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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1939)
Theatricals Music Features STAGE LUvlES EDNA THOMAS FROM EXECUTIVE ROLE “Once a pancake, always a pan cake,” Laughed Edna Thomas as she sat in her dressing room at tho Lafayette Theatre waiting for the curtain to rise on the WPA Federal Theatre Projects “Androc des and the Lion” in which she ■ plays the role of Lavinia. In the screen play of “Imitation «Jt Life” Ned Sparks referred to Louise Beavers as “once a pan cake, always a pancake” because she refused to give up her pan cake making and live a "life of «&se Miss Thomas says that tlhe phrase easily applies to her own tory of relinquishing, fo rthe pre sent, her duties as assistant di rector of the Negro Theatre to play the part of Lavinia in "Andro des and the Lion.” “After being on the stage twen ty years or more," said Edna Thornes, “acting becomes such a part of you that you can’t easily resist tho call. When I was asked to consider giving up part of my work as assistant to Mr_ Smith ir( order to do Lavinia, I secretly re joiced. Linvinia had always been a fascinating character to me, and »ot having acted for almost three years, I just couldn’t refuse." While playing with Lenore Ul ric in “Lula Belle,” the Theatre Guild asked her to read the part of Bess in “Porgy,” a play deal ing with Negro lafe in Charleston. Quyiously enough, Miss Thomas was quite unfamiliar with Negro dialect. Although born in Virginia, aho was taken to Boston when only r year old, so her background and Recent were Bostonian. However, ahe got the poems of Paul Law rence Dunbar—all written ip Ne gro dialect—and learned them and went back and read the lines of Bess. She was given a contract, j Miss Thomas was elated. Here,' Rt last was a true Negro play—: tho play she had always wanted. J Then suddenly, tragedy intervened. Tho Helwards, authors of “Porgy,” found her * to refined, too white”— they wanted a -“natural.” Miss Thomas was offered the part of Clara in the same play, but she. refused it, for, after announcing to all her friends th atshe was going to play Bess, this was a, real humiliation. I j? no re Ulric saved the situa tion. When she 'heard that Edna Thomas had signed a contract for “Porgy” she was furious. She told her to break it at once in order to travel with her in “Lulu Belle” So, instead of playing Clara, Miss Thomas went on tour with Miss Ulric. Later, however, she did play the part of Clara in “Porgy”— here and in Europe, Miss Thomas’ next Negro play was Hal Jofonson’s “Run LiP chil lun”, in which she played the role of Ella. “After hearing the plot of “Run LiP Chillun” and read ing the l ues she said, “I think it would have broken my heart to havo played Ella. For despite my in Virginia and loved southern Bostonian background, J was born traditions.” Miss . Thomas’s last important Negro, role . was in the Theatre Un’on” “Stevedore.” Three years ago Miss Thomas played Lady Madheth in the WPA Federal Theatre Project’s “Mac beth.” Now, she is portraying a Christian martyr in Shaw’s “An drocles and the Lion.” __ n O a ALACHUA TEACHERS IN ANNUAL MEET Gainesville, Fla, Feb. 9 (ANP)—j The Alachua County T chers As sociation closed its annual meeting here Saturday with the election of1 officers During the ten-day session ! addresses were delivered by Horace F. Zetrouer, county superintendent of education; Dr. J. D. Haygood, professor of education, University of Florida; Miss Charlotte L. Ford, professor of education, Bcthune Cookman college; Miss J. \V. Ro berts, instructor in music, Bethune 'Cookman college; A. L. Holsey of the AAA. Washington, and R. G. Manchester*, city recreation direc tor.. Officers elected were R. T. Smith president; Mrs. Doffney Duval, vice president; Miss Jesse Neal,; secretary; Miss 'Carolyn Porter, as sistant secretary and Mrs C. V. Mills treasurer. Edna Thomas, who won Broadway Stardom in “Stevedore” and who played Lady Macbeh in the WPA Federal Theatre’s play of the same name portrays “Lavinia” in Shaw’s “Androcles and tre Lion," which tho WPA Federal Theatre has re vived at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem with a cast of 100 NegTo