The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-14
INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, MARCH IA, 1895
Richard B. Harrison, Beloved
De Lawd Of Green Pastures,
Dead: Won Plaudits Of All i. S.
Kindly Negro Performed in
Favorite Role for
Five Years.

By United Prem
NEW YORK, March IA
Richard B. Harrison, the
kindly Negro who won ma
tional fame through his inter-
probation of de Lawd" in the
play THE Green Pastures"
died today.
A week ago Saturday, the
70-year r. old white-haired
Negro was stricken just be-
fore the curtain went up on a
matinee performance. His
role was assumed by an
understudy.
Mr.. Harrison was taken to Fifth
Avenue Hospital. He had played
the part of the benevolent Deity
for five years-1656 consecutive
times-before he was stricken.
At the hospital he told friends
he was plumb tuckered out"
Success came to Mr.. Harrison with
a dramatic suddenness that washed
away so years of life as newSboy,
bellboy, waiter, Pullman porter and
ShakeSpea rean reader
Kept Critics Delighted
He came to Broadway at the age
of SIS, and five years later was &C
claimed one of the greatest actors
of the country His portrayal of
DE Lawd" in The Green Pastures"
was so sincere that hard-boiled
critics rsved over each performance.
Friends said his deep sense of re-
ligion gave the venerable Negro
actor his balance in the playa
balance that kept the role from be-
coming a burlesque or travesty.
DE Lawd" of Richard Berry Har-
rison was man of dignity, albeit
man who loved humanity, and who
led his flock through the Negro
conception of religion.
Smart sophisticates of Broadway
and Park Avenue-veteran first
nighters-gasped at the performance
of the all-Negro troupe when THE
Green Pastures" started its lengthy
run on Feb. 26, 1880.
Made Slow Entrance
Few of them, however, expected
the dramatic performance of DE
Lawd," and when the final curtain
went down, the audience applauded
until the actor appeared time and
again before the curtain.
"Gangway," intoned a black
skinned Gabriel feStooned with gilt
wings, "Gangway TO- De Lawd God
Jehovah"
From the wings strobe de Lawd"
dressed in prince albert coat,
white string tie and white hair
hanging around broad shoulders.
1t was a slow, dramatic entrance,
for Mr.. Harrison could not conceive
of de Lawd" being in hurry.
Each gesture he impaired to the
character was imbued with a sense
of reverence. He had hesitated
long before accepting the part in the
fear it was Sacrilegious.
Mr.. Harrison brought to the stage
the background and heritage of his
race. The son of Runaway slaves
who had fled to Canada, he knew
the suffering and the heartbreak of
his race.
Got Start as Singer
DE Lawd" was born in London,
when Richard was 10 sent him out
in search of work. A paper boy in
London, he drifted to the nearest
city-Detroit-where he was sue
cessively bell boy, porter and waiter
in that city's hotels.
The few minutes a day he could
find for his own uses he turned to
study, particularly music. AS a
Pullman porter in later years, he
sang as he went about his duties.
An official who marveled at his
rich voice arranged training for the
Negro. and for more than 40 years,
Mr.. Harrison engaged in concert and
lecture work.
World Needs This Play
Green Pastures" toured the coufl-
try for two years, was greeted every
where with acclaim, and returned to
New York on Feb. Is 1935-the
fifth anniversary OF its premier.
After 1856 consecutive performances,
DE Lawd" had to quit.
He summonded Charles Winter
Wood. his understudy, to his dress
ing room.
Hold me up. Charles, hold me up.
I'll be back in a few days. The
world needs this play he said.
"Ill do my BEST" Wood promised.
Mr.. Harrison's widow is in a
Detroit hospital.
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