New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 14

I. v.i' 1st 1 14 THE PITTSBURGH COURIER October 22, 1955 3 'f 1 Top Man in Tough Field I Foes of Several Cities NEW YORK CITY NBC has been deluged with tetters on the final Philco production of "A Man Is Ten Feet Tall," some condemning, most commending. Bulk of the protests were from Mississippi, deploring the use of a white girl as a Negro's wife In real life it's exactly the opposite, Hilda Simms, who. played the role, is a Negro married; to Richard Anga'rola, a white 'man! George Allison, driver of the ill fated Lionel Hampton bus, finally succumbed from the injuries he received Lena Home will make "first" headlines when she opens at one of Europe's top hostelries this fall In the land "down artists figure big in promoter Lee Gordon's plans. Sammy Davis Jr.

appears this month for the Aus Bies and Nat (King) Cole and the team of Gary Crosby and Louis Armstrong are inked for '56. Jersey Joe Walcott left for Hollywood Sunday to double as technical adviser and actor in Columbia's picture version of "The Harder They Fall," starring Humphrey Bogart Modelovely Dorothea Towles is sub leasing Eartha Kitt's penthouse on Riverside Drive while the sultry singer is on tour, and may fall permanent heir if "Kitty" can find the East Side domicile she wants John Young ni is trying to set up auditions for the Met and TV for pert Coletta Warren, winner of his "Miss United States" contest, but she's been hampered by laryngitis ever since she won Tall, tan Joanna Owens, who got a trip to Bermuda as second prize, impressed the islanders so much that she's been invited to return for a recital at the conclusion of. her senior year at Hampton. "Blackboard Jungle" which has more fans than any other picture, ran into more censorship trouble and wont be seen in Manila! Composer coach Phil Moore is the owner of a brand new Lincoln Premiere which he'll keep irf N. Y.

His Lincoln Capri waits at the airport in L. A. for his return! Othella Dallas is searching for a few personable young men (who sing) to form the Devils background for the new act she'll take into La Vie en Rose in November Sally Millinder in town to take her son to the rodeo and make the rounds of the publishing houses to peddle her western tunes It was really a Capitol cocktail party for Nat (King) Cole at Danny's Hideaway Wednesday when that record company toasted their great balladeer Add to the list of prettiest brides, Delores Grigsby who made it Wright a week ago by saying "I do" to Jet mag's editor Dale. Joe Glaser has been asked by the Russians to send Louis Armstrong on a tour of the Soviet Union Willie Bryant is going great guns in Detroit but misses Seventh Avenue and his friends Buddy Phillips and Sevilla Fort have set the second anniversary jamboree of their dance studio for mid November at the, Hotel Diplomat Trumpeter Donald Byrd, featured with the George Wallington Quintet, and pretty Lorraine Glover tied the knot last 'Saturday, which won't, keep the bride from continuing her studies, as a classical pianist Lloyd Williams, the WLIB disc jockey, was let out of the radio station when he ran afoul of the narcotics men and was arrested The Rinkeydinks (who must be Dodgers fans) have a baseball theme for their annual dance next Sunday at the Savoy Rock Roll finally moves to Carnegie Hall Oct. 29 when deejay Hal Jackson brings in a show.

A well known Detroit doctor is already warming up the chairs at the club where Sheila Guyse will appear en route to the West Coast Al Green, who handles Lavern Baker, has signed Prophet Jones to a recording contract with "RCA Victor Out L. A. way Elihu (Black Dot) McGhee opened a new barbecue roost for show folks, where Dinah Washington is a regular customer Johnny Otis, who used to front a band, is set to open the old Ebony Showcase Theatre as a broadcasting and recording studio Fred O'Neal in the Angel City for a TV show which was to have starred the tragically killed James Dean Jay Loft Lynn working with the Negro Actors Associated, who are set to present Oedipus Rex at the Gallery Theatre next week The Uptown Press Club sponsors a cocktail benefit at Birdland Oct. 30 to secure new members for the NAACP. The sudden demise of the Moulin Rouge has the backers of the proposed new interracial hotel, the Continental, eyeing the project with trepidation A note of appreciation from Dorothy Dandridge, expressing her happiness at being at home again for awhile, but no word as to wThy she's out of the cast of the "King and Marie Knight, who used to do the church circuit with Sister Tharpe, plans to make at least one church appearance while filling her new "pop" singing role at the Flame Show Bar in the Motor City Lee Ann Merriweather, NBC's "Girl in the Gray Flannel Suit," is prettier in person than the picture shell make on Dave Garroway's "Today" show Michael Todd's A the new photographic sensation, brings "Okla hcvua" tr the screen as a little clearer version of cinerama, with improved sound.

