davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
Sixty Negroes
Are Taken On
Long Jaunt
BY LAWRENCE F. LAMAR

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.-(NPB)- A
Wagner studio production company,
Monday set an all-time record
smashing location company stand
ard, when it pulled out of here
aboard a special train carrying 60
sepia film players to Acoma, New
Mexico, scene of the African fort
site, made ready for the filming of
"Sundown," film story of the Brit
iSh war in Africa.
The group represented the largest
number of sepia actors to ever go
to such great distance, in the his
tory of Hollywood film productions
With the group went Kenny
Washington and Woody Strobe,
members of that former great foot
ball passing combination at UCLA,
who have been assigned small, but
important bit roles, The acoma,
New Mexico location site has been
made into a replica of the British
controlled Somalliland at Kenya,
Africa Prince Modupe, scholarly
Sepia African. is with the location
group. both in technical position
and of actor
Martin wilkins, the sepia charac-
ter actor, who did such swell job
in the Fighting 63rd" and TOO
Hot To Handle has been handed
the most outstanding role in the
production The screen play deals
with the British rule in Africa as
contrasted with the rule of other
nations, especially those of the Axis
nations
The men making the trip were
specially selected as to type and had
to undergo rigorous training as mill
tary police under the expert guild
ance of a former British colonial
officer
Henry Hathaway. is directing
the British Colonial Opus, which
gives plenty opportunities for Hol-
lywood'S huge army of sepia film
players to make quite a Wad of
money by appearing in other scenes
to be made in the studio, depicting
war between the colonial forces of
Italy and those of Great Britain
Bruce Cabot, is the lone white
actor thus far in the screen play
Most Of the action will be scenes of
the colonialS
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
Ken Washington Strode On
Location For African Picture
RATING THE RECORDS
By FRANK MARSHALL DAVIS

bia. There is a constant background
of saxes riffing over strong rhy-
thm plus the James horn both
straight and hot. Coupled is
DON'T CRY, CHERIE. a sweet
addition to the crop of war songs. ..
Woody Herman has his fun this
week on Deccs. Tongue in cheek.
ne plays Bennie Moten's SOUTH
in DiXieland style with 1926 end
ing. Still, it rides well and the
leaders, low register clarinet is ex-
cellent. Flipover is FAN 1T, the
Half Pint Jaxon opus, taken at
break-neck tempo part way and
half time the rest.
Milton Hinton wants it known
that Jimmie Blanton is not the
only bass player. Accordingly, he
bows and plucks his way through
EBONY SILHOUETTE with Cab
Galloway on Okch. Hinton is good,
but he's neither Blanton nor an
Israel CROSBY. Companion piece is
HEP CATS LOVE SONG, bounc
ing jitbug stuff with a 1--WE vocal by
Cab. Best portion is a series of
screwy brass phrases in the last
section. Both Bobby Byrne and
Claude Thornhill try their bands
On DO I WORRY. The formers
on Decca is good with his slick
trombone throughout, but Thorn.
hills Okeh is better The latter'S
flipover is SLEEPY ;5ERENADE, a
beautiful restful tune that sounds
more agreeable each playing. Fa-
zola'S clarinet is much in evidence.
Byrne'S companion piece is NfSI-rff-
TY NIGHT, one of those cute
songs that have habit of getting
on the hit parade.
A new group called the Variety
Boys debuts on Decca's Sepia Sc
ries with TACK ANNIE and HAIR
LEM FIESTA. The first has very
good tenor and excellent guitar,
while the coupling has vibraharp
and hot fiddle added Watch this
group. Charlie Spivak's Okeh CT
SLAP SLAP is a rocking novelty
with plenty OF jive and really
powerful brass section stands out.
Turnover is SPRING WILL BE SO
SAD, a nice pop tune. .Matty
Malneck's ultra modern music is
interesting and ANVIL CHORUS,
with may tempo changes. Not up to
Glenn Miller's The Beer Barrel
Polka's audience will like the Jes =
ters' Decca version Of THE HUT
SUIT SONG and ROUND HER
! NECK SHE WEARS A YELLER
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14

