The New York Age from New York, New York • Page 6

2g i ry CCABK THE NEW YOKE AGE Saturday, January 27, 1 34 Play. About John Brown, Abfcist, Stirs New York; rErcest Whitman Has Good Part By VERE E. JOHNS "Ripening on Monday night to a very appreciative audience, the tlajr Brown," built around the" life of the famous abolitionist mi "humanitarian of Jthat name, made its 'bow to Broadway at the Ethel. Barrytnore Theatre. It was written by Ronald Gow and presented by George Abbott, who also played' the title role.

The scene opens in John Brown's home at North Elba in the Adir ondack where his wife, Mrs. John Brown (Alma Kruger) is gather family for a welcoming i party to a siew daughter in Haw. With her ore her youngest daugh tefS, Anne (Whitney Bourne) and I EH (Edna Uncle Jeremiah (Harold Gould) pays them a visit to ask that John's mad scheme of aiding slaves be stopped that no money of his AasrfrwaU jjia'' stands by. her husband's idcalsJand Jere 1 rniab: departs. The family gather around the tabic.

There arc Owen (HAtry Cooke), Samion (Bulord a Irmitage), Watson (Robert Foulk) atuLliis wife, Bell (Elizabeth Ken dall). Oliver (Oliver Barbour) and Ettde, Martha (Iris Whitney. TJamily is notified by the 'sig nvl' on the hill that they must be ready To receive escaped by 5 4yof the underground raiiroad, to JiiTsDirited away into Canada. AJa.rtip.is puf. in the window as an answer, flurried footsteps are John Brown (George Abbott dashes" in with an escaped slave.

Shields Green. (Walter John bides Green just bc 1" IT jute siavc owner ana omrcrs enterand search the place. They aLuTchim and depart. John tells his" Sorts he has bought Kennedy's famrin Maryland and lie plans to concentrate his forces there to strike a big blow against slavery in Virginia. pcaving Salmon behind he takes I thFTJther three sons and Anne i and Martha to the farm.

thtyiJVait with slaves hidden up et Tand powder, rifles and shot downstairs. A pretty romance up between Anne and 505m secretary, John Kagi (John I.r.efy). They receive a visit from IrvHigginson (Herbert Yost) and reJ2rick Douglass (Ernest Whitman) and John Brown tells them cf 'i plan the govern jj arsenal a Harper's Ferry and the slaves with a view to Jxiiog a general uprising through South. Higginson does iagrsi and Douglas declines to i because he feels that his peo ossoge Dear Friends anil Patrons, opening of the Friday night will mark I tation of stage shows. travaganzas produced Clarence Robinson, nal revues, will be a The phrase, "the a.

iy appuea to uus amusement. Courtesy and the management, truly a resort for the better people. High Fidelity by. Radio City Music Hall, and an innovation in dress systems, has the 125th street edifice that Harlem borhood communities. A A 0 NG Friday Evening, January 26th ST.

Night 5EIHIRE KCEETS Ilirlcm Children's Fresh Air CC STESY "2VICE HERE THE TTER GO .16 THREE TROY ''t 1 ERNEST F. WHITMAN, who plays the part of Frederick Doug lass in the new Broadway dra matic sensation, "John Brown." pic have no spirit left and cannot he depended on. Word comes that troops are coming to search the farm so John tends the women north with Higginson and launches his attack that night. With but 22 men lie partly succeeds but ms support tails him and with eiht killed the rest are cornered with htm in the Fire Engine Shed at Harper's Ferry. Two sons lhc dead but John fights on against the urging of his hostage, Col.

Washington. How he is taken by CoL Lee (whose admiration he wins and how his wife calmly rakes the news of his Impending execution and still carries on iiis work is simply and forcibly por tryed. 1 he climax comes when Owen, the only survivor of the little band, hysterically rushes to the door, throws it open and de clares he sees men marching. Throwing his arms to Heaven he To Harlem Theatre Goers 125th Street Apollo Theatre. a revolutionary step in the The most lavish and colorful ex under the expert direction of internationally known creator of weekly feature.

finest theatre in can Mass Pressure Slashes Mkhigan UnL Color Bar AXX ARBOR, Mich. Spirited protests from oouafed University of Michigan alumni and wide pub licity in the Negro press have forced F. Cappon, Michigan's basket ball coach to attow Franklin Lett, star athlete to continue woncouts on the freshman team from which he had beii previously barred because of an "unwritten gentlemen's agreement Between ine fj icn schools. After a rrmference with Coaches Cappon and Yost on January young Lett was told he could report for the sqirad. They aaid he could go out, that it waa jnst up to him.

