Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 September 1928 — Page 3

Page PDF (2.69 MB)

Back to issue view

/s' The Indianapolis Recorder, Saturday, Sept. 29,1928

. MHpim ; Xy C^' <3

ijijijiliiiiiliiiiijljliiji^^

% Theatrical and Amusement ^

Page

iiiiiiiiiiitiiiinniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiH

■ O U R

I ) /\ (—N I /Ai A

BY HARRY W. JACKSON

lllllllllllIttlflllllllllllllllllllllllllllHlIllllllllllllllHIHH lllllllllllllllHIllllllllllllllllllllimillllllllllllllHIIIHmillllHHIlHllllllllllllllllHIII

STAGE EMPLOYMENT FOR NEGRO PLAYERS IS ON THE INCREASE

By TIM E. OWSLEY

While writing this I am waiting

for Edward Joyner, the man who hauls our theatrical baggage. No doubt before I have finished he will have sent one of his trucks to get all my street and stage wardrobe, which consists of one small trunk. I go out Into the world again, following as usual, my line of business. 1 am a salesman. I sell laughs and smiles, and sometimes a giggle or so. in my work for human happiness I oftimes find my task master hard, because my task master is the general public. Sometimes I fail, and sometimes

succeed. When 1 fail, l try again, I know there must be some

With the new season barely under way, stage employment for Negro players in New York is already large. Vaudeville has given more attention than usual to colored turns this season and seems inclined to play “production”

turns.

Burlesque is off colored shows and the Mutual is opposed to playing mixed shows. The new Majestic theatrical circuit, now booking the T. O. B. A. houses and other Negro theatres has lined up a lot of new shows in addition to some stand-bys of other

years.

New York itself is using many colored thespians. “Goin’ Home,” at the Hudson for its fifth week, employs 14 Negroes on the stage as well as the colored mir-i-cal outfit, Lightfbot’s Sextette, which plays between acts. ’

outside New York but headed for Broadway, has 25 colored failures or else there win be no sueplayers, including 12 chorines. The show also has Sonny jcesses. Mistakes are many m an of

Thomas’ band.

* “Americana,” a new edition under way, has 10 Ne-

' jpHMHk '

In the new McIntyre and Heath show there will be a mixed cast, with a dozen or more colored people. “Black Belt,” the new A1 Lewis all-colored show, will give work to quite a number of the race, while two other productions, “Burnt Toast” and “Poor Nigger!” will en-

gage Negroes for mixed casts.

“Porgy,” now in its second engagement at the Republic, but taking to the road soon, has 30 Negroes. “Show Boat,” in addition to its white principals, em-

ploys 45 colored people.

Lew Leslie’s “Blackbirds” has an all-colored array of 60 people. It is at the Liberty, in its 20th week.

PROTEST Is MADE

Underworld Films Have Opposition — Increase In Crime

J.OS ANGELES. Sept. 27.—Members of the Association of Motion Picture producers, which is the coast branch of the Hays organization In New York, have been requested by the latter to protest against any more underworld pic-

tures.

Protests have l>een coming to the Hays organization from police departments, civic organizations. Federation of Women's clubs and reform organizations protesting against the showing of these pie hires, claiming that, many of them show new methods that can lie employed in committing crime, that

hires have actually been used in slayings, holdups and other feloni-

ous endeavors.

The Producers’ associations are said to have in their flies a record of crimes in various parts of the country, statistically compiled. These records, it is said, show an^ increase of crime in the past eight * or nine months over any period within the last three years. A few underworld stories are now in production, but it is said after this crop is completed that no morei are to lie made for the present 0O0 SMITH PRESIDES

our lives. We make them daily, and for that reason they put rubbers on lead pencils and make ink erasers in order that we may rub out and begin over in our material work. In our spiritual life we have prayer to erase our sins. If all men were “MEN,” our work in ‘this world would be a bit easier. But so few of us seem to understand what it takes tQ make a “MAN." 1 read where one writer says “A MAN is CLEAN INSIDE and OUT; A MAN neither looks up to the RICH or down to the POOR; A MAN can LOSE without SQUEALING, and WIN without BRAGGING; A MAN is considerate with WOMEN, CHILDREN, a n d OLD PEOPLE; A MAN is too brave to LIE, TOO generous to CHEAT and TAKES HIS SHARE OF THE WORLD AND LETS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THEIRS.” As I write this I am wandering where and how many MEN can we find in the tvorld today. But why sshould I be wondering at all? My business is to sell Laughs and Smiles even - though my reward for the same sometimes i s tears. And as I think of tears, my