actors. LIKES DRAMA Prcr. M. B. Tolson 1 rofessor of English and direct or dramatics and debating at Wiley college, Marshall, Tex., who Iso finds time to be managing editor. of The Oracle, organ of the Omega! Ifit Pni fraternity Prof. Tolson is a graduate of Lincoln (Pa.) and I Columbia, ar.d his writings have appeared in some of the best ma gaz'nes. (Calvin Service). BANS MARIAN ANDERSON I). A R. IGNORES PROTESTS; Washington, D. C. Feb. 8—Des pite the protest of famous per sons in the world of music includ ing stars of the Metropolitan Opera and a strong telegram from the National Association for the Ad .'ancemcnt of Colored People, the Daughters of the American Revo lutic-n voted to uphold its ban a gainst the appearance of Mariar \nderson in a concert which was U have been held at Constitution Ha!' here April 9. The action of the DAR was taker by its board of directors at a meet ' lg hero Thursday. It was followe n the heels of strong protes cro from Lawrence Tibbett and ' r- ten Flagstad, stars of the Met 'politan Opera; Leopold Stokow •ki, former director of the Phil tlelphia Symphony Orchestra; and Walter Damrosch, famous coaipo or and musician, of New York. In a telegram to the DAR, sent January 21, Walter White, secre tary of the NAACP said: “May we respectfully urge re-1 ocation of the ban on other than white artists appearing in Consti tution Hall. Specifically, the re fusal to permit Marian Anderson, distinguished Negro Contralto, to sing there in April has shocked mu sicians, music lovers, and fair minded Americans, from a building named by the Daughters of the American Revolution ‘Constitution Hall’, violates the very spirit and purpose of the immortal document after which the Hall is named. NAACP attorneys are consider ing filing a petition to have the tax exempt ruling on the Hall res cinded. The valuation on the ground is $585,254 and on improve ments, $2,043,000. -0— Henry Ford is one of scores of internationally famous persons ex pected to attend the World Con gress of the Society of Automotive Engineers, at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. ‘Huckleberry Finn* Stars Rex Ingram Mickey Rooney and Rex Ingram In “Huckleberry Finn.” REX INGRAM SENSATION IN "HUCKLEBERRY FINN" HOLLYWOOD, February— A Negro actor today is enjoying the warmest public reception for a mo on picture performance that has been accorded one of his race since Louise Beavers became a sensa tion in ‘‘Imitation of Life." The man ii Rex Ingram, prob the finest Negro actor In Am erica today. The rol.e is that of Jim, the runaway slave in Metro Goldwyn-Mayer’s filmization of Mark Twain’s “Huckeberry Finn” in which Mickey Rooney is starred as Huck Finr. When Producer Joseph L. Man k'ewicz set out to make “Huckle berry Finn”, he and Director Ric hard Thorpe planned to make the high point of the picture the ever present love for freedom in every man. This theme was centered in Jim, the slave whose life was wrapped up in his desire for a free life, and the understanding of free Jom which this great man brought to a river boy. Since the role of Jim was liter lly a co-starring one with that of I-Iuck, as played by young Rooney, . IGM wanted the greatest avail blo Negro dramatic actor. Rex digram was .chosen. Ingram, who iayed “De Lawd1’ on the screen i “Green Pastures” and did sev . al Broadway plays, was appear g in New' York in “Sing Out Che jws” at the time “Huckleberry inn” was being planned. Al:bough not a singer and dan vr, ho was a hit with the “Frank ■l D. Roosevelt Jones” song, dur ;g which he danced. He was Vougfht to Hollywood for the Jim 'do and today, as “Huckleberry ’ inn” is made ready for release a rcund the nation, it is predicted ' a will be a sensation. Already, the picture has been previewed twice and it is a remark able thing that half of all audience reaction cards turned in have prais ed his performance. Such reaction for a Negro actor has never been experienced in Hollywood before. Meanwhile, Ingram has returned to the Broadway stage to wait until Hollywood beckons again with an other fine role. Professional models and actresses were barred in the contest to se lect a Queen of all Nations to rule over the “Streets of