This M1892 Bugle was made by the Getzen Company.
The Getzen Company is an American family-owned manufacturer of high-quality brass instruments based in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Founded in 1939 by Anthony James (T.J.) Getzen, it has evolved through four generations of the Getzen family, overcoming major factory fires and a period of non-family ownership.
The Getzen Deluxe model was a higher-quality instrument.
An example of the bugle was sold at an estate auction in 2024. The estate was of Jerry Herman, the Broadway Composer who wrote Hello Dolly, La Cage aux Folles and Mame. The bugle was used in the original stage production of Mame starring Angela Lansbury. The bugle sold for $12,800 (it was estimated $800- $1,200) according to the Doyle Auction website.
In Mame, the bugle is an important symbol of Mame Dennis’s personality. It shows that she is lively, bold, and different from other people. When Mame uses the bugle, especially in “It’s Today,” it reminds the audience that she believes in enjoying life and living in the moment. The bugle also connects to the way she raises Patrick, her nephew. Instead of being strict and traditional, Mame teaches him to be adventurous and open to new experiences. This makes the bugle a symbol of her unusual but caring influence on him. It also stands against the serious and conservative world of the Knickerbocker Bank. Later in the story, the bugle can also remind the audience of the fun and freedom Mame and Patrick shared together. Overall, the bugle represents Mame’s free spirit, her love of life, and the special way she cares for Patrick.
If anyone knows the person who purchased the bugle, I’d love to see it.
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