Hoosier Hot Shots Museum featuring Paul Hezzie Trietsch

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Meet... The HOOSIER HOT SHOTS
PAUL TRIETSCH
Wabash Piano, Slide Whistle

Hezzie was born on a farm near Arcadia, Indiana on 4/11/05. He started working as an entertainer in 1922, married his wife Bessie nee Burk 2/27/04) 3/15/24 and stayed married and entertaining the rest of his life. In his early days with Ezra Buzzington's Rube Band (see picture with top hat) his wife Bessie, mother of Paul, Jr., worked on stage along with a group that included 3 of Paul's brothers. He did blackface, silly-kid, and toby characters, and though famous for his "zither", picture a washboard after being hit by a parade of antique cars, he was well versed on any number of instruments. His custom slide whistle set the tone for the instrument for eternity.
In the mid 40s Hezzie and the group left Chicago and the National Barn Dance for the comfort of California, where Hezzie made a home in North Hollywood. He started a pawn/jewelry business in the 50s and kept musicians alive between gigs. The store survives to this day.
Hezzie's death in 1979 brought the end to the 50 years of America's greatest novelty band.

For more information on Hezzie, read the Standby Magazine June 1935 article

Use your Hezzie Jr., Slide Whistle or get a "zither" just like Hezzie's.
Click the washbord picture for a larger version.

At the end of a performance, Hezzie would close with a couple jokes...
Click HERE to hear Hezzie tell a joke.
Click HERE to hear Hezzie tell another joke.
Click HERE to hear Hezzie tell even another joke.

A presentation of the Hoosier Hot Shots Museum for your information and entertainment.
Photos from The Original Hoosier Hot Shots Album of Songs & Photographs, published and copyright 1938 by the Hoosier Hot Shots; WLS Family Album published by Prairie Farmer Publishing; and the collections of Paul Trietsch, Jr.; Gil Taylor, Jr; and Ezra Buzzington