Sadler Telling Stories 70 | The Boombass (One Man Band) Instrument Manufactured in the 1950s

Summary

The video script narrates the history of a vintage boom base, a multi-percussion instrument from the 1950s, cherished by the Sadler family. Passed down from Grandpa Joe, it became a source of joy and noise for the narrator and their sister during childhood. The boom base, with its tambourine, wood block, and cowbell, symbolizes fun and nostalgia, despite its wear from years of use. The narrator reflects on its journey through family events and ponders its future, considering whether to preserve it as a family heirloom or introduce it to the next generation.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The prop is a vintage 'boom base', an all-in-one percussion instrument from the 1950s.
• 🏭 Originally produced in Chicago by the Boom Base Company, which had a patent on the design.
• 📍 Manufacturing later shifted to Philadelphia, but the prop is one of the original Chicago-made ones.
• 🔖 The boom base is sometimes referred to as an 'Onan band' and has various names online.
• 🎵 It features multiple percussion elements including symbols, a wood block, a cowbell, and a tambourine.
• 👦 The speaker and their sister used the boom base to make music and noise as kids.
• 👴 The boom base came from the speaker's grandfather, referred to as 'Grandpa Sadler' or 'Granda Joe'.
• 🇸🇮 Grandpa Sadler was Slovenian, changed his name from Skua to Sadler due to anti-Slav prejudice.
• 🍻 He was a successful businessman but struggled with alcoholism after his wife's death.
• 🎁 The boom base was passed down to the speaker without much backstory, and became a cherished childhood item.
• 📉 The boom base's popularity declined in the 1960s due to the rise of rock and roll and folk music.
• 🏠 The speaker discovered the boom base again while sorting through their mother's belongings after her passing in 2000.
• 👪 It has been considered a family heirloom and was brought out for family reunions and musical moments.
• 🔍 The speaker did some research on the boom base but found it difficult due to the name being used by other musicians.
• 👀 The boom base, despite showing signs of age and wear, remains a significant and fun artifact in the family's history.

Q & A

What is the prop mentioned in the script?

The prop mentioned is a 'boom base,' an old percussion instrument that has been in the speaker's family since the 1950s.

What is the origin of the boom base?

The boom base was originally produced in Chicago by the Boom Base Company, which had filed for a patent on it. Later, manufacturing shifted to Philadelphia.

What is the address mentioned on the boom base plaque?

The address on the plaque is 1800 Bell Plane Avenue, Chicago 13, Illinois.

Why is the boom base sometimes called an 'Onan band'?

The exact reason is not provided in the script, but it is suggested that there are various names for the instrument, and 'Onan band' is one of them.

What are the different percussion instruments included in the boom base?

The boom base includes symbols that can be clacked, a wood block, a cowbell, and a tambourine.

How did the boom base come into the speaker's family?

The boom base came from the speaker's grandfather, Sadler, who was also known as Granda Joe. He brought it when he moved in with the speaker's family after his wife's death.

Why did the speaker's grandfather change his name from Skua to Sadler?

He changed his name due to the prejudice against Slavs, particularly Southern Slavs, at the time when he went into business in the late 1920s or early 1930s.

What happened to the market for boom bases in the 1960s?

The market for boom bases dried up in the 1960s because rock and roll became popular, and people wanted to play their own instruments in bands, making the boom base seem old-fashioned and low class.

How did the boom base affect the speaker's childhood?

The boom base was a source of fun and noise for the speaker and his sister. They and their neighborhood friends enjoyed making various sounds with it.

What did the speaker decide to do with the boom base after rediscovering it?

The speaker decided to keep the boom base, possibly to pass it down to his own children, despite the fact that they did not show much interest in it initially.

How old might the boom base be, based on the script?

The boom base could be as old as 70 years, as it is from the 1950s, and is certainly no less than 60 years old.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 The Boom Base: A Family Heirloom 🎶

The speaker introduces a vintage musical instrument called the Boom Base, dating back to the 1950s and originally produced in Chicago by the Boom Base Company. It's a percussive instrument with various symbols, a wood block, a cowbell, and a tambourine, designed for a single person to create multiple sounds. The speaker recalls how it was passed down from their grandfather, known as Granda Joe, who was a businessman in Chicago. The instrument was given to the speaker and their sister by their grandfather, who had moved in with the family after the death of his wife. The Boom Base was a source of entertainment during their childhood, and the speaker reflects on its history and the memories associated with it.

