Death of a Conductor

Twenty years ago, passengers on the Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, carline used to ride past their destinations, beguiled by the vocal harmony which the trolley's crew furnished. August Van Glove was the motorman, Joseph Thuma Schenck the conductor. Later they bolstered their act with a piano which Conductor Schenck played; entertained professionally in the back room of a saloon, then in smalltime vaudeville houses (their first appearance was, perforce, in overalls), then in big-time vaudeville theatres as "Van & Schenck--the pennant-winning battery of songland." Favorite Van & Schenck numbers: "When You're a Long, Long Way from Home," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," "Don't Blame It All On Broadway." Conductor Schenck sang tenor and carried the accompaniment; when there was "patter" he took it. Motorman Van Glove boomed the melody. After the War they both grew rich by singing in vaudeville revues, roadhouses, over the radio, the audible cinema. Conductor Schenck took it easy on his yacht between engagements. Last week at the Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, having filled an engagement the night before, Conductor Schenck died from a heart attack. Said Motorman Van Glove: "Maybe I'll never go on the stage again."

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