REMEMBERING EVELYN

Evelyn Lessen “learned to work the saxophone” in high school which brought her to a meeting at the Los Angeles home of noteworthy movie actress and director Ida Lupino who organized an all girls’ band in the 1940s.  Evelyn played the sax in that band.  Most dance bands were all male at that time.

This was Evelyn’s proud achievement that she shared with me at meetings of Or Emet Congregation.  

Lupino would have been keen on starting a girls’ dance band given her commitment to womens’ issues and her contempt for the patriarchal Hollywood structure.  Lupino also was a musician having composed a suite performed by the LA Philharmoic in the late 30s.

Several of us in Or Emet remembered Evelyn and watched a recorded interview she did at a potluck Satuday night in Golden Valley.  When you see “Some Like it Hot,” think of Ms. Lessen.