Rest in Peace, Ruby Dee

It fills me with great sadness to even have to write this. I've felt that "twist feeling" in my heart since I logged on to Twitter only to see that the legend and pioneer, Ms. Ruby Dee, had passed away.

For me, Ruby Dee was a legend who'd been legendary long before I was even born--Ruby Dee, her late husband, Ossie Davis, the late Maya Angelou, Lena Horne--these are people who are so great and so rooted in our arts/entertainment industry that for some reason, the longevity gave me this silly notion that they'd never pass away. However, it goes without saying that such notions are brought to reality when in fact, these legends make their peace with the world and say their final goodbye (or see you later).

 Words cannot express just how saddened I am by this news. However, I am certain that the sadness I feel comes nowhere near what her friends and family are feeling. My thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to them tonight. 

She said she planned to have her ashes placed in the same urn as her husband’s, with an inscription written by Davis, “In this thing together.”

In 2008, Ms. Dee described the epitaph to Jet magazine: “If I leave any thought behind, it is that. We were in this thing together, so let’s love each other right now. Let’s make sense of things right now. Let’s make it count somehow right now, because we are in this thing together.” [The Washington Post]

From VibeVixen

Sheila Guyse Appreciation

From Prince.org

Singer and actress (of the stage and screen), Sheila Guyse was born Etta Drucille Guyse to Wilbert and Ethel (Williams) Guyse on July 14, 1925 in Forest, Mississippi. Along with being an entertainer, she was also the wife of a man named Joseph Jackson (who passed away in 2012) and the mother of two daughters and a son.

From 16 Stone Vintage

Sheila Guyse (Jackson) passed away on December 28, 2013 of Alzheimer's disease in Hawaii. 

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Sheila Guyse Appreciation

This is Sheila Guyse 

(Album - Amazon MP3)

Boy! What a Girl! (1947)

[Youtube]

Sepia Cinderella (1947)

[Youtube]

Miracle in Harlem (1948)

[Youtube]

16 Stone Vintage

[More photos/magazine covers]

IMDb Profile

Wikipedia

(Where information was obtained)


*POC in Classic Film posts*
(added 5/24/2014)

Celebrating Women's History Month

Sheila Guyse News


*MORE INFORMATION*

William Yardley of The New York Times recently wrote an obituary for Ms. Guyse, with information provided by her daughter. Please click here to check out the article.

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Personal Thoughts

All of my love and my prayers go out to the family of this lovely woman. Of course, I didn't know Ms. Guyse personally, but there are just some people--celebrities, friends of friends, anyone--who just "stick" with you from the first moment you see them from afar or in a photo. Ms. Guyse was one of those people. 

Over the past year or so, I've come across many new names and faces, and gave up on searching for information about them. Not Sheila Guyse. I don't know what it is or what it was, but there was just something about her that kept me typing her name into Google every other month or so. As I've stated before (in another post and in reply to a commentator), although she played the role of the girl-next-door in movies like Sepia Cinderella and Miracle in Harlem, a genuine kindness and sweetness resonated from the screen.

When we look at beautiful things or people, sometimes, the word "beautiful" just isn't sufficient. We say "lovely". When we call someone or something "lovely", a small sigh or gasp usually comes before or after it. He/She/It is breathtaking--so beautiful, be it internally or externally--they actually throw us off, make us do double takes. Sheila Guyse was lovely. Not even just for her physical beauty, but for the beauty that shone through her from my TV and computer screens like rays. 

I completed my first screenplay during my junior year of college (just last year). The screenplay followed the life and career of an aspiring Black actress in 1930s/1940s Hollywood. As I wrote and re-wrote, deleted and erased, I'd drawn inspiration from many entertainers--from Theresa Harris to Dorothy Dandridge, Fredi Washington to Hazel Scott; Evelyn Preer, Alice B. Russell (wife of Oscar Micheaux). Still, I envisioned my character as one person in particular--I heard her voice; I saw the way she dressed, the way she wore her hair, etc.. From the very beginning--I'm talking the outline--I envisioned my lead character as Sheila Guyse. 

Your light was that bright, Ms. Guyse (Jackson). This is my way of saying "Thank You" for it. 

--Adrienne 

Rest in Peace, Juanita Moore

Hours ago, Variety reported that Oscar-nominated actress Juanita Moore passed away Tuesday at her Los Angeles home. Ms. Moore is probably best known for her work as 'Annie Johnson' in 1959's Imitation of Life. She was 99 years old.

Previously, websites have stated that Ms. Moore was born on October 19, 1922, but her grandson, Kirk Kahn has told sources that she was actually born in 1914. 

My heart, my thoughts, and my prayers go out to Ms. Moore's loved ones during this time.

