Victor Arden was the stage name of American pianist Lewis John Fuiks (8 March 1893 — 31 July 1962)[1] who was best known as the piano duo partner of and co-orchestra leader with Phil Ohman from 1922 to 1932.[2] He was the pianist in the All-Star Trio, who made several hits for Victor Records between 1919 and 1921.[3]

Victor Arden
Victor Arden and Phil Ohman
Born
Lewis John Fuiks

March 8, 1893
Wenona, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 31, 1962
New York City, U.S.
OccupationPianist

Early years

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Arden was born March 8, 1893, in Wenona, Illinois.[1]

Radio

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In 1935, Arden was described in a newspaper article as "well-known to music lovers and radio listeners."[4] At the time, Arden's orchestra was featured on Musical Moments, which was carried on over 300 stations weekly.[4] Arden and his orchestra also provided the music for Mr. Chameleon, a detective fiction radio drama that ran on CBS Radio from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. [5]

Recording

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Before 1920, Arden was making piano rolls to be reproduced on player pianos manufactured by the American Piano Company.[6] He also cut numerous rolls for QRS.

Death

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Arden died July 31, 1962, in New York City.[1]

Selected compositions

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1909

  • Safety Pin Catch

1918

  • Just Blue, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)

1919

  • In My Dreams
  • Lucille, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)
  • Marilynn, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)
  • Honeymoon Waltz, words by Ray Sherwood (born 1895), music by Victor Arden

1920

  • Hy n' Dry
  • Rose of the Orient, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & George Hamilton Green
  • Dolly, I Love You, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & Dick Long
  • Molly, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & Dick Long
  • Who Wants a Baby?, also by George Hamilton Green
  • Dottie Dimples, also by George Hamilton Green
  • In Blossom Time, also by Louis Weslyn (pseudonym for Weslyn Jones) (1884–1937)

1921

1922

1930

  • Dancing the Devil Away

1941

  • Hearts in Harmony
  • We'd Rather Die Upon Our Feet Than Live Upon Our Knees, words by Henry A. Murphy, melody by Joseph Russel Robinson (1892–1963) & Victor Arden
  • Unity, words by Henry A. Murphy, melody by Joseph Russel Robinson (1892–1963) & Victor Arden
  • Let's Incorporate, also by Lawrence M. Klee (died 1957)

Education

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Arden was a graduate of the University of Chicago and studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.

Family

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Arden was married twice. He first married Ilse Alma Spindler (born April 1894) – a 1916 graduate of the University of Chicago – in Chicago, on May 2, 1917.[7] The couple had two sons: Robert Spindler Fuiks (1921–2009)[8] and Lewis John Fuiks Jr. (1919–2004). Arden remarried in the 1950s to Frances Newsom, a classical soprano.

References

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  1. ^ a b c DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. Pp. 14-15.
  2. ^ The New York Times, August 1, 1962
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 22. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  4. ^ a b "WKBO". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. Harrisburg Telegraph. September 13, 1935. p. 19. Retrieved February 11, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Cox, Jim (June 14, 2015). Radio Crime Fighters: More Than 300 Programs from the Golden Age. McFarland. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-4766-1227-0. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "Answering a Question". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 18, 1919. p. 7. Retrieved February 11, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920
  8. ^ Obituaries: Robert Spindler Fuiks, TCPalm.com, Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group, Stuart, Florida, December 1, 2009
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