That's OLD News! (#15) - Theresa Harris & Co-Stars

This month's installment of "That's OLD News!" contains historic news articles on our Star of the Month, Theresa Harris and fellow performers of color who appeared in some of the same films as she.

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"81 Year-Old Gets Film Role"
St. Petersburg Times - Jul 7, 1954

That 81-year old was Nellie Conley, aka Madame Sul-Te-Wan--and the film the short article speaks of may have been Carmen Jones (1954). Madame Sul-Te-Wan made her screen debut in 1915 (at the age of 42). Over the span of about four decades, she appeared in over fifty movies--including the pre-code crime drama, Thunderbolt (1929) with Theresa Harris. This article above provides some additional must-read trivia about Madame Sul-Te-Wan!

*I believe that Madame Sul-Te-Wan might be the bellhop (or hat check girl?) in the beginning of the clip above.

"Blue Blowers on the Air"

The Afro American - April 9, 1927

Curtis Mosby and his popular jazz and blues band, the Blue Blowers accompanied singer/actors in numerous films through the late 1920s and early 1930s. They accompanied Theresa Harris as she sang "Daddy, Won't You Please Come Home" in Thunderbolt. As indicated in the article above, Curtis Mosby and his Blue Blowers "went on the air" in 1927--when the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) began broadcasting in new cities on the West Coast, the band was selected as their musical headliner.

"Flying - Rochester Learns to Pilot Plane"

The Afro American - Jul 6, 1940

In July of 1940, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson flew into New York from Detroit for an opening at a Paramount Theater. He also performed "My, My" at the opening, the song he sang with Theresa Harris in Buck Benny Rides Again (1940). 

*GIF set from Buck Benny Rides Again*

"New Million Dollar Film to Premiere"

The Afro American - Oct 29, 1938

Gang Smashers (starring Nina Mae McKinney) was written and produced by the legendary Ralph Cooper, and also distributed by the film company he'd co-founded, Million Dollar Productions. The year before, Ralph Cooper appeared in Gangsters on the Loose with Theresa Harris. He also wrote and produced the film.

"Universal Signs Carolyn Snowden"

The Afro American - Aug 14, 1926

Carolynne Snowden (posted by The Loudest Voice - Tumblr)

Unsung stage and screen performer, Carolynne Snowden (sometimes referred to as Carolyn or Caroline) signed a contract with Universal Pictures in 1926 (for The Marriage Clause). She appeared in movies for many of the other Hollywood studios, including The Green Pastures (1936), a film that, like Snowden, Theresa Harris played an Angel in.

Star of the Month: Sheila Guyse - Album Review (from Aige Old Soul)

In June, I reviewed Sheila Guyse's sole album, This is Sheila (1958) on my other blog, The Life of an Aige Old Soul. 

Click here

to read my review!

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! :)