Advertisement Ray Wuensch, 85, of La Crosse (seated second from left) played clarinet and is the sole survivor of the group. He has at least 1,000 memories woven by seven members of a close-knit Edwin Wuensch family. The La Crosse troupe included a bass player with no Wuensch lineage. Affected by World War II, the orchestra was disbanded in 1942.
As Ray and I studied the photo, Ray shared treasured memories.
The photo was taken in Winter Gardens Pavilion. Built in the 1880s, the pavilion stood on sand in the area now occupied by La Crosse’s Village Shopping Center and Central High School. Its permanent stage included a concave background. Painted on it (see photo) was a scene then considered risqué bringing discomfort to mom, Elizabeth Wuensch, who’d occasionally sing with the orchestra.
“I should start with my father to bring you up to what led to this Winter Gardens photo. He was very proud of being able to form an orchestra from a large family also busy with farm chores and the like.” As a young man, Edwin and his brother would walk through the woods from St. Joseph Ridge to Mormon Coulee Road to play their music at home parties. “He nourished our family’s interest in music. What was so unique about Dad is that he never took music lessons, couldn’t read notes, could play the fiddle, and would ask: ‘What key are we going to play in?’”
Many of the seven Wuensches were adept at “playing by ear” and much of the time played without sheet music. But when there was a family decision to try a modern tune, the sheet music would come from Leithold’s and pianist Leona (she took piano lessons through the mail) would convert it to single sheets to accommodate each instrument.
At Winter Gardens, the orchestra catered to wedding and anniversary dances, and both oldies (polkas and waltzes, such as the “Isabella and Mariechen Waltz”) and modern numbers (such as “Moonlight and Roses”) were rendered. These were four-hour gigs with one break when a bunch of bologna and pickle sandwiches would be served and everyone mingled.
Edwin also would rent the pavilion for public dances. There would be show bills prepared announcing admission at 30 cents for gents and 20 cents for ladies.
There were a couple nickel slots owned by the Wuensch family, and the responsibility of making sure the machines were set up and operating was left to Ray and younger brother, Lloyd. “If a person would win $2 or $3 this was big money,” said Ray.
Winter Gardens wasn’t the only site for Wuensch’s Orchestra. The family played at Corcordia Ballroom (still standing on La Crosse Street); Avalon Ballroom (now home of Super Buffet, 206 Copeland Ave.); Pioneer Hall, which was located at Sixth and Market streets, now the site of La Crosse’s main fire station; and Silver Palace Pavilion on Goose Island.
Ray recalled family talents. For the sake of bettering the orchestra, Edgar played violin but changed to drums, Leslie played sax but also took up the accordion, and Marce played guitar but switched to banjo. Ray switched to saxophone after the war, and played with numerous bands, including the Jolly Swiss Boys for five years, until retiring about a year ago. “I was given the gift from the Almighty that I could play with any band I sat with. I could ad lib…didn’t need sheet music.”
Ray compared yesteryear with today. “There was no amplification. A megaphone was used when it was necessary to get the attention of those being entertained. There was not the amount of music available as there is today. When we played a waltz, we would have a set of three numbers, and were so limited that sometimes we’d play the same number three times.“
For some, the work didn’t stop when a performance was over. This is when Elizabeth starred. “Mom was the workhorse and wanted each of her performers to be presentable. She would wash, iron and starch our uniforms so they would be ready for the next show, and sometimes there would be performances one day after another.“
Yes, from this photo there are so many good memories. Yet there are situations that have tarnished them.
n Remember that bass player who was a dear family friend but not of Wuensch lineage? He was Bill Hammes, tragically slain in 1985 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Onalaska, Wis., where he was custodian.
n There are no tapes/recordings of the Wuensch’s Orchestra music.
But during post-orchestra years, a moment presented itself during a family communion celebration when a tape was made. Father Edwin is playing his fiddle, sister Leona is at the piano, Ray is on his sax, and mother Elizabeth is joining them in song.
Ah, to be able to replay this precious memory!
Larry Olson can be reached at (608) 791-8430 or lolson@lacrossetribune.com.
