New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 20

PAGU TT7ENTT Tht PittsbzrzH Courier rates UP By BILLY OH NEW YORK CITY, Feb. 23 Lew Leslie, who brought to life on Broadway, last Saturday evening, his sixth attempt in the creation of an entertainment that was colorful, fast and different, in the form of, his once famous "Black birds," awoke Sunday morning to discover that his week long struggle was nothing but a bad dream and his hopes for a success had turned into nothing but a ghost that would do well not even to haunt Broadway on its darkest night. Opening laat Saturday night to a packed but critical audience, the revue, in a sense, was good enter tainment, but not for $3.60, or in the minds of those men on the aisles who most times are the difference between success and failure. With the exception of Robert Coleman, of the Daily Mirror, every critic in the business wrote that "Blackbirds" had litUe to offer and summed it up with the belief that it would be but a short time before it returned to the warehouse. In the case of each performer whom Leslie cast for bis show, he or she worked hard and knew his staff, but the show lacking in its presentation of "sock" material, gave them nothing, to work with.

The last day of showing for the ill fated revue came into being Saturday afternoon during the maUnee. At that time, Herbert Whyte, founder of the LIndy Hoppers, sought out Lew Leslie and asked that his troupe be paid or given some part of the salary which they had coming. Leslie did not have the cash and Whyte's group formed a sit down strike on the stage and refused to let the curtain go up. After much plead ing on, the part of Leslie, who promised the Hoppers $100 before the night show, the group allowed the matinee to go on. After the afternoon showing.

Leslie, it Is said, gave Whyte $75 of the promised $100, and Whyte consented to let his act work the evening show. Notwithstanding, tb executives of the Hudson Theatre refused to sell anyone tickets after the earlier performance as they too were In the red with the producer. Aside from the money paid the LIndy Hoppers, the other members of the revue, including the band. with the exception of Equity members who received' a check, were not paid. Daily Rehearsals Prepare Band For Musical "Battles MIAMI, FlaM Feb.

23 It's all work and no play for Hartley Toots and his boys who are in daily rehearsals since their recent return from their most successful tour with the "Dixie to Harlem" revue. Starting in Jacksonville on March LILY YUEN'S SISTER DIES SAVANNAH, Ga Feb. 23 Mrs. Jennie Webb, sister of Lily 'Pon top" Yuen and Li bo Yuen, died here at her home, 612 W. Broad street, on February 2.

Libo, who was in Honolulu at the time of her sister's death, flew by plane to San Francisco in order to arrive here in time for the final rites, i In addition to Lily and Libo, Mrs. Webb is survived by her mother, Mrs. Josie Pontop Yuen; her husband Jim Webb; suiter, Edna Mingo of New York and a brother, Tonimie Yuen, also of New York. Floyd Ray's Band. Signed of Decca NEW YORK CITY, Feb.

23 Culminating a year of negotiations. Floyd Ray and his orchestra were signed last week to an exclusive recording contract by Decca Rec ords. Deal calls for minimum of 43 sides to be made over a tw year period. the summer, but listen fellows, bring some places to work with you Ehrlean Saunders is solidly sent over Juan Florer's playing and singing was noticed one ayem at the Chicken Shack where Eddie Plicque paid the bills Plkque is a sportsman from the heart Billie Russell, acknowledged the best manicurist, in town and now at Webb's shop on South Parkway, seems to be in love with the following song hits "Get Out of Town," Prisoner of Love. "I've Had My Moment." and "Black and Blue" and for what reason, I wouldn't be knowing So, now that you know that this pillar has taken over, a final line will say Caution! Going out! Ted I Watson 450 East 45th Place, oeSL "AFTER A BROADWAY ROWE COOPER REVUE GOES TO ROYAL BALTIMORE, Md Feb.

