October 25

On the 25th in 1938, Francis J. L. Beckman, Archbishop of Dubuque, denounced Swing music as “a degenerated musical system turned loose to gnaw away at the moral fiber of young people.” In addition, the good Archbishop stated with authority that Swing “leads down a primrose path to hell.” Fortunately, for the rest of the listening public, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald chose to throw caution to the wind and ignore such dire warnings.

Beckman used Diocesan funds to invest in gold. The Archdiocese lost more than $500,000, Beckman was fired, Henry Rohlman was installed as Archbishop and Beckman was sent into retirement as soon as his scheme fell apart.