SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1941 THE PHOENIX INDEX, PHOENIX, ARIZONA

Can Canada Lee Take PresentWave Os Success As Bigger?Donates To Tuskegees Airport

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It was with absorbing interestthat I noticed his reception of the

enthusiastic admiration of friends&nd well-wishers after last Wed-!nesday night’s performance. His'dressing room was sQ crowded itwas impossible to move aroundcomfortably. Lee received hisadulation modestly; he treated hiscolored friends as warmly as bedid his white. The just white danc-ing star, Paul Draper, came in. Heextended his hand, and said hum-bly:

“I am Paul Draper, Mr. Lee. Icouldn’t, leave the theatre withoutcoming back to tell you what a sll-- (performance you and the en-tire cast gave. It was marvelous.”

There was true and sincere ad-miration in Drapes-’s voice, a fine

tribute from one great artist toanother. Canada Lee’s dressingtable is stacked with mail fromout-of-town, mail that is becomingmore voluminous every day. Thewalls of the dressing room areplastered jvith telegrams that in-clude practically every well-knownnames in show business.

All of this adulation is gratify-ing. but dangerous. So far Canadaha« kept his head; he’s the samefriendly, unaffected Canada Leehe’s always been. He works at aterrific emotional pace in the show

Wallace ThompsonAcclaimed In S. C.As Greater Singer

COLUMBIA, S. C.— . (ANP)

Wallace Thompson, native SouthCarolinian who has spent consider-able time in Boston studying voicetraining, and who appeared manytimes as soloist in “pop’’ concertsin Symphony Hall has returnedhere to give a series of concertsin various cities throughout thestate. His appearance at Benedictcollege Monday was highly praisedby music critics who have styledhim “The Musical Ambassador ofGood Will.”

The State, leading South Caro-lina daily, said of his concert: “Hissensibility and sincerity, liisachievement in the top musicalcircles of the East, his musician-ship, at times his fire and suchfeeling as he put into ‘homing’last night suggest that this is asinger who can be heard with en-joyment and profit. Members ofboth races should avail themselvesof the opportunity to hear himsing during his concerts in SouthCarolina in the next two months.

the campaign; Dr. G. Norman Adamson, a major;Daniel J. Faulkner, executive secretary; Mrs. JanetH. Waterford, a major; Col. John C. Robinson, Com-mander, Air Corps Division of the drive; Mrs. Clar-ence Browning, captain; L. Stainfield, member ofthe band, and Erskine Hawkins. Ilis entire aggre-gation was furnished with the special ’Skegee airportfund buttons, which indicated their support. (ANP).

Erskine Hawkins, who was visited back-stageat the Regal Theatre, Chicago, during liis recent en-gagement by this group of Tuskegee Airport Fundworkers, explains that “I am happy to make thisdonation towards helping to develop the first air-port to be sowned and controlled entirely by Ne-groes” In tli e photo are left to right, Capt. Sims, amember of the band; Mrs. Lucy Dunlap, a captain in

'Native Son Definitely InRace hor Best Play Awards

high. That play is still among thosebeing considered but “Son” is known ,to carry the greater weight of thetwo.

Last Tuesday night’s opening of“Watch on the Rnine” by LillianHeilman lias caused no little stiralso. Miss Heilman is rememberedfor her earlier success in "TheLittle Foxes” and “The Cliildren’sHour.’ While the play is not eligiblefor the memorial award, tlie othertwo are certainly within reach.

Not since Marc Connelly’s “GreenPastures” took the Pulitzer prizeseveral years ago has a Negro playwon an award. In fact, “NativeSon,” if successful in the balloting,will represent' the first time a Ne-gro author as well as play has wonthe distinction.

Says Prejudice

Lowers Calibre OsAir Entertainment

WASHINGTON—(A N P) Be-cause st>ong prejudices againstNegroes exit in all parts of thecountry ,it is pointed out by a largenational weekly magazine thatthose prejudiced whites are depriv-ing themselves of some of theworld when they.allow radio ad-greatest entertainment values inthe world when they allow radioadvertisers to cater to their whimsand foibles.