05:00

🎵 Boom Base's Legacy and Market Decline 🎵

This paragraph delves into the history of the Boom Base company, which thrived in the 1950s and continued production into the 1960s. However, the rise of rock and roll and the shift in musical preferences led to a decline in the demand for such instruments, which were seen as old-fashioned and low class. The speaker reminisces about the joy of playing the Boom Base during their childhood, how it was a hit among neighborhood kids, and its role in family gatherings. The speaker also mentions that the instrument remained in their possession after their father's death and was rediscovered after their mother's passing in 2000, sparking thoughts of passing it down to the next generation.

10:00

🏵 The Boom Base's Future: A Family Keepsake 🏵

In the final paragraph, the speaker contemplates the future of the Boom Base, considering it a family heirloom with a rich history. Despite its age and some signs of wear, the instrument remains in good condition. The speaker expresses uncertainty about whether their own children will inherit the Boom Base, reflecting on its role in family events and the fun it brought to past gatherings. The Boom Base is seen as a symbol of joyous and nostalgic times, and the speaker acknowledges its sentimental value, even if it may not be actively used in the future.

Keywords

💡Boom base

The 'Boom base' is a musical instrument from the 1950s, originally produced by the Boom Base Company in Chicago. It is a central theme of the video, representing a family heirloom and a source of childhood memories. The script describes it as 'one giant percussion thing' with various symbols, a wood block, a cowbell, and a tambourine, all of which contribute to its unique sound and playability.

💡Oneman band

The term 'Oneman band' is used to describe the Boom base due to its design that allows a single person to create a variety of percussion sounds. It is a key concept in the video as it encapsulates the instrument's ability to produce a multitude of sounds, making it an ideal toy for children and a symbol of fun and creativity.

💡Vaudeville

Vaudeville refers to a theatrical genre that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for its variety acts and musical performances. In the script, the grandfather mentions that the Boom base was used in Vaudeville, indicating its historical significance and connection to a bygone era of entertainment.

💡Grandpa Sadler

Grandpa Sadler, also known as 'Granda Joe,' is a central figure in the video's narrative. He was the original owner of the Boom base and passed it down to the narrator and their sister. His character is important as he represents the link between the past and the present, and his story adds depth to the family history associated with the Boom base.

💡Slovenian

The term 'Slovenian' refers to someone from Slovenia. In the script, it is mentioned that Grandpa Sadler was originally Slovenian and changed his name to Sadler due to anti-Slav prejudice. This detail provides cultural context to the family's history and the reasons behind their name change.

💡Alcoholic

The script describes Grandpa Sadler as a 'hardcore alcoholic,' which had a significant impact on his life and family after the death of his wife. This term is important as it explains the circumstances that led to him moving in with the narrator's family and leaving his belongings, including the Boom base, behind.

💡Rock and roll

Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. The script mentions that the decline in the market for Boom bases was partly due to the rise of rock and roll, as it represented a shift in musical tastes and the desire for more modern instruments.

💡Folk music

Folk music is a genre characterized by traditional songs, often passed down orally, and is mentioned in the script as becoming popular in the 1960s. The narrator's father bought a banjo during this time, indicating a personal connection to the genre and a contrast to the Boom base, which was seen as old-fashioned.

💡Family heirloom

A 'family heirloom' is an object of sentimental value that is passed down through generations within a family. The Boom base is described as a family heirloom in the script, symbolizing the continuity of family history and the emotional connection to past generations.

💡Lem family reunion

The 'Lem family reunion' is an event mentioned in the script where the family gathers, and various musical performances take place. The Boom base was brought to one of these reunions, demonstrating its ongoing role in family traditions and celebrations.

Highlights

Introduction of a vintage Boom Base, an old percussion instrument from the 1950s.

