San Francisco County
Biographies
ART (ARTHUR)
WEIDNER
Art Weidner, whose name is a familiar one over the entire Pacific coast, has gained popular acclaim in the world of music as a director, leader, organizer and composer. San Francisco is proud to number him among her native sons, for he was here born on the 13th of June, 1898, his parents being Charles and Marguerita (Horstmann) Weidner. His early education, acquired in San Francisco schools, was supplemented by a course of study at Cogswell College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1918. He had early manifested marked musical talent, and after putting aside his textbooks filled a six months’ engagement with an orchestra at “Globins” in Sacramento, California. Returning to San Francisco, he acted as manager for Art Hickman and his orchestra until eventually he organized his own orchestra. During the five-year period between 1921 and 1926, Art Weidener and the members of his band were known to the music-loving public as the Fairmont Hotel Dance Orchestra. Subsequently he filled engagements at the St. Francis Hotel and the Hotel Whitcomb in this city. The San Francisco radio station KFRC selected his band for broadcasting dance music. While the popular young orchestra leader was at the Hotel Whitcomb, his music was always heard over radio station KYA, San Francisco, and during his engagement at the Fairmont Hotel, it was broadcast over station KPO, San Francisco. Art Weidner and his orchestra are much in demand at social events in and around San Francisco, and the talented director is also known over the entire Pacific coast, his music being broadcast over the various radio stations.
In 1926, Mr. Weidner married Millicent Bradley, of San Francisco. He is a Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine and also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Native Sons of the Golden West and other organizations.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 3 Pages 449-450.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S SAN
FRANCISCO BIOGRAPIES