PAGE Sre
THE CAnOLlNlAN
WEEK ENDING, SATURDAY, Al'RIL 28, 1013
New York
IIII.NE6R0 PERFORMER OF "GWIV'SCOIIES
IN REPUBUCS'FLAME OF BARBARV COAST"
Showfronts
BY DON 0£ I.EIOUBLD
NKW YORK — An uddcci gueer
quirk of tht artistic asjjvcts irf
Jazz and swini; music is the icvcIo|i-
mciit uf jolii artists kin lu virtuusus
who. ill their chosen field, have
moved into position vvheie they Cui)
give concerts or make public ap
pearances with skeleton groups who
act strictly as background only. For
a long lime. Jazz and swing nui.-ic
depended mostly for full expressi>n
and appreciation upon cumbinaiiuns
of from three to as many us tliirty
pieces of instrument.-. That day has
gone and t.Hlay we find the drum
mer who can K’ve his own concert,
and the bass fiddler who can tier-
form in a .solo role as effectively as
the violinist.
Responsibility fur this situation
lies with the inlineranl musicians
— lhc.se who are irked by stiaJy
jobs or who feel -■ voicd up”
when they are rremhers of largo
orchestras Jn no other manner can
a satisfactory cxiilanation bi’ firund
for such superb musicians .-ind
loLsts as C.ilen'an Hawkins, kine of
tenor .saxuphonist.-. Tatum,
modem wizard ..f ihv ja/z key
board: 7,ut(y Singleton, kiiii: o|
swing drummers, and -ilhei- float
ing around contiiaiaMy j lavinu i>c-
casiotuilly in his spot ..ml in that
spot, but ;ihva;.s uut j, ti,ni as
the "Name.’*
I and Sjiecs Powell, the CBS studio
I uichesli'a drum specialist. In this
It.siing. great drtinniu-r.s like Jo
Ji.nes, Sony Greer, or Chri.-. Colum
bus are "baud ' drumrr.er.s and not
necessarily seen in the realm of
^trlct soloists. Ilampt -n belongs
I with Singleton, Catlett and Corr-
Uany. but is rxcludcd because his
! efforts are confined to leading lii
I band and {ilayiiig vibraharp oi
. piano.
Guitarists among the virtuosos
are the great Tiny Grime.s. former-
l.v with Art Tatum's trio; Napoleon
'Snagsi Allen, currently with the
■ H.irlem Highlanders; Cesey. form-
'erly of the Fats Waller band; Leun-
‘ard Ware who has his own outfii;
■and Josh Wi.ite, whose ait is stricl-
I ly of ih-.- folk loie varidy. The great
' Oscar .M"oie is a combinat
'with the King Cole Ti lo
tu' might br n.«
man
TEO YATES PUBLICATIONS
Butterfly McQueen, talented Negro actress, best remembered for her
•xcellent performance as Scarlett’s insipid maid in “Gone With The
Wind,” Is shown with Ann Dvorak and Hank Bel! in a scene from
Republic's 10th Anniversary iiicture. “Flame of Barbary Coast,’'
■ ■ ’ - . jjj jjjgg Dvorak. .,
which co-stars John Wayne and
: he
II.WVKIVS, WFBSrKIt, IJY.XS
Til. S..X'pli.ai..''s include Cole-
n- n Web.'ter.
hllington .-tar; .md Don IJyas. oi, ,
a C-oint liasu- -landby Al.-o m tin
li‘-l Would Uf l.esl'T Young.
Dots And Dashes
the
once
•nth
JAM SESSIONS SPARK DESIRES
Fi/ty-sccoiid Slii-el music, pecul
iar ill itself, is a contributing fa'-
tor. and .so iiave been the nniuiner-
oils jam sessiom which sfi;c lo
kffo afl.-iim- the ie>ii-.- for iiaiMcr.!
thrill;, thill altiacl tli- biu ihi.jwd:.
In 52nd -Streft wluut* joints .,ie lu;
furtlK-r than a door a part md as
plentiful a- kcioal- oi. .■ i.aiicob.
the h'lue fur full exprf-'..oii ani..!.,'
our jazz and swing ■ xp-rts i- cin-
siimatcd. Tlu-re i-; no room for the
ten. fifteen and seventeen piece or
chestra in these JazJt parlors, so the
trio, quartet, and quintets get the*
play, Thus, one name mu-sician is
enough lo start a hiind. And in gain
ing this necesnry "fame" to be a
“name." a musician must have all
the qualties in his work th.it make
people want to hear him and hear
him alone.
