Second Chorus

After perennial college students Danny O'Neill and Hank Taylor are forced to make it on their own, the competitive pair get jobs with Artie Shaw's band and reunite with ex-manager Ellen Miller. Danny and Hank are surprised when Artie Shaw hires competent manager Ellen away from their college band. The two trumpet players scheme to get into Shaw's outfit themselves, each trying to trump the other's plays. —Diana Hamilton <hamilton@gl.umbc.edu> Friends Danny O'Neill and Hank Taylor have been New England college students for seven years, purposely failing year after year so that they can remain in the somewhat lucrative position of playing in the college's big band, where they are somewhat rivals in both being trumpeters. That rivalry enters a new phase after they meet Ellen Miller to whom they are both attracted. Ellen not only befriends the two despite her auspicious initial meeting with them, but becomes the band's manager. The band itself comes to the attention of Artie Shaw, both Danny and Hank believing because of himself, but what Artie is impressed with is Ellen's booking talent, who he hires for his own band. Thus continues the misadventures of Danny and Hank as each tries to impress Artie to become a permanent member of his band, and to win Ellen's heart, all the while trying to thwart the attempts of the other in both matters which may have the opposite effect than intended. —Huggo