23. The Royal Theatre which; turned its back on its once existing vaudeville policy ages ago for a straight picture bill with Bingo and the rest of the games of chance thrown in to attract, the masses, gave up many of those tricks this week to present Ralph Cooper and i his all star colored revue to local theatregoers Appearing with Cooper on this much needed bill of flesh entertainment are Jimmy Basquette, Baby Scruggs. Ristina Banks and her dancing chorus, Putney Dand ridge. Flash and Dash, John La Rue and Buddy Johnson's orchestra. BALTMOR Swing Band Plays Funeral Dirge As Musician Is Buried In an interview with Herbert Whyte Sunday night, it was learned that eome of those not pald would have received some compensation had they taken the same stand he did about his act, but instead, they took him to task for holding up the show and 'demanding what was rightfully his.

14, the Toots aggregation. will begin a scries of 'battles," i which will take them all through the South. This, series is expected to keep them busy until early. April when they will, under the guidance of the Associated Promoters with offices in the Rockland Palace Building, this city, begin their coast to coast tour, playing all the leading clubs and theatres and ballrooms. Featured with Hartley Toots will be "Snookum" Russeli, sensational scat singer; Ruble Blakey, em cee; Bernard Brown and little George Kelley.

FAMOUS DAUG ACT OF TIP TAP ACJD TOE PARTED AT HEIGHT OF ITS GLORY Billed among the: greatest dancing teams on stage or screen separation of boys creates much controversy in theatrical circles throughout the country. by blllle rowe NEW YORK CITY, Feb. 23 Tip, Tap and Toe, one of the greatest and most sensational dancing teams on the! American stage today, came to the parting of the ways here last week for reasons which no member of the superb team would disclose to the press. The breaking up of so fine an act is causing wide controversy throughout the entire theatrical world. According to several personal friends of the team, the present break has been pending for several months.

Announced in the columns of the Courier: early, this year, it was readily denied by other papers of the country and for a while the trio continued along their smooth show sailing route. Then last week In shocking reali GREATEST ALTO SAXOPHONIST ipv 7Jv VAi'V' 'W Johnny Hodge, shown looking over the award he received from Downbeat, the musical in whose poll he was rated as the best alto sax player in the country. Hodge is with Duke Ellington's great orchestra. Billy Rowe photo. Body of Herschel Evans 5,000 People View Was Rated By EARL, J.

MORRIS Staff Correspondent LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 They buried Herschel Evans, BATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, ip39 mmmr tn. Sirt fri 5 Ik fi iya wis i ississ rriM ii i mm i sjsrrilTiriV.rw eni 1 ri 1 smmswsssssissbsbwsi figffi Itiliif BilKlBW ,1 i STAYS ARGAB 1A NEW YORK. Feb. 23 Eldrldge and his' famous band, which is working out of the Joe Glaser office, hu had his contract renewed for an Indefinite engagement at the Arcadia Ballroom.

Originally contracted for two weeks, the band Is now finishing Its sixth, week, and the management of the spot Is dickering for a wire from the ballroom, so great hai Eldrldge'i popularity become. Eldridga rates with the truly great present day trumpet players. STEaoatoica! MILLS BROTHERS LONDON, Feb. 23 After sailing away to London town, where at present wiey than ever here, the Mills Brothers atood then In the ulsles when they opened their mouths to the packed audience of the Gaumont Hollo way. EDDIE SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Feb.

23 Eddie South, "The Dark Angel of the Violin," who has been pulling a Nero stunt here at Blatz's Palm Garden while the rest of the country burned with swing has been held over. If he and his aggregation can tear themselves away, they are due to put In an appearance at a 32nd street nitery In New York. FATS WALLER NEW YORK CITY, Feb. 23 Rumor has it that Fats Waller has nixed out hU proposed European tour In favor of an appearance at the Famous Door. If Fats does go in, he will be accompanied by his piano ana uigani ut orchestra.

The capacity of the nitery wouldn't accomodate all of them and an audience, too. BUCK BUBBLES UNION CITY, N.J., Feb. 23 Deciding that its the big names that bring in the big money, the Top Hat Club has put in shows heavily sprinkled with The initial revue to hit the boards is "Ten Minutes from Broadway," starrlnr Buck and Bubbles as the sepia performers. CHICK WEBB NEW YORK CITY. Feb.