'I don't know. You see, the 9th
er actors haven't even been chos .
en- yet"
And that's not all. This actor
has two picture offers pending,
both from R.K.O. I'm not sure
yet what they'll be like. I don't
want any yaSsuh mess Or Stephin
Fetchit stuff. Besides, it would
mean giving UP Native Son.,
which would put so people out OF
work. And I couldn't do that. They
are a fine brrch and deserve the
chance as much as T. (Secretly
We wonder what would become Of
Native Son" without Canada Lee
for there's c;nly one person fo1
that role)
We asked him what he thought
of this nights performance, his
81st. and he answered. "1t was q
stinker. 1 don't think it was as goc"
as usual" We disagreed, but OF
course. he did think that the audi
less he did think that the audi
ence was grand and had a won-
derful reaction
Here we concurred and noted
that We espied only a handful OF
colored in the theatre. The white
people seemed to go for this race
conscious show in big way and in
a serious big way, too.
But getting back to the star,
Canada Lee. He seems to have his
future all mapped out and big
things are in store for him, too. AS
we parted from the very likable
end very versatile personality, we
felt he would handle the new roles
just as capable as Bigger Thomas.
For he's a great actor, this Cana
da Leel!
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
Cab Burns Wires
FromPantherRoom
Hit Parade

CHICAGO, Ill -GSNS)- Al
though Chicago is enjoying a spell
of cool weather. the town is hotter
than the proverbial firecracker as a
result of Cab Calloway's smash
opening in the Panther Room OF
the Hotel Sherman on Friday, May
30
Although Cab is veteran Chicago
performer, his current engagement
marks the first time he has ap-
peared in hotel, and from the Ell
thusiasm manifested by the Windy
City audience on opening night,
Galloway will return here often.
The engagement is in the nature
of sentimental triumph to Cab. 1t
was in Chicago about ten years ago
that he obtained his first theatri-
cal engagement as a combination
singer and master of ceremonies at
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
(for AMP
NOW IT'S LEWIS
ON HARPISCHORD

After recording the phenomenal
Meade Lug Lewis on piano and
more recently OH celeste, Blue
Note Records now displays the
Lewis genius on that very difficult
instrument, the harpischord. The
release consists of four 12-inch
sides, collectively called "Varia E
tions on a Theme" with the spe-
cific titles 19 WAYS OF PLAY
ING A CHORUS and SELF POR~
TRAIT; SCHOOL OF RHYTHM
and "FEELIN' TOMORROW LIKE
1 FEEL TODAY"
The listener is forced to contrast
the Lewis efforts with the most
pretentious previous boogie woogie
waxingS on harpischord, those by
Sylvia Marlowe year ago for
General Records. Miss Marlowe
suffers terribly, as who wouldn't
except possibly Pete Johnson Or
Albert Ammons? This instrument
as played by Miss Marlowe SOUND
ed stiff and the technique all
wrong.
Lewis, on the other hand, makes
the harpischCro flexible as a rup
ber band and his technique is close
to perfection. He gets as much
drive and power out of this 18th
century instrument as from a
modern piano. The solo criticism is
that boogie woogie on a harpiS-
chord just doesn't get across as
well as it does on regular stomp
box. However. the dynamic force
proviSatCins from fast tempo to
an darresting ideas of Meade's i'm
medium slow blues make "Varia-
tions" definitely worth buying.
We suppose that next Blue Note
will record Lewis on organ, calliope,
ncvachord and maybe the either.
And judging from results thus far,
he'll still give a good account of
himself.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
"AH Alone And Lonely" Is
Destined For Hit Parade
Pearson, Sanders
Really Have One,
Asserts Dorsey

NEW YORK CITY (SNS) -
When Jimmy Dorsey's Decca re-
cord of "All Alone and Lonely was
released last week lot OF people
we're very happy Swing master
Dorsey was certain that he had
another topnotch record to follow
his great success "Amapola.' The
publishers of the song felt that
"All Alone and Lonely was another
hit song. But David Sanders and Al
Pearson, the Detroit boys who wrote
the song, were probably the happiest
of the lot.
A few months ago they had given
up hope of becoming songwrlterS
Music publishers in Detroit were
not very receptive and neither one
Of the boys could leave home and
try to interest publishers in Chica-
go or New York. But you can't keep
a good song down these days. After
passing through the hands of mu-
SicianS who had heard "All Alone
and Lonely" played by the four
piece rhythm band composer San
ders leads in Detroit'S Frogs Club,
copy of the song found its way
into the hands of Jimmy Dorsey
DORSEY SELLS SONG
Jimmy Dorsey, who is billed as
The Worlds Greatest Saxophonist'
might well add Worlds Greatest
Tune Picker" to that billing. Dor
sey played the new song once and
put is down for immediate record
ing.
Convinced of the commercial poss-
Utilities of the ballad, he brought 1t
to BMI and within a few days con-
tracts we're signed with Pearson
and Sanders for immediate publica-
ton of the song
"All Alone and Lonely" marks the
first successful venture into song
writing for this newest team of COM
poSerS. Six-footer Sanders plays pi-
ano. organ and solovox. and has
been a professional musician since
the age of sixteen when he was
regular OIBdIllSJ dL odptlSG
Church in Wilmington, Della
ware
Following that ecclesiastical
booking, he went to work in Toledo
speakeasies as pianist and eventual
ly formed the small rhythm band
he is now leading His major ambi-
ton is to be good songwriter -
Al Pearson, the other writer of
the song, is a guitarist who studied
at the Detroit Conservatory of Mu-
sic for three years He has played
in night clubs as master of cere-
monies. tenor vocalist and featured
guitarist. Pearson is still a little
bit dazed by his new found sue
cess
After he had signed the publica-
ton contract he asked that he be
notified by wire whenever his song
is played on the air If Jimmy Dor
sey has picked another hit song, and
BMI succeeds in making a spot on
the Hit Parade for it, there1l be a
long line of messenger boys making
its way to the Pearson front door.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
HOLLYWOOD NOW MECCA
OF NATIONS SEPIA
CELEBRITIES

