Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-02-19

find the right type for the role
BIn MaFuhall Unsuitable
Hollywood actor Bill Marshall
was finally put into the role only
to be yanked from the cast after
several performances. His exit
stirred up q controversy. Accord
ing to Jack O'Brian, telsvision
critic for the New York Journal
American, Marshall was given his
walking papers because Of alleged
affihation with a number OF pro-
Connie front groups. Word came
out from the station that Mar
shall. a towering actor. was UNI
suitable for the role because he
dwarfted the other members Of
the cast, particularly the white
detective who looked like one Of
the Rover boys playing Oman in
contrast to the huge Marshall. At
a press conference In Harlem, fol-
lowing his dismissal from the cast
Marshall repeatedly stated that
he had affiliated himself only
with groups he thought were mill
family progressive IN advancing
the cause Of the Negro.
Two weeks after Marshall
wAs bounced from tho show, u
left the AIR.
The reaction 10 Harlem Detec-
tive" was not one hundred per-
cent enthusiastic N far az Negro
TV viewers and even some mem
bers Of the local weekly press were
concerned. Some Harlemites who
take the approach that anything
done by Negroes must necessarily
be commendable, were loud In
their acclaim. Others who prefer
to see Negro effort at advance
ment accompanied by a certain de-
gree Of professional polish were
equally as loud in their criticism.
Az q dramatic show, Harlem
Detective" tried but failed 30
establish the same informal
mood Of working rapport b :
tween tire two detectives that h
characterized In "Dragnet." I'm
ItAtion may Be . sincere form Of
Flattery, but Il can become .
very dismal one when 10 n han
died with medlOeFity.
Richard Angarola, husband Of
actress Hilda simms. was one OF
most outspoken critics OF the
show. In Q telephone conversation
with this reporter. he made some
very acid comments on the fact
that the murderers portrayed
were always psychcpaths. There
was little attempt made TO por-
tray killers who did away with
victims for such everyday motives
for q good old-fashioned buck.
as greed, hate vengance or desire
Edward MuFTAln, eolumnist
for ire New YORK. Age, WASN'T
very happy about Harlem Do
tectivc" and didn't hesitate %
say 20. An In an. "HnRlsm DE-
tective" uhIls % may have tenn
porarEly improved TIE employ
ment outlook for Negro actors
wns not aucceaaflll IN TIE st.
tempt 10 prove their prOsessio8-
al eompetesey. WIN TIE exeep-
ton % . frw exceIIent perform
ancea by ACTRESSES such ~ Ruth
Attaway. Rosetta LeNoiF and
several others. tie dIction. act-
ing and general tone % ths
show WnS not up % par.
The fact that the show was un-
sponsored and operating On . low,
IOw-cost budget might have been
responsible for the appearances Of
% many unknown names and
faces rather than sstAblahsd and
veteran names IN ths Negro act
ing fraternity.
RADIO, which at the peak Of tn
vogue couldn't ind much for Ne
gro actors 10 DO except cast them
IN dialect servant roles Of the yas-
sub and yak-yak type, seems 10
Be becoming much more Hberal
locally a. Il bOws before ne en-
eruach1ng lnroads q tslsytaon
Mauries EIlls and Juan HernandsG
who sstabhahed thsmsslvu1 - ths
Top Negro radio major nstwUSk
actors. bscauss % Glaeir exrailsnt
dicti0n and voice. havent fOun1 .
place IN talsvinaon a. yet
NaaAsmAl heEsO Noswosk
Ths appsarancs % q National
Negro RadAo Msfw0rk VIA raalo b
bsa1g net win n-txsd rsaefioas.
1hs bauFb n . locAl wes11y nswD-
paper % tAa sffse4 SAAt Oh CD
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