Victor Arden was the stage name of American pianist Lewis John Fuiks (8 March 1893 – 31 July 1962)DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. . Pp. 14-15. who was best known as the piano duo partner of and co-orchestra leader with Phil Ohman from 1922 to 1932.The New York Times, August 1, 1962 He was the pianist in the All-Star Trio, who made several hits for Victor Records between 1919 and 1921.
Early years Arden was born March 8, 1893, in Wenona, Illinois.
Radio In 1935, Arden was described in a newspaper article as "well-known to music lovers and radio listeners." At the time, Arden's orchestra was featured on Musical Moments, which was carried on over 300 stations weekly. Arden and his orchestra also provided the music for Mr. Chameleon, a detective fiction radio drama that ran on CBS Radio from the late 1940s to the early 1950s.
Recording Before 1920, Arden was making piano rolls to be reproduced on player pianos manufactured by the American Piano Company. He also cut numerous rolls for QRS. Watch a video of Maybe It's Love Ampico Recording # 213191 played on a 1926 Mason & Hamlin RBB, 6' 11.5" Ampico A with a retro fit B drawer.
Death Arden died July 31, 1962, in New York City.
Selected compositions 1909 Safety Pin Catch 1918 Just Blue, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) 1919 In My Dreams Lucille, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) Marilynn, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) Honeymoon Waltz, words by Ray Sherwood (born 1895), music by Victor Arden 1920 Hy n' Dry Rose of the Orient, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & George Hamilton Green Dolly, I Love You, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & Dick Long Molly, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & Dick Long Who Wants a Baby?, also by George Hamilton Green Dottie Dimples, also by George Hamilton Green In Blossom Time, also by Louis Weslyn (pseudonym for Weslyn Jones) (1884–1937) 1921 'Round the Town Hand Painted Doll, also by George Hamilton Green Lonesome Land, also by George Hamilton Green 1922 After A While (You're Goin' to Feel Blue), also by George Hamilton Green & Walter Hirsch (1891–1967) My Sweet Gal, also by George Hamilton Green I'm Happy: Fox Trot, also by George Hamilton Green 1930 Dancing the Devil Away 1941 Hearts in Harmony We'd Rather Die Upon Our Feet Than Live Upon Our Knees, words by Henry A. Murphy, melody by Joseph Russel Robinson (1892–1963) & Victor Arden Unity, words by Henry A. Murphy, melody by Joseph Russel Robinson (1892–1963) & Victor Arden Let's Incorporate, also by Lawrence M. Klee (died 1957)
Education Arden was a graduate of the University of Chicago and studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.
Family Arden was married twice. He first married Ilse Alma Spindler (born April 1894) – a 1916 graduate of the University of Chicago – in Chicago, on May 2, 1917.Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920 The couple had two sons: Robert Spindler Fuiks (1921–2009)Obituaries: Robert Spindler Fuiks, TCPalm.com, Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group, Stuart, Florida, December 1, 2009 and Lewis John Fuiks Jr. (1919–2004). Arden remarried in the 1950s to Frances Newsom, a classical soprano.
References
External links William Edwards biography database, Ashburn, Virginia Robert Perry, piano roll historian, Auckland, New Zealand Victor Arden recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.