Long ago the most famous of
the white musicians and stage stars
emigrated from New York to Holly
into the center of Race talent.
Latest arrivals have been the
Nicholas Brothers, the Berry Broth
ers. the Charioteers, Marie Bryant,
Ethel Waters, Todd Duncan, Rex
Ingram, Duke Ellington, Jas. Lowe
and others with Ella Fitzgerald,
Jimmie Lunceford and others head
ing here soon.
But settled here already long
enough to be considered outstanding
citizens are Clarence Muse. Hattie
Mcdaniel, Louise Beavers, Harold
Browning, Sam Mcdaniel, Eddie
Rochester Anderson, Mantan
Moreland, Pork Chops Patterson,
Lovey Lane, Marie Joe Browne,
Floyd Ray, Wynonie Harris and the
trio, Ivy, Verne and Won, Also
Monte Hawley. Cleo Desmond,
Ernest Whitman, Charles Hawkins,
Billye Hawkins, Laura Bowman, her
husband Leroy Antoine, "T-Bone, u
Lawrence Criner. Reginald Fender
son, Billy Mitchell. Fred Skinner,
Walter Johnson, Broomfield and
Greeley. Ceele Burke, Jack Carr,
Ruby Elzy, Cheeseman and Perry,
Billye Yarbo Hall, Johnson and
chorus. Clinton r20seIaO0d, Harold
Browning and others, whose names
will be run in a later issue.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14

+ the Sunset Cafe, South pre-repeal
night spot.
Cab also conducted his first or
cheStra in Chicago, coming from
there directly to New York and
world wide acclaim,
Galloway has always been noted
for his spectacular dress on the
band stand or on stage. For the
Sherman Hotel date, he ordered a
completely new ensemble, even
more striking than anything he has
worn previously, and his entrance
was marked by "oh's and abs" from
the capacity crowd of first night
erS
Galloway will remain at the Sher-
man for four weeks and will then
play a series of one-night dance en-
gagementS eastward, bringing him
to New York about July 1.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
10-Year Old Prize
Winner In Broadcast

cards. radio listeners sent i'll played
no small part in helping the judges
to pick the winner. And they want
ed Joyce SO young Miss Michael
was more or less the peoples
choice
Asked what she was going to do
with all of her money, her newly
earned fortune, she simply answer
ed, -Four hundred and fifty dollars
will go right in the bank and will
certainly be spent towards my ca
reer "
The little lady has appeared sew
eral times on the radio, her first
one was with the noted actor. Jean
l7er5cholt, who portrayed the popu-
lar "Dr Christian" series, last
Christmas night.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
DEAN PICKENS
GETS SUPPORT

WASHINGTON, D. CLAMP.
The office of the administrative
assistant to the secretary Of the
U. S. Treasury states that Dean
William Pickens' title is o principal
defense securities promotion spe-
cialist on the defense savings staff
of the office. of the secretary. Poll :
tical and non-political groups all
over the country are cooperating
with Dean Pickens in his drive to
encourage the sale of defense saw.
ingS bonds.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
Call Armstrong
Ace Snowman
.Lyriicist, Actor
Ry PETER DAMS