Citing the names of Ethel Wat-ers, Marion Anderson and DukeEllington as examples of copsamong Negro entertainers, themagazine points out that the radiolisteners are having their carspounded by an interior grade ofentertainment just because theprejudices of the minority whites,refuse to listen to high class Ne-groes perform.

The ridiculousness of the situa-tion is emphasized all the morekeenly when the radio complainsof not being able to furnish any-thing new in the way of radio

entertainment, whereas there is agold mine of material awaitingthe radio advertiser courageousenough to sell his sponsor, and asponsor corageous enough to ac-cept an all-Negro program.

Well enough to allow Negroes tohave sustaining time, but to getin the big money is a crime. Anoutstanding example of this is

1 the Southernaires who have the

record for continuous performanceon the air, yet no one is braveenough to sponsor the cleanest,highest type of Negro quartetever assembled.

OBSERVES 74THANNIVERSARY

CHARLOTTE, N. C—(ANP)

In commemoration of the 74t.h an-niversary of its finding, Johnson

! C. Smith university will observeFounder’s Day in a special cele-bration to be held April 17. Dr.

; J. Henry Highsmith, director ofthe division of instructional serv-ice. state department of education,

is to make the principal address.

Drama Critics Circle and

Pulitzer Prizes To Be Given

thor produced in New York.” Thishonoree is expected to be announcedThursday.

The committee on award s at Co-

lumbia university has extended thedeadline for the opening of playsto be considered by them for thePulitzer prize. Just what they ex-pect is not known although they,too. may have the desire to seeSaroyan’s latest. They usually an-nounce award s on May 5.

To say that “Native Son,” adaptedto stage by Paul Green and Rich-ard Wright from the latter’s best-selling novel, is Definitely in therun is expressing no personal opin-ion but rather the view of almost allprofessional critics of the theater.Os course, prior to the Wright hit,“Lady in the Dark” the Sam Behr-man fantasy, had been rated pretty

NEW YORK CITY (ANP)

With the local theatrical seasonglowing to a close, that is for thepresentation of new plays, tlie threehard at work to determine whichlending prize committees are alreadyplay by an American author shallreceive the laurels of the New YorkDrama Critics circle, the nocl fromthe Playwrights company and thePulittzer prize.

The Drama Critics circle is wait-ing until after April 21 when Wil-liam Saroyan’ g

“The Beautiful Peo-ple,” opens. Saroyan won last year’sPulitzer prize with this “'The Timeof Your Life,” but turned down themoney.

Tlie Sidney Howard Memorialprize of $1,500 is awarded annuallyby the Playwrights group for “Thebest first play by an American au-

j RATING THE RECORDS !t \

By FRANK MARSHALL DAVIS(For ANI*)

PAPA AGAIN HELPS MERCERPapa Duke again turn s all his

brilliancy on two new tune s by SonMercer on Victor, Blue Serge andJumpin’ Punkins, and the result isfar happier than the recent initialeffort. In fact, they sound as ifDuke had a hand in the writing.The first side is another smoothmood piece loaded with weirdchords while the second is a jit-terbug jamboree in the category of"Jack the Bear” but slower. A knockout disc Sounds as if Jimmy Dor-sey is working on a hit a week policyfor Decca. He's got another gem.When The Sun Comes Out, a sax-sational slow number with HelenO’Connell warbling in a torchy vein,and YOURS, done in the “Ama-

pola’s manner with Bob Eberiy andHelen singing.

Cootie Williams’ growl trumpetadds plenty to the excitingly ar-ranged Benny Goodman Columbiaof OH LOOK AT ME NOW, andthere are Benny’s clarinet andGeorge Auld’s tenor to lend addedlustre. Fiipover is LAZY RIVER, aslow bounce Not even LenaHorne’s throaty vocal can saveCharlie Barn.ct’ s Bluebird of Cap-tain And His Men, a kid tune. Noris tlie turnover. Birmingham Break-down, more than mediocre.. .Aftertheir horrible “Take a Letter MissBrown,” the Ink Spots come backstrongly in their best commercialvein on the Decca of You’re Look-ing For Romance and We’ll MeetAgain