Tti harrin of Lett from the Michigan freshman team was brought to the attention of the I. A. A. P. bv Dr.

Adonis Patterson of Bat i. rr1r Mirh Strnnr letters were immediately' dispatched to the Michigan authorities ana scare 01 hcials. Th Aiwiation is now directing i'i. aitmtinn in tithtini the unwrit ten agreement ot the Ten schools against Negro basketball players. Protests have already been made to the presidents of rniiin and Minnesota naiver citi Alumni at other Bin Ten schools are asked to protest to their universities on this anegea agrcx ment.

cries exultingly. "It is the army of the Lord and John Brown is leading thcml Glory! Alle A Good Presentation The play is presented simply and effectively and the cast exception' ally good and well chosen. Geo Abbott ai "John Brown' gave a very earnest and striking portray al that was beautiful in its simplicity, and was ell matched by Alma Kruger as his wife. The two colored Ernest Whitman and Walter Price, acquitted themselves well. Whitman gave a very typical charactcriza tieui jtf Frederick Douglas, the quiet unaffected artistry of a real actor.

Walter Price as "Shiilds Green is fast adding histrionic laurels to his singing achievements and there is a splendid spot in the second act for one of his songs; 1 think it would enhance the play if his fine baritone was given a chance. This play should be of greater interest to Negroes than to white people and I hope those of New York and New Jersey will take the opportunity of seeing it. We could well do with the spirit of John Brown today; it would need more than the capture of a government arsenal to free the present day Negro of his econom ic slavery. BIGGEST SHOWS AT LOWEST PRICES next ppesen origi be apt II as used public ad certain that to neigh Between Seventh Eighth Avenues rcaecorarea ana reiurntsnea temple ot consideration will be the watchword of RCA sound equipment, the same been installed, and we feel Apollo Theatre will be an entertainment will take pride in showing off Sincerely, 125th St. APOLLO MANAGEMENT APOLLO THEATRE DE LUXE STAGE ENTERTAINT.1ENT CLARENCE ROBINSON PrestnU "JAZZA LACARTE" RALPH COOPER AID A WARD BENNIE CARTER and his Orchestra GORGEOUS HOT STEPPERS 16 RHYTHM KINGS NORTON MARGOT BROWN MABLE SCOTT 3 PALMER BROS.

"CRIMINAL AT LARGE" FIRST HARLEM SHOWING 14 HI Activities Aco2g Union Musicians By PERCIVAL OUT RAM The following was culled from a daily newspaper: MUSICIANS WIN NRA HEAR ING The Regional Labor Board of the NRA will hear the complaints of members of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Lo cal SOi, Monday at 4a Broadway. They appeared today with their counsel, fanner Magistrate Charles A. Oberwager, before James r. Hodgson, district compliance director, to air their grievances against the union's officers. "They left IS written charees.

including allegaions that no financial report had ever been made in the 1J years of the union's existence; that the kickback system robbed them of 3 per rent of their wages and that favoritism was resorted to in assigning men work." It was1 indicated at a meeting reported in this column on January 6 that the object of the appeal t3 the NRA waa to secure work for unemployed musicians. But now, according to the above article, the ground seems shifted and charges are being made against the administration of Local 802. One wonders if the NRA ha any jurisdiction in this phase of the As regards the kick back system, members were led fo believe that the three per cent was to bolster up the finances of the union and to help indigent members. The local has lost the substantial income from a tenant who used to rent the ground floor of their building as a theatre, and it has been the habit of many unemployed musicians to appeal to the local far funds with which to pay their quarterly dues. This request was seldom refused.

The failure to submit a 6nancial report is another matter. The introduction of the NRA into the proceedings was caused by the followers of the Blue Ticket. Pay your due before January 31 and thus aave the fine which will be arbitrary after that date by the laws of Local 802. The Jwo men appointed by Local 802 to police Harlem are not at ail sergcanti at arma, if you please, they are "delegates." They are not supposed to make time at the Local, just report once in 24 hours, and this, it is said, does nt necessarily, call for a personal appearance but may be done by telephone. So it is apparent that really no one is filling former ergeant arms Minton's position.

in ton's time was 10 tj on weekdays; 10 to 1 on Saturdays. He had certain office duties to perform which are not expected of "delegates," it appears. The delegates' salary, I an reliably informed, does not nearly approach the salary Minton as scrgeant at arms received. Complaint, it is reported, has been made against the selection of one of the delegates. colored musician, it is alleged, made a personal appearance at the Board and voiced his protest.

