Mr. Branch.

That's all he talked about--the pianoplayer.

Mr. Hubert.

Well, how much talk could there be about him, you mean that he would be paid, or who he would be or what kind of music he would play or what?

Mr. Branch.

That he don't want no jazz pianoplayer, he wanted just the straight rhythm and blues pianoplayer.

Mr. Hubert.

Yes; I'm just trying to see, Mr. Branch, what could have kept him as long as 30 minutes, if all he talked about was the pianoplayer?

Mr. Branch.

That's mostly what he talked about--and the club. I should come down to the club and see it. I've never seen it.

Mr. Hubert.

And that he was going to the club?

Mr. Branch.

That he was going to the club.

Mr. Hubert.

He was listening to the music?

Mr. Branch.

He had a new act--he was standing up to the bar talking and drinking a Coca-Cola, and then he did say something about some reducing pills I should take I should take some tablets--I had just came out of the hospital and had been operated on.

Mr. Hubert.

He thought you were too fat?

Mr. Branch.

Well, I was.

Mr. Hubert.

And he suggested some pills?

Mr. Branch.

Well, he had some--vitamins.

Mr. Hubert.

Did he give you some?

Mr. Branch.

No; he didn't give me none of them, but he said he had some vitamins he was using.

Mr. Hubert.

Did he comment on the fact that some of his competitors like Mr. Abe Weinstein were keeping their nightclubs open while he was closing his?

Mr. Branch.

He didn't mention that.

Mr. Hubert.

You know the Colony Club?

Mr. Branch.

Yes; I know all the clubs. You see, a lot of times he's just carrying on a lot of foolishness anyway.

Mr. Hubert.

He did what?

Mr. Branch.

I said--a lot of times he just talked about foolishness, anyway.

Mr. Hubert.

Like what?

Mr. Branch.

Just about different acts and different musicians he had out to the place---"Slick," and different ones he'd got out of jail and all that and how much I'd done for them, and you know how that is.

Mr. Hubert.

You knew he was a Jew?

Mr. Branch.

Who, Mr. Ruby?

Mr. Hubert.

Yes.

Mr. Branch.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Hubert.

Was he sensitive about being a Jew?

Mr. Branch.

I don't know--you see--he was a good fellow, but the thing was, he was a parlor-type fellow.

Mr. Hubert.

A what?

Mr. Branch.

Temperamental--real temperamental, but he was a good fellow. The only thing, though, he bragged because he was a Jew.

Mr. Hubert.

He bragged because he was a Jew?

Mr. Branch.

A lot of times.

Mr. Hubert.

Could you give us an example of that, please, or several examples?

Mr. Branch.

You see, a long time ago he had a place down here in the bottom called Cavalcade of Blues and he went busted and he said he was going to leave, and he was going to come back and still have the Cavalcade of Blues, and they busted him, and he got broke, and he said, "I'm coming back," and he said, "I'm going to be the only Jew that ever come back and repeat it again"; and he did--he came back.

Mr. Hubert.

And he boasted about it later--you heard him do so?

Mr. Branch.

He done that--he told me two or three times.

Mr. Hubert.

Can you give us some other examples of episodes or things he said which would indicate that he was proud of being of the Jewish faith?

Mr. Branch.

I don't believe I can.

Mr. Hubert.

Did he ever indicate to you the thought that the Jews were getting a bad deal in society?

Mr. Branch.

No; he would be happy nearly every time you see him.