Fats’ Waller Bluebird version ofShortin’ Bread is like no otheryou’ve, heard. He cooks it to a jump3sd provides juicy jive lyrics. Com-panion piece is MAMACTTA, Span-ish-flavored bounce in which theRound One massages electric organ....Les Brown has an Okeh so hotit smokes in Beau Night In Hot-chkiss Corners. Strictly tempo de

gutbucket, Les gets in a solid grooveat the start and there he stays.He also does an outstanding jobon tlie other side, CELERYSTALKS AT MIDNIGHT. Fineclarinet on both sides....Me nolike particularly the Bluebird ofDon’t Leave Me Now and Southby Two Guitars and a Bass. A bithill-billyish.

Assisted by the up and comingDelta Rhythm Boys Mildred Baileysings When That Man Is Dead AndGone for Decca, written about Hit-ler, and JENNY, a tale about thatqueer gal. Tile boys and Mildredsing together well and other rec-ords are awaited. Too bad the restof CHANTEZ LAS BAS by ArtieShaw doesn’t mer.sure up to thefine first two choruses which havea good blue? feeing. Fiipover cnthis Victor ’is DANZA LUCUMI. alumba in which his strings aremore at home Glenn Miller’sBluebird of IDA has a slow, solidrock and many strong points inhis best hot manner. Companionpiece is IT’S ALWAYS YOU, sweetcommercial nuhiber.

Best Andy Kirk platter in manymoons pairs CUBAN BOOGIEWOOGTE with RING DEM BELLSon Dccca. Mary Lou Williams’ pianois thrilling cn both sides and theband gets a Jot of real Kansas Citydrive into the performances. Ten-or and guitar score on “Bells”The bounce on Will Bradley’s Co-lumbia of IT'S SQUARE BUT ITROCKS is terrif. Tliis is jitbugstuff, and Freddie Slack pounds amean keyboard Coupled is Prairie-land Lullaby, the pop time.. Allin ad, Alvi.no Rey's Bluebird ofWILLIAM TELL is his best plotterto date. The first part starts off

in a mellow groove that' unfortun-ately isn’t maintained. Part il isfaster. There’s fancy work on bothand enough interesting music tomake it worth your while.

Snapped hy tlie cameraman just after Dr, Fred-erick A. Koch, director of liramaties at the Univer-sity ol’ North Carolina, Chapel Hill, inspected thenew headquarters oi the Little Theatre Guild of Ben-nett College (Greensboro, N, C.), seen in the back-ground. now under construction. The Little Theatreis a wing of the Annie Meaner Pfeiffer Chapel, the

Miss Elveta Feemster,

Versatile YoungMan Unaffected

NEW YORK—(ANP) —Can Canada Lee take in stride thepnenominal success that lias come his way ot/ernieht since theopening of “Native Son”?

Seldom lias a Broadway actor been catapulted to the top withthe ianfare accorded Lee for his sterling performancte as BiggerThomas in the stage production of the Richard Wright best-seller.Every newspaper and dramatic critic in town has heaped honorson Canada for his portrayal ot the most difficult role assigned toan actor on the Broadway boards this season. He is the talk ofNew "York, an c j his dressing room backstage at the St. James•heatre is a veritable mecca for some of the. biggest names in showbusiness; thy all come to praise this versatile man who'iris been prize fighter, singer, musician, song writer, radio and mo-tion picture actor.

i because he’s in every scene. Thereare n 0 intermissions; just 10 epi-

j scries carried straight through. He| lives every minute of the role, car-

ries his audience completely away.He is Bigger Thomas so complete-ly that the intensity of his (per-

formance is a superb and yet aterrible thing to see. The emo-tional strain plus the public clam-

or. would be trying even to a vet-eran performer.

I believe that Canada Lee willcome through like the fine actorand trouper he is. Everybody inshow business is pulling for himhere in New York. His friends,fellow-performers and pals aretrying t Q guard him' with everyinch of loyalty in them. He knowsil and appreciates it.

