The Miami times., 1952-09-06
Let's Look And Listen
By GEORGE DANIELS FOR AMI

Handy's at it again: Forty-three years ago. w. c.
Handy wrote political for the mayor of Memphis
titled "Mr Crump" And Crump got elected.
Not song writing anymore the est Louis Blues"
composer busy publishing promising tunes and has
come up with flairing dtty called "Hike With Ike,
meaning Gen. Eisenhower and Sen. Nixon The song was
written by Jack Gould and has most of Lncolns Getys
burg address mixed within the frame work
Whether not this song will usher in new era is
hard to forecast 43 years ago Mr Crump did After
the election Handy changed "Mr Crump" to the Mem
ph Bues which ushered in jazz and changed the course
of popular music in America.
so DAY DEADLINE: One of the few Negro owned
and Negrooperaed radio stations planned for Kansas
City within the next 80 days Station is KPRS recently ac
qured by the Twin City Advertising Agency Inc
LESTER GOESSOUT: Three weeks ago this column
beat the Scoop and aired the opinion that not only was was
TV program Saturday Night Dance Party but suggested
that NC Jerry Lester should quit televson and par
take some other occupation less demanding OF talent
Well in the Sept 10 issue of Down Beat coumnist Leon
ard Feather supplied that profession for Lester Feather
said Lester should quit elevslon fly to ARABIA and WORK
as an umbrella salesman.
THOSE WHO HAVE AND HAVE NOT: People
without elevson sets TV programs almost as often as
people who own the-in Washington, that is query OF
over $40 Capital residents revealed that set owners aver
age 16k per week watching TV while non-set own
average IL hours per week at the homes OF rleno
"PORGY AND BESS" AND A WASHINGTON GAL
What about Porgy and Bess abroad? Even though has
two of the counys greatest singing stars and boasts
cast of greats is it masterpiece of ignorance? WE'LL
Washington woman down DC way seems to think so. In
quote):
T question the intent of those responsible for sending
Porgy and Bess Europe. Is this opera worthy and
combative to communist propaganda Does not
say in reality and effect that people, pitifuly de-
praved and ascvous those portrayed in this vehicle
deserve the castgaton of second rate citizenship!
T dare say few Europeans know that there are thou
sands of Negroes who of the moral religious and
cultural calibre as their white (worthy) brothers.
"Why then should this masterpiece OF ignorance,
superstition and immortality be shown to the people of
Europe? It nearly the purpose of kndng the
fires of prejudice against Negroes. Unfortunately the
classic beautiful immortal music of George GershWln
does not hide the bizarre story We deeply resent being
stereoyped America and equally resent the possibility
and inherent danger of such stigma being placed on us
abroad" (unquote and thank God The parenthess are
mine. ,
Had this writer ever been abroad, then she would
never have fear the stigma she refers to being detrl
mental to the Negro Had she learned logic, ethics
and race relations Cor human reatons then she would
have no fear of the smashing folk opera being ship
ped to foreign shores.
"Porgy and Bess' stars two of the most promising
singing stars on the American William Warhed,
fresh new scntang baritone and Leontyne Price the
young soprano who supasses all previous per1or-
mances of the "Bess role.
The most objected scenes to this GershwlnH Hayward
production probably the gambling and the fire.
uuence of inference to Yet through all OF this, all
Negro lavishy mounted production has acclaimed ap-
plause from the best of the nations critics in Kansas City,
Chicago, Dallas and Washington.