New York Amsterdam News — 1964-00-00010

In The Wings By DAVE HEPBURN The '64 Crystal Ball On the threshold of a brand new year, one wonders what quirks of Fate will turn an unknown name into a household word, in show business; what struggling actor will become a star in one fell swoop and what record, made on a chance fling (like Vaughn Meader’s) will be a million seller. The new year looks like a cinch for the Negro in the theatre. With already some 100 Negroes on the boards this season, there is every reason to believe that the producers will be casting them in mote and better roles, merely be­ cause they have found out it is good bus­ iness. We believe, too, that more Ne­ groes will get jobs in the production sec­ tions of the stage and television. There are already indications of the craft unions breaking down a little to allow them in. This year we had a company manager for the first time and we had several stage managers, both in theater and television. In TV we have sound men, an assistant di­ rector, a technical director, three camera men, one of them heads the coast-to-coast hews coverage unit — John Fletcher of ABC.----- —~-------- HEPBURN Among the things that seem in the cards for the future are: a bigger and better role for a talented gal, Gloria Foster, now in “In White America,” also a stage starrer for Cicely Tyson who is doing wonderfully in “East Side-West Side”; also for Marlene Warfield, back in “The Blacks”; new horizons for Nancy Holloway and Marpessa Dawn, two of our expatriates in Paris; an American comeback seems in the cards for Josephine Baker; and Ruby Dee, now the fair-haired girl of the TV producers, seems in line for bigger things; so is Ossie Davis, who had a full 1963 and seems ready for a fuller *64; but it’s Sidney Poitier who will make the headlines — one way or another — and probably as the first Negro to win the “Oscar”. There are some other male performers who will be heard from, among them Harold Scott, James Earl Jones, and Bobby Dean Hooks, and for Earl Hyman fame is long overdue. We’d like a break for Hilda Simms, not to mention Fred O’Neal. And we hope Lor­ raine Hansberry has another hit by the tail. Nancy’s Year This is going to be Nancy Wilson’s year — no one doubts this. She’s just been signed for the Bing Crosby spec on TV: her manager, John Levy, was home only for Xmas Day before planing back to the coast to sign the contract; and she is going in to the Empire Room this month. It looks like a bonanza year also for Brook Benton who is finally going to do that movie; as well as for, Errol Garner whose Martha Glaser keeps push- in him more and more towards international fame. Joe Williams is about due and so is Shirley Horn Someone should wake the people up about Arthur Prysock and while Diahann Carroll is well on her way, we want to tell them about a gal named Barbara Mc­ Nair. Finally we want to take time out to say “thanks their record, “Stranger On This Earth.” Also to the many people who sent their feelings in Xmas and New Year cards. If we have been of service last year, we hope, with humility, to be of even more this year. For you, we hope it will be a happy one. i JOSEPHINE BAKER, who will make >ier official return to the Broadway stage on Thursday. January 9. 1964 at the Winter Garden Theatre in a musioal "An Evening With , Josephine Baker," presented by Trans- World1 Associates. 10 • N. Y. AMSTERDAM NEWS, Sat., Jan. 4, 1M4 Shirley, Jones In “Magic Flute" ‘Die Zeuberflote”, known as “The Magic Flute”, by Mozart, was presented at the Metropolitan Opera last Tuesday evening. Both Junetta Jones, as one of the Three Genii, and George Shirley appeared in the production. Thia opera, written in the last year of Mozart’s life. Is filled with good and diabolical forces in conflict, with love triumphing over all obstacles, all the while with the action being interspersed with burlesque characters and serving as a symbolism for the Masonic order. ' As the Egyptian Prince, Tam- ino, George Shirley had a wide variety of emotions to express in l>is role. While the Mozartean arias do not have the tremend­ ous outbursts of song of the Ital­ ian composers, Mr. Shirley brought tenderness to “Dies bil nis 1st bezaudbernd schon” and a great refinement to his other arias. There were occasions when his acting seemed a