the World” concession at the 19C9 World’s Fair of the West —-1-—oOe Every section of California will bo included in an indu trial aeci-. cent prevention protographic sur-j vey to be exhibited at the World’s Fair of the West on Treasuro Is land. • <i ELLINGTON MUSIC FROM NAACF PARTY ON CHS FEBRUARY 11 The time for the broadcast of Cuke Ellington's band on February 11 from the NAACP aniversary dance in Harlem will be 12 nvid n'ght to 12:30 a. m. EST instead ef 11:30 to 12:00 previously an nounced. NATIVES OF CEYLON KNOW ONLY 3 NEGROES; ASK IF RACE IS PAGAN _ Colombo, Ceylon, Feb. 4—By' Martin L. Harvey Jr. for ANP) Ceylon, world famous for its tea, is under British rule, from which many benefets and some ills have been received. The tea plantations which we have visited were very eff ciently operated, although the workers both in the fields and ehe wan.houses whee e the tea leaves weeo cured received pitifully small wages .judged by any standard. The idea of organizing labor unions has mado little progresi because of the oversupply of workers, and the sense of individualism among the poorer classes. Wo are amused to note the we ird ideaH hold by many of the peo ple, including the educated classes, •sbouu American Negroes. Almost . every. pers< n with wham we talked knew about three American Ne groes: Joe Louis,. Father Divine and Bill Robinson. Some of -the Christian people asked me if it way true that all Negroes in A m rica were becoming pagans, and when I inquired as to the reason for the question the -eply almost invariably was, “Well, we heard that they had stopped following esus Christ and were following a new Lord.” Bill .Robnson wan known because of the Shrley Tem plo pictures which were very pop ular, and a group of high school students to whom I -spoke were amazed when I could not comply with their request to give an exhi bition of tap-dancing. We met with several youth lea gue. composed of college students, which were organized for political purposes. The burning question was the achievement of dominion status. -Intense nationalism was expressed by many of these stu dents, and I was told that a young man who had received his higher education in England was defeated for a seat in the political assem bly because he wore western cloth ing. It would appear that this turn ing away from western customs and the rise of nationalism was partly a result of the influence of the Ghan ii movement in India. I LI. ROBINSON HEADS LL-STAR CAST AT NAAC'I* JIRTHDAY R\LL New York, Feb. 8—Bill Robinson Vmerica’s Number 1 tan dancing tar has added his name to the rowing list of stage, night club nd rad o stars who will appear . tthe 369th Armory here February 1 at thg Duke Ellington dance in mnor of the thirtieth annivarsary f the National Association for he Advancement of Colored Peo ple, officials of the Association announced here today. Other famous stars in the world of stage and musical entertain ment who are expected to appear include: Willie Bryant who will be master of ceremonies along with Duke Ellington, Teddy Wilson, of the Benny Goodman aggregaton Fredi Washington, Mildred Baile^. Ivy Anderson. Victor Moore, Al berta Hunter, Henrietta Lovelace, Mercedes Gilbert, tihe Radio Rouges Milly Banks, I»uis Armstrong, W. 0. Handy, Cab Calloway, Rosita Tharpe ,and many others. Duke Ellington and his famous 'rehestra, who are donating their •ervicer. for the affair, will play hrougV.out the dance, which is ex ctcd to attiact more than 6,000 -rscns to mak? the dance one of ■ largest affairs of its kind ever held in Harlem. Mor. ;h-<n fifty c’vic. Dolit '’''1 ■*-bji un liberal organizations have akcr boxes for the dance, which is expected to draw an audience from sections of New Yoik State and northern New Jersey officials announced that only ten boxes of the 62 on the f'rst and s«cond tier surrounding tbs armory are left. The entire third tier wild remain open to the public without charge. Tho Columbus Broadcasting sys tern, will send the music of Duke Ellington over its network for haP an hour on that n'ght, in order that NAACP branches ehroughout the country, who are giving similar dunces, may tune in. The program will be heard over the CBS national