Frank Britton Wenzel

Frank Britton Wenzel (born Frank Louis Wenzel; July 8, 1892 - April 27, 1992), aka Frank Britton, was an American vaudeville performer and local elected official.
Born in New York City on July 8, 1892, Wenzel formed a double act (trombone and cornet) in 1917 with Milt Britton. Originators of the "slapstick" orchestra, Britton's Orchestra became known in Europe and the United States as "America's Craziest Orchestra" and "The Mad Musical Maniacs". The band's routine was to begin playing a selection in the normal way, then about halfway through the song, a musician would stumble and knock an instrument out of another's hand, thereby starting a melee of comedy. Their band played some Broadway shows, made tours of South America and the US, and made appearances in shorts and feature films. They are seen causing mayhem during the title song in Moonlight and Pretzels (1933).
During his heyday in vaudville, he opened the original Brown Derby restaurant in Malverne, New York, a suburban village in Nassau County on Long Island. This establishment became a popular hang-out of vaudevillians such and Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson, big band leader Ralph Flanagan and others.
Later years, death and legacy
He was elected mayor of Malverne in 1951. During his four year as mayor, he oversaw the construction of the Malverne Public Library and institution of the Malverne Little League. He served as commander of American Legion Post 44 in Malverne. He died at his home in Malverne at the age of 99 on April 27, 1992.

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