Ace in The Hole

James Dempsey (1876–1918); George Mitchell (dates unknown)

Again, even the Rounder fan librarian at the Performing Arts Library of Lincoln Center drew a blank on these guys. All I could find out about Dempsey, aside from the years of his birth and death, is that shortly before he died, he co-wrote, “Germany, You’ll Soon Be No Man’s Land” and “If I Had a Son for Each Star in Old Glory (Uncle Sam, I’d Give Them All to You).” 

I first heard “Ace in The Hole” in 1955, in Washington state, on the occasion of our one and only (on my mother’s side) family reunion. When I was about to take a walk to go to the soda fountain, my aunt and uncle warned me about a “bad girl” who hung out there. Sure enough, there she was, wearing a tight sweater that emphasized her large breasts.  Tight sweaters and large breasts signified loose morals back then, whether or not girls with those characteristics were actually “bad.” Anyway, being 16, I had naturally sought her out. She told me about her favorite song on the jukebox and asked me to play it, which I did. The song was “Ace in The Hole”, which I had never heard before. It wasn’t the Cole Porter or Johnny Mercer “Ace In The Hole” but the one that I’ve listed here. 

I was too shy to ask her for a date.