fredi says...
September 29, 1945 p. 26
[...] ANSWER TO A CARD received by the editor which came over my desk from one Henry Johnson, New York City, which says, "Gentlemen: Iam [sic] an ardent admirer of 'Fredi Says.' Who is she? Could you tell me her second name and trace her career for me?" First of all the second name is Washington and believe me, Mr. Johnson, it is good to know that somewhere among my readers, I have an admirer. There are an awful lot of folks here of late who haven't admired certain things I've had to say. To trace my career, which has been rather sketchy would be to take too much valuable space but I will tell you a big open secret; I was born in Georgia, Savannah in a convent--limited education--(Can't spell.) Entered show business quite young as chorus girl. Toured principle cities and resorts of Europe with own dance team and then moved on to the drama. Several shows and plays on B'way--movies in Hollywood, New York and West Indies. Been with the Voice for 3½ years. Been writing for more than two. No training other than what I've learned from staff members. Helped to found the Negro Actors Guild. Some folks call me a communist, others a reactionary but between you and me, I'm a Catholic. All of this sums up about 20 years [sic: no period] Gee, how time does fly.
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A LETTER FROM Mrs. Anna Williams of Newark, encloses a copy of a letter which she sent to Constance Bennett and Irene Dunne, relative to Miss Bennett's WJZ program in which they asked listeners to write in on the subject: "Should Hollywood Produce More Good Will or Better Moving Pictures for True Democracy?" The letter which Mrs. Williams wrote to Miss Bennett is a good one and the kind which more Negro listeners should take an interest in if they really want to have a voice in the kind of film, radio or stage fare we want. Her letter reads in part: "On an average of 65,000 persons a week (the estimate is way too low. Ed.), see motion pictures. My answer is, Yes. Better pictures which would portray the Negro to better advantage and not the kind which always show him as a clown with nothing but the whites of his eyes showing."
"American youth, which is our next generation, never sees the Negroes which are making accomplishments, portrayed on the screen. 'Tis a known fact that Rochester is a big draw on Jack Benny's radio program and that the program would not enjoy much of its popularity without him. Why not let Lena Horne and Hilda Simms do parts in pictures which now are given to white girls. Many of our boys have given their lives in World War II for just such things as these. Yes, let us have some democracy on stage, screen and radio."
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NOTES ON MUSIC
Edward Lee Tyler, who was seen last season in Carmen Jones, passed up the road tour to get down to some serious studying and now is well on his way to cracking good radio spots. Handled by Bernice Kazounoff, Tyler recently appeared on the CBS program, "New Voices In Song" which is heard Sunday mornings at 9:45. The response from listeners has been such that he has been given a guest spot with the CBS Symphony which will be heard, Thursday, October 11, at 6:30 pm. WQXR presents Tyler on the Stromberg-Carlson Orchestra program, three times this week. Monday-Wednesday-Friday, September 24-26-28.
Andrew Watson, tenor, will be heard in concert at Town Hall, Sunday, October 7, at 5:30 pm. ... Muriel Rahn starts her coast-to-coast concert tour for the season, October 5, in Baltimore. An hour-long musical tribute to the memory of Gerge [sic] Gershwin was heard over radio station WNYCC, Wednesday, September 26, the composer's birthday. ... William Grant Still's Suite for Violin and Orchestra, was heard for the first time over the air last Sunday through NBC's Red Network's Standard Symphony hour program. ...
The Southernaires, who have been heard each Sunday morning over Station WJZ at 10:30 Sunday mornings for more years than you can remember, will give their first concert in New York since 1939, at Mt. Olivet Church, Friday evening, September 28. For the first time, the singers will add to their spirituals and folk songs, compositions by Schubert. ...
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THE ALLIED ARTS INSTITUTE at 892 Prospect av, Bronx, has made public its intention to offer scholarships, awarded on a competitive basis, in the studies of piano, violin, music theory, modern ballet, singing, painting and sculpture. The opportunity is open to gifted students to study with teachers who are artists in their fields, entirely free of cost for the period of one year. One scholarship is available in each subject.
Students are requested to register for the competition which takes place the second week in November. Contact Joseph Vicino, at the preceding address.