Solid Meddlin'
with Marienne Boyd
April 17, 1943
p. 18
The war is teaching us the value of woman’s ability. Virginia Victorino who has been working the lunch counter at Liggett’s Drug Store, 8th ave and 125 st, moved up to the managership now that George King (fist Negro to hold such a job in the city) reported to Uncle Sam Thursday gone. Good luck George[,] you did a swell job.
SISSLES A LA TOK[Y]O
Lena Horn[e] is hobbling on a cane, having hurt her ankle while trying to keep up with Uncle Bill in a dance routine on the set of “Stormy Weather.” Still out on the Coast: Noble Sissle, with his beautiful wife and two youngsters, is installed in one of the ultra-modern homes the [J]apanese had to vacate on Blueberry Hill (this is the newly-opened section for Negroes). The F.B.I. found a short wave [sic] radio set concealed in the walls of the basement which of course they promptly removed.
Understand the deportment of some of the young ladies of the ensemble on the set of Stormy Weather leaves much to be desired. It is high time this group starts to use their brains as well as their feet, and realizes that for every act of indiscretion committed by them, we are pushed back ten paces. Come now girls, lets [sic] start moving forward together.
Johnny Vigal and John Mason comic team, [sic] have left these parts to join Bill Robinson’s new show on the Coast.
Had a letter from Shada Wright now stationed in Australia and he tells me that we gals here are lucky to get cotton stockings. The women and children there go bare-foot because there just ain’t no such animal as shoes and stockings to be had.
WELL OF ALL THE THINGS
Frank’s restaurant seems to have had a change of heart concerning the seating of colored patrons. Sunday, dinner hour, I spotted my sisters and brothers seated in all sections and not just to one side as has been the usual custom.
I wish the various organizations running benefits would give some of the lesser names of show business a break. And stop demanding all top names for their entertainment. The big names are over-worked, and furthermore it is physically impossible for them to grant every request. The little fellow goes unnoticed, but many times is better able to give the time, and often has equally good entertainment value. We would not forget that they too, want to do their bit toward the winning of this war.
HOW ABOUT IT?
Wonder what is happening with Canada Lee’s new starring vehicle New Georgia? I hope this one will hit the boards, but soon. Its theme is timely and gives us black folk a say on the subject of the war.
Too bad Dooley Wilson did not make a recording of As Time Goes By. The o’fays who recorded it are collecting plenty of dough! You do remember that it was he who repopularized it in the much talked of picture Casablanca? Every time you turn your radio dial you hear it, and it still sounds good. Seems it’s too good for even the corny bands and voices to kill.
Fannie Robinson is in Los Angeles for a much needed rest after a strenuous winter of war work in New York and not to sever her marriage of long standing to Bill as the busy bodies would have you believe.
There was more rubber than cash in the checks used to pay off the show appearing with Noble Sissle at the Hollywood Casino out on the ultra strip (Sunset Blvd.) just down the street from the Troc[a]dero don’t you know?
Chauncey Haughton (not Chauncey Baker), Ellington’s clarinetist, is now on furlough and will report to Camp Upton next week when he returns from a visit to his mother in Baltimore.
Hattie McDaniels [sic] will have a feature part in James Cagney’s new picture, “McLeod’s Folly.” Hope this is not just another “mammy” part. Hattie is capable of doing other things and if the producers want to argue the point of physical appearance, I can name for you many of our race who are large of statue and dark of hue whose accomplishments in the field of education, science, government, etc., matches those of our white brethern [sic]. Why not glorify these people and incident[al]ly educate the movie going public. Will you join the fight Hattie?