I’m closing up this week’s look at period Football stuff with a second rendition of the DeSylva/Brown&Henderson’s infectious hit 20s tune ‘Varsity Drag’. It’s performed by Abe Lyman and his orchestra and if you don’t dig 1920s music (and lets face it, few people do–you have to be a deep 20s geek to get into it) give it a chance. Lyman, the front man and drummer, and his band play a wicked hot jazz take on the song, with Lyman’s drumstick tricks adding a novelty aspect to the proceedings. The band is clearly well-directed (probably by Lyman)–they keep things lively and spirited while on the bandstand, unlike some of the society orchestras of the day which were inhabited by somnambulant musicians bored by the music they were forced to play. There are no titles on this clip so I have no idea what this piece of film was from–I checked IMDB and it’s not listed in Lyman’s credits. Nor does it turn up in the complete list of Vitabphone Varieties. No matter. It’s a terrific time capsule and a kller arrangement. One question remains though: what was with men’s make-up in the 1920s? Am I wrong or are these fellas wearing face powder and lipstick? And that brilliantine in the hair–oh you kid!