Harlem Globetrotters

The Sweet Sound of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’

The sound of ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ will fill the Frank Erwin Center on Thursday, February 9 when the Harlem Globetrotters borrow the home court from the UT Longhorns.

Approaching 80 years of record breaking basketball and on-court comedy, the Harlem Globetrotters has become an American icon. Known around the world for their comedy routines such as the “Magic Circle,” the Trotters have a long and successful history. Since former Trotter Mannie Jackson bought the team in 1993, they have soared to new heights in revenue, fan base and charity donations.

The team was first organized by 24 year-old Abe Saperstein in 1926. Saperstein’s original team was called the Savoy Big Five - named after Chicago’s famous Savoy Ballroom. That team disbanded after it became apparent that their affiliation with the Savoy didn’t have the financial perks the Savoy’s owner thought it would. Never one to despair, Saperstein organized Saperstein’s New York Globetrotters, and held the team’s debut game on January 7, 1927. The game brought out 300 fans and the newly named Globetrotters made $75.

In 1930 the team’s name was changed once more, this time to the Harlem Globetrotters. The purpose of the name change was to illustrate the idea that the team was all black. Then in 1939, at the end of one of their games, the Globetrotters began to clown around, much to the amusement of the crowd. After the game, Saperstein told the team that they were allowed to ham it up – but only if they had a safe lead. The next game they played, the Trotters beat the opposing team 112 to 5.

In the 1940’s, the Globetrotters signed some of their most famous players. They brought on Reece “Goose” Tatum – probably one of the most highly recognized Trotters of all time. Goose developed most of the team’s classic comedy routines. After Goose joined the Army Air Corps, he was replaced by the team’s first Caucasian player, Bob Karstens. A few years later, a one-armed player named Bob Buie joined the team and averaged 18 points per game, much to the awe of their fans. The 1948 season began Robert “Showboat” Hall’s career with the Trotters. Showboat was the master of the fast passing game, and appeared to do magic on the court by pulling a ball out of thin air and making it disappear.

The Trotters made a trek north in the late 1940’s and became the first professional basketball team to enter the Alaskan Territory. The team had to take sled dogs to one of their games. The antics, comedy and athleticism received dead silence from the crowd. They later learned that the more silent a crowd in Alaska, the more the performance is appreciated. Whew!

The National Basketball Association’s first black player, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton, was recruited from the Globetrotters in 1950. His contract was bought for a whopping $25,000. He went on to play in 600 contests and an All Star game.

In 1952, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ became the official theme song of the Globetrotters. This landmark was followed up the next year with an exciting first for the team – their premier on national television on the Ed Sullivan Show.

By 1956 the team’s popularity had soared so high that there were actually four separate teams on tour, all playing seven nights a week. This meant that they played more games each year than the entire NBA combined.

In 1958, Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain joined the team. Towering above the court at 7 feet 1 inch tall, Chamberlain became one of the most famous names in basketball. He was only a Trotter for one season because he left for an opportunity to play for the next 14 years in the NBA. Chamberlain played for the Philadelphia Warriors, the San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and most notably for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 1970’s and 1980’s included several momentous occasions in Globetrotter history. Dr. Henry Kissinger was named an Honorary Harlem Globetrotter in 1976, and Bob Hope was named Honorary Harlem Globetrotter in 1977. They have since been joined by Whoopi Goldberg, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and the late Pope John Paul II.

In 1982 the Harlem Globetrotters received the first and only Hollywood Walk of Fame Star to be had by a sports team. And in 1985, the team welcomed the first woman Trotter (and Olympic Gold Medalist), Lynette Woodward.

In 1993 Mannie Jackson bought the team and became the first African-American to own a major sports/entertainment organization. Jackson bought the near-bankrupt team up a huge five folds in revenue by expanding the fan base to younger generations. Jackson also made donating to charities an important aspect of managing the Trotters. The team has donated millions of dollars over the past 12 years to a wide variety of non-profits.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the Harlem Globetrotters ‘Unstoppable’ Tour at the Frank Erwin Center Thursday, February 9 at 7PM are $14, $20, $26, $40 VIP and $100 Magic Circle and are ON SALE NOW at all Texas Box Office Outlets (includes H-E-B stores in Austin, Bastrop, Bee Caves, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Marcos and Taylor; Ft. Hood Bldg. #136 and Renaissance Records in Killeen), charge-by-phone at 512/477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or order on-line at TexasBoxOffice.com. THE FOLLOWING DISCOUNTs ARE AVAILABLE ON the $20 and $26 ticket prices only: $5 off college and university students, faculty and staff with I.D., and for groups of 20 or more. Groups should call the Group Sales Department at 512/471-7744. Convenience charges may apply. All information subject to change. The Frank Erwin Center is a smoke-free facility. Convenient parking is available within walking distance in nearby state and university lots. For more information, call 512/471-7744. uterwincenter.com