But the advertised effect of being in" the scenes doesn't come off as well. There is much singing and little plot, all of which doesn't add up to the $3.50 asking price to Izzy Rowe, 2091 7th NYC 27. I 1 So dry, so smooth you 11 enjoy it on the rocks SCHtHLIT SISTIUERS N.Y.C. IISTIllEB BIT CIN FIOM lOflX (IAIN NEUTRAL SHUTS. 90 PROOF George Rhodes IrOeDps There are only two Negro pianist conductors of singing matinee idols in the $5,000 a week bracket, one of whom is George Rhodes, the guy that makes Joyce Bryant tick.

A native of Chicago and a graduate of the Chicago 3Iu sic College, Rhodes, now 35, can't remember when a piano stool was new to him. In 1940 he formed a ten piece band in Chicago, specializing in1 neighborhood dances. George says neither he nor his sidemen knew anything gram Friday and Saturday di rectlv from the stage of Basin Street, the cool crew night club around the Fifty first Street corner off Broadway. The premiere program featured the music of Dave Bru becic and his quartet, featuring the star. of the outfit, saxophonist Paul Desmond.

Described by, his fans as "a wigging cat with a far out wail." Brubeck is an international jazzman with an experimental or complex swinging style. His intense, quiet style was recently the subject of a Time magazine article which said. "In essence, the tension between improvisation and order, between freedom and discipline." The new program will be heard every Friday, 11:15 11:30 P. M. and Saturday 10:05 10:30 P.

M. EDT. Such outstanding stars as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellingtqn. Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman and Kai Wind about the musicians' union. Then one day a union representative told them, if they wanated to continue being the rave of the neighborhood dance circuit, they had better join up.

George has been a staunch union member ever since. lie got his first big break tn 1941 when he became arranger pianist conductor for the late IJ1 Green. After a successful stint with Lil, George decided he would like to be a draftsman. He studied draft This marked the first time that a Negro 'Comic has appeared in a white club in these parts and he scored impressively with his classy, hepped patter. Although rapped by one critic, other critics gave him jood notices, one commending him for "keeping it clean when I understand his best material is a bit on the risque side." Although the critic raked "Slappy" over the coals, the management and the! public were obviously pleased because "Slappy" has been scheduled to return to the spot after, the season opens.

The former husband of Pearl Bailey who was once a part of the team "Foxx and White" had scored impressively here last year while appearing with Di nah Washington at the Club Calvert. He was so successful there and many of the white patrons who caught his act urged that he be booked on the beach. As a resit1 1 of his success at the Sans Souci. White called upon to fill several olif.) (dates during the American Le gion convention. He iias been bookee to appear w'th Dinah Washington in California for a month but will return here to fill engagements during the winter season.

THE BIO. NEW COURIER OCT. 29 Childress Comic Drama Opens in Nov. NEW YORK For the first time in several years a drama written by a Negro will get a showing in an off Broadway Theatre when Alice Childress' comis drama. "Trouble in Mind," opens in November at the Greenwich News Theatre.

One of the best known authors in the off Broadway theatre circle. Miss Childress is best remembered for her "Gold Through the Trees" and "Just a Little several seasons back. "Trouble in Mind" will be directed by Clarice Taylor with settings by Vincent Sorrentino. Both Miss Childress and Miss Ing are scheduled to be heard, Taylor bring to this production on future dates. THE BIQ.

NEW COURIER OCT. 2 Whiz on Keyboard BURBANK, Calif. Natalie Wood is a whiz on the piano. While locationing in a Los Angeles mansion with Warner Bros. "Rebel Without a Cause," she.

entertained the cast and crew with an impromptu concert. a weaith of experience gathered through their years of association with the American Negro Theatre. As with all the Mews productions "Trouble" will star and feature a mixed cast. THE IIO. NEW COURIER OCT.

29 THE UNITED STATES and Canada are ringing the northern air approaches to the continent with a triple radar net work. to Make Singer Joyce dVyairot Tick ing and allied courses at Northwestern University and landed a job with the U. S. Army Topigraphical Charting and Map Service. As a map and chart maker, Rhodes found a parallel in the map and musical arranging mathematical equation.

Also a drummer and guitar ist, Rhodes then joined Arnett Cobb's band as writer arranger. He did the work on Cobb's best wax hits. George left Cobb to go drafting at the Chicago Navy Yard. He worked there four days, during which he made the decision that it would be music and not drafting for the Tflneaitirncall IPage rW 1 mum lit i Flies to 'Black Hawk' rnin? plush Mocambo just before she flew to San Francisco to open at the Black Hawk nitery, was film star Ceasar Romero. Others who hailed Queen Dee were Lana Turner, Za Za Gabor, Lance Fuller, James Mason and Louella Martha Graham's Tour Mined Oca mice Growp Leaves tfoir As 5 a NEW YORK Martha Graham left this country Friday with a mixed dance group to begin a tour of Asia, opening in jTokyo the first of November The sixteen week tour, sched uled to close in Teheran i.i mid February, is being presented through the special cooperationj of the U.