Virtuosos in jazz are growing,
and by virtuosos I mean the musi
cians who can walk into any club
or hall and either play .0 solo con
cert or gel the greatest attention
from the audience ihvoughout the
appearance. In my bu.»k. pianists in
this group are. iialuially. Ait Ta-
binatiun. Tatum. Scott. Doiiegan.
and Eddie Heywood. Ji In failing
to mention Duke Ellington Tcildy
Wilson. Count Basic and Farl Hini'S,
r would insist that tiny do rot, by
the fact that they are what may be
called "band'' pianists, fall into, this
class. You hear Ellington. Wilson.
Basie and Hines mostly with large
combinations, or in the case of Wil
son, with closely knit groups of
three, four, five or six. and you
think of them in relation to a coir-
biantion. Ttatuir, Seotl. Donegan,
Heywood, and a r)2nd Street new
comer from Pittsburgli, Krrol G.^
nor, arc maitilv r.'.b.i
.-Xrn-tt C ' witli Lionel
Hiiiut.toii. A1 Si-ar.- n-.w with Duke
Flimgt..n, .md Eugene Sedrlc. wT.o
A..-; a Waller star, are best with
combinations and big band', as i-
I'aul Hascornbe. once wrh Kr-kino
Haw kills
Tiiiiiipe'. plavers in inv bo..k a-^l
w,- aie R.a' F.ldridgc, lur-
renlly with At lie Shaw; Ch.ii lu
‘^ti..\:.. .•nee With J..hii Kirby, Hot
l.ips Paige, now he.iding his own
Ir.i.d, and a new -tat. Di/zv Gille--
pii- C' Tibination or baiiti trun pet-
• r; ate I.ouis Arm-'rom;, Coobe
WiHiairs. niil Coleman. Buck Clay-,
ton ami Red Alien
Tr. nibuiiist.s are difficult to evul-
uate; but t.- mind come such play
ers as Triimmy Young, one time
Jimmie I.unccford stai; Benny Mor-[
Ion. Cafe Society "ride man:" Vicl
Dioken.sTin. now with FaJdic Hey-,
w.i.id, and Jay C Higginbotham i
Lawrence Bro’wn, Duke f'llington's ,
; tandby, and Dickie Wells. Basie's •
mighty slip hc.rn king.
.\llo saxophonists as seen herel
an- Charley Parker. Pete Brown.;
Tab Smith, and Ea:l Bostic, who put •
in a .season with Lionel Hampt'iii '
Not includt-Ai; Johnnv Hodges, 1
KreaiC'it of tin- great, vUh F.llington. I
and Bennv Carter Hodges' best
work ha*, hei-n with Ellingt.’ii eom-
hinatifins As a hader or individual
ist. he hasn't c/ine to the fore,
BY blLl. ( II.AMiLEK
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Most in-
I'.sting sloiy on tin; Coo^l lb about
build piilliiig uut
il.e Trocadviu aftei completing but
Iwu weeks ol then f'nii week cm-
liael Thi> wi le ung.nally sigm d
.I'.ng with King Co'e and im. Ti'io,
I'MiiiiiUe Hogei.-. .md ,\laiie Hi.'-
.ml, .ill ol whom aie eunlinuii:.' in
the I'loe;. tlo..i ,-tiov. W’hat hap
pened wa* ihul the 'lice manage-
riant Ih'-ught the C.ntei eiew would
spiciaiize in weel tun- . and ihiiin-
b.is which Is 'he kiii.i of music.il
faie aCiunit(.m*Hl ji the nitery
thiough jneviou- eri’ageinents ol
Cai'iub Molina's und Xavier Cugal's
groups. Benny didn't s*''* why nv
should change ms styli just for one
job, jiarticularly after just complet
in'; a trimphant nation-sweeping
Ih-atrc tour. So after two weeks
both parties agiccd n.) good was be
ing served by the bund riinaining
on Though the picture is not Uc re
leased for s-'ine lime vet. u newcom
er Robert Alda plays the part id
George Geisiiwiii with "orchids" in
W’.irm : Bros ' ' Khaps.xly in Ulu.-"
Tl.r- I-; toe flilii where Ha/el .Scott
sing.-, in French! Ethel Watti-' open
'd this wtwk ill th-i M.iyaii Theatre
The dial involved WiO.dUi), and
they're planning to sp>nd aiiolher
SL'.'i.110(1 lor len.'Valioii;.. The pur-
iha.se Initds then; into iipcn com
petition with the Hollywood i’allu-
timin. whieh is located ju.sl three
r'otk- aw.iy ..n Sunset Blvd , in at-
(•'.■.■liii,! hig-naine bands other than
lin n own W’htn the w'lir suninioiied
Mich big name Hollywood stars as
Tayloi, Tryon Power. Jim-
Stew.irl and Henry Fonda,
•yoi.e expected and influx ol
li-adiiig men. .N.,w for sum*-
asoii we re get^ng a deluge of fein-
ainoiig whom arc
Rob'.-i
HILDA SIMMS,
STAR OF “ANNA
LUCASTA" KEEPS
PACKING’EM IN
I.c,
;oie-
the all-iol..!
