Type: Exhibition caption
Detail: Ozzie Nelson was a musician, bandleader, and American entertainer who co-starred on television’s The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Despite his many successes, Ozzie’s music career got off to a rocky start at Rutgers College.
Ozzie attended Rutgers College from 1923 to 1927. During his freshman year, Ozzie auditioned for the Rutgers Musical Clubs, which were directed by Professor Howard D. McKinney. He did not make the cut and did not try out again. Rather, he played a variety of sports, was a member of Cap and Skull, and earned money singing and playing the banjo at dances and amateur nights. After Ozzie graduated from Rutgers College, he pursued a law degree from Rutgers-Newark. During this time he earned money by leading a small dance orchestra — a career path Ozzie ultimately chose to follow.
In 1931, Ozzie and the Ozzie Nelson Band headlined at Loew’s State Theater in New York City. One evening, before the band’s first performance, a Rutgers representative asked Ozzie if he would perform at the Waldorf Astoria with the Rutgers Musical Clubs later that night. Ozzie agreed and cheekily sang his unsuccessful Musical Clubs audition piece. He then recounted his audition to much laughter and applause. Out of everyone in the audience that night, Professor McKinney laughed and applauded the loudest.