St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-02-19

polished acting and the appar,
find the right type for the roll,
Bill Marshall 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 a controversy. Accord
ing to Jack O'Brian, television
critic for the New York Journal
American, Marshall was given his
walking papers because Of alleged
affiliation with number of pro-
Connie front groups. Word came
out from the station that Mar
shall, a towering actor, was un-
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 the show, II
left the air.
The reaction to Harlem Detec-
tive" was not one hundred per-
cent enthusiastic as far as Negro
TV viewers and even some men,
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 certain de-
gree of professional polish were
equally as loud in their criticism.
As a dramatic show. Harlem
Detective tried but failed to
establish the same informal
mood OF working rapport be
tween the two detectives that Is
characterized in "Dragnet." I'm
itation may be sincere form Of
flattery, but 1t can become
very dismal one when II Is han
died with mediocrity.
Richard Angarola, husband of
actress Hilda Simms, was one Of
most outspoken critics of the
show. In a telephone conversation
with this reporter, he made some
very acid comments on the fact
that the murderers portrayed
were always psychopaths. There
was little attempt made to por-
tray killers who did away with
victims for such everyday motives
for a good old-fashioned buck.
as greed, hate vengeance or desire
Edward Murrain, columnist
for the New York Age, wasn't
very happy about Harlem De-
tectiye" and didn't hesitate to
say so. All in all, Harlem De-
tective" while II may have tenn.
porarily improved the employ
ment outlook for Negro actors
was not successful In the at
tempt to prove their profession
al competency. With the excep-
ton Of a few excellent perform
ances by actresses such as Ruth
Attaway, Rosetta LeNoir and
several others, the diction, act
ing and general tone Of the
show was not up to par.
The fact that the show was I'M
sponsored and operating on a low,
low-cost budget might have been
responsible for the appearance Of
so many unknown names and
faces rather than established and
veteran names in the Negro act
ing fraternity.
Radio. which al the peak Of its
vogue couldn't find much for Me-
gro actors to do except cast them
in dialect servant roles Of the yas-
sub and yak-yak type, seems to
be becoming much more liberal
locally as II bows before the en-
croaching inroads of television-
Maurice Ellis and Juan Hernandez
who established themselves as the
top Negro radio major network
actors, because Of their excellent
diction and voice. haven't found a
place In television as yet.
National Negro Network
The appearance Of a National
Negro Radio Network via radio Is
being met with mixed reactions
The biurb In q local weekly news
paper TO the effect that Cab Cal