The Eton Boys

The Eton Boys, or The Four Eton Boys, were an American all-male musical quartet from the St. Louis, Missouri area, whose members were Earl Smith, tenor; Art Gentry, 2nd tenor; Charles Day, baritone; and Jack Day, bass. In the 1930s they headlined Broadway with their act, frequently appeared in short musical films such as Broadway Brevities and the animated Screen Songs, and often appeared on radio via the Columbia Network.

History
They went to schools in the St. Louis area, and the original two performed first as acrobats in a vaudeville act. Art Gentry, was once the youngest regular radio announcer and he worked for KMOX, and he is the grandfather of television personality Matt Lauer.

The Eton Boys were featured in Screen Songs film series during the 1930s, appearing in short films (including as the musical accompaniment to animated films). They appeared on popular radio shows, and were heard in the Columbia Varieties program. In 1941 they recorded on Victor Records. Castle Films released an album of their soundies.

Their short musical film A Bicycle Built for Two screened at the Moore College of Art and Design in May 2009.

Filmography

 * Frances Shelley and the Four Eton Boys (1929)
 * The Operator's Opera (1933)
 * Use Your Imagination (1933)
 * Sing 'Em Back Alive (1933)
 * Moonlight and Pretzels (1933)
 * I Like Mountain Music (1933) via Screen Songs
 * Down by the Old Mill Stream (1933) via Screen Songs
 * "She Reminds Me of You" (1934) via Screen Songs
 * Mirrors (1934), a short
 * The Gem of the Ocean (1934), a musical short
 * A Great Idea (1935)
 * Rhythm Café (1938)
 * A Bicycle Built for Two (1941)
 * My Gal Sal