little stiff, but his singing was always warm and mellow. Miss Jones had no aria of her best own to sing.but In the trio “Seid uns zum zweitenmal wellkom- men", one could hear her voice soaring rnbove the others, all the while being firm and secure. What a rich tonal quality she has. William Walker was Papageno. A true opera buffo, would have injected more humor than he did, but he did make his role sparkle with gay, high fantasy through a vocal awareness of the part. Cesare Slept as Sarastro had a little difficulty with his lowest tones, but when not trying to touch bottom his projection was superb. Others in the cast, who gave refined performances were Mor ley Meredith, Gabor Corelli, Gi anna d*Angelo, Anna Moffo, Mary Ellen Pracht, Shirley Love. Gladys Kriese, Lynn Blair, An drea Velis, Marcia Baldwin, Jo­ ann Grillo, Robert Nagy, Louis Sgarro, Frank D'Elia, Charles Kuestner and-Hal Roberts. The opera was sung in English and with few exceptions, the lyr­ ics were not easily understood. Ignace Straafogel was the con­ ductor. American Symphony Orchestra On Monday evening, the. Am- and seen in its effect on the erican Symphony Orchestra paid Maestro. tribute to our late President by playing Siefried’s Funeral March from Gotterdammnerung” by Wagner. The magnificence of the music only brought the over­ whelming tragedy more vividly to mind. Yet the manner in which Maestro Stokowski evoked the music tended to make the heart be calm, the soul to reach a quietness and the mind to realize it is never free from tragedy. Other works were play­ ed, but the greatest gift that night was the emotion felt by all The public owes Leopold Stok­ owski a debt of gratitude for the intense devotion that he gave to the music. He seemed to have been much more personally in­ volved in giving this program an especial significance. Oh, Oh, Oh What A Title For A Song Okeh Records has announced the immediate release of "Urn Um, Urn, Um, Urn, Um,” a new single by Major Lance. Coupled with “Sweet Music,” the record was produced in Chicago by Carl Davis, artists and reper­ toire producer for Okeh. Major Lance’s recently re­ leased hit single, “Hey Little Girl" is currently represented on national best-seller charts, and “The Monkey Time,” his first Okeh recording, established a new teen dance craze, The Monkey. In response to requests from distributors and retailers, Okeh then released "The Monkey Time” album, featuring the-title tune as well as such hits as "(Mama Didn’t Know,” Watusi, and “Delilah.*' Lance recently completed a record breaking engagement at the Apollo Theatre. The singer was born and raised in Chicago and began his career as a boxer. After deciding to become a vocalist, he joined a gospel group Called The Five Harmonairos*. When that group disbanded he joined the Okeh label as a solo artist. AT BON SOIR — Songstress Thelma Carpenter starts a four-week engagement at the Bon Soir on January 7. A highlight of her performance is a spirited rendition of Kurt Weill's highly difficult “Trou­ ble Man,'* especially * arranged by her musical director, Billy Dennison. Engagement also marks her silver anniversary 'in show business. Marvin Gaye Revue To Play Jackson DETROIT—The highly praised Marvin Gaye Revue will Journey to Jackson, Mississippi, on Jan uary 11 to appear at a special benefit performance in memory of the later Medgar Evers. The stars, all Motown recording ar­ tists, will be donating their ser vices to raise money for the Jackson, Mississippi, chapter of the NAACP. Headlining the show is Marvin Gaye, one of the company’s hot­ test male attractions and a sing­ er* whose records consistently make the best-selling charts. His current hit recording is “Can I Get A Witness.” Completing the prize-entertain­ ment package will be the excit­ ing Marvelettes, four attractive and talented young ladies; Kim Weston, rising young singer. The music for the show will be sup­ plied by Joe Jones and his band Miss Robbs At Town Hall Soprano Mary Robbs, the first Negro to sing with the Chatanoo ga (Tenn.) Symphony, will be heard in recital Saturday, Jan. 4 at Town Hall at 5:15 p.m. It will mark Miss Robbs’ sec ond Town Hall concert. Leo Taub- man will be at the piano for a program of Schumann and Strauss. Ethel Ennis At The Gate Baltimore’s Ethel Ennis, a pret­ ty singer if there ever