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Hermie King (January 10, 1897 – March 1, 1984) was a musician, best known as the band leader and master of ceremonies at the Fox Oakland. He was the younger brother of comedian, actor, and producer Will King, and was very popular in Oakland. Later he played piano and emceed at Will's restaurants in San Francisco.

Hermie was born Hyman Klimberg to Samuel Klimberg and Nettie Renaldo (Schleslinger) (Klimberg) in New York City. Hermie had 6 older siblings, ranging from a sister Jeanette who was 4 years older, to a half brother Abraham who was 15 years older; his half brother Will was 11 years older. His name was Hyman in early records, then Herman, before settling on Hermie King, which he used on stage and the rest of his life.

A column in 1928 says Hermie was studying business when older brother Will summoned him to California; an article in 1930 says Hermie performed at Carnegie Hall when he was 10 years old. Following that, he was placed at the Chicago Conservatory of Music to further study music. After 4 years there, he was sent to California to study under professor Hermann Genss. 2 Neither of these has been confirmed by other info; the actual story was probably somewhere in between.

Regardless, by 1916, Hermie had followed his brother west. An article in 1941 says he took over the orchestra at the Columbia Theatre c.1914 (when he was 17) where Will was performing; a 1916 article describes Herman King as the music director at the Columbia. The 1918 San Francisco directory lists him as a musician living on O'Farrell St.

In 1923, Hermie married Hazel Isaacs (Rohan) (King) (July 27, 1896 – April 16, 1989), who was the sister of Clair Starr. Starr was the stage name of Clara Isaacs (King), who was married to Hermie's brother Will. They were married in Oakland by Rabbi Rudolph I. Coffee. 1 They did not have any children. Sadly, Hermie and Will's mother Nettie died suddenly the next month. Nettie was waiting at her San Francisco hotel with Hermie, Will, and one of their brothers for a taxi to the ferry, with plans to then take the train back to New York, when she died from a stroke.

Early Career

During Hermie's early career, he mostly worked with Will. In the 1910s they appeared at the Columbia, and in the early 1920s at the Hippodrome and other venues in San Francisco.

When Will traveled to Seattle in 1923, Hermie was there, too. In 1924, one theater even gave out souvenir photos of Hermie. When they returned to Seattle in 1927, one article mentioned Hermie and his music before Will and the rest of the show. In August 1927, Hermie was assigned a band with Fanchon and Marco (F&M) and Will temporarily retired.

Hermie was noted for his clever and unusual musical arrangements. He also wrote at least one song, copyrighted in 1926. He was well-known enough that some sheet music included a photo of him on the front, and variations on "Featured by Hermie King."

19251927

Fox Oakland

Hermie's big moment came when it was announced in October 1928 that he would be the band leader for the opening of the West Coast Oakland Theater (as the Fox was originally known), which was "the prize of the circuit." The opening day ads included a caricature of Hermie, who was billed just below the featured movie "The Air Circus" and Fanchon and Marco's "Up in the Air" Idea.

In 1930, the Fox even had a Hermie King Week to celebrate his 75th week as emcee at the Fox. In addition to leading the orchestra at the Fox, Hermie appeared at various local businesses and signed photographs for people.

1928 adHermie King week, 1930 2

After almost a year and half at the Fox, Hermie King was sent to the Fox Paramount Theater in Seattle in 1931. Because of his popularity, what was intended to be an 8 week stay was extended to 12. When he returned to Oakland later that year, he was welcomed home with a full-page ad. He made at least once appearance in Sacramento, probably to give a boost to the Fox Hippodrome theater there.

December 1931 saw the grand opening of the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. Fox West Coast decided to move the Fanchon and Marco productions there, and focus the Fox Oakland more on movies. It would also give a boost to the new Paramount; as part of that, Hermie moved, too. He returned for a brief reappearance at the Fox (as did the F&M productions at least once.) Finally, in 1933, Hermie was at the Fox Orpheum.

After the Fox

At the end of 1933, Will King opened the Will King Cafe on Market Street in San Francisco. Along with dinner and cocktails, it featured dancing to the music of Hermie King. In 1936, Will bought the Koffee Kup cafe on Geary. Unsurprisingly, it featured the music of Hermie King in the Rumpus Room. Hermie continued to play there into the early 1950s; at some point Hermie took over, and it was Hermie King's Rumpus Room. Country and pop singer Rusty Draper spent 8 years playing at the Rumpus Room in the late 1940s and early 1950s. After Rusty left, his younger brother Ronnie Draper took over playing with Hermie at the Rumpus Room.

Beginning in 1957, Hermie played at Bimbo's 365 Club with Ronnie Draper; in 1961, he recorded an album along with Draper, "Everybody Gets in the Act".

Later Hermie played at the Paddock Club near the Curran Theater. 3

193319441953

Death and Burial

Will King died in 1958, and Clara moved in with her sister Hazel and Hermie. Clara died in 1977. Hermie died in 1984, and Hazel in 1989. All four of them are buried in the Home of Peace Cemetery in Oakland.

Links and References

  1. Actor Weds Sister of Brother's Wife San Francisco Chronicle January 23, 1923
  2. Hermie King Week Oakland Tribune March 30, 1930
  3. A Matinee Idol's Memories Oakland Tribune February 3, 1974 (p2)