I remember sitting in a Loews movie theater on 207th Street in 1957 or '58 watching a newsreel between pictures about buccaneers and Trojan Horses. The guys sitting next to us were talking Pig Latin. "Ojoay Rownbay eatbay Ohnnyjay Ussobay," said one in reference to a recent lightweight bout. Following the news (princess christens ship, Cleveland pitcher felled by Yankee line drive), Keely Smith and Louis Prima sang "That Old Black Magic,"
which I had never heard before; it may be my faviorite of all the great Arlen and Mercer songs, including "Come Rain or Come Shine." I prefer other covers of "That Old Black Magic," but this one will always have a place in my heart because of the antics of Louis and Keely on stage with Prima's band — and because it introduced me to the song. Here, courtesy of Amy Gerstler, is a picture of Keely (Southern drawl, a naturally melodious and brisk alto) and Prima(Little Italy, hoarsely shouting his head off). Keely is still singing, by the way, and her voice is still as pure as it was fifty years ago.
— DL