Difference between revisions of "Bartlesville Barflies"

The following year, [[O. C. Cash]] was looking for a quartet to sing at the state teacher's convention in Tulsa and asked McCaslin if his quartet was available. They were willing to sing and O. C. informed the local newspaper. Cash told a reporter covering the story that the quartet was called the Bartlesville Barflies.  

The following year, [[O.C. Cash]] was looking for a quartet to sing at a prestigious state teachers' convention in Tulsa and asked McCaslin if his quartet was available. The quartet agreed but unbeknownst to them, when Cash was asked by the press the name of the foursome, Cash didn't know. O.C. remembered a quartet back home in Blue Jacket called the "Barflies" and informed the news media they would hear the Bartlesville Barflies" After that, the name stuck.  

The son of a minister and Missouri bred, George made his living as an insurance salesman but was best known to all as a quartet man. A charter member of the Society, he also directed the local [[SAI | Sweet Adeline]] chorus. As a member of many civic organizations he was a real people person" and loved to sing. He died in 1985 at the age of 83 followed by his beloved wife, Lillian, three years later. Their son, Jim, passed away in 1994 and their son Tom is an accomplished musician who currently lives and performs in Tulsa.  

Harry Hall was born and raised in Hetton-Le-Hole, Durham County, England (and he wouldn't let you forget it) and came to the U.S. in 1914. Settling in West Frankfort, Illinois, he soon married Maude May Fuell on September 14, 1914. After joining the U.S. Army, Harry served overseas in Europe and was discharged in 1919 and soon after moved to Pawhuska, Oklahoma. In 1937 Harry moved to Bartlesville where he worked as a painting contractor.  

He quickly became active in several civic organizations joining the local Akdar Temple, Kara Grotto, Elks Lodge, A F & A M, Knights of Pythias Lodge, Painters Local 695, Shriners, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite Club, and American Legion. Perhaps looking for another organization to join, Harry was in attendance at the first Tulsa meeting April 11, 1938.

Maude, his wife of 36 years passed away in 1950. Harry soon after married Marjorie. He had two daughters.  

It was mid-week during the 1960 International convention, held in Dallas, when Harry became seriously ill. He was rushed back to Bartlesville where he passed away the Saturday morning of the convention at the age of 69.  

A handsome young man, Bob was born in Junction City, Kansas where he graduated from high school in 1923. He attended the University of Kansas, sang in the U. of K. Glee Club and received his degree in 1927. His father was president of the bank and Bob proudly followed in his dad's footsteps. Following graduation he took a job offer at the First National Bank of Bartlesville.  

When Bob was called to service he joined the Air Force and earned the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge in 1946. He returned home and married Mary Mustard and raised three daughters. Bob worked his way up to Senior Vice President at the bank and retired in 1968 after 41 years of service.  

After passing the "audition" and joining the Barflies, Bob's dad (also a quartet man) taught the quartet by rote a beautiful 1882 ballad entitled White Wings. It became a popular addition to their repertoire.  

After a long illness, Bob passed away on May 13,1978 at the age of 72.  

Born in Sweet Springs, Missouri, Herman sang bass for 22 years in the Bartlesville Presbyterian choir. He too belonged to several local civic organizations such as the Kiawanians, and several Masonic bodies. Herman worked for Phillips Petroleum from 1922 to 1964 (who later hired them to promote the company) and retired as a senior purchasing agent. He died February 23, 1965 at the age of 65 and was survived by his wife, Mildred.  

George said "I can't recall that we broke into the charmed circle that night. . . we were hoping for third."  

The next night after singing in the finals, George recalled: "...it was so close, they had us and the Capital City Four come back out and sing another song". By the slimmest of margins, the Barflies were named "World Champion Barbershop Quartet".  

Someone came along after the contest and offered the Barflies a contract to do three weeks in Vegas but they didn't have the time. Phillips Petroleum (Herman's employer) offered to sponsor them if they would change their name to the "Phillips 66 Barflies". They agreed and as it turned out, it was a pretty good combination for the quartet as well as the society. They were flown all over the south during various company advertising campaigns and enjoyed what they called the "meatballs and pea circuit".  

George and Harry competed in the first seven national quartet contests helping set the pace for the new society. Son Tom McCaslin still has George's medal collection including the rarest of all.  

Probably no top ranking quartet got by on less rehearsing than the Barflies. They picked their songs, learned them separately and got together only to work out the timing and polish 'em up. They were blessed with two high tenors, a high bari, and a low bari, The Barflies had little trouble with pitch unless Harry was having a bad day. Harry, said to have perfect pitch, refused to allow the Barflies to use a pipe. He said he could always get the right pitch. It may have been right for Harry, but sometimes, when he was feeling good or the audience got him a little excited, he'd pitch it high. Heaven help 'em if he pitched it low!  

McCaslin remembered a funeral they sang for in Bartlesville once where he disdained to use the pitch pipe which George had in his pocket. "It was the most pitiful sound I've ever been a part of and I'm sure we contributed our share of depression to the grieved. We muddled through Rock of Ages using Harry's "perfect pitch". It was the last funeral we ever sang and I never trusted Harry for the pitch again".  

"Harry was way too temperamental for his own good, in spite of the fact that he was a good showman. Now and then he'd want me to change the pitch depending on how he felt. I never gave in to him again and after a decade or more, he finally conceded that he probably didn't have perfect pitch".  

Bob Durand was drafted into the Army immediately following the contest in 1942 and the Barflies split up. George and Harry (tenor and bass) decided to form another quartet out of Tulsa called the Mainstreeters. Bill Palmer (bari) and Fred Graves (bass), formerly with the Mystic Four, completed the foursome and they became just about as popular as the Barflies had been and continued to perform on a regular basis.

Since Harry couldn't make the trip, they held auditions during the day for leads to fill-in for Hall. The lucky ones were Dana Durand (brother), Jim Poindexter, Don McPherson, and J. E. Dooley. Each man "rehearsed with an audience" one number with the Society's first champions. It may have been the original "[[sing with the champs]]". The Barflies claimed it was their 167th "final appearance".  

By this time, Harry and George's other quartet was gaining national popularity. They were called the Flying L Ranch Quartet. One of their biggest fans was Roy Turner, owner of the Flying L Ranch (near Davis) and soon-to-be Oklahoma's Governor. Also an amateur song writer, Turner penned Hereford Heaven.  

The song became popular and Roy asked his favorite quartet to perform it. In the summer of 1946, Roy Rogers decided to use the song and the quartet in his movie, "Home in Oklahoma". Each quartet member was renamed: Harry "Shorty" Hall, Bill "Smiley" Palmer, Fred "Stumpy" Graves, George "Slats" MeCaslin for the movie. Some of the filming took place on the Flying L Ranch and some took place in Hollywood. Gabby Hayes also appeared in the film.