Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-04-02

OESu drClSCS On Dig COInIHeTClaI n
Get this: A white writer had
this to say in last weeks issue of
Variety "a theatrical magazine) {:
"The band is all right, but in no
way remarkable" He was talking
about Chick Webb's band who can
out-swing Benny Goodman! Dear
readers, what makes this news is
the fact that Chick Webb gave
Benny Goodman (the swing gent,
much of the real 1owdown" on the
art of swinging! The writer was
criticizing the all-colored sustain
ing radio broadcast ("Good Time
Society," via NBC at 8 P. NJ, Sat-
urday nights. I admit, part of the
show could be junked to the enjoy
ment of all intelligent colored peo-
pie. I mean the part that reaches
back fifty years and drags out old
"Uncle Tom" stuff that should have
been forgotten after the slaves
were freed! Il kinda like stream
lined trains, don't you?)
Two very intelligent colored men
got together and organized an all
colored motion picture company in
Hollywood. Their names are Mr..
George Randol and Mr.. Ralph
Cooper. The company has pro-
duced one picture already titled
Ozark Manhattan" a colored gang
ster picture. Although the picture
isn't masterpiece, Mr.. Randol
and Mr.. Cooper have won this col
umn's praise for starting a colored
talking picture company, so that
colored people might be presented
in pictures just as we want to see
them. Furthermore, countries like
Japan, Russia, and Brazil, have an
open market for our pictures.
Soon, if we give the proper sup
port, we will be in a position to
really glorify our women, and
make real stars out of many col
ored artists!
Dear readers, because of the
great drawing power of colored
artists like Jimmie Lunceford;
Fats" Waller; and Ethel Waters,
don't you think that a musical pic
ture featuring them and others
would be quite hit? A MUSICAL
picture with Jimmie Lunceford
furnishing the background for
Ethel Waters to sing; with Eats
Waller featured on the piano;
backed-up by a fast stepping group
of beautiful colored ladies'; with a
real love story winding its way to
happy ending-don't you think a
picture like that would interest the
public? Yeah, I do too, any pub.
lie! Il will put the address of the
colored film company here next
week, then you can write them g
line and let them know just what
kind of pictures you want to see.)
PASSING THOUGHTS: Answer
this one: Should colored writers
bubble over with praise for white
artists, when colored artists cam
even buy a mention in white writ
ers' columns? .. Duke Ellington!
band isn't what it used to be (.
think his first broadcast from tn,
Cotton Club was quite common
place). But he might come bacl
up to standard soon. Haw
white America is in a pickle abou
the heavyweight championship O
the world-they don't want Ger
many to get it, and yet most o
them don't want Joe Louis to vii
it! (some more race pride).
The colored manager of the SUI
Set Royal Entertainers band
brought the band to New York
: few moths ago, the band took
.by stciAn! Bill Meares, the mana
ger, was too smart to let whit
New Workers. talk him out of tn
band. Bill took the boys bacI
South, but watch them come to tn
top. Hold on to them Bill!
Pardon me while I answer a letter
Ersnine Hawkins and his BAN
Statn Hnllan.iansI hand cnn h