Cast of Laughs, Inc.

This roster of Laughs, Inc. personnel was taken from the recollections of Joe Geczi and are know to not be complete.  For example, Duane Hodges is not listed although he provided all the photos of the group including one of Joe himself! 

• Pvt. Marvin A Levy - Magician “Marvyn, the Silk Merchant”.  Twice the winner of the Sherman Trophy, awarded to the best magician out of 21 on the Pacific Coast, at the age of 14 & 16.  Now at 19, a member of the Society of American Magicians.  From Hollywood, CA.  Wounded in Action within 2nd Infantry Div. in France. [webmaster notes: Marvin became Marvyn Roy AKA "Mr. Electric" and IBM's 2008 Magician of the Year]
• Pvt. John V. Willis - Accordionist. Stage & radio shows for CBS in Kansas City, Missouri.  Wounded in Action at Cherbourg, France as a member of the 4th Infantry Division.
• Pvt. Frank Graziano - Singer. Spent 21 months in Iceland.  Never sang professionally but is a definite find for after the war.
• Pvt. Alex Giraldo - South American Singer and Guitarist.  Played in NYC clubs - Havana Madrid, El Chico, Tony’s Trouville.  Definitely heading for stardom.  A very big favorite with the GI’s.
• Pvt. Lonnie Mott - Hill Billy Fiddler. Well know on Hill Billy radio programs in Mississippi & Texas.  Very big favorite with the soldiers, and is particularly clever in playing a “trick” violin from practically any conceivable position.  Wounded in Action at Le Haye De Puits, France with the 79th Infantry Division.
• T/Sgt. Wayne L. “Tex” Schram - Cowboy Comedian & Singer of Hill Billy Songs. Sang and told jokes in civilian life, more as personal enjoyment than for professional entertainment purposes.  Is beyond all question of a doubt a tremendous favorite off all GI’s, and would definitely be Number 1 on their list of cowboy songsters.  Wounded In Action with 8th Division in France.
• T/5 Joseph Altman - Comedian & Dancer. In show business for 18 years.  Played vaudeville circuits for RKO & Lowes and night clubs in all big cities in America.  Combat with 40th Field Artillery Group in France.
• Pvt. Frank Cipolla - Roller Skating Act (known as Private Frankie Marvel). Skating professionally for 20 years.  Started skating as a habit.  Played Lowes, RKO, circuits and traveled the States with his own production called “Roller Revue” of 1940.
• Pvt. Harry Klarin - Impersonations  (known as Harry Kay). Appeared with the “Believe It or Not” Bob Ripley Shows on Broadway.  Radio work with  Molly Picon as radio star.  Performed on radio stations WMCA & WHN.  Does imitations of all animals, champagne bottles, automobile horns, cat & dog fights, baby crying, water pump, birds, etc.
• Pvt. Jack Martin - Dancer (Actual name is Silvio Fini). Night club and vaudeville entertainer from Coast-to-Coast.
• T/5 Walter Zalenski - Band Leader. Played trumpet with Charlie Spivak’s Orchestra.  Veteran of North Africa, Sicily and Normandy campaigns with 9th Infantry Division.
• Cpl. Joseph Geczi - Violinist. Sgt. Mills acquired an inexpensive, but playable violin, for me in Birmingham, and some music for my piano accompanist, a fellow named Ricky Chalfont.  My pieces were Fritz Kreisler’s Liebesfreud, Monti’s Czardas, Emery Deutch’s When a Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry, Jealousie, and a few other selections as “encores”.  Played with Trenton Symphony Orchestra at the age of 15.  Wounded in Action in Normandy, France with 2nd Infantry Division.
• T/5 Milton Scharfman - Master of Ceremonies (known as Milton Sterling). Radio script writer & gag writer in civilian life.  As a soldier, was Master of Ceremonies for Radio Branch, War Dept. on NBC and CBS broadcasts weekly from Fort Bragg, NC variety shows.  Wounded in Action with 28th Infantry Division.
• Pvt. Robert “Eisenberg” Whalen, Unicycle

Other members of the 13 piece band included men who like the others had been in combat and who in civilian life played with radio stations and big name bands.  They include:

• S/Sgt. Paul Bonomo, Saxophone.  Played with Jack Teagarden & Nat Jaffe Orchestras.  Combat wounded with 35th Inf. Div.
• PFC Richard Chalfant, Pianist - Piano player and arranger for WLS in Chicago, IL.  293rd Joint Assualt Sig. Co.
• T/5 Joseph Muti, Trumpet - Played with Sam Faust & Orchestra.  298th AAA.
• PFC  Louis “Jim” Sattora, Bass Fiddle - Played in all big hotels with cocktail bar combinations around Syracuse & Rochester, NY.  North Africa, Sicily and Normandy campaigns with 9th Inf. Div.
• T/5 Jack Overgard, Trumpet - Played with Gay Claridge Orchestra around Chicago & St. Louis.  121st Cavalry Reconnaissance.
• PFC Albert Zorr, Saxophone - Played with Dean Hudson and Will Hudson band.  Had his own band in Roanoke, VA.
• PFC John Blackton, Saxophone - Played with local bands around Pottsville, PA.  Wounded in Action with 29th Inf. Div.
• T/5 Armond Scala, Drummer - Played with Mickey Salso’s Band in Rochester, NY.  Wounded in Action with 1st Division.
• Pvt.  Frank Spector, Saxophone - Free-lanced with orchestras in NY.  Wounded in Action with 79th Inf. Div. in France.
• Pvt.  John “Blacky” Blackton, Saxophone
• Pvt. William Miller, Trumpet
• Pvt. George Kohr, Trombone
• PFC Albert (Spook) Zoor, Saxophone
• Pvt. John Plaskon,  Accordion