The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1949-12-06
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department Jiee CluD came Al It's
own invitation and sang Jesus
Is Calling Today" John Kokoman.
a member of the choir. sang, Ave
Maria" which the gathering APP
parently approved of. Robert Msr-
rill. singing star Of radio. sang
The Lords Prayer" by Mallot.
Dayse Regenia Harding of the
Abyssinian choir sang "Steal
Away" The church's joint choirs
were under the direction of How
ard Dodson.
The principal address was made
by Mayor William O'Dwyer of New
York. who showed more emotion
than any other speaker. He called
Bajangles' death. ''the ending of an
era" After his brief speech.
o'Dwyer said. hoarsely. Goodbye,
Bill"
Noble Sissle recounted the hi
story of the Negro Actors Guild
and the part Bill Robinson had
played in 1t financially and other
wise. HE opened doors which had
never been opened before" sissle
said.
Ed Sullivan spoke on Robinson's
sincerity and of his race pride. He
told how Robinson had Dragged on
having lived to see such Negroes
as Ralph Bunche. Joe Louis and
Jackie Robinson excel in their
fields.
Cong. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.,
pastor of Abyssinian B ptist
Church, had the final say. He
recounted the life of Bill Robinson
from the time he ran away from
his native Richmond at the age of
seven to the day he turned pro-
fessional dancer. In early manhood,
while working as waiter at the
famous jefferson Davis Hotel in
Richmond. he met Marty Forlxin
and the lifelong friendship and
business of manager-dancer began.
1t did not end until last Friday
night.
Powell officially delivered the
euiogy on Robinson which included
the first days of real success in the
dancers life. They came during the
days Of the Broadway shows
Shuttle Along" and Lew Leslie's
'Blackbirds." Later he rose to
higher and greater fame in pic
lures with Shirley Temple in THE
Little Rebel" "Rebecca of Sunny
brook Farm" and others. His last
movie was opposite Lena Horne
in the starzstudded show. cabin
In the Sky"
1t was pointed out how
Robinson was noted for his
Staircase dance, which he
invented back in 1916. This
slgnalled his rise to tame In
that no other dancer had ever
attempted such. This became
his trademark all over the
world and found many imita-
tors In all lands.
And again the stars who had
known him best were there.
Blanche Galloway Jones, Andy
Kirk, ]. Marlowe Brown, Amos
and Andy, Lu Soil Schwart of
RKO. Jimmy Freeman. Jackie
Robinson, Jackie Petty. Alberta
Prim. AL Schact. Jimmy Rogers.
Jerry Baker, Eddie Jackson. Maur-
ice Rocco, Billy jackson, Freddie
Washington, William McAlvaine,
Tommy Hendricks, Calvin Jackson,
C. Lucketh Roberts. MAINTAIN Moor
land. Harry Suber. Allan Carelli,
Henry Dunn. Eubie Blake. Isabel
Taylor. Judge Redding, Adam
Clayton Powell ST., Ann Lewis
and Fred Hartman
Powell said that Robinson was
born on May rs, 1873, of former
slave parents, who died when he
was still boy An ex-slave grand
mother raised him and guided him
throughout his life. Robinson made
as high as $1,000 week and aver
aged $4,000 while working. His last
engagement was last year on
Broadway at the Capitol theatre.
The congressman-minister spoke
with much force when he said that
1t was the general opinion that
Bojangles was an Uncle Tom"
Powell said. Anyone who had that
impression. did not know Bill Rob-
inson."
Finally. whether this was the
ending of an era or the beginning
of one, Harlem watched its every
move. What 1t thought about Bill
Robinson was not shouted from the
housetops. Harlem just watched
the procession and the allied
events Over $4,000 of them walked
by his casket at the armory and
the balcony at Abyssinian was
crowded at 8 am. Monday.
Whether or-not it was curiosity,
they lined the streets and looked.
The children who were given a half
day off took full advantage to