was one, inaugurates the new policy at Art D’Lugoffs Village Gate when she opens Friday, along with Sa- bicas, flamenco guitarist and the Geulah Gill and Oraain Trio from Israel. The Gates new policy for Jan­ uary and February will have shows only on Fridays and Sat­ urdays. Drink Firm To Honor Cotillion Leaders Pepsi - Cola Metropolitan Bot­ tling Compahiei of Philadelphia and New York will pay tribute to leaders of the Philadelphia Cotillion Society at luncheon, Saturday, January 4, at the Hil­ ton Rockefeller Centre. More than 100 key persons in the Society will attend, according to Dr. Eu­ gene Wayman Jones, executive director of the Philadelphia Co­ tillion Society. Citations will be given five area leaders who have rendered outstanding service to the So­ ciety’s efforts on behalf of Herit­ age House. The Cotillion Society organized Heritage House in 1964. Since then it has concentrated on development of that insti­ tutions, a center to develop the potential of talented youths. The Cotillion itself, will be held the evening before, at the Hilton Rockefeller Centre. Known main­ ly as a gala social event, it waa planned by the Society to pre­ sent "a more challenging view of the American Negro ... to the community and to the emissar­ ies of foreign states who at­ tend”, to honor an individual for outstanding service Tiu- manity, and to continue to pro­ vide “a showcase for our youth.” Speaker at the tribute lunch­ eon will be Harvey Russell, vice president of Pepsi - Cola Com­ pany. ENDS ENGAGEMENT — Kim Weston, whose recording of “Love Me All The Way” has proved popular has wound up an engagement at Big Wilt's Smalls Paradise. The Detroit thrush will rest awhile before moving to her., next engage­ ment She alao has another Tamala record due out called “Just Loving You.” Announcing Our Grand Opening Harlem's Showplace W. 116th St. Billiard Academy p • Bat. 7th ft 8th. Ams. epp. Rwt Office 0 • COMPLETELY DECORATED [ ; WITH AU NEW TABLES 'Open 7 Days 10 A.M. to 1 A.M. Sunday, It Moan Te 1 A.M. I Herman Past, Mgr. UN 4-8902 S. HUROK presents, CARNEGIE HALL-THIS SUN. «^3O The Brilliant American Meiie-Seprene GRACE BUMBRY FRANZ RUPP at the Steinway Mee, «ae, ue, see, Me, i oa. rv MAKING SOUNDS — Max Spears, a tenor sax man from Kansas City Kansas, is being heard in the East for the first time. Some say he’s the best since Charlie Parker. AT RKOS Debbie Reynolds and Barry Nelson star in "Mary. Mary”, now al KHs> Neighborhood Theatres, plus "The Raiders”, with Robert Culp portraying Wild Bill Hic- kock. to the loads of people who have called and written about------------------------ our Dinah Washington piece which we understand is i"'Vmpp-|ofo being sought by ABC-Paramont for the promotion of VtOIlCd I*, PNRI TIP-TOP UNDER THE BIG TOP — Holiday fun for a group of children was provided by Al­ thea Gibson as community re­ lations representative of Ward Tip-Top Bakers. Miss Gibson took the children to dinner and ed the circus activity which •• - then to a circus in the New was staged by WWRL and •»,» York Coliseum just before broadcaster Hal Jackson as Christmas. A number of New part of the Christmas fund ••> York area companies support-, drive to help needy families..- The Little Girl He Knew Has Now Grrfwn Up LESLIE UGGAMS First To Play Roslyn Inn Teddy "Wilson, one of the great. it jazz pianists of our time, has been signed to appear with his ” Trio at the Blue Spruce Inn in - Roslyn, Long Island, for an ex- u. tended engagement which began New Year’s Eve. -«*— , The Blue Spruce Inn, which one of the country's distinguished restaurants, has thus made a major innovation in its policy by ' signing the Teddy Wilson Tno.;" This will be the first time in 23 ,. years that the Blue Spruce Inn will offer live musical entertain­ ment regularly. * i I been with Leslie for the past ten to eleven years, and is a grad­ uate of the New York College of Music and the Howard Uni­ versity School of Electrical En­ gineering, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. A former member of the Hall Johnson Choir, Jones has his own studio at 156 W. 44th St., and his son, Nat, Jr. is now on the “East Side-West Side” TV show. To Play Lucifer In “Cabin” Bernard Johnson has been signed for the role of Lucifer, Jr. in “Cabin in the Sky,” the Lynn Root - Vernon Duke - John