Fats Waller and His Orchestra at Proctor’s Theatre — April 1, 1937

By 1937, Fats Waller was one of the most prolific recording artists in jazz, cutting dozens of sides for Victor Records with his trademark comedic asides and virtuoso stride piano. His fame was built on standards like “Ain’t Misbehavin'” and “Honeysuckle Rose,” and a grand vaudeville palace like Proctor’s in Schenectady was exactly the kind of room where Waller’s orchestra thrived — delivering the high-energy swing-and-comedy revue that made him one of the era’s biggest draws.