Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 28

COURIER-POST, Tueaday, June 23, 1987 TELEVISION eteran black actor has seen changes on and off screen 4C At 86-years-old, Jester Hairston has good reason to say 'Amen9 SEEIF'G HERE By GARY DEEB Special to the Courier-Post He is the feisty oldtimer who continually insults the character played by Sherman Hemsley on the NBC comedy series "Amen." But Jester Hairston, just turned 86' and now being seen by the, largest audience of his career is so much more than simply an elderly journeyman who can deliver a punchline with the best of them. Hairston is a legend in the showbiz racket on several fronts; As an actor, he's played everything from jungle natives named Bwana to Kingfish's brother-in-law Leroy on the old "Amos n' as a songwriter, he's written dozens of tunes, including the gospel number "Amen," which was featured in the 1962 movie "Lilies in the and as a choral director, he's been responsible for the vocal segments of many prominent Hollywood films under the musical guidance of the late Dimitri Tiomkim. Besides all that, Hairston is an historian without portfolio. He chonicles the ages of slavery and Reconstruction, always intense and linking contemporary black America with the enforced sorrow of its past IN MOST of our black churches now, we've lost the art of singing the spirituals," Hairston says. "Some blacks say it reminds them too much of the years we spent in slavery and also the prejudice of the days after slavery.

But if the blacks hadn't sung spirit- uals during those 250 years ot slavery, they couldn't have survived. "The Indian couldn't survive. He, fought, back with a bow-and-arrow against the white man's guns and the Indians just got annihilated. But we blacks by the of those songs we persevered. We also persevered through our sense of humor.

Black plantation humor was exceptionally funny. One black says to another 'Say, man, what's the tallest man you ever Other guy says: 'Tallest man I ever seen was gettin' a haircut in heaven at the shoeshine in "Those slaves had to entertain each other, son, if they hadn't been able to laugh, they never would have survived. They would have either committed suicide like so many; Indians did, or else killed their master and then got themselves hanged." HAIRSTON, who recently returned from a photo-safari in Africa, says his music and his own determination are what got him through the rockiest days of American discrimination against black people. "I have been in towns in the South over the past few years towns that wouldn't have permitted me to cross the street 40 years ago," he says. "I come in and work with the choirs some black, some white, most of them mixed and the music and the spirit my lips as I performed the song.

I mean, Sidney had rhythm; he can't sing very well, but that old boy has rhythm Hairston takes strong issue with people who apply 1980s sensibilities to 1940s situations such as the sneering frequently directed in old black actors who appeared in rather demeaning roles in those sorry days for blacks in the film business. "I played African natives meet Bwana in so many Tarzan and jungle moves I can't tell you," he says. "But if it had not been for black actors doing those characters in those days, you wouldn't have a James Earl Jones or a Harry Belafonte today. We had no money, we had bad roles to play, we had nothing but talent. But I'm certainly tired of hearing people denigrate those old black actors for doing things that downgraded our race.

We did nothing of the sort. We were actors, and we played the few parts that we were given to do." TODAY, entering his late 80s with amazing heartiness Jester Hairston can look back with satisfaction on a career loaded with achievement despite the immorality of outright racism. "When I was a kid in high school, it was during the First World War," he says, "and white folks were lynchin' blacks in Missis- and the brotherhood of the music really helps to wash away the evil stain of By exposing the majority to various forms of black music, Hairston certainly has played an important behind-the-scenes role in the easing of racial tension over the years in this country. Music, like sports, has a way of fostering racial tolerance among many. The 1950s he was a prime force behind Harry Belaf onte's emergence as a hot pop singer, particularly in the area of Calypso.

