That's Old News! (#4)

As you may or may not know, Google has been working on revamping the Google News Archive for a few months, and for awhile, I assumed that there was no way to access the archive. I soon discovered that there actually was a way to continue accessing vintage articles, but I just couldn't find it. Well, I finally found it--and I found it right on time! Last day of the month! Unfortunately, I won't be able to specifically search for articles from the month of March (the archive search doesn't really give you the option of being date specific), but that is A-OK. I've found some great stuff to share.

That's Old News is back! :)

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In July of 1930, nearly a year after the release of the landmark 1929 film, Hallelujah! a writer for The (Baltimore) Afro-American (also a cast member in the movie) wrote a series of articles including behind-the-scenes information on "the making of Hallelujah!". Click here to read the must-read second installment of the series titled "The Truth About Hallelujah" (Warning: use of the N-word).

Movie poster from Wikipedia

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From NNDB

Ralph Cooper, star of the previously reviewed film, The Duke is Tops "started the original Harlem Amateur Hour in April 1933 at the Lafayette Theater.  In 1934, he began the Wednesday Amateur Night at Sidney Cohen and Morris Sussman’s 125th Street Apollo Theatre. Cooper’s Amateur Night in Harlem radio shows were broadcast live from the Apollo over WMCA and carried on a national network of 21 stations. When Amateur Night at the Apollo debuted in 1934, it quickly became the leading showcase for many young, talented, new performers such as a 15-year-old Ella Fitzgerald, who went on to become one of the first Amateur Night winners. [apollotheater.org]

Click here to read an article (also from The Baltimore Afro-American) that promoted an "upcoming" Apollo stage show, hosted by Mr. Ralph Cooper (also the star of the previously reviewed film, The Duke is Tops).

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From Listal

Legendary movie columnist, Louella Parsons reported on some of the latest moves in Hollywood in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In a 1931 column, she dubbed Toshia Mori as the next (or, in her words, "another") Anna May Wong. Read the short section here. 

(second section, scroll down just a bit)

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Bessie Smith's St. Louis Blues co-star, Jimmy Mordecai (spelled "Jimmie" in this article) introduced a dance duo to patrons of the Theatrical Grill in New York. However, that's not all that went down during an exciting week in New York. Read Harold Lockley's article titled "Thru Gotham and 'Round Harlem". 

Harlem flappers (From westga.edu)

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From Wikipedia

If a jazz-loving Floridan was given the opportunity to travel back in time, I'd recommend that they choose to travel back to a Thursday night at St. Petersburg's Coliseum in March of 1956. On February 28, 1956, St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) informed their readers of an upcoming tribute to the legendary Duke Ellington. Read more about the event here.

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From Jazz Street Vancouver

"Jeni Legon, Colored Star, Gets Chance in Movies"--that's the great, big title of a column written by Louella Parsons for The Milwaukee Sentinel in December of 1934. Read about Jeni's "new" role and other exciting things in store for Hollywood in 1935.


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I hope you all find these articles and columns to be important, informative, and perhaps entertaining. I'm excited to be continuing this segment! :)

Movie of the Week: "Amos 'n' Andy" Episodes (Review)

From EpGuides, Tim Moore (top), Spencer Williams, Jr. (bottom left), and Alvin Childress as Kingfish, Andy, and Amos (respectively).

This week, I watched two episodes of the short-lived television series, Amos 'n' Andy, starring Alvin Childress, Spencer Williams, Jr., and Tim Moore. 

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I watched the first episode of the series, titled Kingfish Gets Drafted. 

In this episode, George "Kingfish" Stevens is wrongfully drafted into the Army. Of course, upon receiving the notice, he knows a mistake has been made, but Army officials assure him that he is the George Stevens they're looking for. Kingfish, fearful and upset, goes to tell his wife, Sapphire (played by Ernestine Wade) the bad news, but surprisingly, she is happy for him--she assumes that he actually enlisted and refers to him as "her hero". The entire neighborhood hears the news and celebrates, leaving Kingfish no choice but to pretend that he really is going away. Of course, comedy ensues.

I literally "laughed-out-loud" while watching this episode. You may be turned off a bit (like I was) by what seems like fake and forced laughter from the audience, but it won't take long before the laughter goes unnoticed. The episode was cleverly written, the comedic timing was seamless, and all performances were great. There really isn't much more I can say about the episode--I absolutely loved it.

