These four beauties were known as "The 4 American Girls" and later renamed "The 4 Co-ed's." My grandmother, Enis Monti, was one of them. They were an acrobatic dancing group that toured the world in the 1930's and 1940's. Before she met my grandfather, she was part of a trapeeze act and was to wed her partner. Just before the wedding was to take place, the man fell to his death during a performance. It was a secret kept from the family for over 50 years. After that, the girls embarked on a world tour taking them to all points of the world. They visited Europe before World War II and played Italy, London, Ireland, Spain and Berlin. On a cold winter night in 1939, Adolf Hitler showed up to a performance in Berlin. When the girls realized he was there, they stopped the show, walked off the stage and ended the show. The next morning, they were put on a boat back to New York by the Nazi's. They were told never to return. Enis met James Brophy playing a gig in New York and they married in 1941. Enis passed away in February 2003 after a long illness. Her funeral was held at a church used to shoot scenes for HBO's "The Soprano's." When local New Jersey papers caught wind of her life story, they called the family and asked if they could do a feature story on her life. Please click her for the article from the Newark Star Ledger. |
I'd like to share some family history with you. My musical and performance roots go much further back than my first song. Performing on a stage has been a family tradition for over 80 years. These pictures on this page highlight some of those people who paved the way for me and I'm proud to bring them to you. S.K. |
The man in the pictures above is my grandfather, James Brophy. He played drums in various bands in the 1930's and 1940's. His drumming was featured on a recording called "Elks Parade" and he played with some of the most famous musician of his day. Frank Sinatra and Louie Armstrong have played with him in the passed. His favorite gig was on board the Queen of Bermuda cruise liner which earned him a picture on the wall of the Bermuda Maritime Museum on the island of Bermuda (far right). On the cruise liner, he met even more stars like Shirley Temple and even Walt Disney himself. James Brophy passed away of cancer in 1968. |
These four beauties were known as "The 4 American Girls" and later renamed "The 4 Co-ed's." My grandmother, Enis Monti, was one of them. They were an acrobatic dancing group that toured the world in the 1930's and 1940's. Before she met my grandfather, she was part of a trapeeze act and was to wed her partner. Just before the wedding was to take place, the man fell to his death during a performance. It was a secret kept from the family for over 50 years. After that, the girls embarked on a world tour taking them to all points of the world. They visited Europe before World War II and played Italy, London, Ireland, Spain and Berlin. On a cold winter night in 1939, Adolf Hitler showed up to a performance in Berlin. When the girls realized he was there, they stopped the show, walked off the stage and ended the show. The next morning, they were put on a boat back to New York by the Nazi's. They were told never to return. Enis met James Brophy playing a gig in New York and they married in 1941. Enis passed away in February 2003 after a long illness. Her funeral was held at a church used to shoot scenes for HBO's "The Soprano's." When local New Jersey papers caught wind of her life story, they called the family and asked if they could do a feature story on her life. Please click her for the article from the Newark Star Ledger. |
Live at the Apollo Live in Berlin 1939 German Billboard |
Grandpa on Drums The Freddie Master's Orchestra Queen of Bermuda Picture |
Publicity Photo One Publicity Photo Two In Chicago 1935 |
Steve's Musical Family |
All work herein copyright 1998-2005 Steve Ketterer. All rights reserved |
The Ordinary Man With The Extraordinary Sound |
Enter The World Of An Ordinary Man |