AMONG THE CI-ARINETISTS
Clarinets would brine in Buster
Bailey with John Kirby; Edmond j
Hall, le.ider of Ids own outfH at I
Cafe Society, Uptown, end Barney i
Bigard, former Duke Ellington stal
wart. There are few outside this 1
group who get full expression in j
the bands with which they play. |
String bass players who are vir- j
luoso,'. and able to give concert or |
Mill, jji rforrr.ance.s are .Shim .Slew-'
.'lit. Oscar iVlifoid. Ptte
Lim
•Rlrtiysody in Rhythm " Ben
Carter ..ii'l .Mantiui ’.t.oeland are!
also featured. Pi-'ple .iie woiideiingl
wh. the; in ’ H-t.-l Bi rlii." GCorge 1
Coulouris. playing the j.iil of (Jes-1
tapo CominisM mei Helm. i- leal-]
ly tossed down tliat elevator sh.ift |
by Hi-lnmt Dan’ine Thi' answer*
niiiy he h'Und in the Incl that!
months Jfti r the shuiding of the j
.'cent*, Mr Cmiloiiris still Ino vivid'
m.-na,: ;e "F the experit nee. And,
the ii'ini'iie- ar- im' all inenMl j
. I’.h-'r It J now i.veakd that I
Clu.i I e and Duke Mlinulon
v,ir.' pailMi 111 the |nii',ha--iii'' of
t!',' "I •' 'a 11," V. bieh they'll ■
mine nc
Jiiid.s Paige, soon to b. .see
Human Bondage;" Dolores Moran,
featured opposite Ja.k Benny in
"The Horn Blows at .Midnight;'
Martha Vickers to be seen in the
Bopari-Bae.ill repeat, r. "The Big
Sleep. " ami of cour.se Andrea King
wh.i took over W.iri.er's "Hotel
Berlin." Rochester h.rs been signed
lor a fe.iture spot in the MOM
film, "For Better. For Worse. " And
J‘hn Kirhy. now .ippearmg at the
Club Pl.mtation is P-oking for a
mall- vocalist The Lillie Theatie
CJmId of I-os Angele.s is out with
Us first production, an Eastei play,
"When the Cross Was Malc" Lau
ra Bowman, the veteran Lafayette
actress, is tlieir diicctoi. Belying
the i.fl-told tale that Hollywood
h-ai.ii.- never agree W'itli t-.ich other.
Lena Home .md Ku.ailmd Ru.sscll
have one thing, or should I say, one
p. rson in common, They Loth are
clos;- friends of Hazel Washington.
Hazel, a- you know \ ha- a long
.’Idle bejii Lena's friend and
advisor. Roz, not only is Hazel's
ft lend too, but .she once, backed hei
i'll a leather-looling business. Miss
UiisseU's 111 A Warnoi picture
"Roughly Speaking." is enrn iilly
pi.ivm" lilt nation's lli.alt'e-. and
jii-lly i.eeiviiig well m-civ.d plau-
MflW YORK -- The sensation ol
Vie present New York iliealrical
.season is the stirring, thrill-packed
drama, “Ann Lucasla," now appear
ing on Uruauway with :in all-Negro
cast. And the sensation uf "Annu
Lucasta" is Hilda Sims.
Rave notice.s by dramtic critics
greeted the Harlem production ut
"Anna Luca.sta." So mighty, in fact,
was the chorus of acclaim, that the
play was soon moved to Broadway,
where it Is now playing to packed
houses. The leading character, play
ed by Miss Simnas, is that uf a har
lot whose attempts to reform and
rebuild her life are frustrated by a
selfish, money-hungry family. Mis.-
Simm.-.' dynamic, intensely realistic
portrayal of the part has won her
a permanent place among the out
standing acti esses uf our era.