EDGAR MARTIN IN “THAT’S IT,” AT THE WALKER BEAUTIFUL

JNO. HENDERSON o-

“That’s It” holds the week at the Walker Beautiful this week. It is a musical comedy with plenty of singing and dancing. The chorus is snappy, in tilaces it is a bit too wiggly. * Edgar Martin is as funny ns ever. Martin is witty and knows what to say ami how to say it to get a hand. Martin has been conr ing to Indianapolis, for a liiunber of years. That indolent walk of his is amusing in itself. Elizabeth Smith, known as "The Ukulele Tom Hoy” is very striking in her boyish gold fibre and velvet costume. She plays a small guitar and sings quaint songs

that bring her back repeatedly. She is one of the outstanding characier of the whole production. . Others in the cast are:—t’nmpliell and Farrow. Albert Jackson. Myrtle Uussell, Slick Chester. Mary Oixon and Hazel Van Vierali. -oOo-

Listed As StaJ 1 I n “Brownskin Models”

t? MISS S4U0F

Indiana

Naughty But Nice” with Colleen Moore will be screened at the Indiana theatre Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Colleen has received much favorable comment on her lole by critics throughout the country. .

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— A new $200,000 theatre is now in process of erection here at the corner of Monroe and Lawrence St., which i- s being financed by white capital an d which will he managed by J. Albert English, veteran showman ami for 14 years manager of the present Pekin house at the same location. Efforts are being made to complete the new playhouse by Christmas. The new house will seat 15000 patrons and will contain seven new stores, and a warehouse. Four of the stores ami the entrance of the theatre will face Lawrence St. side occupying 102 feet of space on that St. ami extending 200 feet back fronting Monroe St., will be three stores and a warehouse, 90 feet across making the entire building in the shape of an L. Both fronts will be of Spanish design. The theatre will have a large stage with hot and cold shower bath in each dressing room. The second floor of the building will be devoted to a large convention room capable of accommodating 500 people. The

inspiration about them, I give to you theatre will be one of the most modin verse: | ern Negro playhouses in the entire

$200,000 Fireproof Race Theatre Being Erected In Montgomery, Alabama

-oqo-

During the absence of Charles Erwin, manager of the Walker Beautiful, who made a trip in the East, Everett R. Smith assistant manager, conducted things around (he place like an old veteran. Iir cidently it can he said that Smith

is a very agreeable and pleasant

methods used in some of these pic*! young man.

“TEARS" A tear dimmed eye bespeaks for the heart its feeling. When Sorrow, Joy or Sin to the heart is appealing. Sorrow oftimes to us brings tears, And they dampen the cheeks for

years.

Joy tears are sweet and when we

weap,

They lend to us a feeling we long to

weep,

Sm tears so briny are they, Fast as they fall we wipe them away And try to forget With vain regret The cause of our fear. While the heart gives vent to its feeling'with a tear. , TIM. —oOo WHITMAN SISTERS

r?'

“Hollow Dixit*" will pht.V the Standard at Philadelphia, flu* week 'of Octoiier Kth. The week of Oct.

Southland. Mr. English feels the erection of this theatre is the crowning achievement of not only his theatrical career which started in 1898 when lie joined Mahara Minstrels, but also of his long residence and management of one theatre in the south. When he married Miss Mayme Lee Streety of this city on May 6th, 1913, and decided to quit the road and settle here he found theatrical conditions in a very bad way. He did not get cold feet and give up, however, he dug right in and won the confidence of the leading men of the town among white and colored and soon his theatre was a success. He brought in the best entertainment for his patii ns he could get and that entertainment was far above what the patrons wenaccustomed to. So one night he announced from the stage that the support he had received from his patrons had inspired him to try to do something better for them. He said he would try to get for them a real theatre. One that would not only he a credit to them but to the city of

