New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 20

PACE! TT7ETnT ft 1 il Buckeye State's Club To Open In Roy Eldridge, newest "King of awing trumpet," who, will invade Ohio 'and Pennsylvania over th irpourth of July holidays. Eldridge will play in Akron at Ta mammoth midnight to dawn dance at the East Mar fyket. Gardens on Sunday midnight, July 3, while the evening he will appear at the exclusive and swank Club Mirador, in Homestead. 'Chris And Mis Gang' To Send Savoy Goers By TED WATSON CHICAGO, Juns 23 Horace Henderson, with his fang, oft time referred to as "ChrU and his Gang," will open a limited engagement at the Savoy Ballroom, commencing Thursday night, Juna 23, wbloh will be the official aug mentation of the beautiful Outdoor Gardens. From all indications, this swing sensation will be ready to pour out complimentary favors in song for the huge crowd that is expected.

The popularity of Henderson's hnve been great sine's liis recently breaking 'performance at Swingland Cafe, and on the road. complete new program has been outlined by the management fpr this gala opening: fun and favors will ba in abundance. The usual WBBM broadcast will pre Book Hartley Toott From Willie Davie! MIAMI, Flav, Jon log to this attraction being la such great demand It has been reported that several booker have contracted dates and accepted deposits knowing that they had no authority to do so. Mr. Toots advises that all date be contracted from Willie Davie, personal manager, 8tt N.

W. Second avenue, Miami, FUv, and all deposits should be made payable to Mr. Davie. vail and the muslo of Chris and his gang will be plenty hot. A new floor show la presented every Saturday.

CUra Bow and Famous Ubangi Club Boys Secured By Brooks and Fitxhugh For New Cosmopolitan Club Place Renovated. A AKRONr June 23 The finest night club Ohio has tver known will present the most amazing floor show in the history of the city here Friday night, when Brooks and Fitzhugh's privately chartered Cosmopolitan Club, renovated re decorated at a cost off re decorated at a cost and 13,000, will present the famous Clara Bow and her equally famous Ubanffi Club boys in a revue which la without parallel. yinal and definite arrangements if jreeent this famous Broadway and Harlem revue, which ranks with the greatest in the country, were completed Sunday, when Brooks motored to Pittsburgh and closed the deal. The revue which included Bow Utopia Girls Dance To Be At Foxes' Club CHICAGO, June 33 The. Original Utopia Girls met with Miss Alberta Jackson en Monday evening at 3734 Wabash avenue.

Complete plans have been made for our first dance which will be staged at the Foxes club room, 9037 Indiana avenue, Jnne 26. David Minor was present and gave eeveral good suggestions which we feel will add immeasurably to its success. Miss Jackson proved te be a harming hostess. The next meet ing will be with Mrs. Maria Living ston, 3703 Wabash avenue.

Marie Mason, prssldent; Joyce Davis, re porter. CHICK TJEEBB AND REVUE IN CHICAGO CHICAGO, June 28 Chick Webb and his internationally known orchestra opened at the Chicago Theatre Friday, and were taken In wild acclaim. Webb's aggregation of swing masters showed a much more keen conception of the thing called swing than they did on their last appearance in the Wlpdy City. The fine song rendl By SAM WOOD CHICAGO, June 28 The Broadway Bradley type of floor show flourished once again when the Jug Cafe presented this versatile wo duer's keen offering to host of first nlghters and graduate's Thursday night The production entitled, "The Jug Cafe Revue," was fast moving and possessed much test plus rhythm. The opening, "Bronze ville's Hot Babies of Rhythm." pictured the line of girls in a speedy dance routine.

Other outstanding picture sequences in the show would be classed as Broadway on Parade, the theme, "The Jug," which was a song against a talk and dance out, and "Moon Glow," whch plcturixed sophisticated awing at Its best. The finale, a breezy conception of swing, gave the patrons plenty to hum about. In this show, the following principals lent their best: Verta Gibson, Cleo Gillam, Doris Radliff. and five female impersonators, can hardly be described, but once it's seen, it starts the town to talking. The revue which closed In New Tork about ten weeks ago, came to Pittsburgh's and G.

