Posted ByPapa Mo on September 21, 2000 at 09:07:24:
In Reply to: Re: Stradivaris posted byLaura Leff on September 20, 2000 at 12:36:22:
: : I was listening to one of the old programs about his playing the Bee, He says something about his violin being a stradivaris. My question is when did he actually purchace a stradivaris?
: One of Jack's jokes about his violin was variations about it being a Stradivarius ("It's a Strad. Joe Strad.").
: However, it is true that Jack did purchase a Stradivarius (he also had a Pressenda), but off the top of my head I don't know exactly when it was. The two violins were the most valuable objects in his estate, and they were donated to the Los Angeles Symphony upon his death.
: --Laura Leff
: In Joan Benny's SUNDAY NIGHTS AT SEVEN on page 233 Jack himself writes, "In 1957. . . I acquired a Stradivarius. I paid $16,000 for it at that time. Today in 1972, I am told by experts it is worth $50,000. . . I also play another fine violin, the Pressenda, which, while not as valuable as the Strad, is an equally fine example of the violin maker's craft." Papa Mo