The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-08-29
ROBSON

(t'htinued from page IL /:
Laughton is an unknown composer
who gets a chance 10 conduct one
OF his symphonies in Carnegie hall.
Wearing the coat. purchased from
pawn shop and many times too
small for him, Laughton mounts the
podium for his big moment. panics
the audience when every vigorous
movement OF his arms bursts n
seam in the garment. Inundated
when the audiences laughter
browns out his music. Laughton
tears off the garment. sits on the
podium to cry: is lifted up 10 re-
sumo his great music when the
regular conductor who gave him
his chance. rises conspicuously IN
his box. removes his coat, asks
Laughton 10 continue. Whereupon
every man In the audience. prob
ably with the relief OF centuries of
dress-coated misery, removes his
dress coat.
Edward G.. Robinson was the next
wearer OF the coat, mended now. to
a reunion OF his college class at
the swank waldorf. the psychology
being that the old environment
would reclaim n prodigal.
]. Carroll Mash encased his
handsome shoulders in the coat
next. In the role OF a robber OF a
swank gambling club. While flee
ing by plane to Mexico, Mash Is
forced to throw the coat overheard
when II catches fire and threatens
the plane. Forty three of the
s500 he stole were in the coat
pocket and here Is where we come
In
Said garment floats down. down.
down. yes, you guessed Il onto n
barren piece OF Dixieland where
Ethel Waters and Paul Robson are
farming.
Yep. it's regarded as mama FROM
"de Lawd," with proper ejacula-
lions OF thanksgiving and naive
wonder OF how much cold cash the
marina" amounted to. This ia de-
termined by the pillar OF wisdom
In the town. the preacher who IS
rascallay, gravel-throated "Roches-
ter"
Ominously waving down "Rey's"
proposals 10 take possession of the
entire $4,000, Esther" ethel
Waters). DEGREES that everyone in
the town should be given whatever
he prayed or wished for this Christ
mas Eve. Followed a traditional
church scene In which simple solk
sang spirituals, thanked sweet
Jesus" and begged the now mag
unanimous REV" for $500 fo-
"some vittles": $500 for coffin:
$4,000 for a brindle COW: si.OO for
a sling shot. AS one ungrammatl-
cal cynic remarks. "Ain't nobody
nowhere that dumb: everyone
knows the value OF money"
But the last dregs are yet 10 he
drunk. Every simple soul made
happy, there yet remains $4,000
which Rev" an unusually astu;e
individual for Hollywood Negro
suggests that he and Esther" and
peter" but Esther" forthrigh:
soul, mixes that.
Then they remember that one
per; n In the town hasn't been
consulted as to his wish. Old Chris
TOPPER. II old Christopher prayed
for the whole Al grand. he gets Il.
declares the hefty Esther" and
off the crowd troops to interview
the old gentleman.
Asked what he prayed for, Old
Christopher, the epitome OF every
humble virtue ever dreamed up.
crouching in a shanty over a fire.
coddling a beaten coffee pot 10 q
simmer. said he hadn't prayer FOR
anything because he had every
thing. Then he remembered: he
hadn't either. There wac one thing
and he drew his visitors to the
shanty's opening and babe them
look out where the crows lowered
above his meagre crops. A scare
crow. that's what he prayed for.
yes. he did. "A scarecrowl
SO. Joe hung the tail coat. the
finest ever made by Fifth avenues
finest tailor. on pair Of crossed
sticks: dedicated the $4,000 to
building a church and purchasing
a cooperative farm, struck up n
spiritual and the curtain came
down. Hollywood having doo-ed II.
but againl