Headlines and Footlights
May 29, 1943
p. 24
A NEGRO TECHNICIAN FOR PICTURES
After viewing Stormy Weather, the new film reviewed elsewhere on these pages, I am more convinced than ever of the necessity of Hollywood securing the services of a Negro who is well versed on the Negro and all phases of his life and activity, as a technical adviser on anything which touches on the Negro question.
It is my belief that a sincere effort is being put forth by the various film companies to utilize more Negro talent and to present it in a better light; but like anything else, without a thorough knowledge of the subject, a novice cannot hope to do an accurate job. And this is where an authority on Negro Affairs would come in. Each studio need not have an individual, but some sort of plan could be worked out whereby one person could be put on salary by all the studios and be shuttled from studio to studio as the occasion arises. Perhaps it could be worked through the Screen Actors Guild with each studio contributing to salary.
It seems to me this would be a very simple matter for the industry to arrange and one which it should lose no time in doing since it is investing a great deal of money in the making of these pictures and from any standpoint, [sic] would want its productions as near perfect as is possible. This cannot be achieved alone as has been proved by mistakes made, which are as simple to correct as one two three to the average Negro movie patron. You see the Negro knows himself and his habits, while the industry has yet to learn him.
Let us hope though in the meantime that if such a suggestion is looked on with favor by picture producers, they will not in a harem scarem fashion, hire the first self[-]styled Negro savior that tries to sell himself to them in an effort to satisfy one-tenth of this nation, but will get such an expert through the NAACP, or that branch of the public library which has the Schomburg collection, headed by Dr. Reddick. In this corner of the 135th St. library can be found anything and everything pertaining to Negroes. Again, I say, let’s go after this thing in an intelligent and forthright manner.
CANTEEN VERSUS DEMOCRACY
This story can be accredited to Rosetta LeNoir, the charming little nut brown lady we’re proud of in show business: Rosetta works one night a week at New York’s Stage Door Canteen and while on duty there last week, she sat with and was entertaining one of the white southern soldiers when she spied a colored boy sitting alone. She asked her companion to excuse her for a moment, because there was a soldier sitting alone due to the shortage of girls that night. She got the colored soldier and brought him back to the table with much apprehension, not knowing how the boys would feel toward each other. To her pleasant surprise, the boys immediately engaged in lively conversation and found out they were both from New Orleans and had lived around the corner from each other before entering the service. She[,] being ignored altogether, moved on to cheer some of the other boys who might have been lone-some. End of the story; they left the Canteen together, arm in arm.
FAIR TREATMENT IN HARLEM
It happened at the Apollo Theatre: Maxine Sullivan was scheduled to appear along with John Kirby, his orchestra and a string of headliners the week of May 21. Contracts had been signed and publicity drawn up and released when Maxine decided, for reasons not given, that she could not appear. Naturally this threw the whole show helter-skelter. Here was a breach of contract but Maxine asked to be released by the management which did her the favor and if you know anything about signed contracts, you’ll know this happens seldom in this business. Avis Andrews replaced Maxine, delighting the patrons with her finished artistry.
NEGRO ART IN HUACHUCA
Did you hear the story about Stalin telling Wendell Willkie how he chooses a general? Says Stalin, Russia’s number one man, you can’t decide the capability of a man from answers on an examination paper, only from his experience in battle can you tell whether a general is going to be good. Take Joe Louis, if you were to pick a good opponent for him, you wouldn’t select the man whose biceps, chest, height, weight, reach, etc., were the same as the champion’s. You’d pick a man who has shown his talents inside a prize-ring. That’s telling ‘em.
Fort Huachuca opened its American Negro art exhibition, Sunday, May 16, featuring 37 artist[s] from 9 states. The exhibit was made possible by the Federal Art Project. Richmond Barthe, New York sculptor, and Vernon Winslow of New Orleans were guest speakers at the gala opening. Some of the work[s] represented are by Sergeant Johnson, sculptor from California and Archibald Motley of Chicago, painter. Dean Olaf Anderson of the college of fine arts, University of Arizona opened the exhibit.