23 Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald are at present plugging a new sons, "One Side of Me," for Marion, Sunshine. STRIKES EGYPT! CAIRO. Egypt, Feb. 23 rStrikes were dramatically perpetrated here In Egypt recently when seven Americana, all members of Willie Lewis' colored awing band pulled a walkout strike on the saxophonist leader. The men under the leadership of Fletcher Allen, one time arranger and saxman with Noble Sissle, is at present holding forth at the wank Monselgneur Ballroom at Alexandria.

JAM SESSIONS YORK CITY. Feb. 23 A series of Informal jam sessions are being put on currently every Friday night at the Park Lane Hotel for the benefit of the. Society of American Musicians. Under the title of the Friday Club, the organization will charge one dollar admission.

First session had among others, Zutty Singleton. Hotlips Paige, Willie Smith and Fats Waller. Cab Calloway and Erskine Hawkins to Feature Guild Dance NEW YORK CITY, Feb. 23 Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra, and the sensational music of Erskine Hawkins. "The Twentieth Century and his aggregation, will headline the musical chores for the pending Negro Actors' Guild's annual dance to be held at the Savoy Ballroom March 1.

OWE STARS JUDGES AT lie JlTTEEtOUG CONTEST LOS ANGELES. Feb. 2J The Hollywood's Second Visit to Harlem" Jitterbug Contest, promoted by Al Jarvis of radio fame, was a gala affair. Film and radio notables, along with a crowd of more than 1.500 people attended the "Jitterbug Contest" at the Elks Auditorium in the heart of Hollywood's Harlem Thursday night' GETS PART IN A A. Kathryn Perry, sensational torch ainger, formerly of the Grand Terrace Cafe, Chicago, who is now in New York to be starred in "Hot Mikado." Miss Perry is the wife of Earl Hines, noted pianist and orchestra leader.

to. ngoBTrson THE MID NIGHTMAN Dim (CminCEKEOD SORTING THE WEEK'S WASH CHICAGO, Feb. 23 Mid Night Man About Town: Everything and everybody is in a closing mood right through here. The Swingland closed last Wednesday. The Claremont is scheduled to close at an early date.

Other contemplating an abrupt closing while winter gradually swings out of the scene Horses are still closing fast and the heavy blg tlmers are closing for Hot Springs for their "bawths" as they call them In a few months I will be closing for the 'Frisco World's Fair and that's; plenty. Charlie Allen who was ones booked out of William B. Graham's agency which went on the rocks, Is no longer batoning his own band Instead he Is manufacturing reeds Asa Burner, formerly of the team Asa and Annetta, will have hied to New York by the time this Is on the "stands" And there you have an ace ballroom and adagio dancer He is on tho lookout for a good girl partner AU interested watch this column for furtlier developments "Cookie" Crane has been dubbed a "Romantic Roustabout" as a matter of fact he Is strictly a man about town We wonder why he visits Nick's Epicure Tavern so many times a weeks By the way. that spot Is tops for a quiet evening of solid sipping and drinking When in the neighborhood of Slst and Cottage Grove run tn and tell the man In charge, "Nick," that you know the Mid Night Man. Jessie Smith, ex hat check girl at Swingland, Is playing hard through here and with whom, I wouldn't be knowing Margaret Norman took it upon herself to show Bill Davis, the man from headquarters, about town after the LaSalle Athletic formal Were spotted at Charlie and Ella Mae's Chicken Shack andj on George Jones' birthday And while on the subject, George Jones is playing hard in his home town at this writing It's New Orleans he is visiting the Mardi Gras and his mother Tommie Ppwell Is a powerful gay catter as seen in his many trips to local nighteries Willis Armstead.

