The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-05-13

| {. O
THE
TOWN
By
RUSS COWANs

SNe~~~~es~Nr>~>~S>~s~>
Raymond Shorty Rhodes was
reminiscing the other day ana
his still nimble mind streamed back
over the years that he has been
shining the boots Of those who have
,raversed St. Antoine street. :.
And II suddenly whistled through
his mind that he had been cutting
boots since back in 1919. Shorty
figures that during that time he has
polished enough leather TO keep the
American Army moving for the
next year However, Rhodes
failed TO mention one OF his famed
qualities. Hes probably the
only living human who can sleep
while standing erect and. be-
lieve it or not. Shorty will not fall
as he sways back and forth like a
willow tree under the whip Of a
strong wind.
Bill (Bojangles) Robinson tried
futilely to convince Frank Barbera.
owner Of the BOwery nitery, that he
should lower the bars of racial dis
elimination and permit some OF
Bits friends to visit the spot and
see the show. But Barbera was
adamant. and refused to concede to
Bills request. coming up with this
question: DO you want to run the
joint" Bill not only refused to re-
main the two weeks. but told friends
that he did not want another en-
gagement at Barbera's spot.
The Patrons OF Arts are charting
plans for membership drive 10 be
launched during the early weeks OF
June and chairman OF the COM
mittee through the difficulties OF the
| campaign will be competent little
woman-Mrs Urgie West, veteran
of numerous political campaigns,
and one we'll versed in the proceed
ure OF rallying all forces for a
united effort. Jay Eddie Ed
wards. daddy OF those scint.llating
young Edwards sisters. top tap dam
GERS, who will open at the new
Howard Hughes Downtown" thea
t tire with Tommy Dorsey is deeply
concerned about obtaining roof
over his head when he and his fam
! lily arrive in town next week.
Knowing the difficulties OF obtaining
place of abode. Eddie has written
10 most Of his friends
John Perkins does not forget faces
easily. He was on the same
train was riding coming back from
New Orleans. riding as far as Mem
phlS but ! did not meet him.
However. he approached me
the other dsy and said: Didn't you
ride the train from Grenada, Miss,
TO Memphis. one day, two weeks
ago." Incidentally. Perkins re-
vealed that he VIII soon be married.
although he did not reveal the name
Of the young woman. The pill
fering OF the % calibre rifles from
Brewster Recreation center last
week has hampered the work OF
Clarence Gatlife's rifle student.
Theodore Roane. brother OF Irving
Roane. co-owner OF the Gotham no.
toll, has returned from n long So
journ in Mexico. ITS a great coun-
try" he said and man feels like
4 man down there DR.. 5. II. {.
! Owens said the same when he re-
turned last March following a CO.
day stay in the land OF the hot
tamales
Mary Frances williams. five-year-
old daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Harry
Williams, Is purxling neighbors and
friends with her precociousneSs.
Although she has never been In
school room. Mary Is able TO quote
from history. spell like a high school
student. and rattle of other infor-
nation that's startling. She's
been doing this since she was IL
months old, states Mamma Will
liams. and without urging. So
don't be surprised II Mary turns out
10 he Detroits little prodigy.
John Wood. who use 10 be the
architect of this column before CO.
ing TO Cincinnati to edit the sheet in
that far city. put through a long
distance telephone call this week
to let the Chronicle staff know that
he's doing very we'll, thank you
and that he was headed for Louis
VILE sometime this week. RAY
Tond Thatcher Of the Detroit Urban
league. and Gloster Current Of the
Detroit branch Of the NAACP. are
running dead heat 10 acquire the
title OF being the busiest man in the
city They can get around TO
more meetings than any two
fellows