Latouche musical opening Jan­ uary 13 at the Greenwich Mews Theatre, 13th St. and Seventh Ave. Josephine Baker first discov­ ered Johnson in Detroit when he was a child dancer, and offered him a tour with her company, which he turned down. He be­ came a night club dancer and toured with his wife throughout the world; the legitimate world beckoned with a good role in I the short-lived “Kicks and Co.”, and then it was Arthur White- law who discovered him, and as he describes it “onstage at the City Center when I was brought on to be a featured dancer and thereby integrate the cast of ’Fiorello!’” By CONRAD CLARK Last Saturday night I visited the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel, to hear Leslie Uggams, now 20, in her first night club date in New York City. No more the little girl that I knew many years ago, but now a young lady grown up, becom­ ing matured and prettier, but still the dutiful and lovable little Miss, holding her Mother’s hand, as when I first met the family. The youngest entertainer ever to play in the Persian Room, Leslie has the background music of Emil Coleman and his orches­ tra, with Nat Jones, her voice coach and arranger on the piano. Among her numbers presented at the 12:15 a.m. show early last Sunday morning were, "Some Where” from “West Side Story”; I Believe,” “You Are My Sun­ shine,” and “Alexander’s Rag Time Band,” all well sung with feeling and much warmth. Scheduled engagements are nt the Deauville Hotel in Florida, within two wdeksafter she closes at the Persian Room, and at Las Vegas in May. The staging and her gowns, which she wears during her ap­ pearance are by Michael Ross, her director, who sits in the audi­ ence during her programs with Leslie’s mother and his wife. Jones, her pianist - coach, has This Week '’SATURDAY, Jan. 4: Mary Robbs, soprano, Town Hall; 5:15 p.m. SUNDAY. Jan. Si Grace Bum­ bry, mezzo-soprano; Carnegie Hall, 8:30 p.m. Top Ten In Harlem Rosetta Le Noire and Ketty Lester have the two prominent leading lady roles in the revival which is staged by Brian Shaw, with Pepe Dechazza as choreo­ grapher. Bobby Banks is the vo­ cal director. Mr. Whtelaw and Leo Friedman are the produc­ ers. Previews for “Cabin in the Sky” get underway on Thifts- day, January 9. if its DANCING we TEACH it Anderson’sStudio 2323 7th Ave.(136th St.) AU 3-0542 1. Dominique—Singing Nuns 2. Louis, Louis—Kingsmen 3. Rain or Shine—Timmie Fox 4. I’m Leaving It Up To You —Dale and Grace 5. She's a Fool—Leslie Gore «. Since I Fell For You — IB Lennie Welch 7. It’s All Right—Impressions 1 8. Sugar Shack—Jimmy Gil-! mer & The Fireballs 9. Loddy Le—Chubby Checker 10. Walking the Dog — Rufus Thomas — compiled by the : Amsterdam News and the f a Record Shack, f i Feature Films At Morningside ; The Morningside Theatre, 116 St. & 8th Ave., will present Fri­ day. Jan. 3, ‘‘Marine Raiders” also “Dakota Lil”. Saturday, Jan. 4, "Cool and Crazy” also "Morgan the Pirate” and "Sierra Baron”, a chapter and 3 color cartoons. Sunday, Monday, Jan. 5, “3 Stooges Around World Daze" also "Tomango". Do Operettas The Provincetown Repertorv. I' Inc. continues its season of Gil­ bert & Sullivan operettas at the famed Provincetown Playhouse in MacDougal St. with the peren­ nial favorite “H.M.S. Pinafore".' The production will run through^ January 11. At Roosevelt The Roosevelt Theatre, Wednes-j day thru Tuesday, January 1 tojl 7, will feature Sidney Poitier in: "Lilies of TheField,” plus Brian Keith in "The Raiders", alsoij "Football Highlights of 1963." ROWELL Ml'SIC-DANCE STI'DIO Jart. piano, voire trained, recorded ^Special adylt ballroom dance rlaaaj Thursday* A Sundays TAI-ENT SHOWS — SI'NDAYS CBS BUILDING 1497 Rraadway Roam MS L LF A?Ut ci HALLS FOR HIRE Hotel DIPLOMAT Accommodations From 100-1000 Catering to the "Exclusive a DANCES • WEDDINGS a BANQUETS a CHURCH AFFAIRS a ALL SOCIAL FUNCTIONS , A <,.#■. MRRHHHNHRNNMRHRMh3 BANQUET DEPT. HOTEL DIPLOMAT 108 W. 43rd St.; N.Y.C. BR 9-2489 FUUY AIR CONDITIONED SAVOY MANOR 120 EAST 149th ST. 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For reservations call: AU 6-7759 or IE^-3419 BOOKINGS AVAILABLE Untitled Document file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/hello.html2/18/2007 11:01:03 AMThomas M. Tryniski 309 South 4th Street Fulton New York 13069 www.fultonhistory.com