Juke Box Comics #5

Young Alvino Rey's path from amateur radio prodigy to bandleader began with a simple idea: what if a guitar could be amplified electrically? Working in the laboratories of Lee DeForest and tinkering at home, the determined musician spent years perfecting his revolutionary instrument, balancing wild detours—building his own telephone, attempting to ship out as a wireless operator—with serious musical training. Today, with his electrified guitar earning him a spot with a solidly booked band, Alvino continues to refine his invention, proving that curiosity and persistence can transform a wild dream into reality.

Lawrence Welk and his band arrive in the remote Texas town of Wizard's Gulch for a scheduled one-night stand, only to find the place eerily deserted—nothing but empty, crumbling buildings and silent streets. When they discover their own posters advertising the dance, mysterious figures arrive at the old dancehall, and Lawrence must figure out exactly who—or what—he's supposed to be playing for. It's a night that blurs the line between past and present in this curious tale of music and mystery.

Randy Brooks, a talented young musician leading his own band, finds himself torn between two passions when an appearance on Rudy Vallee's New York radio show forces him to miss basketball practice back home in Maine. With the championship game looming and his coach unwilling to forgive his absence, Randy must decide what matters most as he watches from the bench while his team fights for victory.

Carmen Cavallaro, the virtuoso pianist and bandleader, swaps wild tales with an old friend about the unpredictable perils of his glamorous career. From an unexpected encounter with President Franklin Roosevelt in Washington to a harrowing stunt involving a floating piano during his first Hollywood film, Carmen reminisces about the bizarre mishaps that come with the territory of being a popular musician. Through it all, he wouldn't trade a moment of his unconventional life in the spotlight.

Cab Calloway receives an honorary degree in music from a Southern university, and to show his appreciation, he hosts a dinner for the college officials—but when the bill arrives, he realizes he's left his wallet behind. Thinking fast, he launches into a speech peppered with jive talk that leaves his guests bewildered, buying him time to figure out his predicament. It turns out the dean knows exactly what happened, and he's got a surprise of his own.

Charlie Spivak dreams of making it big as a trumpet player in his father's grocery store in New Haven, Connecticut, but his constant practice annoys the neighborhood—especially Mrs. Brown, who complains daily about the noise. When Charlie finally lands a job with a famous bandleader and goes on to form his own orchestra with help from Glenn Miller, he discovers the perfect slogan for his new band comes straight from Mrs. Brown's reluctant admission that he plays "the sweetest trumpet in the world." Years later, when Charlie returns home a success, he finds a touching way to thank the woman whose criticism unknowingly became his greatest asset.

Sam Donahue, the genial saxophonist and bandleader, arrives in a fashionable suburb to play a country club dance—but when one of his musicians falls ill, he must scramble to find a replacement. In the process, he becomes entangled in a misunderstanding between a local young woman and an aspiring saxophonist who mistake his good intentions for romantic interest, putting the whole evening's performance in jeopardy.

Morey Amsterdam, the quick-witted comedian and composer, takes on an unusual radio interview when he meets Gallant Bess, a horse with remarkable intelligence, at the WHN studios in New York. What starts as Amsterdam's attempt to charm his guest with jokes and ad-libbed banter quickly becomes a battle of wits as Bess proves she can hold her own in the exchange. By the time the broadcast wraps, this unlikely pair has sparked something unexpected—and Amsterdam finds himself newly enamored with the equine set.