Club for a four week engagement. They were retained for 12 weeks to record breaking business. Place Re deoorated The Cosmopolitan Club, when it opens this Friday night, will be the finest thing of its kind in this section or the country. The proprietors have spent more than $1000 in Improvements and as the place will appear when it opens, will have a seating capacity of .300 eosle The shurg Courier SATURDAY, JUNE 11 MM DANCE 1H MROEJ JULY 3rd; "HEBE fJEKT 1JI6HT Famous Trumpet Who Went to Chicago From Pittsburgh and Developed Orchestra, Will Get Rousing Reception. Roy Eldridge, hia golden trumpet, and his among Chicago orchestra the band which this section of the country has been wanting to hear for years, are heading this way.

The dapper little maestro, who lays claim to being the "swing se nation of 1938." Is leaving his favorite haunts for short road tour, swinging thru Ohio and Pennsylvania. Two of the most Important dates will ba Akron, Q. and Pittsburgh. Under the supervision of Boakar T. Brooks, the band will play a big midnight to dawn dance in Akron's air cooled East Market Gardens on Sunday, July 3.

This affair. is being widely hailed. j. The following night, July the orchestra will appear here. for the first tlme.pl aying at the swank and exclusive Club Mirador in Homestead.

This engagement is attracting unusual' interest and attention because the city's Northslde claims him as a "native son." Eldridge and his orchestra are coming into hls section direct from the famed Three Deuces" club In Chicago, with nightly CBS broadcasts. He received his start in Pittsburgh with Harry Tanner, who is now directing his own orchestra in Cleveland. He toured the south with various bands, until Fletcher Henderson heard him and his "hot trumpet" Then it was "big time." Roy has never looked back sines. From Fletcher's orchestra, he organized his own band the same band which became a sensation overnight. And thats the band this section has been waiting to hear.

Their wishes will be granted in Akron, Sunday midnight; July 3, and In Pittsburgh, Mondajr evening, July 4th, at Club Mirador. tiSns of the "Queen of Songs," Ella Fitzgerald, brought many plaudits. Webb recently received degrees in the art of percussion from Columbia University. FLORIDA'S GONE SVJNG CRAZY, 'CAUSE LUNCEFORD'S ON HIS WAY Tunmie to Open Fiye Day Tour of State June 30 Jar lr enn villi Dnvfnnn Rrk and fitntts weswovvu as) enw ex awaaeja svM aiaswiiis Towns Prepare For Big Crowds. (Special to The Courier) JACKSONVILLE, June 23 After waiting for a long time, the fans will get.

what they have been asking for tne tans win get wnat tney nave been craving for yes, the fans will get what Professor Jimmie Lunceford and bis internationally famous orches tra has in store for them. The King of Swing will open a five day tour here on Thursday, June to, when a capacity crowd will "Swing" to his tunes at the K. of P. Balk oom with Promoter Joe Hlgdon doing the promoting. Immediately following "Home Sweet Home," Prof.

Lunceford will hurry en. over to Daytona Beach where he will spend the day in college. But in turn will invite the college officials and hundreds of other "swing" fans out to his School of Jaxsnocraoy. Rhythm is his business. July 2nd will find the professor and hia comrades dishing out a few hot tunes for the ofays in Fort Lauderdale.

While the biggest celebration in dance history is waiting him in Miami when over 1,000 fans from throughout the East Coast will dance to his music at liberty Park. July 3rd is Lunceford day in Miami. Promoters Pincheon. and Vander horst declare that on July 4th they will be forced to hang out the S. R.