the bartender who used to swing at Swingland, is now howing his. versatility in the profession at Murray on 47th street Jean Gay, formerly of the team Gay and Brissell, is unengaged and is playing at a top rate Benny Strum, as it is The Jitterbug Contest Judges were 'the charming Gloria Stuart, well known motion' picture actress, Anna Sten, famed Russian actress who was brought to America by Sam Goldwyn to star in Emile Zola's 'Nana, Kenny Washington, California's colored hero of the gridiron and Earl J. Morris, Motion Picture Editor. 'HOT NIK ADO' 'is i( 4 being whispered, Is dickering for Jlmmie Williams' Pioneer Lounge Charlie Christian is now with Johnny Wooley at the Bath House and Wooley Is with Courtney, so I am being told Earl Wilson stops off at Charlie and Ella Mae's for a bottle of Seven Up while Bob Christian stops off at the same place for a checkup Pedro and Delores are dancing at the Cedar Gardens in Cleveland at this scribbling Papa Brown, the flower man, makes more night spots than I do Congressman Arthur Mitchell was caught on the ringside at DeLdsa the other ayem. THROUGH THE WRINGER Red Duncan from the 65 could not convince Ravida the dancer that the walk way under 55th street's elevator is on the up and up Heard in a tavern: "When you get a.

few drinks in you, you think you own the city. So quiet, you drunk!" Dot Saulters is up again and is back on the job at the Terrace They say that Horace Henderson will return to the Club Plantation In Detroit Hurley Ramcy won't be sore about that at all Nat Glover as I have been wised up, is playing hard with Margie Smith, a lovely one from the west coast By the way where, is Marie Bryant? There are some reports out to the' effect that she will open at Terrace in the new show. Wonder if Florence Hayes and Bud Johnson are really on the split? Here's hoping the best for Arabella Martin Wonder if Lulu Lewis is going to the Apple for the fair this year? Teah, ole Willie Bryant is playing awfully hard up there Local playboys and pharmacists can catch up with their sinking star, Myra Taylor, since the Swingland closed Ray Nance ant" his lovely wife Melrose Colbert arc ao ing all right Hunter, swing artist who is heavy on song work, did not recognize this writer at a formal a few darks back Well anyway, Joe Williams, I hope, hipped her Marie Green from Walgreen's is another forgotten girl Wonder what Sporty Winston from Young's on Oakwood is up to? Looks Hke he and Izzie are at it again Then there is Hugh Gardner, known as a reporter with a cause He is playing extremely heavy during these trying times and was floored at Lewis' Platinum Lounge just a dark or so gone What happened to all the girls from Swingland? They are not being; seen After all! Dont let that places' closing stop you from coming out ON THE BOTTOM (HOME FREE) It seems Hicky Hickerman is slated to return to Detroit and maybe the Club Plantation Don't know where Curly Top Richards will hie to No news from Ruble Blakey or Art Simp kins I know those guys want te get back to the Windy City for (i ''b if famed tenor sax player of the Count Basie orchestra, here Tuesday. Interment was in Rosedale cemetery. More than 5,000 people passed his bier as it lay in state at the pretentious Angclus Funeral Home for two dsys.

More than 3.000 people crowded into the Angelus Home and thronged outside the chapel in the streets, for a chance to view the remains of the great musician, Tuesday. Film notables, musicians, theatrical celebrities, music lovers, fans, jitterbugs, men, women and children passed his bier Tuesday in solemn tribute to the genius of Evans. His body rested in a $3,000 silver casket, tinted with bronze. A blanket of flowers, gardenias; red roses and orchids amounting to $1,500 was spread over the casket. The Rev.

Clayton Russell officiated at the simple, but impressive rites. Edward Bailey, an officer of the Musicians' Local read condolences. Twenty five musicians, members of the various swing orchestras, came from the Musicians' Local to form a band to lead the funeral procession. These swing musicians solemnly marched slowly down Central avenue playing "Nearer My God to Thee." The pallbearers were all musi ty, Raymond Windfield, I star rhythm master of the act accepted a single engagement at the Paramount Theatre as a featured act on a bill with Vincent Lopez and his orchestra. Contract Renewed Six Times; Eddie South Gets 5 Raises SflLWACKEE, Wis, Feb.

