Joe Venuti, the violinist in the video, was probably the most famous prankster in jazz.
One Christmas, he gave Wingy Manone one cuff link as a gift, the next year he gave him the other
Venuti's most famous gag involved bass players. Joe called every bassist in the 802 union directory for a gig that would have a pick-up location in front of the Waldorf. Imagine the mob scene. He had a room in the hotel that faced the corner where dozens of bass players stood scratching their heads
Wilmer