Although a gossip is said to have declared that there were many who were dissatisfied with the selection, only one Harlem musician had the temerity to personally appear and complain. But liiurmurings arc gaining in volume anH rm nrrtA qcilAn may be taken. It has also been freely said that Lou Weissman and his Yellow Ticket would be denied his former Harlem vote because of this con tretetnp. It is only fair to say though that apparently Weissman hud nothing to do with the appointment. It is said that at the Governing Board meeting when the delegates were appointed, the nominations were made by a member of the Board who was not a Yellow Ticket member.

It is al leged that his Board member in submitting the names nt th rm. didatcs proposed "Peck a boj jim my jjavis and Joe Jordan becaue Zi Zttr Watf. Thurs.M. 14 an 2S BLNG CROSBY Tco Ilcch Hinscay Jack 0k Judith All ana "acta" Aallahar alaa "Bureau of Missing Persons' with Utrt Stana, O'SH an Swtta Oafla PrU an Sat. aait CS ana 17 MAN OSUWTOiro OUMK CAILI "DANCIKG LADF FraMnat Tana a Kokaan alaa 'Wild'Boys of the Road' WiM mANKIS DAAW9W Awn.

Man. antf T. Jan. tS SS SS MWi MmiTaOAf with MM DWWLS TIMMcC0Y In MH0LD JHE PRESS" they were known "opponents and would keep an eye. on each other, and thus conserve the interest of the Local a cute idea, to say.

the least. The nominations were not made by. Chairman Canavan or Lou Weissman. 1 Colored musicians are indignant against They are still talking his failure to place any colored watchers at the polls in the recent election, when about 160 white men were paid for this service. They know he could have given some colored watchers jobs if he wanted to.

also remember his comparatively poor vote in this election and know of the reputed dissatisfaction in gen eral with his Yellow Ticket. It i being loudly proclaimed thar his power as leader of the Yillow Ticket is surely on the wane. fih uid hi hand will I cross the Atlantic February. ne king of Hi de ho will give the foreign listeners to his many records a personal peep of his leadership ot this noted band. The Beaux Arts Ball, that galaxy of beauty, talent and Social Register attendance.

held last week at the Waldorf Astoria. Again, as in former ears, Fennar, former manager of the Ckf Club, was he contractor and furnished some of the music for the elaborate affair. Femur had two bands of 14 musicians, conducted by Shrimp Jones, and another of 8 men wider Violinist Carroll. The I4 piece band, it is said, alternated with Markel (white) in the grand ballroom. The 8 piece band was perhaps more colorful, as they had to assiane Chinese characters to take part in tlie pageant.

Evervone who attended the func tion was stamped on the wrist with a black ink stamp to indicate that he had not sneaked in one of the mu sicians was so pronounced that he was said to have been marked in the palm of his 'hand. Tt. te Mon. Jan. i S7 What Old They Th Laai Man its' Wmn Kath SCI sncTACti 1 0THI6l trVsVoS sis nit 1CBII AIM "The Phantca Express" AM Attract! WKKY MOUM III THf WT tTOWl Tum.

Thur Jan. aci Fk. 1 Twnty Sif Stare Inelutflna JAMES CAGNEY AM AUrattltn "The Isle Of Desire" Ana Watf Da Na. Matin 10. All.

If aniaat: Chitaren 10o. AaulU WSD. TMIWS. SAT. JAN.

24, aS, tt, Kf wa Also JACK HOLT In 'MASTER OF MEN' sun. iron. ruts. UN tS, tS, SO I DATS I At' JACK LtRtfE In "To The Last Man' MY W0m mm New Vaudeville House To Open on 125th Street Harlem's burlesque spot on West 125th street it no more. Th Hurtie and Apollo Theatre, which tor housed a burlesque company with shows almost entirely patronized bv whites, hat hem taken over by the Apco Theatres Corp, who propose to present atlolored production of the best quality.

At their own realist. Sn. man and Cohan of the Apco Thea tres conferred with a representative group of newspaper men on Monday evening, lanuarv 22. on their desire to find out what was best needed in Harlem. There were piesem Romeo L.