O. sign and it is all because Jimmie Lunceford is coming to town. Having completed his Florida tour the band will bid the Peninsula State fare the well. Jimmie has advised all promoters to take out excess insurance on their ballrooms for the "Top" will not be so safe as he has ordered his gang to turn loose in full force and that means that no roofs will be safe as the boys will be hlttln them high and low. Little Willie Smith says, got rhythm in his nursery rhymes, cause rhythm Is his business." The band will feature such favorite hits as "Margie." "This Is My Last Affair." "White "Organ Grinders and many other of their specials Florida has gone "Swing" crazy just because the king is coming.

JUG CAFE REVUE HAS SWING OF OLD BROADWAY 'shake artist: Martha Vineyard, Joe Williams, songster; Tommy Wilson, sccentrio dancer; the inimitable Broadway Bradley, and the incomparable musio of Art Short and his Rhythm Kings. The phrase that's quite catching at this spot is. "If Tou've Got a Girl You Wanta Give a Treat The Jug pafe Is Hard to Beat!" CAPTURED AFTER GUNFIRE IN CHASE BALTIMORE. June 3S. Three men suspected of larceny of brass at a mill at Sparrows Point who were fired upon five times by Sparrows Point police early Saturday in a 70 mile an hour chase were captured 'after their bullet struck car was found in the city.

Swankiest Night Akron This Friday Messrs. Brooks and Fitzhugh have engaged the services of Harry Tanner and his orchestra, to augment the splffy floor show, which will also Include singers and comedians all out of town talent. The place, intimate and cosy. Is Ideal for a rendezvous, with its softly shaded lights, new cooling system, modern bar. Chinese and American foods and deluxe service.

Charming waitresses will take care of the patrons, while "Bimbo" Sewell and Mary Taylor, mixologists supreme, will take care of all liquid refreshments. We'll be seein' ya Friday! SAT YOU SAW IT IN THE rXTTSBUBQH COUBUUt Si, fiLL SEIPIfl BAISED iy Moras Earl Morris Says "Duke Is Tops' Bates As Best Effort Baves Over Lena Horns. THE DUKJE IS TOPS Producer Harry M. Pop kin Director William Nolte Screen Phil Dunham Production manager. Jonet Dance director Lew Crawford Photographer Robert CUne Musical score.

Harvey Brooke, Ben Ellison Musical arrangements. Moore Costume Houda The players: Ralph Cooper, Lena Home, Vaurrence Criner, Monte Hwvoley, Vernon McCalla, Edward Thompson, Neva Peoples, Charles Hawkins, Johnny Taylor, Everette Brown, Ray Martin and Guernsey Morrow. By EARL J. Motion Picture Editor LOS ANGELES, June 23 "The Duke Is Tops," starring Ralph Cooper and beautiful Lena Home, is the tops. It is the best colored motion picture I have ever seen.

And I am screaming it from the housetops. GO and SEE this picture. It is the first serious attempt by a colored film company to make a musical. It is definitely BOX OFFICE. The Hollywood premiere of the picture was held here Friday night at the Lincoln theater.

Ralph Cooper and other members of the cast appeared here. The premiere here was attended by all celebrities of the stage and screen. Bill Robinson, Hattle Noels, Miller and Mantan, Ernest Whitman, Bob Parish, and others. This picture should be most important to the sepia theatergoing public. It contains no 'Uncle Tom' bandana or calico sequences.

It is definitely a racial achievement. The story deals with a beautiful sacrificing love tale. The hero portrayed by Ralph Cooper submerges his ambition, his ideals rather than to hold back his sweetheart played by Lena Horne, who is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen on the screen, colored or white. The plot carries you through highly entertaining scenes to a beautiful finale. The supporting cat is magnificent in their roles.

The specialities were marvelous. There was the "Basin Street Boys," "Cats and a Willie Covan, Marie Bryant. Willie Covan, a clever tap dancer, makes you think that all the hulabaloo over Fred Astabre should belong to Mr. Covan. You will never forget the singing of Miss Horne in this picture.