I’he story of Hilda S'mms’ rise to
fame is .l^c of lifelong ambition and
hard work. Born in MinneapoliR,
she was the elder of nine children.
Din ing grade .school and high scho'il,
.'he appeared a.s Lady .Macbeth, and
hi several modern dramus. After
gradii.itioii. .she did "Kiss the Boys
Bood-bye" with a j-ienii-profe.sslonal
gioup, and later. "You Cati't Tike
M With You '■ At the Ut-iversity of
Minnesota, Miss Smirr.s helped to
pay her tuition by posing a.s a mod
el fur the ait classes and working
as assistant to the educational di-
nctor. After receiving her B. A.
ligrte. she went hast, wrote stories
for bioadcmst, and later joinetl the
Aimilean Negro Art Theatre *n
.New York Miss Simms did not
know it ill the time, but fame w.ts
just aiuuiid the corner When play
ers were east for the Harlem per-
foimance of "Anna Lucaslu,” the
la.'-.ting director gave her the Uad-
ing role withuul even hearing her
lead the part. The rest Is history.
In addition to rare aeting ability,
Hilda Simms is endowed with nut-
..ral biauty. Particularly attractive
is her glamorous hail, which blends
pirfcctly with her captivating i>cr-
lonality. Miss Simms is one of the
many well-known entertainers In
tl.e big "parade of stars " who highly
recommend Snc.w White Hair Beau-
tifer, "[ heartily endorse Snow
While Hair Beaulifier lo all my
frii nds," says Miss Sims.
Snow White is the famous hair
dre.ssing widely used to give hair
that "perfectly groomed" appiNir-
Next Door’
By TED SHEARER
12 TOP PRICED NEGRO
EIIMS PLANNED
FOR 194.S-1'J46
HOLL'YWOOD, Calif. — Thai the
American Negro is at least to be
recognized and given important
consideration ui the motion picture
industry is disclosed this week by
an annouacemeiit made by Jack
and Bert Goldsberg that their or
ganization will produce 12 featine
length movies lor the 1945-4U sea
son. (o be released by a nutiuiial
distributing company
This IS lilt- ti-^sl lime that a com-1
plele year's program for this type]
'.1 him pi'odiicion has been plan- i
lied and finunced in advaiici. Here-1
tufore pictures, with all-Negro casts,,
were made spusmodicully and dis-i
Inbiited m the slate rights market. I
"She loves .me Surge — She wrote, no sea-ralions wlien we
get hitched.’'
Negro productions to date have
Uteii huined in the making and
produced on budgets below stand
ards set for oibei uictures. Accord
ing to llie Goldbeig aimoimcemeiit
$tK)U.UOO has alieady been appio
prialed for the production of the [
planned iMelve uiclures which m-l
crease.. Ihe tost;; of eaeli film at j
least one third over anytliili^ re- ’
leased to date. -
SARA VAUGHN MOST SOUGHT
AFTER BAND VOCALIST
When ver possioie. evciyoni
ployed in the production uf the'
Goldberg pictures will be drafted
from members of tht' Negro race.
This not only includes the ca-vt, but
the technical staff as well. It is also
planned lu establish a national com
initlee of well known figures to
act on the selecli'>n of sloiy mater
ial.
Miss Simms', now 2C. stands on
th" thieshold ol a brilliant stage
cuiter. Yet success: ha-nt' tiirio'd her
head. One of her pet ambitions is to
iliidy one day at Ihp Moscow Art
'Hiialre, to which curl she !•: now
learning Russii
_.V
Glailv.s Beiillev Re-
ceiveil l.arj'cst Income
In New York Nightlife
NEW YORK tC) — Gladys Bent
ley, "Queen of Nile Club Enter-
taiii' rs’ reaped a harvest at Tondal-
netted near $10,000
Li.
The formation cf the naliunal
eonin'ittce is already under w.iy
and its iiiembeisl'.ip will be an-,
nounced at a lalet date, At the same*
tunc the public will be asked to]
submit story mateiiul of special ap
peal. This material, if pu'-sed on anJ
accepted by the coiiunatee, wilt be :
paid for a prevailiii;; Hidlywoodj
rates. '
TTie Goldberg piclures will be |
made in Hollywood and released ut;
the rat'- of one a month. Thi.s does
not include the release of such short
-oi.'^'i'ls that iray be ptodiieed con
current with the features.