NEW YORK-(SNS)- A small
group of men was dining in the
Orchid Room of the Hotel Theresa
Thursday midnight, after catching
Louis Armstrong; closing perform
ance at the Apollo Theatre While
only two of them we're professional
musicians, the other three prided
themselves on their knowledge OF
music and musicians The talk was
all of Louis (SatchmoO Armstrong
as Snowman, lyricist, and master
inStrumentaliSt.
The talk was both g, fine tribute
to Louis who has, it is said just
turned 40 and instructive Boy and
man, Louis has been one of the tru-
ly great creators of modern jazz,
one of the diners observed Arm
strong" he continued, "has q quail
ty of showmanship l consider I'M
euualled in the players and con-
ductors of jazz music.
AN APPEAL OF HIS OWN
His sense of stage business, his
likable mischievousness and his cas-
ua1 approach to the most difficult
passages of his horn, i'll my opinion,
give him all appeal which is proper
ly and intensely his own. His comic
sense is certainly the best among
musical performers"
The mood-if the writer may bor-
row a phrase from Miss Edna ST.
Clair Vincent Millay-of this
conservation at midnight" was one
of fresh appreciation OF the genius
of Armstrong who from orphan boy
in New Orleans had become worlds
great minstrel man 1t was as il
these men we're intent on celebrat-
ing the minStrelsy of Louis for the
sheer pleasure OF it, for the truly
remarkable phenomenon of folk art
it is Again, modern folk music a
musical Language of his own, as in
deed every great artist does.
Now one of the conversationaliSts
was venturing, TITS interesting to
note how Louis gets the name quail
ty in his playing of the trumpet he
has in that best of all possible
voices for singing jazz music
sweetly husky voice which is truly
lyric in its feeling and tone It
seems to me that Louis is just about
one of the finest lyric artists of this
or any other time"
A LYRIC ARTIST
Then one of the men put in with:
what exactly do you mean when
you speak of Armstrong as a lyric
artist
The answer was: What 1 mean
is that Armstrong both as inStru-
mentalist and singer gives song
quality of peculiarly his; he en-
dowS it, so to speak, with overtones
OF feeling and color which, while
inspiring a great deal of imitation,
can be recognized at once as Louis.
Unquestionably. the man has more
imitators than anybody else in
jazz 1t seems that in music as in
poetry the lyricist is the most often
initiated with the least success. At
the same time, the great lyricist
is most easily parodied.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
ee Says He'll Play |Othe||o After Native Son Close.
Orson Welles To
Be The Director
By BERNICE AND DOLORES CALVIN

NEW -(C(-Canada Bigger Thomas) Lee, has been
offered to do the leading role in Shakespeares Otheo
next Native Son closes And it will be
directed by the master of showmen Orson Wees who de-
at least 3 of the credit for Native Son being the
huge that it is (Author Richard Wright and actor
Canada Lee get the other 23rds) This important secret Mr.
Lee modesty revealed to us when visited him backsage
in his dressing after his June 3rd ormance Asked
who would be in the leading feminine ea Mr. Lee replied
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14

costume. Alma Hightowers' Melodic
Dots made the music-Ernest1ne
Porter talented little dancer and
producer, has been visiting during
the past week from San Francisco.
Everyone is looking forward to the
first Hollywood bowl appearance
here on June 10.
Patsy Hunters floor show chorus
at the Club Alabam will close this
week. Most of them will open in
Cabin i'll the Sky others are re-
hearsing for Duke Ellington's big
show at the Mayan this month.
Vera Lee johnson, who halted on
a sure march to fame as singer
and dancer over a year ago, has re-
entered to take up where she left
off.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
CHARGED WITH MURDER

HOUSTON.-(AN (ANP)-W. H. Nc.
Claim, 53-year-old white man, is n
jail charged with the murder in
connection with the fatal shoot
ing Of James A. Oates. 35. Nc"
Claim is a grocery store operator
IN D county road.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14

NEW YORK-Joyce Michael, a
little girl with a great big voice,
won $3.50 when she sang 90 Look
At Me Now" on Colgate, Spot
light" radio hour on WABC, coast
to coast.
Joyce, fifth grad student won
against 1,500 white grownups. For
five successive weeks on Thursday
she had to compete against a group
of 300.
But after each addition which
was held on the air, she emerged
one of four victors When the
final showdown came, the thousands
of phone calls, the letters and post
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
F00tIite.
.'FIickefs.
By ALVIN MOSES for AMP

NEW YoRK.--JACOB HOMER
TUTT, brother of the late beloved
Salem Tutt, has the finest collec-
ton of old line Negro performers
of the stage we've ever laid eyes
on: He has one shot of the "Oc-
toroons,'' sterling Negro stage act
of more than 40 years ago, that is
a la-la-pa loo sa, no foolin..
Homer tells you how that Broth
ers Tutt'' took under themselves
the handle of whitney" which
caused thousands here and abroad
to cal, them. SALEM TUTT
WHITNEY brothers. but that's too
swell a yarn to spiel here in this
garden. we'll save it against the
time when one OF OUR readers horns
in with a request for a theatre fea-
ture article. smart, eh, what?
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
S66TH OFFICER
TO SCHOOL

