Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1953-01-10
TheatricaIIy
Yours
By RIA BARLEY

DIRK played a most successful dance
engagement on Christmas Day in
Elizabeth, Pa. From there he wow
ed the folks in Cleveland at a
dance, and then opened at Gleason's
Show Bar on December 20 for a
week. Then the group went to
Toronto, Canada where they open
ed at the Colonial starting January
5, for one week. Then Hodges will
take his smooth ork to Buffalo
for dance engagement.
After Buffalo, Hodges will come
back to New York City where he'll
spent two days recording for Mer-
curry, and among the numbers he
will record will be this writer's
tune: Laugh. On January Is,
Hodges opens up at Baltimore's
Royal Theatre, January %, dance
in Alexandria, Virginia, January
26th he will start weeks engage
ment at Pops Musical Bar in
Philadelphia, and on February >,
will open at the Top Hat in Boston.
So. Mister Hodges begins a busy
1858.
MGM Records row has gone all
on, in the rhythm and blues field.
Beginning this month, according
to an announcement by MGM
Prexy, Frank Walker, the diskery
will release several RIB" sides
per month. This field has some
very fine artists, such as Basil
Spears.
One of the greatest figures in
the field of jazz music headed a
sparkling holiday revue at Har-
LENS tabled 125th Street Apollo
Theatre during the eight-day per-
iod which included both Christmas
and New Years. 1t was the great
Louis Armstrong and his cele-
brated all-star band, a group which
! includes some of the greatest en-
tertainers in the world such as,
Velma Middleton, Cozy Cole, Arvel
Shaw, Bob McCracken, Marty Ma
polean and Trummy Young. AS a
special feature in the show, Louis
played a medley of Christmas
songs, many of which he has re-
corded in the Armstrong manner.
His supporting cast included the
celebrated arranger, Sy Oliver and
his band, MAINTAIN Moreland Char
lie CHAINS sidekick) and Bud Har-
ris (Buelah's boy friend) and the
two Kit Kats. AS an extra added
attraction, there was nine year-old
Leslie Uggams, child singer who
has been heralded as the greatest
musical find in years.
"The Thief" the unique United
Artists release in which not a word
is spoken, is the number one box
office hit in the nation, according
to the National Box Office Survey
made this week by Variety, the
show business publication Jone
James MGM platter of "Why Don't
You Believe Me" is still the num-
Der one song in the nation. The
rapid success of 21-year-old Joni,
an aspiring ballet dancer turned
singer, is further evidence (if any
| more be needed) of the genie-likc
powers of a best-selling record. On
the wings OF. one high flying sau-
Ger, her MGM waxing of "Why
Don't You Believe Me-" Joni has
sored to lucrative heights. Only one
year ago, the petite songstress re-
| ceived $3.50 as a finalist in
Pittsburgh Copa talent contest
Then came her MGM smash and
zoom she's booked into the
same night spot at one hundred
times that amount $4,000 week..
That was four weeks ago. Today,
her asking price" has shot TO
$1,000. and she's booked we'll into
1868, at that figure. Joni is the
hottest thing to come the MGM
way since "Mr. B."
Billy Taylor and his Trio have
moved from the Downbeat CLUB
to New York's Copa Lounge =.
Duke Ellington at Chicago's Blue
Note Tommy Edwards will
break as one of the top vocalists
in 1868. Frank Walker, MGM's
president is very pleased with our
Tommy.
Attention Izzy Rowe, AL Monroe,
f. B. Rea and all theatrical edi-
tors throughout the nation: This
writer will bring you info about
how a big-time promoter trys to
freeze the Negro "out of the pic
ture."
| On Thursday evening, January
/, 1858 from 1000 to 1920 PM.
over the CHS radio network, Lucky
Strike Cigaretts presented Horace
Heidi with a cast of 40 outstand-
ing artists in "The American Way"
This was the first in a series of
Thursday evening broadcasts. The
formal of "The American Way" is
similar to that Mr.. Heidi has used
heretofore, namely, presenting
fresh, young talent which he per-
sonally has discovered throughout
the country, and giving them their
;,,;t;o1 ctort on tho road m ctar-