Tlie (JoldUrg organization has its^
ow n studios at Coral Gables, Fla. \
\vtu.re they had pluiiiicd to make,
all their productions, but this prop-1
erly Was forced to close becau.se "f;
t)i(‘ war .iiid the sburlage of mater- j
lals 111 Hollywood, materials and
tah'iit at'; ail avail.ible I
t'lllCAGO. 111. - Loveily Sara
Vaughn, Billy Ecksline's thrust, ia
just about the most sought afkr
band vocalist in the bii.->iiH'.vs today.
Sara is cunenlJy appeiniig m Chi
cago with the Kekstim. band at the
Hetal Tiiealre in a week's engagi •
n.ent that opened Fiiday. Ayiil 2U-
Only recnitly Sara turned dov.11
a luertaive offi-r to take over the
female singing clioics with Count
Basie's orchestra, and no less than
three other name leaders have
propositioned her in unsuccessful
atlirnpis lo lure her fiom Ihe Eck-
stine band.
Saia, howi'Mi'. picfers to stick
with Billy and ride tc fame with
the Eckstiiie band, which Is rated
the hotest new box office attraction
of 194.5, Of course, she hopes to
.•'oire day go out on her own. btr.
i.ot until .che ha.s built an important
name for herself in the musical
world, Sara already has a good start
toward that aim. and she's been
liailed as the finest gill singer to
come up since Lila Fitzgerald,
Earlier this month .Sara’s first
leconling with the Eckstine bund
("‘•raid Val; ritine's b'-autiful ballad.
"I'll Wait And Bray." was released
on the DeLuxe Libel.
It's a gala return to Chicago at the
R('gal this week for both Sara and
maestro Eckstine. He Los long been
the Windy City'.s top musical favor-
in-, ever viect* the days when lit-
joined Earl Hine;.' band at the old
Grand Terrace Cafe. At the Regal
last September. Billy came within
u few hundred dollars of equalling
tin hniiM- rccoid in In- first theatre
d.'le..' "iv r ac.irc.
[(iiirol Tucker
I Captivates “4(Mr
NEW YORK 'IBSi Lovely Caro
I Tucker, charming vocalist will
lESrskine Hawkins Orchestra ha;
jv.oii u place in the IiimiIs of dive
sion seekers who frequent the sv/anl
Uoo Club on Fifth Avenue. Mil
Tucker who liusii'l been in the spot
light for a year has created a furor
along the Main Stem, Her charm
beauty and thrilling songs hav
captivated everyone who has listen
ed to her singing. The band whic
was the first Negro musical aggre
katioa to play the unique spot fo]
low'ed Tommy Dorsey and
evoked much praise from Broac
way critics, music and dance lover
BACK THE ATTACK !
and Eddie iTeywoodT .4i. li^ tailing
fo mention Duke Ellitigton, Teddy
ist. he hasn’t come to the fore.
Wilson. Count Basie and E’arl Hines.
I would insist that they do not, by
the fact that they are what may be
called "band” pianists, fall intoi this
class You hear Ellington, Wilson,
Dasie and Hines mostly with large
combinations, or in the cose of Wil
son. with closely knit groups of
three, four, five or .'•ix. and you
think of them In relation to a com-
biantion. Tlatum, Scott, Donegaii,
Heywood. and a r)2nd Street new
comer from Pittsburgh, Errol Ga’
ner. are mainly soloists, virtuos
as it were.
TIIE VIRTllOSOSES IN DRUMS
On drums, the itinerant sailor
hide-trouncer, Kansas Fields, whose
fame is wide in eastern swing cir
cles, might head the list, followed
by Zutty Singleton. Big Sid Catlett
AMONG THE 4'LARINETISTS
Clarinets would bring in Buster
Bailey with John Kirby; Edmond
Hall, leader of bis own outfii at
Cafe Society, Uptown, and Barney
Bigard, former Duke Ellington stal
wart. There are few outside this
group who gel full expression in
the bands with which they play.
String bass players who are vir-
; luosos and able to give concert or
solo performances are Slam Stew
art, Oscaf Peliford. Pete Glover,
wtih the Harlem Highlanders, and
Johnny Simmsons. Great combina
tion men are Johnny Miller with
King Cole, Israel Crosby, A1 Mor
gan, with Louis Jordan. Milton Hin
ton with Cab Calloway, and Pop
F'oster, one-time marvel with Louis
Armstrong.