Cooper gave a splendid performance as the young producer. His many years of experience on the stage Ideally equips him for dra matio roles. Lawrence Criner, is probably one of the best character actors we have ever seen and Monte Hawley was truly magnificent as the High pressure, big time theater man from New York. Of course, the picture isn't perfect. But it is the best thing that has been done to my knowledge by sepias andI feel that I can say without fea? of contradiction that the film, "The Duke Is Tops" is just that.

TOPS. Part of the story will make you think of a certain well known colored producer and a certain well known star. The picture was produced by the Million Dollar Productions, of which Harry M. Popkin Is executive head, with Ralph Cooper as his associate. The picture is important first, because it is the first serious attempt by Negroes to produce a feature length swing musical.

Secondly because it is highlye ntertalning, contains nothing which would reflect upon the Negro. The colored cast did a splendid job of acting. The production manager is colored, Walter. "Buck" Jones: the dance direc tor, Lew Crawford, producer at the Lovers of the dance will be on hand to greet "Chris and his Gang," Thursday night at Savoy. Youthful Horace "Chris" Henderson's band has been signed for a limited engagement at this ballroom and are in the pink of "swing condition." Sebastian Cotton Club is colored; Harvey Brooks and Ben Ellison writers of the tunes are colored.

See this picture. Ask your theater manager when it will be shown at your theater. Yes, I am raving about "The Duke Is Tops." DEMAND that it be SHOWN at YOUR theater. Hattie Noel Is Still With Eddie Cantor LOS ANGELES, June 2 Numerous letters and phone calls were sent to Earl J. Morris, Hollywood correspondent from anxious radio fans all over the country in the belief that Hattie Noel, colored comedienne on the Eddie Cantor program had abruptly been discharged or her engagement end ed, due to the fact that she did not appear on the program for two straight weeks.

Hattie Noel la stiU witn Eddie Cantor. She has a long time contract with the famous comedian. Her absence the first week was due to the fact that aha waa on interviews at RKO picturea for a role in "Peck's Bad Boy." The second week due to the largo num ber of guest stars, Miss Noel and "The Mad Russian" remained off the program. However, our Hattie, received full pay for both of the broadcasts when she did not appear. Monday, Juna 2T.

will be the last time that you "will be able to hear Eddie Cantor and Hattie Noel on their present program. Cantor's con tract snds with the tobacco firm. TRUMPET KING MAKES NEW RECORDING HIT NEW YORK, June 23 Reports rate the new swing sensation "Flat Foot Floojie," just recently waxed for the Decca label by Louis Arm strong and the Mills Brothers, an outstanding platter slated for "best seller" listing. There are plenty of white people who would appreciate our aide of the story if they knew It! Pass your Courier along to such a friend. SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE rrrrsBUfiOJs oovi 2S.1.l AX 'v i 1 1 ivwvcMwaaKix mm i ZAiLvJ TO PLAY AKRON, PITTSBURGH VISITORS AT NEW YORK'S BIG SWING FIESTA Emm 1 5, Praise and Criticis By POBTEB ROBERTS i Distinguished visitors at the Swing Fiesta at Madison Square Garden in Nw York.

Left to right: Ed De Haas and the Baroness and Baron Timothy Lou Ro. krantz. 'CHRIS' IS BACK HELLO, DEAR READERS: "Praise and Criticism" It nttnJ from a date with doctors and nurses. Tap, I have bn slightly utf the weather for a few days. I made up my mind to Uk fooi nf while at It.

did. Now I'm twice O. and have seld loodbjH' doctors and nurses for a long time, I hope, I hope, I hope. I very sorry, my dear erlties, that I have disappointed lou by turtlu' 111., tvi. I Dear Readers, after I re state that this column ii tovemd br majority publle opinion, please allow me to assurs you that I dost think there la any better way to end a controversy than by th fn and con response of the general publle.

I have before nint which concern my criticising Ethel Waters a few daysWk. Swt of the writers agreed with me. Two criticised me. So that tW might be verification, it gives me real pleasure to put the eompleU here. First, those who agreed: Mr.