FORT DEVENS, Mass.-(ANP)-
First Lieut.. Wejay Bundara has
been detailed to pursue q gas Of
ficers training course at Edge
wood Arsenal, Md. The instruction
will begin June 9 and cover per
Iod of four weeks.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
SINGLE STUFF

Credit the Mills Brothers this
week with turning on rhythmic
heat Cor Decca. Their offel ings are
DOWN, DOWN DOWN and RIG
band backing. The first is plenty
A JIG JIG with Louis Jordan's
guilty, the second is faster and
hops, skipS ana jumps. Harry
James takes an old-time ttu 9. LA
PALOMA, and swings it on Colum-
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
A BROWN SAILORS
SWEETHEARTS

Now the sailor who sailed the seven
seas,
Can't always choose his girl.
Since my wandering feet Will not
appeaSe
But find strange lands and shores
without SurCeaSe
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14

RIBBON. An accordion accentU-
ates the tavern atmosphere.
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
BRIEF RREvITIEs IN A HURRY

Ethel Waters and her Cabin in
the Sky company arrived last
Tuesday from Chicago for the OPEN
ing of their run at the Philharmonic
beginning next week. Including Rex
Ingram, Earl Sydner and others
there are about 40 members in the
cast besides the New York and add
ed local singers. Thirty eight col
ored motion picture extras. trained
for colonial soldiers in Walter Wan
gers Shutdown" are ready to leave
for location in New Mexico ....
Sydney DoneS, ace realtor and form
er salient movie star, will surprise
local and national readers soon with
the announcement of a campaign
for an important political position
next election. . Helen Crozier from
New Orleans, latest and one of most
charming additions to the local
theatrical colony, thrilled the 1000
visitors at the runy Ely ranch
opening Decoration day, with her
Cuban rhumba, III genuine Havana
The Phoenix index., 1941-06-14
%ll[ll[][.3!!IlD
SsaksI sSXlZSsf1 21a{S

L meet French and Spanish and
Japanese
In the wake of the twin-screw'S
Whirl
For a man must have the flashing
smile,
Soft hands, sweet lips to taste
Finn, Malay, or Jap. time to beguile
Love at equator or iceberg's pile:
But 1 yearn for my own brown
girls meanwhile
In my own United States.
(n1initnn1A
Evening star., 1941-06-22
Comment.

BAITMoRE-persistent weather dampend in
ons improved slightly and held above last year. level
% xdn% s future commitments to include while
immediate requirements and fall needs was well
cH1cAGo-A sharp upum retail volume early this week fol-
to compare favoaby with 1910 Mdeason markets and forward ps
made for an excellent turnover at G9 M @ @ of About
employees heavy industry plants have agreed TO loeeo Va
sales seasonal
vance buying activity which held well above year
Bank clearngs were up 40 per cent from so @ @ ee an
immediate construction plant to double capacity
buying apparel the home to fn 1o ner
cent cain in sales over the previous trade showed in
20 cent over last year shoe mes were an f
IS per depends and more on ao
Do pn oUs at s4 6a units was the best 1887
cool nemnt sn wehher @ hsn in he
strong demand at wholesale ned turnover
very good pace has started on large carriage plant
which T pocf r spndns sustained trade
substantially higher than last year as seasonal
R k esined @ 60 per cent over year ago
in defense projects of grain were important IN e
ousVE TS Volume continues sharply than last
year cent better than sO WITH mems ems
promotions heavy felt in wholesale markets with sas
ce snnance TENS Considerable rain improved
with s1oOoOOo defense contract settled
three week strike of truck drivers led to some
SHORTAGES of seasonal merchandise but in the first half of June sales sales
better tan last IN WnoeSae
shipments m oans ana m ne @ supp d we're n d w Ne m ahoub
purchasing inability factories to take
dona commitments The steel rate slipped one point 10 OO per "
o capacity.
retail 10 to Is cent above last
seaSonay in the week
continued satisfactory well ahead OF last year
electrical equipment chemicals
Bank ceangs up 20 cent from 1910
steady expansion consumer buying carried retail
level comparison with last
Wholesalers of boots and
shoes report above 1870
Employment amounted to 2426 against 24l4l
last and 1882 last year.
YOUNGSTOWN merchants reported sales volume main
the latest week With
hearths the steel
high SO of capacity Fab
held operations at record rates.