The National Orchestra Service, Inc. (NOS), was the most important booking and management agency for territory bands across the Great Plains and other regions from the early 1930s through 1960. NOS managed black, white and integrated orchestras and was headquartered in Omaha.

About

National Orchestra Service specialized in booking ballroom dance orchestras known as territory bands. The company's reputation as the premier booking agent in that genre helped them dominate their industry for almost 20 years. Bands that NOS represented were typically smaller than the Glenn Miller-type orchestras, usually featuring about 12 pieces, sometimes 15; though ensemble sizes tended to wax and wane with the economy. NOS handled bookings in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and military bases.

History

February 1930 — National Orchestra Service was founded in Omaha. Serl Frank Hutton was its founder and sole proprietor until 1952, when Lee Williams joined as a partner. By way of merger with Music Management Service in January 1954, Royce Stoenner and David Wenrich, who formed Music Management Service, joined NOS as salaried employees. In September 1959, Royce Stoenner left the NOS agency to join as a 50% partner with the Dave Brumitt Agency, a territory band booking agency in Atlanta. In 1939, the NOS headquarters at located at 709 World-Herald Building, Omaha, NE. Later, NOS moved to the eleventh floor — the top floor — of the Omaha National Bank Building in Downtown Omaha. The top floor was actually the sixteenth and the address was 1611 City National Bank Bldg. In August 1943, Lee Williams was the only band working for National Orchestra Service due to war rationing (gasoline, tires, and the like) and shortage of musicians (the draft). In February 1960, National Orchestra Service, Inc., folded.

Sleeper buses & trailers

Many territory bands from NOS traveled in sleeper trailers connected to tractor-trailer trucks. The most popular sleeper was manufactured by Wilson Trailer Company in Sioux City, IA. They were purchased, owned, and maintained by the orchestras. Lawrence Welk is thought to have been the first to design and use a sleeper.

Bands under management