and although it lias taken a number of years to make good a promise and although he has had to face stifT opposition from some of his fellow townsmen. Even after the financial side had been settled. English, the former world’s greatest hoop roller, fought right through. Even in the courts here, there were formal protests mad« against his plans on the grounds that the BIT was too good for NEGROES, but of course ENGLISH WON OUT. Mr. ENGLISH was fortunate in the type of men he interested in his plans. They thoroughly believe in hint botli in his ability and his integrity and since they are very wealthy, financial worries are not among his drawbacks. Peeved because of the opposition to the plans, one of the capitalists exclaimed in court, "Gentlemen, the race house will be built if it costs a million dollars.” Members of the theatrical profession everywhere will take pride in Mr. English's achievemeit for the race needs more amusement and recreational facilities any where—they need it in the Southland. This achievement also speaks well for the older generation of actors, many of whom went into Decline in their latter years and left nothing to their credit but their names when they were at the height of their popularity. But here is one who was born in the north, Minneapolis, Minn., and lived in one southern city, the cradle of the Confederacy; With all its handicaps he stuck to an ideal until he saw it through. He and Mrs. English are erecting a beautiful new residence and now live at 26 Hutchinson St. Mr. English, who was once popular in New York, back in the days of Ernesst Hogan, Cole & Johnson, Williams & Walker, says, "I have enough ^ride not t o want to go back to New* York until 1 can be as big a man in business as I wgs when I left.” Chances are he will be in New York sometime after New Years after the completion of the new $200,000 Pekin whk'h he named for the old Pekin in < 'hiea-

NEW YORK, Kuyt. 28.-)(Special To Indianapolis Rocordei ) — - J ohn Henderson, brilliant youn? tenor' mid actor, will again take his place among tin* stars of Irvin C. Mil' ler’s "Brownskin Models" when that troup takes to the road October 1st. on its fourth annual mnr. With new faces, costumes, book and tunes, the musical will again make the rounds of the’ country glorifying th brownski i girl. Expe: ted to he one of the dominant features of the show is Vlaudina Brown, mezzo soprano, wlio was “discovered” by Miller in Clewland only three weeks age as he searched the Midwest in .*■ *ar«-h ot new talent. ^ The coveted role of the leading model falls to Teddy Johnson, bronze young beauty, whose face and form have excited considerable comment. Other principals busily rehearsing their pnits in he pro* (Miction are:—Eva Metcalf, Helen Steward, ingenue; Wells and Wells, man and wife trapoze-nov* Ity act, and Michael Sherrod, tenoi. Searching for dancers, M Miller secured Charlie Kaltus and Willie Brown, rated as “Hot Sieppers.” George Crawford, comedim, will furnish the - fun. while sixteen Miller girls and models pranef in the ensemble. oOoMiller And Slater

MILLER AND SLATER _L__ G L LOS ANGELES, Septeml er 28.Following the sudden and premature closing of “RunnirT Wild"

(colored) September 15. alter two ||

zmi WM

i®ip

m m

■ ■■■■’

■ Si

VMM s -v ■

MM mm ta?

■;l - . /Mi ipj ws&s

'Mi

- slip

■r/' - X X

: 111-' fe

m Mp®:: v JRh •••• '&#■ * -

n 1

mm.

■Syi

^ - ‘-m

ss I

• : &r

Ifll

r;,,;

1111 •

i , s

■aaf

-a /

Hii

weeks at the Mason, claims amounting to $1,760 have been filed with the state labor commission agnins' Miller and Slater, owner® of the

coast rights to the show. Actors and their claims! are:

Brownfield and Greeley. $845; Lottie Gee and Edith Spence*. $743 Marion Gee, $97; Juliet Tureaud $03, and Billie Clark. $17. Las<

three were chorus girls.

Miller and Slater paid $100 or. account immediately after thefil

ing of claims.

“Runniu’ Wild” was boo|ked four weeks at the Mason.

0O0

TO FILM “PORGY’

DeMille To Use Colored Cast In

* ill

s ixm

■sX/

15th, will find the Whitmans at the Montgomery as well. Of course many Lafayette, New York City. did not believe that he could do it

Yours for the Profession, PHIL DORSEY, Press Rep.

llplil ' w

LOS ANGELES. Sept. 27^— Pathe will make a dialojme and sound picture of the Theatre Build play, “Porgy.” This play has an entire colored cast which will also be used for the picture. l 1 The screen rights were first bought by Cecil B. DeMille. When withdrawing from Pathe. Demille turned over the story to thje com pany. Screen treatment of the play will lie made by Benjamin Glaztr, who will also supervise production. Efforts are being made to get Paramount to loan Harry DfArrast to direct. — 0O0 A NEW FIELD

44 Hffiw Leung Pretty Mamma” Sung by BARBECUE BOB “Now toll me pretty mama, how long, how long The day is so lonesome, every night so long.*! Here’s a real love song of the sunny South. Bob puts it over big and his strumming guitar ripples right alAng. The coupling, “My Mistake Blues,’* keeps it up.