Howard’s Professors At Bennett
GREENSBORO — "Sonata For
Violin and Piano, D Minor’’ by
Brahms highlighted the recent duo-
recital of Louia Vaughn Jones, vio
linist, and Warner Lawson, pianist,
in Annie Merner Pfcifler Chapel at
Bennett College. The appearance of
the two artists concluded the lyc-
eum programs at *he college for the
year.
Mr. Jones and Mr. Lawson, both
members of the Howard University
music department, displayed incom
parable talent and artistry.
Included in the second group,
played by Mr. Jones, were "Prae-
ludium" Bach-Krcislor, "La Can-
cion Del Lunar.” Turina, and ''Cal
vary" arranged by the artist. The
last number In the group, "Jota" de
Falla brought tremendous applause
from the audience, recalling Mr.
Jones for several encores.
The third group consisted of piano
selections by Mr. Lawson from
works of Chopin. Executing com
nu-ndable skill and excellent hand
movement, Mr. Lawson's interpre
tations of "Fantasie-Impromptu. ’
"E.tude, E Minor” and "Scherzo. C
Sharp Minor.” gave every evidence
of his superb mastery of the piano.
As a concluding number, the two
artists played “Sonata For Violin
and Piano” by Franck.
also featured- Poiple are wondering
helher in "Hntel Bi-rlin" George
Coulouris, playing the iniit of Ges
tapo Conimis.si’iner Helm, was real
ly tossed down that ek-vulor .shaft
by Helmut Dantine. The answer
may be found in the lact that
months after the shooting of the
scene, Mr. Coulouris sldl has vivid
memuiie.s of the exporicnco. And
the nienuii'ies are nut all mental
lilbei! It is now nvealed that
Charlie Uaii.ctt aiul Duke F.llington
wore partnors in the pui'chasiiiK of
the Holyyw.i.Kl Casino which they'll
opt'ii soon as :i swank daiiee palace.
the ifl-tuld lale that Hollywood
beauics never agree with each other.
Lena Horne and Ko.^alind Russell
have one thing, or should I say, one
IHTson in common. They both arc
close friends of Hazel Washington.
Hazel, as you know. ^ i.s for u long
while been Lena's closest friend and
•advisor. Roz. not only is Hazel's
friend too, but she oneo. backed het
in a leather-tooling business. Miss
Russell's new Warner picture,
"Roughly Speaking," is currently
playMi[» the nation's theatre--;, and
justly teceiving well dc.-ervi-d plau
dits.
'llieatre, lo which end she Is now
learning Russian.
Gladys Bentley Re
ceived I.argest Income
In New York Nightlife
NEW YORK iC> — Gladys Bent
ley. "Queen of Nile Club Enter-!
talm-rs' reaped a harvest at Tondal-
haviiig netted near $10,000;
during Jier six months engagement j
ill the famous bistro on r>2>i(I Street.
Mid-Night Man In Chicago
MODERN PRESS EXPRESS, LTD. |Shc'.s with Carlcr, then out aga'in.
BY" TFD WATSON 1 They now tell me that she s at the
CHICAGO (CNS)
While musing over a Hawaiian
muddle custard at Webb's restau-
rant in downtown Chicago, this
columnist remirisccndetl over the
old shew tune which went some
thing like this. . . 'I'-; getting very
dark on old Broadway. . . You'll
see a change in every cabaret. The
great Whiteway aint’ white no
more. Il'.s just a street on Swanee
shore. It's getting very dark on old
Broadway."
1 Bowery in Detroit, but this column-
Line News: wishes she
TAN TOPICS
By CHARLfS AllEN
Yet. it's true, not only on Broad
way, but everywhere now since the
Byrnes curfew has taken over and
it’s plenty dark in Chicago. But de
spite that, the Mid-Night Man will
try to give you a rc.siirre cf news
on the Modern Press Express, Ltd.
So here goc.s. . Evelyn Cain of the
El Grotto supper club's 26 game ta
ble. still is mooning over Utal horn
looter in Coo'tie Williams’ orches
tra according to the nianber of let
ters that arrive at the Paramount
Theatre in New York City each
: week.
I Wixidy Herman at the Panther
i Room of the Hotel Sherman
downtown Chicago, wrecked Cecil
I Grant’s “I Wonder" also "Caldonia.
