Legendary Entertainment Venue ~ Harlem's Apollo Theater

The revue at Harlem's Apollo Theater introduced by Master of Ceremonies Ralph Cooper during the week of May 14, 1934 included Clarence Robinson's ostrich feather-attired chorus, the Jack Storm company of acrobats,

torch/blues singer Myra Johnson, tap dancers The Four Bobs, dancer "Jazz Lips" Richardson, Lindy Hop contest-winners Leroy and Edith, comedians Johnny Lee Long and Pigmeat Markham and the film Blonde Crazy starring Jimmy Cagney -- all for the ticket price of 15 cents.

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Legendary TV Characters ~ Fred Sanford & Aunt Esther

“Esther, I could stick your face in some dough, and make gorilla cookies .” Fred G. Sanford ( Redd Foxx ) talking to sister-in-law and frequent foil “Aunt” Esther ( Lawanda Page ) on Sanford & Son , the venerable sitcom that, since its debut on the NBC television network in January 1972, has never been off the air .

Everyday Black History ~ Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Vivian Hansberry was born in Chicago on May 19, 1930 to politically-active parents Carl, a real estate broker, and Nannie, a schoolteacher. When she was in third grade, Lorraine and her family were forced to move from the all white neighborhood they had moved into on Chicago's South Side after taunting, harassment and a lower court ruling that upheld restrictive housing covenants in Chicago which barred blacks from moving into white areas. Carl Hansberry challenged the ruling all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled in his favor and struck down restrictive housing covenants. ( Hansberry v. Lee, 1940 ) In addition to her interest in theater, Hansberry also dabbled in art and studied painting at several schools, including the Art Institute of Chicago . Later, while a student at New York's New School for Social Research , Hansberry met Paul Robeson and began working first as a reporter and later as an associate editor for Freedom , Robeso...

Everyday Black History ~ Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Madame Sul-Te-Wan Madame Sul-Te-Wan nee Nellie Conley (1873-1959) The former Nellie Conley was first employed by director D.W. Griffith at his Reliance-Majestic studio to help keep the dressing rooms clean. Although all of the major acting roles in his 1915 film " The Birth of a Nation, " were played by white actors in blackface, Griffith cast Nellie in several small parts when he needed actors to play minor black characters, including that of a rich, colored woman. It is reported that Griffith put Madam e on the studio payroll at five dollars per day, work or play. "The Birth of a Nation", called Hollywood's first true blockbuster, was denounced as racist and sparked protests throughout the country almost immediately after its February 8, 1915 premiere. The professional relationship between actress and director endured despite the controversy, as Griffith cast Madame Sul-Te-Wan in his film " Intolerance " (1916).

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