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Jimmy Gallagher
and the Hidden Lake Orchestra
Born:  April 6, 1907
Died:  December 30, 1986
WSM Grand Ole Opry
WLAC Nashville, TN
WSIX Nashville, TN
WSM Nashville, TN


About The Artist

In the summer of 1934, WSM seemed to forgo the traditional music heard on the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights. Radio logs published indicate the Opry program was on WSM from 8:00pm to 12:00pm (midnight).

On June 9, 1934, from 11:00pm to 11:30pm, WSM aired the Hidden Lake Orchestra. This orchestra would appear on the radio logs every Saturday night at that time up to September 1, 1934. Of the orchestras that were on WSM during 1934 in the Opry time slots, the Hidden Lake Orchestra appeared over a dozen weeks in a row in the radio logs.

The Hidden Lake Lodge had its grand opening on May 31, 1934. The promotional ads indicated they had a new terraza floor. For entertainment, Jimmy Gallagher and his Orchestra would provide the music to dance by under the stars. Another feature of this 'resort' was "The World's Most Beautiful Swimming Pool."

WSM Radio Log - June 2, 1934 - Palace Hotel Orchestra - Grand Ole Opry
WSM Radio Log - September 29, 1934 - Palace Hotel Orchestra - Grand Ole Opry

Promo Ad - Palace Hotel - Rose Bowl Room - San Francisco, CA - Tom Coakley - Palace Hotel Orchestra - January 1934
Promo Ad - Hotel St. Francis - Mural Room - Tom Coakley - January 1936
Promo Ad - Hotel St. Francis - Mural Room - Tom Coakley - January 1936

Promo Ad - Seasons Greetings - San Francisco - Tom Coakley - Palace Hotel Orchestra - December 25, 1934

But prior to that opening engagement, he attended another opening of an establishment and provided the entertainment. The Wagon Wheel Restaurant opened on May 19, 1934. Promotional ads note that it was on "101" Harding Road. Other research has shown that this restaurant played a part in another interesting WSM broadcast in a battle between two bands on an Easter Weekend.

Prior to 1934, he had made a name for his orchestra in Nashville. The orchestra was featured in dinner concerts at the Andrew Jackson Hotel. These concerts were broadcast by WSM on Saturday nights prior to the Opry broadcast though his name is not mentioned in the ads. On October 6, 1932, his orchestra provided the music for the re-opening of its dining room. The ad stated, "...completely renovated and redecorated ... offering a metropolitan service to those who appreciate good food ... Dinner $1.25" In addition to the re-opening of the restaurant, Jimmy Gallagher's Orchestra would play every Wednesday and Saturday evenings until midnight.

In June of 1931, Francis Craig had disbanded his former orchestra and was beginning to form a new group. It was to have slightly changed personnel and was due to make its first appearance on June 15, 1931. Jimmy Gallagher, while fronting his own orchestra, was to be one of the new members of the Craig group. New members were expected to be added, but it was expected Craig would retain several of the olde members. Craig had been away from leadership of an orchestra for over a year.

The Supper Club was the first to operate in Nashville in the 1932 season. The formal openeing was Saturday night October 8 in the newly decorated ballroom. Jimmy Gallagher's ten-piece orchestra was to broadcast from the dining room throughout the evening. It was the first program at the supper club since it had been closed for redecoration for nearly a month. A new hardwood dance fllor was installedin the main dining room and a a special pavilion was added for the orchestra so that the dance music could carry to all parts of the club. In describing the new decor , one gets the sense of the local hotel trying to be as swanky as those on the East coast. New trimmings of blush green, ivory, gold and black had been worked into a combination "similar to color scheme usually seen only in extravagant displays of exclusive Estern ballrooms."

WSM Radio Log - June 2, 1934 - Palace Hotel Orchestra - Grand Ole Opry
WSM Radio Log - September 29, 1934 - Palace Hotel Orchestra - Grand Ole Opry

WSM Radio Log - June 2, 1934 - Palace Hotel Orchestra - Grand Ole Opry
WSM Radio Log - September 29, 1934 - Palace Hotel Orchestra - Grand Ole Opry

WSM Radio Log - June 2, 1934 - Palace Hotel Orchestra - Grand Ole Opry
WSM Radio Log - September 29, 1934 - Palace Hotel Orchestra - Grand Ole Opry

The Andrew Jackson would play host to activities during the annual WSM Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebrations where disc jockeys would come to visit and country music performers would meet with them.

The Andrew Jackson Hotel was demolished in 1971.

It was rare to find any mention of who was in his orchestra or a picture of the group. One photo published in January 1931 shows the group and the names of the members of his orchestra playing at the Andrew Jackson Hotel. They were Jimmy Gallagher, Clinton Garvin, Tom Carter, Max Hart, Ira Heinburg, Gary Hammond, Horace Holley and Floyd McCahan. Two other members not in the photo were Bob Holley and Marty Groenberg.

Jimmy and his wife Edith were names often seen in various social activities in later years around Nashville. One of their friends were Katherine and Owen Bradley. In May of 1976, the Cedar Creek Club had a turtle derby and dinner following the Kentucky Derby which was watched on television.

Red O'Donnell reported in his Nashville Banner column in 1962 that a jam session broke out during a local Lion's Club old-timers luncheon. Jimmy Gallagher, retired bandleader, rounded up his onetime members of his orchestra Neill Owen, Walt Summers, Hazel Born, Ovid Collins and Owen Bradley for some impromptu band playing 1935 style.

The obituary for Jimmy Gallagher indicated that Owen Bradley was one of the honorary pallbearers. He was survived by his wife, Edith Ashford Gallagher. He married Edith on December 9, 1927 in Nashville, TN. Census records from 1940 show he was a vice-president of a heating and plumbing company.

Credits & Sources

  • Craig Is Organizing New Orchestra Here; June 6, 1931; The Nashville Tennessean; Nashville, TN
  • Jimmy Gallagher's Andrew Jackson Hotel Orchestra (photo with caption); January 18, 1931; The Nashville Tennessean; Nashville, TN
  • Supper Club To Open At Andrew Jackson; October 3, 1932; The Nashville Tennessean; Nashville, TN
  • Hotel To Resume Supper Dances Saturday Night; October 5, 1933; The Nashville Banner; Nashville, TN
  • Radio Exposition Will Be Opened Thursday For Three-Day Showing; November 5, 1933; The Nashville Banner; Nashville, TN
  • 'Round The Clock; Red O'Donnell; April 14, 1962; The Nashville Banner; Nashville, TN
  • Cedar Creek Club Has Dual Derby Day; May 2, 1976; The Nashville Tennessean; Nashville, TN

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