The Boom Base was originally produced in Chicago by the Boom Base company and later manufactured in Philadelphia.

The instrument is sometimes referred to as an 'Onan band' and has various names.

The Boom Base is a one-man percussion instrument with symbols, a wood block, a cowbell, and a tambourine.

The speaker and their sister used the Boom Base to make music and noise as children.

The instrument was passed down from the speaker's grandfather, Sadler, who was originally Slovenian and changed his name to Sadler.

Sadler was a businessman in Chicago and later lived in Arlington Heights.

The speaker's grandmother passed away in 1977, leading to Sadler moving in with the speaker's family.

The Boom Base was among the items Sadler brought to live with the speaker's family.

The instrument was used in Vaudeville and has a rich history.

The Boom Base's market declined in the 1960s due to the rise of rock and roll and folk music.

The speaker's family has kept the Boom Base as a family heirloom despite its age and wear.

The speaker's children have shown little interest in the Boom Base, but the speaker hopes they might in the future.

The Boom Base was brought to a family reunion talent show and used for entertainment.

The speaker reflects on the Boom Base's sentimental value and its potential future in the family.

The Boom Base is considered a museum piece, showing signs of age but still in decent condition.

Transcripts

this time around you notice that I have

a prop and indeed quite an old one going

back to the 1950s it's been in my family

for a very long time and you may be able

to see the label here this is a boom

base originally produced in Chicago by

the boom base company which actually

filed for a patent on it uh eventually a

lot of the manufacturing of this shifted

to Philadelphia but this is one of the

original ones that was in fact produced

in Chicago and the plaque here reads the

boom base built by the boom base company

1800 Bell Plane Avenue Chicago 13

Illinois so what is this this is

sometimes called a Onan band um there's

some other names for this out there and

you can if you search well enough online

you can find people selling these on

various instrument sites and why is it

called the oneman band it's it's

essentially one giant percussion thing

that you can use in various ways so you

notice that it's got these symbols up

here that you can clack you might have a

drumstick or something like that you can

knock them with your hands as well and

of course since it's got this bumper on

the bottom you can bang the symbols like

that if you want to it's also got uh two

other useful percussion instruments a

wood

block you can make all sorts of sounds

with that cow bell can't have enough cow

bell as you know and then it's got this

tambourine and we are always fascinated

with this as kids and the tambourine you

can

bang it like that you can jingle it you

can play

the twanger let's call it I'm sure

there's a technical name for this sort

of thing and so you might be you know

banging it

[Music]

