Dallas: Ella Mae Morse at the Adolphus Hotel Audition

In December 1938, thirteen-year-old Ella Mae Morse and her mother walked into the Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas to audition for Jimmy Dorsey’s jazz band. The band’s regular singer had quit after an argument with the bandleader, and Dorsey needed a replacement. Morse claimed to be nineteen years old, and her mother went along with the story. Dorsey heard her sing and hired her on the spot. Furthermore, Ella Mae soon found herself performing with one of the most famous bands in America. Consequently, this single audition at the Adolphus Hotel launched the professional music career of one of the most distinctive voices of the twentieth century.

The Adolphus Hotel opened on October 5, 1912, built by Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch in a Beaux Arts style. Moreover, it was for many years the tallest building in Texas. The hotel quickly became the social and cultural center of Dallas, hosting celebrities, dignitaries, and touring entertainment acts. In addition, its grand ballroom provided an elegant setting for big band performances during the swing era. As a result, when Jimmy Dorsey’s orchestra played the Adolphus, it drew the best musicians and the most enthusiastic audiences in the city.

The Adolphus Hotel: Where Dallas Made a Star

The Dorsey audition was not without difficulties. After Morse joined the band and traveled to New York, Dorsey discovered she was underage. Nevertheless, her brief stint with the Dorsey band gave her crucial experience and exposure. Furthermore, she sang at the New Yorker Hotel in front of audiences that included Frank Sinatra and bandleader Harry James. Indeed, even at thirteen, Ella Mae Morse was performing at the highest level of American popular music.

Today, the Adolphus Hotel remains one of the most beloved landmarks in downtown Dallas at 1321 Commerce Street. Additionally, the hotel has been fully restored and continues to welcome guests in its historic building. Moreover, the Beaux Arts exterior and ornate interiors reflect the grandeur that first welcomed a teenage girl from Tarrant County on a winter day in 1938. Visitors can stand in the same lobby where Ella Mae Morse convinced Jimmy Dorsey to hire her — and changed the course of American music.