Joe Anderson and The Smobj Shop Boys, 703 Central avenue. Sarasota, Mr. William McDounX 210 West 14th street, New York City; Mr. J. Collins, WOO BhoM avenue, Chicago; Mr.

James H. Purdy, 1106 Neptune street, UtmjK Mr. Roy Foster, 1215 King Road, Fax, Mlsi Harrlit La lav. P. O.

Box. Pittahurar. Mr. Samtial Feremaa, 140 Will street, Harrisburg, Pa, Now ta the two who wrote la erltleliini at 1 A 1 1 1 IT. sot.

xuane xisuaiey, r. J. so. zurmimguaca, mr. 4222 Michigan avenue, Chicago The defense rests.

Arntn! Tha British Broadcastinr System. It is rumored, is itklni broadcaata by colored people from America That Is as It ihouldW Thara should be more broadcasts by colored artists from Amerlct Uf England, but those broadcasts should be of the highest type. But British Broadcasting Svstem is not seeking to broadcast Eriklnt HiW kins. Count Basis, Maxlne Sullivan, Duke Ellington, Chick wd any of our first class variety acts. Instead, the Bri'h BrosdcutlJ System Is seeking some of those uncivilised Holy Roller muiuf.

meetings, "Uncle Tom" Negroes who delight In flashing rarori, ite. 1 put It plainly, the British Broadcasting System Is seeking propu Bj to use against Negroes! As If Hollywood hasn't alresdy told world enough falsehoods about the American Negro td lait Since no race (not even the Jews) can survive worldwide sdvei propaganda, don't you think Negroes should think twice before Ho themselves to be used for anti Negro propaganda! mis ot unity! km Hjfar ma which could be re titled "A Song eteer'a Hand Across the Sea." The letter la from London, Englu and was sent to me by an amateur song writer who received abroad. America is Infested with sons: racketeers who rob am l' song writers of many thousands of dollars yearly, and now tbey reaching out from Europe after the American amateur song wru This letter Is from Peter Derek. Gloucester bury Ave, London, W. Hera is a paragraph of Petefi ku coated BUNK: are, however, very desirous of number for our catalogue in the circumstances we would be wilwjj to undertake publication on exactly the same terms as offered In letter of the 3rd Instant, but reducing our charge $80 (eighty doia inclusive, payable $10 cash on signing the agreement and $10 m0B We hope you will place the matter in our hands." And how! Attsn Ha vr ir.t Ainiri La.

That iai Is a robber. Forget him and hia kind. Thanks for the le letter I rVAi iriT Trrxiv. i i mir Chicago Ballroom broadcasts and want you to know that they sre reslly Wj ing us to high heaven but here! But before I rave on any Mr5 pleaae accept my bouquet of praise for putting ycAjr grand band 1 rip. smack dab back in the class groove since you left the Grand T) race.

Burs, Andy, keep the band hJtUnjr, and when you heed I will be waiting with th nth.r thmiaanda "Until the Rail Thing Along." I really will! PASSING THOUGHTS: Pardon me, while I Ifnoie Billy Thank you, dear readers I got a telegram from Bill Roblnio Ing me that he would be through, beading for the Joe Louie big on the 20th Century Limitod at o'clock p. m. The telegrP i sent the wire out at 8:20. Dang It all! The train bad gon I Thanks for thinking of me. Bill, anyway Dear Mr.

Frank Sing 218 Morals strset. New Orleans, That so called music Puouf company or not Angeles. you mentioned in you' crfA song racketeer; therefore. 100 per cent no good! Mr, Jamei Crj 811 20th street. West Palm Beach.

Music publishers would Uke one look at your words, which you refer to as "words song." Tou see, Mr. Carter, lyrlo writing 1 a very apel' is av. i a. A tarltJiOUt 9 I sritsout Itself, but the publishers wiU not look ai a good lyrlo ody. Teu are I.