The Phoenix index., 1940-02-17

Orchestra James was and Is the
stands are everywhere, to care fo'
the inner man 1t is said that the
annual expenditure for food III
Harlem equals or exceeds that OF
any other part of the city.
One who visited Harlem last
summer would hardly recognize ii
during the recent cold spell Gone
are the sidewalk hawkers, the ever
present corner loafers. News deal
ers, on their airy corners, Snuggle
close to open fires. Those in the
little kiosks have their tiny kero-
sene stoves. The unemployed the
dies of the evening, stayed close
reliefer, the chiseier, all but the Ia
inside some in their Steam-heated
flats, others in their inadequately-
heated cold water flats. real
cold spell completely empties the
streets of the dyed in the WOOL
Harlemites.
Fires from cverheated stoves are
numerous. And when a fire breaks
out in one of those cold water flats
those inside scurry out as quickly
as possible, tarrying not on the or
der of their going. ... Too often
what was once shelter soon proves
fire-trap, the old dry wood Oh
floors. doors and windows, burn
ing fiercely and quickly.
HARIEMANIA
Entertainers gather at l32nd ana
Seventh avenue daily, bewalllng
their "fate" in being let out OF
downtown ofay spots. In most
cases it is not fate but lack OF COM
mon sense and an inordinate desire
for foolish ofay girls.
Winchelrs HConfucius Say" is
Harlem's latest fad and fancy.
Best yet, heard by this writer was
"Confucius say girl easy to pick up
easier to throw down" "A Hl-Y
girl on being introduced to Paul
Robeson and being told he had a
Phi Beta Kappa key, innocently
inquired if he used it to unlock
his fraternity house door.
That shell-shocked World War
veteran who parades the roadways
of Harlem, causing countless nun
dreds of women to shudder as he
crazily threads his way in and out
of the traffic, is perfectly harmless
despite his crazy actions, wild look
and loud voice. One of Harlem S
detective agencies, run by Negro,
every week, rather than pay them.
hires new set of investigators
He is always teaching" some new
bunch the detective business.
HAPPENINGS IN HARLEM !:
The APOLLO THEATRE, long the
home of the biggest amateur hour
in New York, is seeking more and
better talent among the amateurs
Of the nation for its Wednesday
| night shows. All sorts of acts ano
numbers are wanted Especially
talented persons have good chance
of getting their long looked for
break on this broadcast program
for agents, producers, radio scouts
and talent scouts flock there week
ly to spot and hire the unusual. 1t
is the gateway to fame for many
unknowns. Allan Mcmillan the
first big time publicity counsel
among the colored press agents
ably occupies the chair Of P. A. tor
the GOLDEN GATE ballroom. One
OF his pet slogans is a break to1
all newshawks" JIMMY Nc
DANIELS place can aptly be de-
scribed as a place with indiscreet
lighting. The celebrated FOUR
INK SPOTS, breaking records
everywhere, are forming their owl
ork. They will make their debut
sometime in March. ... When JOE
LOUIS was on the air recently, he
acted as emcee and quizzed the
ouizzer. He aired by remote
control from his camp at Pomptor
Lakes, N. j., while his quizzer OF
ouizzee to be exact, was in studios
in Manhattan. "A difficult feat
but handled capably by an up and
coming Louis. Another all-Ne-
gro musical fantasy named LII
tie joe, is being readied for the
stage. Cab Galloway is mentioned
as a possible lead Todd Duncan Is
already signed up. Ditto Billy
Banks. George BalanChine Of Holly
wood fame will stage the show V
Harry James gave audible evidence
why he is calleo the No. l trumpet
er of the U. S., when he sent APOL-
LO THEATRE patrons during MS
engagement the week OF Feoruary
9. EVELYN KEYES, Whlrllng
dervish, tap dancer, whose services
are being sought by the Kit Kat
Klub, has held back from taking
the engagement because OF the
smallness of che dance floor She
REQUIRES lot of space for her Whlrl-
ing number, tops of its kind. ..,.
Harlem promoters have been con-
tacting Worlds lair officials With
all manner of fancifm and fantas-