Dbuebertv (Ams terdam News) chairman; Malcolm fulcher and Harold Loclcky (Afro American), Mrs. Bessie Bearden fChkaeo Defender). Veii K. lnhns and Baynard Whitney York jack I rotter (Uaily Uticen), Flovd J. Calvin Pittsiurirh Couri er) and Chappie Gardner (Chicago ueiender).

Various discissions were duleed in and suggestions made as a result of which Air. Suvtnan assured the gathering that it was his intention to give the hichest standard of enter tainment possible and to make th ineatre so inviting in if atmosphere anrf ortjenurioon thai it will anneal to everybody. He regretted that his opening shows would be of the usual vauaevuie and picture type. But to the very near future, he contemplated innovation which would make possible the inclusion of dramatic and operatic offers. Oarence Robinson, well known tbeatrcal man, has been engaged as producer of the stage shows, Herbert Heinze.

noted showman, will manage the house with an all colored staff from front to" rear. Open Friday Night The theatre has been re christened the 125th Street Apollo Theatre and has been renovated. The opening performance will be given on Friday, January 26, and the management an nouncd that the entire proceeds from that night will be given to the Harlem Children's Fresh Air Fund. On the stage will be: Aida Ward. Dusty Fletcher, Mabel Scott, the Three Rhythm Kmgs, the Three Farmer Boys.

Norton and I argot, a chorus of sixteen beautiful girls and Ralph Conper'a inimitable band. The picture offering wiH be "Criminal At Large." Tt performance will commence at 8 o'clock and on Saturday morning the house will go into itj regular routine of continuous shows. Lafayette Theatre The wond rful reception which Teddy Hill's band received at the Lafayette Theatre at his last appearance has prompted the management to hrmg him and his organization back for another week's engagement, beginning this coming Saturday (January 27th). tXext week they will provide music for a new revue staged by Addison Carey and will at the same time offer a new cycle of songs, dances and musical selections of their own. The east which will be seen in snp port of tlus band rsa large and talented one.

Amongst the stage celebrities are: Doris Rhuebottorn. Ollie Potter, the Three Yorkers, Dewey Brown. George Wiltshire and George Gee James. The management also expect, to engage a a special added attraction with this show. Maitland and Wheeldon.

the well known female prire fighters. "Little Women." hailed as the greatest 'talking picture that has ever been made will he presented jtxt week. YEAH MAN? I tali an American RESTAURANT Seventh Avenue 0L in a4 llfefc Straw New York City Oyaa aB Wifht Pint Qm ttrtc, TOHIT. Maaacar rooar utmi rmoar CI wiw moms Mrr Also TIM McCOY In 'HOLD THE PRESS Be, T. asa.

17 SO wna Ma mM KATHLEEN ORRIS "WALLS OF GOUT With MUT tUCM In the Name of Art By VERE E. JOHNS i OBITUARIES HELMSLEY WINFIELD AND INEZ CLOUGH PHILOSOPHIES ARE ALWAYS reminding us that we should give people flowers while they can smell them, that it is hardly much use throwing bouquets after the hearse. But of course there is the fact that the loved ones left behind find some consolation in the knowledge that their dear departed was well thought of by ether. Recently two outstanding char acters of the American stage passea from our midst, and I am happy that at the time of their careers i happened to be associated with them, and its by reason of that appreciation that I now pen my bumble eulogy. 1 do not plead guilty to the charge of withholding the flowers, for in the case of these two, 1 have always given them my bouquets when they deserved them.

Hebnsley Winfield My mind is taken back to 1929 when after unsuccessfully trying to make the grade in several "Negro plays because of what the directors referred to as my 'English' accent, someone told me to go down to the Cherry Lane Theatre and see Mr. Winh'eld. 1 had some job finding the place but eventually 1 got there and was graciously received by a fine looking affable young man whose every movement Frockumed that he was a dancer, was Helmsley He told me of his production of 'Salome' and asked me if I would like to play two of the minor characters. I consented and for several weeks journeyed dowo to the Cherry Lane to don make up and play first an oldl Greek and then a Roman Tribune. After that I would stand in the wing and watch Lee moan over the head of John the Baptist (Yokhanaan) after he had dona his dance of the Seven Veils to get it Oh yes, it was my job to drop the final curtain, and woe ts me if I didn't drop it at the psychological moment.

And never could an artist put more soul into his work than Helmsley did in that role. On Thursday nights I played the more important role of the 'young Syrian and in that Director Winfield and I had oar first and only argument. He didn't like my saying of "Dawnce" and I detested his finally I found happy medium that satisfied both of us. I left the company later for the West End Theatre and 'Seventh Heaven' and about a week after that closed I had a rush call from Winfield to come down and play the principal role of "King Herod at 24 hours notice. With his help it was done.

