The first (1) appearance of this band that I have found comes in February 1933 when “The Eight Rhythm Ramblers”  provided the music for a Valentine dance at the El Nido Nite Club (San Francisco Spokesman 2 February 2 1933 p. 2).  They had apparently been appearing there for the whole of 1933 and signed a new contract in April 1934 (San Francisco Spokesman 13 April 1934).  The same paper reported on 9 February 1933 that ‘First and second place winners of the recent band contest held at Persian Gardens may hook up again.  The Chocolates won out by a  scant 5 points over the Rhythm Ramblers, but all did not agree with the judges.  Three spots have been chosen for the affair - Sweet’s New Ballroom, Hotel Leamington and the Paradise Ballroom.’  Various one-night stands are also recorded in the early months of 1933 and on May 8 the combined Hot Chocolates and Rhythm Ramblers performed for the Theatrical Ball at the Persian Gardens.  The Spokesman of May 4 lists the combined personnel - Winslow Allen, Thornwall Kyser, trumpet; George Hurd, Elmer Clyborne, Walter Taylor, sax; Lloyd “Country” Allen, trombone; Eddie Liggins, John Dean, pianos; Alfred Levy, banjo; Alex Turner, violin; Julius Harris, bass; Buster Wysinger, drums; Ben Watkins, trumpet and conductor.  Note the presence of Ben Watkins - he seems to have become the leader of the band for most of the rest of 1933.  The Spokesman of 15 June 1933 reported on ‘the snappy music of the Rhythm Ramblers’ at the Elks Home. ‘You should have heard their “Stormy Weather.’  The boys, Ben Watkins, trumpet; Alex Turner, banjo, Walter Taylor, sax, Ralph Thomas, tuba; Johnny Dean, piano, Vivian Eason, drums are going places.’  Towards the end of June Ben Watkins and His Red Hot Rhythm Ramblers began a residency at the Pom Pom Club in Oakland which lasted until early August.  In the San Francisco Spokesman of 13 July 1933 it is  said that ‘“Gartee” handles the vocal style a la Louis Armstrong” and that of 27 July said that the band features ‘such numbers as  Ethel Waters’ “Stormy Weather,” “42nd Street,” “Stay on the Right Side Sister,” and other late numbers.’  But Watkins seems to have severed his connection with the band soon after - he is not mentioned in an ad for the band on 24 August (San Francisco Spokesman) and on 30 November 1933  he is described as ‘former leading light of the Rhythm Ramblers.’  The band continued without him and on 4 January 1934 the Spokesman lists the personnel as ‘Alex Turner, banjo and  leader; Walter Taylor and Sax Sexias, sax; Elliott Worth, trumpet; Johnny Deane, piano; Vivian Eason, drums.’  An ad in the Spokesman of 8 February 1934 refers to ‘Sax Sexias Rhythm Ramblers.’  The Spokesman of 22 February 1934 reported that at a show at the Palais Royal ‘that songbird Percy Bost from Topsy’s Roost, handling the vocal end in neat style.  His “I Love You truly: topped some good numbers.’  The last certain mention I have found is of their being ‘on the stand for the Mizpah Temple’s yearly Fashion Show and Dance’ (Spokesman 5 April 1934).  In October the State Theatre in Red Bluff put on a vaudeville show ‘when the Rhythm Ramblers, comprising eight colored entertainers, present a variety show consisting of tap dances, blues singers and comedy. . . . The Rhythm Ramblers have been playing in and around San Francisco for the past several months but this is the first time they have invaded the northern section of the state’ (Red Bluff Daily News 26 October 1934).  It is hard to know if this is the same band as discussed earlier but clearly the Rhythm Ramblers did not survive beyond the end of 1934.