hookup from 12 to 12:30 instead of 11:30 to 12 as previously announced. Key cities in many states out side New York, where the NAAOP has branches wilJ also hold dances on the same night. The states heard from to date include: Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kansas. I»ui siana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Penn sylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Special dances will also be held in sections of upper New York State, and North ern New Jersey. — —0O0-■— NATIONAL NEGRO BUSINESS LEAGUE CHOOSES OKLAHOMA CITY; ADVANCES PLAN FOR NEGRO BUSINESS TRADE JOURNAL Atlanta, Feb. 3 (ANP)—< The .939 session of the National Negro 'usinobs League will be held in klahoma City, Okla., Aug. 29, 3U nd 81. The strong Oklahoma City lusincss League which, under the leadership of President George R ’agland, Secretary M. K. Rowar nd Chairman of the Executive Committee Roscoe DtJnjee, ha jeen waging a battle for more than . year to bring the business men >f the country to the oil capital of he world, suceeded in winning the Peering committee of the league jver to their of thinking at its meeting held here Saturday night. Atlantic ‘City and Hampton In I stituto were the two contest'nr ;roups, Hampton pointing to the fact that business league are be ing developed in many of the citic. of that state and a state-wide or ganization has been formed. Atlan tic City dazzled the entertainment feature for the famous resort be fore league officials as well as 'ts proximity to New York’s World iaae. Anita is running full flas. fair. Tho growing interest in the ’eague, which W being shown by business men all over the country hos-o days, the widely varied busi nesses of Oklahoma City as well as the wide Hung programs for study of progressive business met hods and unusuals entertainment won the day for the persistent Oklahomans JESSIE COVINGTON DENT $ JESSIE COVINGTON DENT of Nerw Orleans, nationally known concert artist, is being presented in three p ano recitals in Texas thi.s week. Mrs. Dent, whose playing has been described as “a thing of delight ” has been notably success ful on the concert stage and has appeared as pianist in practically all of the major schools and col leges of the South. Mrs. Dent will be presented un NEG ARGUMENT ORDERED IN j I TEACHER SALARY CASE Baltimore, Mr., Feb. G Judge W. Calvin Chesnut, in the federal dis-, trict court here, has ordered addi tional argument on February 11 ini the suit to enjoin the distribution of the stat? educational funds on1 Maryland for Teachers’ salaries The suit was brought by Walter j Mills, a colored principal of Anne Arundel county, representing Ne gro teachers and principals of the state. Attorneys of the NAACP arc acting for Mr. Mills. If the injunction is granted it will hold der the auspice.- of the NAA7P of Houston on Feb. 8; by the Delta 8igma Thvta sorority, of whicth she is a -member ,at Fort Worth on Feb. 10 and by Tillotson college at Austin on February 13. Later in the month, Mi-s. Dent will give a series of recitals in some of the colleges in Alabama. Georgia and The Carolinas. In April she will play a recital at Dillard university us the closing feature of the uni_ versity’s lyceum series. (ANP) up all salaries in the state for white and colored teachers. Mills and his lawyers contend that the distribution is unconstitutional cjxu.se it discriminates against cx"1 ored teachers through p. state sti tutc. First argument on the injunction was held January 14. Thurgood Marshall, Charles H. Houston and Leon A. Ransom of the NAACP le gal staff appeared for Mills. A typical Norweigan garden will surround the NWweigian sports cabin, housing its display at the 1939 California World’s Fair. IRcnbesvous grille (formerly the Apex Bar) A COMPLETE ASSORTMENT OF LIQUORS—BEERS AND WINfc SPACIOUS DANCE FLOOR — NEWLY DECORATED .* 1818N.24THST, JA. 9331 20 Discount on Laundry & Dry Cleaning Cash and Carry Edholm and Sherman Launderers & Dry Cleaners VVE 6055 HERE'S PRC OF! Mrs. J. M. H. writes. • I e’ yved about six weeks and ;>ii r taking 2S out of first box. 1* rte*d without pain or inco* en.encs. M-s. C. 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