 --Adrienne

My heart, thoughts, and prayers also go out to the family and friends of Mr. James Avery. May both of these dynamic performers rest in eternal peace.

Sheila Guyse News

Yesterday, I received the news that Sheila Guyse, star of Sepia Cinderella and Miracle in Harlem is now under Hospice care and in the last stages of Alzheimer's disease.

A family member left a comment on a post dedicated to Ms. Guyse back in March [see here].

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I am extremely sorry to receive such news. My heart, my thoughts, and my prayers go out to Ms. Guyse, her family, and her friends. 

--Adrienne, POC in Classic Film Moderator 

Oscar Micheaux's 'Homesteader'

Did you know that filmmaker Oscar Micheaux was also a novelist? His third book, The Homesteader: A Novel (which would also be released as a movie in March of 1919) is available online for your reading pleasure!

From Wikipedia

You can download Amazon's Kindle Edition (Free) or check it out on the Internet Archive!

Of course, you could also purchase a hardback or paperback edition on Amazon as well. 

Happy Reading!

Happy Birthday, Herb Jeffries!

We have to wish a Happy Belated Birthday to legendary entertainer, Mr. Herb Jeffries.

The "bronze buckaroo" turned the big 1-0-0 just a few days ago!

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Umberto Alejandro Ballentino (sometimes called Valentino) was born on September 24, 1913 (some sources say 1911, others 1914; most--including news reports--say 1913) in Detroit, Michigan to an Irish mother and a father of mixed ancestry. 

He began singing in nightclubs at a very young age and by the urging of Louis Armstrong, he soon moved to Chicago where he'd sing in some of the city's most popular nightclubs/events and with some of the most popular bands (Armstrong, Ellington,"Fatha" Hines, etc.).

He would venture into the world of film in the late 1930's, playing singing cowboys in race movies like Rhythm Rodeo, The Bronze Buckaroo, and Harlem Rides the Range. He'd sustain in the entertainment industry well into the 1990s and continues to make other appearances at Hollywood/entertainment events.

A 45-minute documentary on his life was released in February of 2008.

Mr. Jeffries at TCM's Classic Film Festival Opening Night Gala and World Premiere of "An American In Paris (April 28, 2011)

Mr. Jeffries now lives with his wife, Savannah, in Wichita, Kansas. In 2012, September 24th was proclaimed "Herb Jeffries Day" in Wichita. [Source]

Happy Birthday, Herb Jeffries! 

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Other Sources:

Voice of America

IMDb

Wikipedia

First Photo: Jazz Wax

Second Photo: From Zimbio

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I do not own any of the images above. If the rightful owner(s) of these photos wishes to have them remove, please contact me, and I will do so immediately.

Warner Archive's New Releases: Hallelujah! (1929)

Get your copy of King Vidor's Hallelujah! (starring Daniel L. Haynes and Nina Mae McKinney) today!

Hallelujah | Shop.WarnerArchive.com

Oscar Micheaux Movie

Last night I was lying back on the sofa, scrolling through Twitter; I took a look at my mentions and saw that a retweet of one of my tweets (from January) had been tweeted from a Twitter user named @MicheauxMovie.

"Wait...what?" I thought to myself. I had to hop on the computer for this one! There it was--a Twitter page for a film about Oscar Micheaux! 

Filmmaker J.D. Walker won the Sundance Pitching Contest for her Oscar Micheaux film and is currently going through all the things to make this amazing film happen.

Please CLICK HERE to check out the website for "Becoming Oscar." Spread the word! Show some love and support!

Warner Brothers' New Release: The Decks Ran Red

The 1958 film starring legendary actress, Dorothy Dandridge, has been released as a part of Warner Brothers' Archive Collection. 

Visit Warner Archive to purchase your copy!

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*Shoutout to DorothyDandridge on Tumblr* 

Simply Eartha Lifestyle Brand

This past January, Kitt Shapiro, daughter of the legendary Eartha Kitt, launched "Simply Eartha"--a lifestyle brand inspired by her late mother. 

Simply Eartha consists of home décor items featuring images of and quotes from the late diva. 

Decorate your home with the greatness that is and was Ms. Eartha Kitt today:

Shop Simply Eartha

Simply Eartha on Facebook

Simply Eartha's Blog

(Ran by Kitt Shapiro)

Sources

EarthaKitt.com (Page from Essence Magazine)

Facebook

License Mag 

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I do not own any of the photos in this post. In order to credit the sources in which I obtained the above photos, I added custom watermarks with their URLs. Photos without watermarks were obtained from Wikipedia. If the rightful owner(s) of any of these images wants them removed, please contact me and I will do so as soon as possible.--Adrienne

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.