Marking Pennsylvania History

Exploring Venuti and Lang

If you have not already, now would be a very good time to explore ExplorePAhistory.com. What will you find? Plenty.

First, take a look at the three overviews: Jazz in Pennsylvania, Jazz in Philadelphia, and Jazz in Pittsburgh.

Then, read the stories behind the historical markers for Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti. And if you dig just a little bit further, you can read Joe Venuti's recollection of the early days with Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti's recollection of a prank on Bix Beiderbecke.

And there is much more: a timeline of Jazz in Pennsylvania, transcriptions of other original documents, lesson plans, web links, bibliography, and related attractions, should you decide to visit Seventh and Clymer, where Eddie Lang's marker stands, or Eighth and Fitzwater, where Joe Venuti's can be found. After all, this we are not talking about history in the abstract here, but the places of history. And in Philadelphia, that would be just about every street corner. To find out which street corners are worth your visit and the stories behind them, we encourage you to explore ExplorePAhistory.com.

- Kenneth FInkel, Executive Director of WHYY's Arts & Culture Service

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