Sophie Admires Bix

by Rolla Chalupa. Davenport.
While he was still in high school, Bix played in the orchestra at the Columbia Theater some nights and always on weekends. When Sophie Tucker ("last of the Red Hot Mamas") came to town she was always the star of the show - and what an elegant lady and good sport she was. Every time she's come out to take her bow, she'd point out Bix and introduce him as "the greatest trumpet player in the world" and he was just a high school kid. Whenever Sophie was on for the afternoon matinee, Bix would play hooky and always buy a box seat and sit there alone for the show. And as soon as she went off, Principal Marshall would march up to the box seat, take Bix by the ear and lead him back to school. It happened several times and always brought down the house. I'd heard about it and a couple of buddies and I played hooky to see it. Sure enough, Mr. Marshall took Bix by the ear. But he understood Bix and enjoyed the joke, and he was never punished.