Time flew by and Helmsley Winfield and 1 came together again when he asked me to play two dramatic roles in a Pageant that he staged at Carnegie Hall. 1 did so with pleasure. 1 litre was one fine thing about Helmsley Winfield, he was determined to overcome the handicap of color and push his art t'j its furthest limit. That he achieved the Metropolitan Opera Co. is a stirring example to all of our young artists and I am only sorry that the Fates did not permit him to achieve his dream of.

going abroad, for I fully believe that Helmsley Winheid would have made Paris, sit up and take notice. To his devoted parents and especially to his talented mother who granted his every. whim, 1 tender my very sin cercst condolences. INEZ CLOUGH My first meeting with Miss Inr dough was simultaneous with Mr. Winneld for she played the role of the Queen ((Salome's mother) in the Cherry Lane offering.

1 was immediately struck with her superb diction which was as clear as a bell, and also her knowledge of stagecraft, and was not surprised when I learnt of her long years of successful playing on the dramatic stage, both in white and colored reductions. Later on I had the onor of directing Miss Clough in a tryout play by Mme. Robinson called "The Rugged and it was in that that 1 discovered how perfectly at home she was in southern dialect as she was in. the "King's English." Miss Clougr. had the cracious manners of the old school of thespians, who always acted like grand ladies on and off the stage and it was always a treat to sit and talk with her.

1 am afraid that her last few years were so so happy, and can only teel relieved lor her sake tnat she is at last at peace and no longer being buffeted by a hard and cruel, and I mtut say ignorant world. May Inez dough rest in The struggles and achievements of these two artistic members of onr race serves only to shame us who live in Harlem and profess to be to prond of it when we are con tent to let such good talent in our midst run to waste for want of ade quae support It can be taken from me that the Negro's best chance of recognition and proper appreci ation lies by, way of the stage and other artistic fields, and it will sot come until our own people force us into the limelight in characterizations other than those of clown and fnenial. But it must be financial support HARLEU U0V1E HOUSES LINCOLN THEATRE Wednesday and Thursday, "Too Much Har. monv" with Binz Crosby. Jack Oakie, Skeets Gallagher, Judith Al len and Liiyan Tasnman, also 'Bureau of Missing Persons." Friday and Saturday.

Joan Crawford and dark Gable in "Dancing Lady al so "Wild Boys of the with Frankie Darrow and Rochelle Hud ion. RENAISSANCE THEATRE Friday, Saturday Sunday and Mon day, "Deluge and "The Phantom Express," and Mickey Mouse in the Pet Store." Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, James Cagnry and twenty stars in "Footlight Parade," also the "Isle of Desire." ODEON THEATRE Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Ruth Chatterton in Female." with George Brent also Tim McCoy in Hold the Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, "Son of Kong." and Kathleen Norris in "Walls of with Sally Eilers, Norman Foster and Ralph Morgan. ROOSEVELT THEVTRE Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jack Holt in1 "Waster of Men," with Hay Wray, and the Four Marx Brothers "Duck Soup." Sunday, Monday and Tucs day, "Blood Money," with George Bancroft and Frances Dee, and Zane Grey's "To The Last Man. MUSIC NOTES The Monarch Symphonic Band till conduct another free band concert this Sunday afternoon at 3 p. m.

at the Junior High School, P. S. 1J6, Edgtcombe avenue and Uoth tr4 I inrtrnant Fiwl SilMUOn COO" ducting. The Wall Street Boys will rc the guests ot nonor in IftioA 10c li 20c fejs 25c 40c 7fiVE.j3I.ST.iu; M. 3 This Week Special Event Wed, tnd Friday CHUCK and CHUCKLES Vest Pocket Edition of Buck and Bobbles HRYNA JOHNSON DE SMITH'S HEW SAVOY BAND GEORGE BANCROFT fa "BLOOD KONET NEXT WEEK Beginning SATURDAY, JANUARY One of America's Greatest Bands TEDDY 'HILLS? BAND In a New Cycle of Musical Novelties m'iS'XF MCCOLAS BOYS TWO TURBINES And Others In Carey's Greatest Revue Also Use Oreatest of AH TaOaif Pictures "LITTLE With KATHERINE HEPBURN Auditions Wed.

Night Midnight Show Friday.