History Happy Hour: Upbeat Obsessions: Jeff Krulik and the Merv Conn-ection

Jeff Krulik of Heavy Metal Parking Lot fame also produced a film of the legendary and lovable Merv Conn (1920 – 2011). Merv, whose oom-pah-pah polkas and renditions of Beatles pop tunes enlivened Oktoberfest fetes, Washington Senators baseball games and audiences at the White House, was Washington area’s premier strolling and singing accordion player. He performed at bar mitzvahs and weddings, Christmas parties, official embassy soirees, concerts on cruise ships, ice cream socials and private recitals for presidents Truman, Johnson and Nixon. According to Mr. Conn, the accordion was once so popular, he employed five instructors who taught 300 students a week. So why do we see so little of the accordion these days? “The Beatles killed the accordion,” Mr. Conn told The Washington Post in 1996. “The sound of the accordion wasn’t the sound the young people wanted..?.?. They wanted the sound of the guitar. After that, everything went downhill.” But the legend of Mr. Conn lives on in a pedestrian walkway (Merv Conn Way) named after him in Silver Spring. Featured speaker Jeff Krulik produced the documentary The Legend of Merv Conn, in addition to many other documentaries about pop culture and local characters. His “Krulection” was just donated to the University of Maryland archives. In addition to happy hour snacks and drinks, audience members will also be entertained with tunes played by the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society, Merv’s daughter singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and strolling accordionists! Tickets are $15 for advanced registration and for museum members; $20 at the door. Please note: July 14 is a Thursday, not a Friday! Click here to purchase tickets now. Therrien Waddell The 2016 History Happy Hour series is sponsored by Therrien Waddell.