But it was 25 years ago that Hairston placed perhaps his most indelible stamps on American pop-culture: He took a gospel song he'd written in the 1930s, gave it to Sidney Poitier to sing in the movie "Lilies in the Field" and watched that song become a smash hit with the mass public. "WE USED 'Amen' as the song Sidney would sing, but that was actually my voice you heard," Hairston recalls. "Sidney lip-synched it, and he also copied all of my hand and body movements. We sat across the table from each other every day for almost a week, and he watched every movement of There's more to Jester Hairston, 86, than the wise-cracking character he plays on sippi on Sunday on the way to or from church. Now things may not be sugary-sweet today and I don't wear rose-colored glasses, but I've lived through some tremendous progress in this country.

I think I have a right to continue to be optimistic." TUESDAY EVEHIKG WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 7 pm 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 People's Evening Matlock "City Kilter" News Tonight Court Magazine Gerald McRaney, Heather Locklear. Show Jeopardyl Wheel Of Who's The Growing Moonlighting Spenser: For Hire News Nightline Fortune Boss? Pains $100,000 Ent. News Chance 01 East Of Eden Carol Ent! Pyramid Tonight A Lifetime Burnett Tonight Ent. Dating Wizard "A Summer To Remember" News TJ Tonight Game James Farentino, Tess HarpBT. Hooker INN News Baseball: New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles I News I INN News Odd Honey- Couple mooners Business Wild World Nova Seasons Of A Navajo Frontline SCTV Not All Report Of Animals Parents.

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CHOICES p.m. 9 Movie. "Where Eagles Dare" (1969, Adventure) Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood. An Allied officer is rescued from Nazis by commandos disguised as Germans. 8:30 p.m.

63 Baseball. Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals 9:00 p.m. OG3 Movie. "City Killer" (1984, Suspense) Gerald McRaney, Heather Locklear.

A disturbed Army demolitions expert terrorizes the woman who rejects him, and a whole city, when he tries to win her respect by blowing up office buildings. (R)(CQ Canadian Brass. From Atlanta's Peach Tree Playhouse, the quintet performs Bach's "Fugue in Minor," Fats Waller's "Handful of Keys" and a classical music video for tuba entitled "Boy Mozart." 1(h00 p.m. (BCD Frontline. This look at the seamy side of urban politics examines New York City's corruption scandals, focusing on U.S.

Attorney Rudolph Giuliani's prosecution of the Manes-Friedman case. (CC) Denotes program in progress. Shaded areas denote movies. LATE NIGHT TELEVISION MOVIES (Alphabetized) Scott, Peter O'Toole. John Huston's adaptation of the first chapters of the Book of Genesis, recounting man's creation, fall, survival and indomitable faith in the future.

(174 min.) 9:00 p.m.(MAX) "Bird Of Paradise" (1932, Romance) Dolores Del Rio, Joel McCrea. A Frenchman's love for a native girl must over-, come society's disapproval. (90 min.) 4:30 a (CBN) "Black Arrow" (1985, Adventure) Oliver Reed, Fernando Rey. In medieval England, a swashbuckling outlaw sets out to thwart a sinister nobleman who plots to murder his own nephew, marry his ward and assume their rights to land and wealth. (93 min.) 1 1:30 p.m.(D) "Boys Town" (1938, Drama) Spencer Tracy.

Father Flanagan's Boys Town is disrupted by a seemingly heartless new arrival. (115 min.) 2:35 a.m. QJ "Brigadoon" (1954, Musical) 'G' Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse. Two friends stumble upon Brigadoon, a village in the Scottish highlands that comes to life for a single day every 100 years. In stereo.

(108 min.) Wed. 8:30 a.m.(M) "Cat Ballou" (1965, Comedy) Jane Fonda. Her father's death at the hands of a greedy conglomerate who wanted his ranch drives a schoolteacher to organize an unlikely outlaw gang and begin a life of crime. (96 min.) Wed. 6:30 a.m.(MAX) "City Killer" (1984, Suspense) Gerald McRaney, Heather Locklear.