S3 They've gone goofy about Eddie South, violin maestro, and hie famous orchestra In this town. The band, originally placed In the BUts Hotel's Palm Gardens for two weeks In has had Its contract renewed for the sixth time. Incidentally, Eddie's salary has i been raised five times while on the Job. The present fart oft expire nntifVprU 7. does Carried To Los Angeles Remains Basie Artist With Greatest.

clans. They were Eddie Beal, Ar senum Taylor, Winston Allen, Bsss Morgan, Jack Britton and Fletcher Smith. At the services there was a clarinet solo by Paul Howard and a vocal by Lois Hodnett, theatrical singer. Floral wreaths were from Gene Krupa, the orchestra leader; Count Jarvis of the radio, the Musicians' Local, his family and a host of friends. Film celebrities who couldn't be excused from the various studios wept at his bier Monday evening.

Notables in evidence at the funeral services Were Ralph Metcalfe, Margaret Whltten of the films Herbert Jeffrey, Al Jarvis, Monte Hawley, Roy Evans, John H. Levy, and Mr. Kearns, manager of the Count Basie orchestra. Condolences from orchestras were read from Count Basie, Gene Krupa, Al Jarvis, George Brown. Les Hite.

Chick's Stay At Park Central Ends fJext Week NEW YORK CITY. Feb. s3 Chick Webb with Ella Fitrgerald and his band, will close their "most successful, hold over engagement at the Park Central Hotel next week and move Into the Paramount Theatre on Broadway for a return engagement, opening on Wednesday, March 8th with an all sepia side bill ot entertainment The Pending flirig of Webb and his crew at the Broadway show house wilt mark their second session there, In less than a year. The growth of his popularity among Paramount patrons was given strength last month when 'M selected among the ten best bands in the country in that theatre's annual band popularity poll conducted in its lobby over a period of months. Eddie Smith and Ork In Clarksvillc Feb.

23 Eddie Smith and his Chicago Swingers with Rosetta Howard. Decca recording artist; tho dance team of Shim Sham Blue and Brownie will be featured at the Vipers' Club Swing Jamboree here. SAJYOU SAW IT IN THE FXTTSBUBGH COTJBIEB mm r. is TOPS AT APOLLO NEW YORK, Foh. A.

Kirk, who seems 1 1.T 1 come ine no. rci vui bifj, of America, is cuing on th ways once again. This fact bpcan.o known during his T.iVior.&i pearance at the hrr ty week, when It wss mninun ej orchestra will Southland Cafe for a limi'M gagement. While there, the mj cast on luesaay and iiiiiudu. nlngs cjver a coast wJ via Mutual Broadcm ir Sw.tJ xrom 10 11 p.

m. Dancers; Arc 'Snowbound In Quebec' kiuauu, ueDec, i pp. .0 4 ter Johnson and his partner. JhV ctte Grlder. nationally known dij cing team, have been nnSjJ here for weeks at the home kindly old French They left Ottawa bouni for beo In their car when tt4 storm came up suddenly.

"We drove along blindly miles and miles, not knor where we were going JohaJ writes. "Finally the road bwrJ so bad we had great getting through, then mi dim light a few yards shrsd rf stopped to find out hrrt 4 were." They had lost their a rf were approximately 40 the main highway and rr.lv la miles from Rigaud. When thyl Into a seven foot snow hark couple was forced to ser ihf. In a little home off the maH where they are now "wait rf the roads to be cleared. "We ride the sleighs drawn dogs and horjes; take sUi the road and read ovvr and the few books we In might us.

That is our piesrnt mm'. ment," Johnson staus. io: 54 GREAT ACTOR aver vm 1 Out of the M.inr young actois am i' ney tcoricct ney tcoricct ma.r. JJ ham), and in. t).

red play. "Andr Lion." currentlv ored Lion." cunenuv m. ft Lafayette. Sunday. some able, girls, but a 3,500 IN BUFFALO bvfvaix.

n.y. i Jlmmie all time high f. ance. when 3.Mh I th. Rroadwav PHONOGRAPH R'i pAmiUr ioi 1 wMav fr ords.

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