and doing whatever you want with it and

uh we made a lot of Racket with this as

kids me and my sister now where did this

come from how did this wind up in my

family so this has to do with my grandpa

Sadler my dad's father who we all called

Granda Joe his name was Yosef he was

actually

Slovenian and uh changed his name from

skua to Sadler uh when he went into

business in the late 20s or early 30s in

part because there was so much prejudice

against Slavs at the time particularly

Southern Slavs so anyway he became kind

of a big businessman and wound up in

Chicago um wound up living in Arlington

Heights that's where they built a house

my dad uh was was born and grew up there

and Grandpa Sadler lived in Chicago at

that house which we would go to visit

pretty frequently with my grandmother

until she died in

1977 um and she was in her 50s she had

she had cancer unfortunately and so she

passed away kind of early and

unfortunately Grandpa Sadler was a very

hardcore

alcoholic so his wife dying who handled

most of the household Affairs and being

an alcoholic did not mix well my dad

went down there uh you know about a week

after the funeral found the place just a

mess bottles everywhere Grandpa

basically like sleeping in his clothes

and said hey Dad you're coming up to

live with us and so Grandpa Sadler

brought a bunch of stuff you know

typewriter he used to have a consulting

company all this letterhead you know all

of his things and among them was the

boom base and I guess he figured that we

kids could could use it so he didn't

actually tell us anything about it other

than it was a oneman band you know

people used these in Vaudeville

but he uh he gave it to me and my sister

to do whatever the hell we wanted with

cuz he didn't want it I don't I don't

know why he had it we never got that

story from him he might have actually

just like picked it up in a store or

something like that and so it's

interesting I I actually did a little

bit of research

unfortunately when you try to search for

this there are people out there who use

the name boom base for a kind of music

or for a musical artist so you got to be

pretty selective in in your

searching but what what I did find out

is there there was indeed a boom based

company and they were actually doing

quite well this this instrument is from

the 1950s they continued producing them

into the 1960s and then the market for

them basically dried up now why was that

well because

what became big in the 60s rock and roll

I mean rock and roll was around in the

50s but it really took off in terms of

people wanting

to play their own instruments form their

own bands take off on this this wave and

instruments like this just kind of you

know were

old-fashioned and they're always seen as

kind of like low class in a way so you

know you didn't actually want this uh

and this is a time too when folk music

was also becoming big that's when my dad

bought his banjo that became my banjo

that you've seen in other uh videos but

in any case um we kids love this thing

and we'd get it out and we'd just make a

lot of Racket with it and the neighbor

kids thought it was super cool as well

so you know you got all these different

sounds that you can make with it and

it's just sort of tailor made for kids

who might not have a ton of musical

talent but love to make noise um I'm

sure my parents didn't really appreciate

Grandpa giving this boom base to us but

you know we we enjoyed it and uh it

stayed in our our place after my dad

died and grandpa um went with his uh

older son who was my dad's half brother

uh to where he eventually would would

die uh in the early in

1990 um we kept this and every once in a

while we'd get it out and you know make

a little noise with it we'd play with it

and things like that and then I think

what ended up

happening you know I will say this so I

played banjo and I played bass and we we

would get this out every once in a while

with my friends who wanted to make music

some of whom didn't have much talent

some of whom were were a bit better at

that and you know they would check it

out and some some of them would play it

themselves and it was just part of the

the scene that we we had and then you

know I went off to

college and I think what happened is

this stayed in my mom's basement out in

wesa then she moved to monomon Falls and

into a new house there and I think this

came with her and it's one of those

things that that my sister and I

discovered when my mother died in 2000

and we had to go through all of her

stuff including my old bass guitar and

um you know my dad's banjo and and stuff

like that and I decided

that I wanted to to have this and maybe

pass it down to my own kids

unfortunately neither of my kids showed

much interest in this thing and uh maybe

that'll change as they get

older um maybe I just need to to

introduce them to it again uh because it

is it is a really cool thing but it's

kind of a a museum piece as as well so I

don't know maybe maybe we won't give it

to the kids we dug it out at one point

when we so at my family

reunion uh which we haven't gone to for

quite a while but but it's a kind of a

big production the Lem family reunion we

have a talent show and a lot of families

are Musical and we sing there's a barber

shop quartet there's other things and I

would often play my bass or my banjo and

you know once my kids started getting Ed

in that you know cat would play the bass

and I would play the banjo and Maddie

would sing like we did acdc's TNT and a

couple other songs as well and I think I

brought this along one time to the uh

the reunion and I think one of my kids

played it and I think one of my older

cousins also got up there and played it

or maybe it was my uncle aay you know

and they of course you don't have to be

very good with this

but most people aren't very good with it

either so it was kind of you know thrown

together and and and half-ass you could

say but uh it's it's a lot of fun I I I

think there's the the look of this thing

just by itself kind of says fun times

crazy times you know old timey stuff so

I don't know what's going to end up

happening with this um it's a family

heirloom I will probably

keep it wherever I go I probably should

you know shine up the cowbell and clean

up the the tambourine and the wood block

and the symbols but I don't know we

we'll see what happens down the line

with this so this is a little bit of a

shorter story uh but you know this is a

interesting

artifact that has its

own history its own uh story to tell you

you can see that we've put it through a

lot of abuse we kids were not

particularly good about things you could

the symbols probably need to be bent to

be you know

completely uh circular cuz I think we've

dented it a little bit maybe in moving

but you know it's in pretty pretty

decent shape for something from the

1950s I mean

presumably this thing could at this

point be 70 years old certainly it's no

less than 60 years old so that's the

story of the boom base from the Sadler

family passed down to us kids from my

grandpa Joe Grandpa Joe Sadler and uh

currently I'm the uh keeper of it at

present