A disturbed Army demolitions expert terrorizes the woman who rejects him, and a whole city, when he tries to win her respect by blowing up office buildings. In stereo. (120 min.) 9:00 p.m.fKD "Cobra" (1986, Drama) 'R' Sylvester Stallone, Brigitte Nielsen. As his investigation into a series of random murders continues, an L.A. cop discovers that there is more than one killer.

In stereo. (86 min.) 2:05 a.m.(H) "Conan The Barbarian" (1982, Adventure) 'R' Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, in a mythical past, a warrior-thief and his companions are sent by a Nordic king to free the ruler's daughter from the leader of a snake cult. (129 min.) Wed. 12:30 p.m.(M) "The Corpse Vanishes" (1942, Mystery) Bela Lugosi, Luana Walters. A scientist attempts to come up with a concoction that will give his wife eternal youth.

(85 min.) 3:15 a.m.(SP) Continued on Page 5C 2:45 a.m. (S) Greatest Man In The World. A garage mechanic (Brad Davis) becomes an international hero when he flies a small plane nonstop around the world. Based on a story by James Thurber. 2:50 a.m.

(WG) Cartoons 3:00 a.m. (ED Movia. "Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol" 9 America's Shopping Placa (CBN) Movia. "The Town Went Wild" (CNN) News Overnight (CTN) Night Owl Fun (D) Zorro. While on business with Diego in Monterey, Bernardo is kidnapped by bandits.

(E) PBA Bowling. Kessler Open, from Dublin, Calif. (R) (M) Movie. "Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment" (N) Route 66 (WG) Laverne Shirley 3:15 a.m. (SP) Movie.

"The Corpse Vanishes" 3:30 a.m. (A) Rock 'N' Roll Disciples. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's birthday, this documentary focuses on the fans that keep his memory alive. (D) Movie. "Thunderhead, Son Of Flicka" (MAX) Cinemax Comedy Experiment "Ann Magnuson's Vandemonium" Comedian-actress Ann Magnuson Mr.

impersonates comic characters including a biker chick, a TV evangelist and a heavy-metal rock star. (CC) (WG) INN News 3:35 a.m. (H) Movie. "Moving Violations" 3:40 a.m. (S) Movie.

"The Final Terror" (WT) World At Large 4:00 a.m. Movia. "Nightmare In Chicago" (CNN) Larry King Overnight (CSPAN) Public Policy Conference (LIF) Investment Advisory (MAX) Movia. "Avantit" (N) Movia. On My Shoulder" (Uj Movia.

"Made For Each Other" (WG) Movie. "More Than A Miracle" (WT)Gunsmoke Now" (N) My Three Sona (P) Movia. "Fletch" (UNIVISION) Esta Nocha Sa Improvisa (U) Search For Tomorrow 1:05 a.m. (S) Movia. "Baby: Secret Of The Lost Legend" 1:10 a.m.

(WT) Movia. "Genghis Khan" 1:30 a.m. Love Connection Perspective (tj INN News 03 Shoppers University (CBN) Jack Benny (CNN) NewsNight Update (E) Surfing. Hi-Ho Championship, from the Virgin Islands. (R) (N) Ann Sothern (SP) Movie.

"Three Broadway Girls" (U) Hollywood Insider 1:35 a.m. (D Save The Children 1:55 a.m. (MAX) Movie. "Stranger Than Paradise" 2:00 a.m. Movia.

"Suez" Movia. "Psychic Killer" Nightwatch 03) Twilight Zona (CBN) 700 Club. Scheduled: a look at the film "The Hanoi Hilton." (E) Running And Racing (N)ISpy (U) Wrestling 2:05 a.m. OS Ask Dr. Ruth.

Topic: couples in business together. Guest: author Sharon Nelton Love and in (R) (CC) (H) Movie. "Cobra" 2:30 a.m. (TTJ Twilight Zona CD Baseball. Phillies at St.