I which isn’t such a good number jjiy-
; way. Nikki and Michael, Interpre
live dancers, are booked for a two
weeks period at Fred Logan’s club
could ‘duwnce’ at the El Grotto!
LAST LINES. Ltd.:
At Hollywood, the Mills ITother.s
will do a turn at Florentine Gardens
commencing May 1. Georgia Boy
Sinipkims is in Buffalo, Leroy Gen-
ry is making rent al the Fz»quire
in Joliet. The Cuts and a Fiddle go
into the Jericho Club ut Tulsa on
“Foor.s Day". While General Mor
gan. who u.scd to play with Red
Allen, goes into the Airliner hero
III town the day after. Dorothy
Donegan will drag out a lot of
dough at the Latin Quarter on a
lengthy .stay.
Dallas Barley is being rated at
Joe’s DeLuxe cafe on the Southside
and has pul down some heavy re
cordings for Decca. Josh White is
out in Hollywood with I.ibby Hol
man at Circo's. Up around Vancou
ver they’re talking about Dob Al
len's big revue which is headlining
at the Mandarin. Giacie Barrie
(Dick Stubilc's sweet) is headlining
at the Clover Club in Miami.
Big Time Crip h.as gone
biirlcsk and now is current in Union
City. New Jersey. They say that
the Duke Ellington nneert at the
Civic opera house last Sunday was
akay. but this columnist wasn't in
in Knoxville, Tcnn. Fulton Alex- , town lo catch same. Princess Orelia
under and his unit are being hoard | and Pedro still are head-lining the
in lower niinois. They’re really I DeLisa show while Red Sanders
Jiveologtets ... and great! land hi.s big new band send with the
SPFCIAI NON-STOP: I tunes and that winds up the trip
Earl Hines, whose famous orcho.s- I of the MODERN PRESS EXPRESS,
tra has been held over at the Cole j LTD. .
and Fields’ swanky supper swanky j tCopynght 194.5 by Ted Watson)
supper club El Grotto, will write V —
Billy Eckslinc And
Her “take’’ in salary, gratuities,
songwriting, recordings, private en-1
gagements and royalties brought |
her handsome profits, the largest 1
income received by any performer I
of her race in the area. ]
Incidentallv, the buxom "male im- j
personafor" sang her latest composl-1
tion "Curfew Blues" and the lyrics |
of which give voice (o her plight |
with such admonitions: “Byrnes you ^
gotta' go. caus» you messin' witli |
my dough. . “The 'LIl Flower, jvju
better do something 'bout this mess. I
etc." La Bently made her return to*
Gotham after eight years on the \
Pacific coast and was heralded by
old friends and new at Tondaleyos, -
many of whom relished her "naugh-
ty-but-iiicc" ditties. During her stay ^
many notables of both races, social- -
playboys of wealth and aristo-1
cracy. sericemen and old friends 1
from New York to Hollywood —;
some of whom “palmed" her heavy |
dough. I
Coming to Harlem in 1925. at the 1
ole Clam House, in West 133rd St., 1
the Bently entert.ainer hurtled
plaudits to fame wifh her unique
style, and splendid showmanship
which gained for her national prom
inence. Her sudden exit from New
York, although 0 surprise, was tha
result of a elty-wide “house-clean
ing’* by Police vice-squads.
Talented Bently supports a moth
er and relatives comfortable and
the Federal Tax man gels little of
her fat purse, and other tips are
"high and dry."
rates.
The Goldberg pictures will be
made in Hollywood and released ut
the rate of one a month. This does
not include the release of such short
sui’jeets that may be produced con
current with the features.
The Goldberg organization has its
own studios at Coral Gables, Fla.,
wlicre they had planned to make
all their productions, but this prop
erty was forced to close because of
the war and the shortage uf mater
ials. Ill Hollywood, materials and
talent arc all available.
Two stories uf the series have al
ready been selected and arc set to
go into production not later Ihun
June 15th.
The first entitled "Negro Boys
Town," is based upon the aclivilies
at Hill Cil;. just outside of Pitts-
hiirgh. Pu. The place is similar to
Father Flanagan’s “Boys Town"
which was the basis of the MGM
picture, starring Mickey Rooney and
Spencer Tracey. It was established
by Howard McKinney, now in Eur
ope for the Red Cross.