S. State Department's international exchange program and the American National Theatre Academy. The company is booked to perform in eleven countries: Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaya, Indonesia, Burma. Pakistan. India.

Ceylon and Iran. The Nov. 1 premiere in Tokyo will take place at the Imperial Theatre, with musical accompaniment by the Tokyo om phony, conducted by Miss Graham's musical director. Eugene Lester. A dance company of fourteen will appear in support of Miss Graham.

They are Helen McGhee. Ethel Winter. Linda Hodes. Matt Turney. Ellen van der Hoeven.

Christine Lawson. Donya Feuer. Ellen Seigel. Robert Cohan. Stuart Hodes.

Bertram Ross. David Vood. Donald McKayle ajid Paul Taylor. As a unique feature. Miss Graham and her company will present in each country, in addition to theatre performances, lecture demonstrations of contemporary American dance technique.

Except for the engagement in Tokyo, the musical scores, all of which were written for Miss American composers, will be heard on tape recordings. THE BIO. NEW COURIER OCT. 29 Rev. Jackson On TV Show NEW YORK Highlighting his remarks the effects of acts of racial intolerance andj violence on the American standards abroad, the Rev.

J. H. Jackson of Chicago reported on religion abroad to Morgan Beatty, host and narrator of the NBC TV show, People," Sunday. Pastor of the largest Baptist congregation in the nation west of New York, the Olivet Baptist Church minister said that while it is now possible to hold religious services in Russia. eligion itself is not officially encouraged.

During his preaching mission tour of the Soviet Union, the Rev. Mr. Jackson stated that he found that religious persons are considered to be prejudiced and philosophically immature in accordance with the Marxian standards. He also made it clear that every act of racial intoler ance and violence has great effects on the American preaching Graham by a group of leading ol democracy abroad rest of his life. He says Ella Fitzgerald was looking around for a piano player in an emergency and he was recommended for the job and she could not locate him.

He got back in circulation quick. Since 1953 he has been the polishing angel behind the starry Joyce Bryant. They sometime spend months on the selection of a new tune. According to George, the song must lend itself to Joyce's rare talent. She lives the songs she sings.

This combination of song personality agreement and her tremendous abilities are the keys to her success. When Joj'ce is resting, George fronts a rhythm quartet that has produced some excellent jazz on the Eboriy la bel. Throughout i musical drafting interval, Rhodes has continued to plug away am bitiousry at his study of music and music lore. He hopes some day to be a studio staff conductor arranger and we think he'll make the grade. BdDD Dcovds Tyirne CcaDfled Teoriitfiic which "Wild Bill' Davis an nounced a few weeks ago as his big '56 effort, has started a new trend in song writing and one that the State Department loves.

According to an executive of the State Department in Washington last week, Americans are not writing enough music about this country and it's having its effects abroad. Even songs like "Moon Over wWe were in the City Chompionthlpt. Befora the game we were oil kind of excited, tente, and tight. The Garden was packed and I'd never played before such big crowd." was really lucky that night. After the game they told ete I scored 36.

a schoolboy record!" 5 sA 1 i I I test hi tfmmSL THEATRICAL STANDOUTS Muriel Rahn, singing star of Sie, Chinese bass baritone, watches with interest as Negro concert, opera and theatre, left photo, will give a benefit baritone Lawrence Winters, as Diomede, Prince of Argos, recital "Bach to Broadway" for the NAACP Sunday eve woos Cressida in the person of soprano Phyllis Curtain, ning at the Long Beach High School Auditorium. Yi Kwei The scene is from the opera "Troilus and Cressida," which 'Slappy' Big Hit in Miami Night Spot MIAMI. Fla. Folks here are still talking about the job done by comedian "Slappy" White who set some sort of prece dent when he appeared as the star of the show at the San Souci, one of Miami Beach's classiest night spots. GEORGE RHODES Misa Bryant's engineer.

Basin Street Featured on Radio Show NEW YORK CBS radio came up with a new jazz pro premieres this week in New York. One of a group which will open a four month tour of Asia next week is Matt Tur ney, right. The show, under the direction of Martha Graham, opens its tour in Tokyo. si NEW YORK "Love America. Miami" and "Deep in the Heart ll' Or Leave the new tune I of Texas" give folks abroad favorable impression of this country, said the Government official.

"This new tune by Davis just what the doctor ordered," he stated when asked what his opln 4 ion of such a song. He hinted 7 that he would be among those to urge that its contents be in eluded in the Congressional Reo ord. FO A YM.L Towering Ray Felix, 6' 11" of basketball star, recalls his first gam In Madison Square Garden, and the secret of his record breaking feott Then one of rKe by pane 4 leech Nvt Peppemint Gee around. I fevnd II keiped eoe the tentioa." "Of course, I've got a lot more confidence now, os regular with the N. Y.

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