Chapter 23
Louis Armstrong at Disneyland
I left the United States at age ten for Manila, The Philippine Islands, and after living there for a year, my mother and stepfather decided to send me and my oldest brother to my father in Hollywood, California. My mother and stepdad were planning on moving from Manila to Tokyo and were well occupied with preparing for all of us to live in Tokyo, Japan later.
Before moving to Manila, when I was living in New York City, I often stayed at Father's restaurant on the weekends and saw many famous musicians who visited the restaurant after hours when they finished playing in the clubs near Broadway. In the back room of my father’s restaurant, behind a blue velvet curtain in the doorway, was a big concert-style piano, several tables and chairs, and a bench in a corner I would sometimes sleep on.
Many renown black musicians would often show up at my father’s restaurant after their performances in the Broadway District to unwind (that is why the piano was there) and have something to eat. Louis Armstrong and entourage often visited my father’s restaurant in New York City, and it was very special to see him there. (Louis Daniel Armstrong (1901–1970s), nicknamed "Satchmo” was an American trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor who was among the most influential figures in jazz back in the day).
When I was living with my father in Hollywood, California, my father said one day he was going to take me and my brother to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, to the Mark Twain boat where Louis Armstrong was playing jazz. Louis Armstrong and father remained good friends from the New York City days, and this was exciting news.
When we arrived at the Disneyland Theme Park, we located and then boarded the Mark Twain Riverboat. It was a sight to see, my first time at Disneyland, and then to be on the Mark Twain boat. The Disney riverboats are paddle steamers, and the first one built was the Mark Twain Riverboat, located at the Disneyland in Anaheim. Passengers would go on a scenic, 12-minute ride around the “Rivers of America” and “Tom Sawyer Island”. The riverboat had three levels, and a band would often play on the lower deck where non-alcoholic “mint juleps” were offered.
It was nighttime when we boarded the Mark Twain Riverboat, and the boat was lit up with many lights that reflected off the water. When we boarded the boat, Louis Armstrong was playing in close quarters on the lower deck with his band, singing his famous trademark songs. My favorites of his were “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World”.
Louis Armstrong had an immaculate white suit on when he played, with a large white handkerchief, which was his signature handkerchief because he often wiped his face and trumpet in-between songs or when he paused to sing. He had a wonderful gravelly voice. My grandfather was also a trumpet player back in the day at The Palace Theater in New York City, and he also carried a big handkerchief with him when playing.
After Louis Armstrong finished playing on the Mark Twain boat that evening, he and the band retired to a private room in the back area of the boat reserved for the musicians. In this back room, they were able to relax between or after performances. There were small tables set up there for fried chicken, potato salad, and drinks. My father made his way back to the musician’s room with me and my brother in tow.
When my father entered the room, Louis Armstrong hollered, “It’s Lucky Pierre! What are you doing in California?” They talked about many things and laughed a lot, reminiscing over old times in New York City. Mr. Armstrong spotted me sitting in a chair half asleep in the corner of the room, something I was used to doing when out at night with the family and asked me if I was hungry. He was very kind to me and prepared for me a plate of fried chicken, French fries, corn, and a glass of lemonade.
After I ate and put my plate on a table against the wall, he looked around, and there was a jar of jellybeans on a table. He brought the jar over to me, and I ate some of those too, avoiding the licorice ones, as I did not like the taste of those. It was a wonderful reunion my father had with Louis Armstrong, a very gentle, generous, and wonderful man. I created a portrait of him, which is presented here.
The Mark Twain River Boat at Disneyland Theme Park, Anaheim, California.
"What A Wonderful World" - by Louis Armstrong. My mother, Thelma "Dolly" Baker, singing in Tokyo, Japan on NHK. This was the last song she ever sang.
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