"Hollywood Murder Myslcry” Is
tlic title uf the second script. Stor
ies for the ten pictures to follow
will be selected from material sub
mitted to the committee now form
ing.
Jack Goldberg and his brother,
Bert, arc pioneers in the fi' Kl of
Negro motion pictures. They :-eg.an
operations ir 1925 and ' since that
time have rradc twenty feature
length productions and scores of
shorts. They were among the first
lo formulate a Negro news reel.
Their activities in the past year
have been in the field of Negro dx:-
umentary motion pictures. Out
standing in thl* direction was their
film "We'vv Come A Long Way."
currently playing theatres across
the country.
Winner of first prize m the State
Five Acre Cotton Contest will re
ceive $750 for the Grand Prize and
$350 as first prize for his district.
The adding machine says — eleven
hundred smackers.
-■ryniw iiiiu I'luiiin Minis Tim
recording with the Eckstine band
Gerald Vak-ntiiie’s 'oi-autifiil ballad.
"I'll Wait And Pray.” was released
on the DeLuxe label.
It's a gala return to Chicago at the
Regal this week for both Sara and
maestro Eckstine. He has long been
the Windy City's top m.usical favor
ite. ever since the days when he,
joined Earl Hines’ band at the old
Grand Terrace Cafe. Al the Regal
last September, Billy came withui
a few hundred dollars of equalling
the house rcciad in his first theatre
date with his newly formed aggre
gation. All signs point to a tre
mendous week here fur the seiisa-
tionul singing star and his skyrock
eting young jump crow,
Gohimbia To Release
Basie Records
11 the music for the new floor
vue which starts Friday. Hind-i
Samuels, the Regal theatre sweet
heart. is a 'good deal.’ Jesse Porter,
assistant manager of the aforemen
tioned theatre, is proficient to th'*
utmost, wlien pinch-hitting at the
candy counter.
The name, “Skinny Hall,” which
Baiul On Tour
NEW YORK — Singing maestro
Billy Eckstine and his skyrocket
ing young jump band start a swing
hrough the middle west on Friday.
i hasn't been seen by this writer in'/\prjj 13. by opening a weeks en-
the last fifteen years, now is ap-1 gagement on the stage of the Para
pearing again on signs about town, Theatre in Detroit. This will
Bill Hillman, noted in night-life cir-: be a repeat date for the Eck-stine
cles here, is currently a mixologi.st; crew, as will the band's appearance
at El Grotto supper club, and by ■ following week at Chicago's
the way while speaking of El Grot-' Regal Theatre, opening April 20-
to don't forget that Ea*"! Hines will -
be heard over WIND-CBS at 11:05! Billy is .slated for several one-
p. m. from now on. inighteni ii- Ohio, starting April 27
The Four Flashes, being handled ‘ in Tidedo and continuing for the
by Bert Gervis. are heading for the' next three days with dales In Ak-
coast at this writing. Timmie Rag- run. Cleveland and C-ilumbus.
ers is on the coast and making din-i The Eckstine aggiegation will
cro ai the Trocadero along with ' one-night it t-n route back east to
Benny Carter’s ban^. Can’t, under-, Baltimore for a May 18 opening at
-stanU thL Savannah Churchill. First' ihe Royal Theatre.
NEW YORK — The two discs
Count Basie cut for Columbia Rec
ords last month with a 12-piece
string section augmenting the full
Basic Bund will be released April
14, it was announced today.
The selections are "That Old
Feeling and This Heart of Mine.”
one old and one new ballad, both
featuring the superb voice of NBC
songstress Lynne Sherman on the
vocals
Thus release will mark one of the
first instances where a Count Basie
recording has come forth with two
ballads buck-to-back. and of course
is all the more unusual in view of
the added strings, which Basle used
only for these two selections. Co
lumbia is preparing for the great
est avalanche of orders on the new
Basie recording that has greeted any
I new release since Prank Sinatra’
! first waxing.
' "Avenue C." a jtimp special, which
jthe Count waxed on ti»e same ses-
i sion, will be released at a future
' date. Basic is slated to cut eight
; sides for Columbia next month
when the band returns to New
York to open at the Roxy Theatre.
LeRoy hardiaon and Hit Original Carolina Cotton Pickers Orchestra
Southland’s Great Jump Band T
CAROLINA C O T T O IN
RALEIGH
MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
lesday ||Ay |ST — 8 P.M.
Nite BAdv. Sale $1.25
PICKERS
Featuring CHARLES MORGAN