"Fats" Waller: Live Interview ft. Rochester Anderson (1941 CBS Radio Broadcast / Remote)

By the early 1940s, vibrant entertainment in the swing & jive style had engulfed nearly every coast of the United States. Yet in the midst of endless night-life entertainment grew an unstable political climate over seas, with the rise of fascism & fall of social order.

With Waller making his second tour to Europe around this time, the trip concluded early following fears of an imminent war between Germany. Only a few months past his return to the states, those fears became a reality with the outbreak of World War II on September 1st, 1939.

Just a year later, the United States enacted it's first peacetime draft, calling all men between the ages of 21 & 45 to register with few exemptions at hand. In Waller's case, such exemptions would not be needed anyhow, with his whopping weight of 265 lbs at only a height of 5'10.

Free to continue touring across the states, one particular stop in California led Waller to serve as a special guest on Edward Murrow's regular CBS radio broadcasts. (For those unfamiliar with Mr. Murrow, he was a broadcast journalist & war correspondent known for his live coverage of WWII.) Alongside another special guest, actor & comedian Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, the three held a brief 10-minute interview with Waller answering a list of prepared questions about his life, career, the war and more!

Though typically incarcerated by the nature of show business, this short stint offers a rare glimpse into Waller's life from his own account. All within a more relaxed environment than those he usually occupied.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timestamps:

CBS Broadcast: "Radio Newsreel," June 19th, 1941
00:00 - Introduction of Guests
01:00 - Early Life & Career
03:09 - Present Time & Impacts of War
04:47 - Origins: His "Rhythm," Songs, etc.
07:36 - Reflections: Career, Tours, Success
11:02 - Personal interests & Hobbies
11:50 - Closing Remarks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⚪ Full English (US) transcription available via captions!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas "Fats" Waller, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Edward R. Murrow, live via radio broadcast hosted by the Columbia Broadcasting System in Los Angeles, California. June 19th, 1941.

Official broadcast date & location provided with the help of Stephen Taylor through his 2006 journal "Fats Waller on the Air: The Radio Broadcasts and Discography"

Taylor, Stephen. Fats Waller on the Air: The Radio Broadcasts and Discography. Vol. 50 of Studies in Jazz. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press Inc., 2006.

Photograph additionally derives from the late Mr. Taylor's personal collection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This video is solely for the purposes of sharing the music & history of Thomas "Fats" Waller and in no way or means is being used for monetary purposes.