Right now, his best relaxationfrom the emotional strain of hisiwork, !S his chicken shack on West j136th street. ,iust off Lenox avenue. |in Harlem. On the nights when Ih "isn’t too tired, Canada come up-1town with a party of friends andamuses himself by playing the pi-ano for his customers, singing, orclowning like a big kid. Betweentimes, he greets _patrons, makesthem welcome to the restaurant.He receives the unknowns as en-thusiastically as he does the celeb-rities who ar e making his place a(rendezvous these days. He’s agrand guy, this Lee.

Plan SectionalBridge Tourney

NEW YORK—(ANP)—Prepara-tions for two sectional bridgetournaments are going forward forMay under the auspices of theAmerican Bridge association, itwas announced Monday by ArthurR. CUriel, executive secretary ofthe association. The first of theseis the eastern, to be held here onMay 3—4. The midwestem is sched-uled for Cleveland for May 31 andJune 1.

Sectional championships aretournaments that rank next in ini- ,portance to national championships Iand are held under the collaborat-ing sponsorship of all regional jgroups within a section with the jsectional vice president for the ABAacting as general chairman. Na- !tional master points are awarded inthese events on a basis of one-halfthe similar awards in the nationalchampionships.

Henry Armstrong in this photograph made lastsummer during a visit to the “Hot Mikado” showat New York’s World Fair might well have been ipracticing up for his future career, for announce- /

nient came Thursday that IVPr. Armstrong will make

Peabody Award Given ForR* dal Understanding Service

CLEVELAND—(ANP) - “Wings ;Over Jordan” originated by the (Rev. Glenn T. Settle has beennamed by the National Association iof Broadcasters as instrumental inattaining for the Columbia Broad-casting system and radio station iWGAR in Cleveland the George ]Foster Peabody Radio awards for“outstanding meritoriu s public ser-vice” in the broadcasting industry 1during 1940.

This announcement was made byS, V. Sanford chancellor of the Uni- iversity of Georgia at a dinner imeeting at the Commodore hotel in

New York on March 30. Immediate- 1ly following the announcement Rev. !Settle was notified of the recogni- ]tion given/liis organization. <

The basis for the award was the 1public service which “Wings Over iJordan” is rendering through tirepresentation of outstanding speak-ers on topics of inter-racial interest 1on its regular Sunday morning pro- c

gram, and foi the understandingof Negro music arranged by WorthKramer, white conductor and ar-ranger for the cliou- .

The Peabody award for outstand-ing public service in the broadcast-ing industry was designed as a com-parable award to the Pulitzer prizefor journalism.

According to Dr. Sanford, theCBS was selected among the net-

works for offering a schedule ofbroadcasts which combined com-merical and sustaining programs insuch ways as to constitute a struc-ture definitely in the public in-terest. Among the sustaining pro-gram;, “Wings Over Jordan,” is aprogram series of distinction broad-

cast by CBS in the interest of re-ligion, education and interracialunderstanding.

Among other factors stationWGAR in Cleveland was namedfor the Peabody award for its suc-cess in serving the diverse interests

FOOTLITE FLICKERS(By ALVIN MOSES for ANP)

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NEIW YORK—-CARLTON MOSS,young playwright associated with

Harlem’s Negro players receives

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I the swell bunch of flowers this col-umn gives to some artist each weekfor the grand job he did in writingthe pageant in which PAULROBESON appeared, Sunday, afortnight ago, a GOLDEN GATEBALLROOM.... JOHNNY BA-BONES, owner of the outstand-ing night spot in Manhattan’sHarlem (Elks Rendezvous), fea-tures in his brand new floor showsuch well known performers as....EDNA SOAREA, cubvacious andserpentine dancer after the fashionof the incomDftrable Katherine

Dunham, BEVERLY WHITE,igacious chanteuse, PAULINEJOHNS .. comedy song and dancespecialist, and the THOMPSONBROTHERS, tap dancers delux...THE DELTA RHYTHM BOYS(Otho Gaines, bass; Clinton. Hol-land, first tenor. Traverse Craw-ford, second tenor, Harry Lewis,baritone), took the 90 per c*»"t |white audience at LOEWS STATETHEATRE two weeks ago, by com-plete storm few acts in thehistory of the famous theatrehave been' accorded the receptionand arranger who bow.s to few inthe theatrical profession.. APOL-

