In the early 1920's, Dick & Walt were touring the country with their band, Dick Lucky and his Arcadians, the Dance Orchestra Unique. Meanwhile, Dottie was busy enjoying life at Hyde Park High School and dancing everywhere from the ballet classroom to the theater stage to Chicago's roaring 20's hotspots. How and when did the two lovebirds meet?

 The front of a tour poster from the 1920's. Note the lucky horseshoe! Dick is at the piano and in the cameo. Walt is in the foreground with two of his saxophones and a clarinet.

Both boys were proficient musicians, influenced by music from every direction.  At home, they were raised in a musical household with a German violinist, conductor, and draftsman as a father. The town they lived in was even filled with music. Elkhart, Indiana, was the original home of Conn Instruments.

Their father Robert was a draftsman at Conn's factory, and the two boys worked there as young men. They worked in the manufacturing, repair and sales areas- on such projects as Big Bertha, the world's largest marching drum! The drum was used by the University of Chicago for many years, and is still used by the University of Texas today. See posts and photos below for more details!

While performing, they used Conn instruments exclusively, as noted on the poster. 





Dick Lucke at Bloom Studio, Chicago, playing the vibes. From my collection- I really need to have this photo & the similar photo above professionally removed from the frame and scanned!



Walt's saxophone case

















Walt Lucke at Bloom Studio, Chicago, saxophone in hand. Clarinet & ? are ready to swap out, as seen on stage!



Walt's saxophone

Photo courtesy of Duncan Schiedt