Louis Cardinals (Tspod) (CNN) Sports LateNight (E) SportaCenter 2:35 a.m. OS Movia. "Boys Town" 2.40 a.m. (P) Movia. "Witness" 12:00 a.m.

Movie. "The Trial Of Chaplain Jensen" (5) Cannon (J Star Trek CD Mytteryt "Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime" A famous Arctic explorer asks Tommy and Tuppence to find his missing fiancee. (R)(CC) B3 Nightlife. Host: David Brenner. Guests: recording artist Joe Jackson, author Kinky Friedman Killing (R) CD Frontline America's Shopping Place (A) Golden Ag Of Television.

"The Golden Shanty" stars Errol Flynn as a gold digger-turned -goldbricker. (CBN) Burnt And Allen (CNN) NewiNight (CTN) Night Owl Fun (E) SportsLook (MAX) Movie. "A Dream Of Kings" (N) Donna Reed (SP) Movie. 'Savage Fury" (U) Dragnet 12:30 a.m. OCD Lata Night With David Latter an.

Scheduled: comic actor Michael Keaton, former N.Y. Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle, storyteller Jackie Torrence. CD Movie. "Zarak" (A) Signature. Interviewed: actress Colleen Dewhurst.

(CBN) Beat Of Groucho (E) Beat Of Scholastic Sports America (N) Mister Ed (U) Edge Of Night (WG) Movie. "The Great Impostor" 12:40 a.m. (D Movie. "The Enchanted" 1:00 a.m. S) Jo Franklin Twilight Zona (A) The Father.

A wife tries to drive her husband insane in August Strindberg's play starring Dorothy Tutin and Colin Blakely. (CBN) Laurel And Hardy (CNN) Croasfira (D) Movie. "The Jesse Owens Story" (E) Surfer Magazine (LIF) Investment Advisory (M) Movia. "That Was Then This Is "Algiers" (1938, Romance) Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr. An International jewel thief takes refuge in the exotic Cas-bah.

(120 min.) 8:00 p.m.(SP) -American Anthem" (1986, Drama) 'PG-13' Mitch Gaylord, Janet Jones. Two gymnasts overcome personal and physical obstacles in their pursuit of a position on the national team. In stereo. (100 min.) Wed. 10:00 a.m.(H) "And Now My Love" (1974, Romance) 'PG' Marine Keller, Andre Dussol-lier.

Three generations of French women are observed in this story of a wealthy young woman and a ne'er-do-well who faH in love. (121 min.) Wed. 6:00 a.m.(P) "Angel On My Shoulder" (1946, Fantasy) Paul Muni. A gangster makes a bargain with the devil to return to life as a judge. (120 min.) 4:00 a.m.(N) -The Assisi Underground" (1985, Drama) 'PG' Ben Cross, James Mason.

Fact-based story of the efforts of a group of Italian monasteries and convents to help Jews escape Nazi persecution by giving them refuge during the last years of World War II. (1 15 min.) 9:00 p.m.(M) "Avantil" (1972, Romance) -R' Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills. A conservative businessman falls in love with the slightly eccentric daughter of his dead father's -mistress. (144 min.) 4:00 a.m.(MAX) -Baby: Secret Ot The Lost Legend" (1985, Adventure) 'PG' William Katt. Sean Young.

In Africa, a scientist and her journalist husband attempt to reunite an infant dinosaur with its captured mother. In stereo. (95 min.) 1:05 a.m.(S) -Back To School" (1986, Comedy) 'PG-13' Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Keller-man. Campus life is turned upside down when a specialty clothing tycoon enrolls In college in an effort to make sure his son won't drop out. In stereo.

(96 min.) 7:00 p.m.(M); Wed. 6:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m.(S) "Bast Boy" (1979, Documentary) Philly Wohl. Director Ira Wohlrs Oscar-winning portrait of his 52-year-old mentally retarded cousin's struggle to relate to the outside world. (110 min.) Wed. 12:30 p.m.(MAX) -The Bible" (1966, Drama) George C.

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