Virgil L. Guthrie

Was a good deal like Ted Stembottom: same shape head and same color complexion - married an Independence, Missouri woman 37 years old.  When he was 41 years old his papa bought him a violin and hired a stylish music teacher and bought a music rack and had his oldest daughter make him a velvet pad full of sand to rest his chin on, but he couldn't master the instrument for love or money. He tried and sweat and scraped and worried and clawed and bit and yelled and stewed and moaned and...   He made the music by hitting himself on the head with the violin and opening and closing his mouth, but it was sort of a hollow sounding, gurgly, coconut shell kind of music, but it caught on with the public. He would pass the hat after 15 or 20 solos and maybe show a profit of 5 or 6 dollars in a single evening - the tragedy was that it damaged his health.  He wanted to give good measure for his pay and perform good loud music so that the spectators standing way back in the crowd could hear it, so he hit himself extra hard - his wife had to apply a fresh bandage after every concert.  He eventually grew a little simple and childish from hitting himself on the head so much.  His father was Nathan Guthrie.

Herkimer Scott

imagined photo

His wife was near-sighted and mistook the violin for firewood and threw it in the stove.  Herkimer moved to Erie, Pennsylvania for six weeks. Herkimer's dead now – was either kicked by a horse or fell off a barn.  Oldest boy was a preacher.  He was pigeon-toed, like all of the Scott family (except Louise.)

Charley H. McSpillter

imagined photo

From Belvidere.  He married a woman 38 years old (he was 42.) He divided his time between Little Rock, Arkansas and Somerset, Kentucky. He sat aside every Thursday afternoon to practice on the automatic valve trombone, which he could play by ear.  He could also play the violin, pipe organ, rope and steam [unintelligible] by ear.  He loved cold oatmeal - preferred it to beef steak.

Cousin Robert

imagined photo

Sade's cousin.  Fell out of a hammock in St. Paul, Minnesota and smashed his thumb so badly, he had to give up playing the violin.

Ted Keepers

imagined photo

At age 24, married a woman of 26. He took violin lessons until he was 57 years old and wasn't able to play a single tune. He liked to play the scales, so he played only scales and he played the scales as good as anyone.

---

(((HEAR)))

Oyster Krecker

imagined photo

Real name is 'Joseph.'  One of Russell's very best friends.  Has a cousin named, 'Lombard.'  Showed off at school by limping. Takes violin lessons.  Was a member of the "Blue Light" Sunday School class.

Martin Jordle

imagined photo

Went to prison for 40 years because his wife signed a paper that was brought to her door. No one knows why Martin was sent away. He was afraid to sign things after that - the governor sent him a pardon and he wouldn't sign it. Dottie Brainfeeble sent him fudge while in prison, so he must be friends with her.  He, his wife and children ran barefooted with a baked apple from Kingston, Illinois to Dekalb, Illinois. He tried to invent a violin you play by mouth.  Uncle Fletcher says he is from Sycamore, Illinois.  He helped bury Anderson L. McFlutcher, who had got caught between two cyclones.  He gave up the chewing gum habit in favor of sleeve garters.  He repudiated the existence of the automobile in 1909.  Shot his uncle by mistake. In 1911, gave up salt and pepper.  A farmer seven miles northwest of Sycamore, he was bothered by too many people coming out for supper evenings. They'd come out from Kingston and Kirkland and Genoa there in droves for supper.  Martin's wife Alvira was such a delicious cook.  Know what Martin done to curb that heavy run of moochers?  He bought twenty-seven fierce bulls.  He set them twenty-seven fierce bulls to grazing in his front yard. the number of people coming out for supper evenings dropped off something wonderful.  Martin Jordle of Sycamore, Illinois could talk the language of the horse.  ‘Give me a match, Walter,' he'd say in horse-talk and his horse would scratch around in the stable looking for a match."

---

(((HEAR)))

LeRoy Snow

imagined photo

Envious that Rush had men's shoes.  Almost got into a fight with Milton Welch at Tatman's Vacant Lot.  He and Rush sometimes crack nuts in his basement.  Claims to be getting smarter and smarter.  Claims he isn't afraid of snakes or poisonous insects.  Has three uncles who are barbers.  In December 1939, is shaving every 3rd Sunday.  In December 1939 is 14 years old.  His phone number is #6509-R.  Had a girlfriend.  Plays the violin and gets mad when people refer to it as a squeeze box.  He won 6 "Beautiful Baby" contests as a baby.  Russell says he's the "Handsomest kid in this neck of the woods."  Getting glasses, a mouth brace, tape on his ears and his head shaved.

Heinie Call

imagined photo

Rush's friend. Enemy of Russell. Lives across the street from the Gooks. Worked as a delivery boy for the drugstore.  His phone number is #5542-L. When his sister Freda was married, he went around jokingly saying, "I've lost a sister but gained a brother-in-law."  Has a much older sister, Sidney.  His uncle bought him a rabbit.  Has 60 pairs of pants at his grandmother's house in Wisconsin.  An enemy to Russell Miller. Takes violin lessons.  Almost got into a fist fight with Blue Tooth Johnson.

---

{{{HEAR}}}

Ernie Spotters

imagined photo

He could play the violin, the guitar and mouth organ; the gang put an anvil in front him (to play) but he just sat there. He wore a pair of shoes for six weeks and then tried to return them to the store. He loved apples but hated fish. Was right-handed and left-handed both. He never trusted smoking tobacco; was afraid it would explode.

---

(((HEAR)))

Cracky Otto

imagined photo

Friend of Rush.  Was one of the boys skulking around the Gook house waiting for the Husher party to end.  Was given a violin by his uncle in order to take violin lessions; broke that violin over some kid's head.  When violin lesson time came, asked violin teacher to proceed with lesson anyway.  Eventually, he was kicked out of the violin teacher's house.  Is known to wear a skull cap (most probably a beanie) and sneakers.

---

{{{HEAR}}}