Record No. I4350-D, 10-Inch, 75c “How Long Pretty Mama”

!‘My Mistake Blues’*

Negro Opera Is Produced — Voodoo The First

tfP to-

negro taken

Vocals—Barbecue Bob

OTHER POPULAR RECORDS Record No. 14349-D, 10-Inch, 75c **Mosquito Blues’* ^ ••Take It Away from Here** / Vocmle—Josephine Byrd

Record No. 14346-D, 10-Inch, 75c •‘Walk That Broad”—vw/ Chons •*The Keyboard Express**

Fox Troto— Clarence William*’ Jazz King* Ask Your Dealer tor Lateet Race Record Catalog Columbia Phonograph Company, ISIS Broadway, Naw York Oty Columbia ^- Records Acw Wky ~ Ei+ctrleaUy Ztording • The JUeeeds without Serefek _ >

*T T ARD luck it right! He Cndt k’t pretty hard to rule a woman 1 1 these days without having an automobile. In fact, he sings, “I want to be like a certain automobile man I know who makes V|\ JK'JI small cars” (in the song, Ramblin’ Thomas even mentions his name) “I want to have a car and a woman running on every road”. Anyway,, he’s out of luck and he needs a* automobile to hold his family together, and he tells all about it in a funny way with some hot guitar j v playing in Paramount Record No. 12670. Hear it at your dealer’s, or send us the coupon. r 12670—Hard to Rule Woman Blues and No ^ 6, Baby Blues, Ramblin' Thomas and His Guitar. J ia*7l—Tub-Jug Rag and San, Tub Jug . XXteS—’Lactrie Chair Blues and Sac That Washboard Band. My Crave Is Rapt Clean, Blind Lemon XSSes—Prava It On Ma Bluss end Hear Ms Jefferson and His Guitar. Talking Ta Yen, “Ma” Rainey; acc. by lXt6e—Ash Tray Blues and Na Need Of Tub Jug Band. Kneekln* On the Bllnd,“Papa Charlie” Law-Down Mississippi Bottom and Jackson and His Blues Banjo. Tom Cat Bluss, “Mr. Freddie” Spruell; XXSS7—Bumblin’ And Bamblln* Boa ConGuitar acc. stricter Blues and Detroit Bound xMM-Bm. Orciurd bum. . nd wmm »«“••» Blirid “**• • n<1 H1 » Union Bluss, Ida Cox; Piano-Banjo- : iRhgg—Housa Bant Stamp and Big Bill Cornet Acc. Blues, Big Bill and Thompa; Guitar acc. i**3S—Pay Day Daddy Blues and Elsadie’a Policy Blues, Elza die Robinson. St. Louis MttSic Co M St. Louis, Mo. THE ST. LOUIS MUSIC CO. Dept lio St. Louis, Mo. ***-', —^ Send me the records checked (/) below, 75^ each, C. O. D. ( ) 12670 ( ) 12668 (> 12664 ( ) 12660 ( ) 12656 (> 12671 (> 12665 (> 12608 (> 12657 (> 12635 fl Check here if you want 500 needles, 341'. Name. , ^ Address ... ..... Town State. PARAMOUNT— The Popular Record

NEW YORK.—Another st ward establishing a distinct culture in this country was

when the first performance (if Voodoo was offered for a week's en

gursment at the 52nd Street atre. The composer is H. La Freeman, and his work is

by his son. Valdo.

Voodoo is the first Ainjerican opera composed, produced an 1 sung by negroes. Despite heartbreaking handicaps due to obvious produc-

tion limitations, apparently by lack of funds, Voodoo is

encouraging sign that the negro is capable of entering the ojerath field and of contributing valuable

material and talent to it. work/ however, serves more shadow cast before future dt meats rather than the of a perfect production, ils present state it. cannot with the best in opera. Freeman, the composer,

the*

vreiuT < ffered

•ini set* ii most

This

as ? velop-

Copyrighted, 1928. by the National Feature Service.