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Next, I watched Kingfish's Secretary. I'm not sure if this was the second episode of the series or not. Some sites, like IMDb, have it listed as the second episode, while others do not. 

In this episode, the lodge (that Amos, Andy, and Kingfish are members of, by the way) makes some renovations and even hires a secretary named Daphne (to my surprise and joy, played by the multi-talented Jeni Le Gon). Upon learning about the new secretary, Sapphie Stevens' claws come out and she lets Kingfish (and later, the unknowing Daphne) have it. 

Jeni Le Gon (American Vaudeville Museum)

Also, in this episode, a lodge member comes in requesting that Daphne take dictation for a letter to a mail-order bride he has his eyes on. Now, before this, Kingfish asked Daphne to take dictation for a letter to a cleaning service to hire a cleaning woman. When Daphne is out, Lightnin' (played by Nick Stewart) comes in to pay the lodge a visit. Kingfish, while lounging in his office, asks Lightnin' to bring him the letter for the cleaning service for him to sign. Lightnin' accidentally knocks the cleaning service letter in the trash and Kingfish signs the mail-order bridge letter!

Ruby Dandridge (Copper Colored Gal)

Next thing you know, Henrietta Smith (played by Ruby Dandridge) comes barging into the lodge to claim her man, Mr. George Stevens. Again, comedy ensues.

Like the previous episode, I don't have much to say about this one. I literally "laughed out loud". The comedic timing of these actors is worthy of endless praise.

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Overall Thoughts

Again, I enjoyed these episodes--so much so that I plan to either purchase the series on DVD or watch all of them online. The show was criticized for its negative portrayals (lazy Kingfish, jealous Sapphire) of Black-Americans, but the only thing that differentiates these characters from other characters in television and movies at the time was the color of their skin. However, here is the problem:

When Amos 'n' Andy aired on television, the only other show that featured a black cast (or a central black character, rather) was Beulah. Beulah was--what else?--a maid. When you have less than a handful of shows "representing" your race, of course you're going to be very critical of what you see. This is still going on today, actually (see varying opinions within the black community on shows like Scandal, Being Mary Jane, and Tyler Perry's shows). It's a shame that the show was cancelled so soon, because again, it was hilarious, but I'm not going to be "that person" who thinks that all of the controversy and complaints were unreasonable. 

From TV Party--the lodge men taking cover against the wrath of Sapphire.

The only problem I had with the show (the two episodes that I actually watched), was the way in which the black female characters were written. In these two episodes, there were only four women--Sapphire Stevens, Sapphire's mom (played by Amanda Randolph), Daphne, the secretary, and Henrietta Smith. You would expect to see a wide range of personality among these four women, but nope--three of these four women were all domineering, rambunctious women quick to throw a punch and/or tear a man down. Now, to be clear, I don't think there's anything wrong with being a domineering and rambunctious woman, but when three out of four black, female characters in two episodes of a show alone are seemingly mean and unpleasant, I have to ask, "Just what did the writers think about black women?"

Ernestine Wade (Find-A-Grave)

Also, again, jealous, domineering women were not new to television, movies, or radio by this time and they were played by actresses of different races, shapes, sizes, and ages (see Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer), but like I said, it's easy to be very critical of what you see of yourself on television when the choices are limited.

However, I highly recommend that you check out episodes of Amos 'n' Andy. Below are links to the episodes I watched this week.

Kingfish Gets Drafted

[Youtube]

Kingfish's Secretary

[Matinee Classics]

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I will be back later this week with a video review of No Way Out (1950).

Rest in Peace, Jeni Le Gon

Dancer, dance instructor, and actress Jeni Le Gon passed away last Friday (December 7th) at the age of 96.

Ms. Le Gon was a personal favorite of mine--I was introduced to her through the 1947 Cab Calloway film Hi-De-Ho.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of Ms. Le Gon's loved ones.

Here is Ms. Le Gon dancing in the 1939 film titled Double Deal...

...and here is a video of Ms. Le Gon performing in Seattle in 2007; this video was recently uploaded. 

Classic Film of the Day: Hi-De-Ho (1947)

Today's Classic Film of the Day is the 1947 Cab Calloway film Hi-De-Ho. The film stars, of course, Cab Calloway, Ida James, and Jeni Le Gon and is based on the story out of Calloway's hit song "Minnie the Moocher".