Victor Arden

Victor Arden was the stage name of American pianist Lewis John Fuiks (8 March 1893 – 31 July 1962)^[1] who was best known as the piano duo partner of and co-orchestra leader with Phil Ohman from 1922 to 1932.^[2] He was the pianist in the All-Star Trio, who made several hits for Victor Records between 1919 and 1921.^[3]

Victor Arden
Victor Arden and Phil Ohman
Born	Lewis John Fuiks (1893-03-08)March 8, 1893 Wenonah, Illinois, U.S.
Died	July 31, 1962(1962-07-31) (aged 69) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Pianist

Early years

Arden was born March 8, 1893, in Wenona, Illinois.^[1]

Radio

In 1935, Arden was described in a newspaper article as "well-known to music lovers and radio listeners."^[4] At the time, Arden's orchestra was featured on Musical Moments, which was carried on over 300 stations weekly.^[4] Arden and his orchestra also provided the music for Mr. Chameleon, a detective fiction radio drama that ran on CBS Radio from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. ^[5]

Recording

Before 1920, Arden was making piano rolls to be reproduced on player pianos manufactured by the American Piano Company.^[6] He also cut numerous rolls for QRS.

Death

Arden died July 31, 1962, in New York City.^[1]

Selected compositions

1909

• Safety Pin Catch

1918

• Just Blue, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)

1919

• In My Dreams
• Lucille, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)
• Marilynn, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929)
• Honeymoon Waltz, words by Ray Sherwood (born 1895), music by Victor Arden

1920

• Hy n' Dry
• Rose of the Orient, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & George Hamilton Green
• Dolly, I Love You, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & Dick Long
• Molly, also by Frank Wheeler Wadsworth (1889–1929) & Dick Long
• Who Wants a Baby?, also by George Hamilton Green
• Dottie Dimples, also by George Hamilton Green
• In Blossom Time, also by Louis Weslyn (pseudonym for Weslyn Jones) (1884–1937)

1921

• 'Round the Town
• Hand Painted Doll, also by George Hamilton Green
• Lonesome Land, also by George Hamilton Green

1922

• After A While (You're Goin' to Feel Blue), also by George Hamilton Green & Walter Hirsch (1891–1967)
• My Sweet Gal, also by George Hamilton Green
• I'm Happy: Fox Trot, also by George Hamilton Green

1930

• Dancing the Devil Away

1941

• Hearts in Harmony
• We'd Rather Die Upon Our Feet Than Live Upon Our Knees, words by Henry A. Murphy, melody by Joseph Russel Robinson (1892–1963) & Victor Arden
• Unity, words by Henry A. Murphy, melody by Joseph Russel Robinson (1892–1963) & Victor Arden
• Let's Incorporate, also by Lawrence M. Klee (died 1957)

Education

Arden was a graduate of the University of Chicago and studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.

Family

Arden was married twice. He first married Ilse Alma Spindler (born April 1894) – a 1916 graduate of the University of Chicago – in Chicago, on May 2, 1917.^[7] The couple had two sons: Robert Spindler Fuiks (1921–2009)^[8] and Lewis John Fuiks Jr. (1919–2004). Arden remarried in the 1950s to Frances Newsom, a classical soprano.