LO THEATRE after all otherhouses have carried GONE WITHTHE WIND will bring it to Har-lem again seems to us as if hasbad more than its share of HattieMcDaniel stalling vemcie....

lot of fans wrote letters in voicing

sentiment similar to that, of youi jfavorite commenthtor CANADALEE, “Bigger Thomas” of NA-TIVE SON is reported to be re-ceiving the following salary scalefor tlie DICK WRIGHT-OR SONWELLS opus $250 for firstsix weeks $350 for tlie iol- ,

lowing four weeks, and ..SSOOweekly thereafter make a bil-lion, Canagata, you can’t make yourwell wisher of years angry Hol-lywood comic actor LIONELSTANDER, SAVED Native Son at !

last minute by sticking in oomkvdough-, thass all.

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cornerstone in which will be laid on Friday, April18, when the new Carrie Barge residence hail willbe dedicated. Seen in tlie picture are officers andmembers of the Guild. Reading from left to right,they are: Hattie Taylor, New’ Rochelle, N. Y.; ViolaBrown, Batavia, Ohio; Helena Jacobs, Bridgeport,Conn.; Dr. Koch, Miss Erostine Coles, director, and

, Winston-Salem.

Maybe He Was Practicing For New Career

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/his debut as an orchestra master of ceremonies on

April 20. Henry win tak e over the baton for DonRedmond’s orchestra at New York’s Palm Gardens.Jack Dempsey is scheduled to be on hand to wishHenry well on his new earectr.

News Os The TheatresCite ‘Wings Over Jordan 9

For Radio Public Serviceand widely different cultural back-grounds of greater Cleveland, forits program, Wings Over Jordan,begun five years ago to bring abouta better understanding between thowhite and colored peoples of Cle-veland.

‘WINGS’ TO RECORD FORCOLUMBIA

CLEVELAND--(ANP) "WinggOver Jordan,” spiritual choral groupwhich has attracted nationwide at-tention for their broadcasts and fortheir work on tlie concert stage,Thursday signed a contract for ex-clusive recordings with the Colum-bia corporation. Wings Over Jor-dan will be assigned to the Colum-bia Mastenvorks series accorling toMoses Smith, Columbia director ofMaster works.

The recording date has not beendefinitely decided, but it will besometime after the choir completesits next concert tour, April 22.

Cab Calloway isSigned For HotelSherman’s SpotRoyal Highness of Hi De Ho, CabCalloway, is going to shift his king-dom to the podium of the PantherRoom of Chicago’s Hotel Shermanfor four week s beginning May 30.Cab has been booked into the fa-mous Windy City Hotel and will fol-low such top nctchers as Bob Cros-by, Jan oavitt and Charlie Barnet.

This will mark the first time thatCob has played a hotel engagemeni

, in Chicago. However Chicago is notunlcown to Calloway. Cab broke in-to shew business in Chicago a lit-tle over ten years ago, when lie ap-peared at the old Sunset Caie, onthe south side, as master of cere-monies and singer. It was at theSunset, while sitting in on thedrums with the regular orchestraduring jam sessions that gave Cabthe idea of -orming his own or-chestra.

Cab’s most recent Chicago ap-oearance s have been at the State-Lake Theatre, m the Loop. Cab hasappeared there three times withinthe past 18 months a record forthat theatre, and each appearance’sgross has been higher than pre-vious ones.

In addition to bringing his bandinto the Sherman Hotel, Cab willalso present his own revue whichwil! be patterned after the showspresented at New York’s CottonClub.

Paul Robeson ToBe New ‘Porgy’

WASHINGTON— (ANP) —When“Porgy and Bess,” the Gershwinoperetta is revived in May it willhave Anne Wiggins Brown in thesame role in which she won lame,but new lead will take the rolacreated by Todd Duncan, PaulRobeson, also a strong indicationthat the Theatre guild will revivethe play for a fall presentationthroughout the country.

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