Interview: The Capitol Days
Editor's Note: My father, Bill N. Muster, worked for Capitol Records in the 1950s, and so did my stepfather, Donald E. Hassler. Feb. 2, 2004, I interviewed my mother and stepfather about the old days at Capitol, then soon after that, transcribed the interview and posted it here at my site.
In the three years since then, the Capitol section at Surrealist has grown to forty-eight pages, including twenty-two pages of materials related to the Tower opening, April 6, 1956.
The purpose of the interview was to preserve the history for future generations of our family, but I'm publishing it online to offer a candid glimpse into the music scene of the 1950s.
If you were in the industry at the time, or remember any of the people we discuss in the interview, please write to me. I'll post your comments here (contact info.).
- Nori
Interview Part I: Company History
Interview with Don Hassler discusses the Tower, 1950s recording technology, Capitol marketing practices; Glenn Wallichs, Buddy deSylva, Johnny Mercer, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Kay Starr, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and EMI.
Interview Part Two: Don Hassler History
Interview with Don Hassler about his years at Capitol Records, as well as other jobs before and after Capitol. Interview discusses the Four Freshman, Stan Kenton Presents, Patti Page, Les Paul, Mary Ford, Frank Sinatra, Kay Starr, Vic Damone, disk jockey payola, the musicians union, and the Mafia. Illustrations images include: Concord reel-to-reel tape recorder, Hollywood Jaycees news item (1959), Hollywood Jaycees Race program and detail photo of Johnny Grant (1956), Capitol Records memo (1959), Capitol News (c. 1952), Capitol Records Sales report (1953), Capitol Records letter from Manila and letterhead detail (1957), and Hollywood Jaycees letter and letterhead detail (1959).
Interview Part Three: Bill Muster History
In this section, Don and Paula Hassler recall Bill Muster's role at Capitol producing the Weekly Wrap-up, stories about Keely Smith and Louis Prima, Lord Buckley, and how he was fired because of a dust up over Playboy magazine. Illustrations include: Daily Variety front page, Capitol Sales Wrap-Up front page and masthead detail, plus one page from the Wrap-Up ("Promotion with Impact"), a "Special Hits" reply post card, and Playboy Magazine letterhead detail.
Bill Muster Fired Over Playboy
Readable scans of actual correspondence from Playboy magazine, Bill Muster, and executives at Capitol; also two articles in Variety.
Interviewees
Photos of Don and Paula Hassler (speaking in the interview) and the late Bill Muster (1926 - 1989).
