SPEAKERS BUREAU

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Rhode Island and diners go together like apple pie and vanilla ice cream. The origins of the diner can be traced to Walter Scott, a part-time pressman and type compositor in Providence, Rhode Island. Around 1858 when Scott was 17-years old he supplemented his income by selling sandwiches and coffee from a basket to newspaper night workers and patrons of men's club rooms. By 1872 business became so lucrative that Scott quit his printing work and began to sell food at night from a horse-drawn covered express wagon parked outside the Providence Journal newspaper office. In doing so, Walter Scott unknowingly inspired the birth of what would become one of America's most recognized icons -- the diner.

This talk will inform its audience not only of the history of the origins of diners, but to identify and look at Rhode Island diners through the ages. Places like Haven Brothers and the Silver Top Diner, the Modern Diner and the Seaplane, diners that are gone or still here, they all have stories to tell.

This multi-media presentation will use film clips of diners in the movies, many photographs of local RI diners past and present and even some songs that sing about diners!

This multi-media presentation focuses on the rich heritage Rhode Island has in the music world. Using music and video with interviews and archival photos, this talk looks at the big history of jazz in little Rhody.

The presenter is currently working on a documentary and book about this topic. Over the past year, interviews have been conducted with many musicians from the 1930s and 40s that have looked at the music, era, culture and clubs of that time. Stories have emerged about such important establishments as the Celebrity Club and Bovi's Tavern.

This is not only a story about music, but about Rhode Island's people. There are so many talented jazz musicians that decided to stay close to home to be with family, rather than a life on the road with national big bands. They chose to open record shops, music stores, give lessons and most importantly, play in the many Providence and Rhode Island jazz clubs that were around in the earlier part of the 20th century. Many jazz fans will know the names of Rhode Island's more famous musicians; Bobby Hackett, Frankie Carle, Dave McKenna, and Greg Abate. But there are so many not-so-famous players that make this jazz heritage as rich as it was and continues to be. Musicians like 80-year old guitarist Red MacDonald, trombonist George Masso and drummer Duke Belaire, to name just a few.

This presentation will include video clips of interview footage, sample music from some of the local musicians and personal photos to help illustrate the talk.

Dr. Tom Shaker is the Communications Arts Director at Dean College. He received his doctorate from Boston University in Media & Technology. He has been involved in production and media related projects throughout the nation. He is a radio personality on two shows 'Spirits of Rhythm' a vintage jazz/blues show, and Soul Serenade a classic soul/R&B show. Tom is currently on the Board of Directors of the American Diner Museum and the New England Jazz Alliance.

Needs: Powerpoint projector/ dvd player/screen, table to display memorabilia