Miss Theresa Jentry, New York, winner of the final Miss Savoy bathing beauty contest held recently at the beautiful Savoy ballroom of the nation's greatest metropolis. She won on the following three points: Beauty oi face, beauty of form, and grace of carriage, over 27 entrants. is a large chorus, and the orchestra i According to the petition, Mni

of 21 pieces, with the composer as conductor, is good. The alternating cast includesRosetta Jones. Cordelia Paterson, Luther La mount, Blancho^Smith. John H. Eekles, Leo (’. Evans and Harold Bryant. Among those connected with the executive staff are:—-Robt. Eichen* 1 erg. Loon Williams, Esther Thompson, Octavia .Smith, Philip Williams. William Thompson. (trace Abrams and Walter Mat-

tis.

— - , iQu —

Northwestern George Sidney and Patsy Ruth Miller will be seen in "We American" Sunday and Monday. Patron u the Northwestern theatre will see Jliiaii Gish in “The Enemy” Tuesday. oOo— Ethel Waters Goes Into Bankruptcy NEW YORK, Sept. 28.—(KNF S)—Ethel Waters, blues singer whose latest vehicle was "Afrieftna," has filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy in the U. S. Court here, listing $143,812 in liabilities. and only $40 in assets.

W a tors owes $50,000 to her husbam Earl Dancer, who was the nomiaa producer of “Africana,” and ions other amounts to others mi of which were incurred in co; nection with that show.

oOo

Aaron Harrison Tc Conduct Symphoni PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Sept SSv—* Mr. Aaron Harrison submits 1 latest composition, “Spiritual Fi tasia,” to the Symphony club Philadelphia, in reply receive "We shall be pleased-1# have orchestra play your number, further-more we will permit yt to conduct the rehearsal.” !jj is the first time a member of race has been granted such an of

pm (unity.

"Spiritual Fantasia” contains If Negro spirituals so arranged 1 inonically and contrapuntally obtain a classic setting plus modern treatment. One move contains a double canon in doul counterpoint.- Mr. Harrison is director of the Harrison Music studios, instructors, publishers anc

publishers.

realization

for ii. *i t ank is not

I WALKER ▼ T ^ilhe THEATRE BEAUTIFDlig^

completely original In his composition. He has learned on spvera' sharply defined phases in nftiona' music. Negro folk songs ser *e a it basis for much of his score, a? 5 the spirituals, and Tin PanAP y also shows a slight imprint. The result is that the production gives the impression of lading a genuine authenticity and that it depends to much on outside influences to me completely negro. The last act is unquestionably the ’Inest. and here and there are touches ef

inspired creative powers.

The theme is appropriate for this first negro opera. It is based on the mystical and supers! itious "Voodoo,” a sort of curse, plot is complicated, but creditable, tut at

times becomes a trifle lavish*

There are some excellent yoieesj

Outstanding among these is of Doris Trotmau, pure so Carlotta Freeman is another piano of excellence, whose weakness rests in her high

Thomas R. Hall is a fine baritone, and William H. Holland registers as a basso. Others who are satis*

C. B. ERWIN, Mgr.

-~3The THEATRE BEAUTIFUL^-

Asst. Mgr. EVERETT R. SMITH

that

brano.

so-

only

notes.

GOOD PICTURES AND HOW FOUR DAYS, BEGINNING SUN., SEPT. 30— POLA NEGRI In “TTiree Sinners” One Of Paramount’s Greatest Pictures THREE DAYS BEGINNING THURSDAY— “MYSTERIOUS LADY” With GRETA GARBO STAGE ATTRACTION MAJESTIC THEATRICAL CIRCl JT PRESENTS A REAL MUSICAL COMEDY One Week Beginning Oct. 1st— ‘Dixie Sweethearts

BEGINNING SAT., SEPT. 29 and the month of October, Saturday Matinee, Children

factory are:—Thomas R. Haii|, Ray s ted. Two for the price of One, i special Show for Children Admission 15 C<

siiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiitfiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiii

Yates, Valdo Freeman, the ducerMarie Woodby, Northern and Rosetta Jones.

proj

J'oseph There

.ALA,

inauf '>• j