Ken wrote some of their songs, managed the group and in his spare time played the guitar (usually 4 string) but could also often be seen with a tuba.
Like the others he could double on many other instuments from the plectrum banjo to the bass fiddle (which he played with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra).
Before his life as a Hotshot he played with the Trietsch Family Band, Paul Whiteman, Vincent Lopez and traveled with Buzzington's Rustic Revlers.
When the group moved west he ended up in North Hollywood, California along with his daughter
Gloria Joan (12/25/26) (see WLS 1943 in Photo Gallery) and his wife since 1/22/23, Ruth (nee Modlin).
Ken was, it seems, destined to be a musician from a very early age.
His niece, Lavenna Putnam, tells of the time Ken was a child and trying to play a
beat up old tuba given the family by a relative. Young Ken looked at he tuba and
said, "Old tuba, do you know I love you?" It was a love affair to last a lifetime.
I guess then it isn't surprising that the Mutual Broadcasting Hoosier Hot Shots show that Ken Produced, there was always a brass band number.
And before going on to another page, add this little bit if information to your Ken Trietsch file.
The Monday morning piano also called a zither or just plaine Hezzie's washboard was
made by Ken. For more information on one of America's premier plectrum guitarists see Standby Magazine November 1936
To see a picture of Ken's "engineering marvel" and his tuba, click here.
Dave Smith (When Movies Are Movies
) and Chuck Anderson (The Old Corral) have sent us this link to view
Ken's gravesite. |