April 27, 2015 elvagreen123

YOU ARE UNIQUE, RUN WITH IT

Today, first, I want to wish all those suffering from the devastating earthquakes in Nepal an eventual sense of peace and comfort through those who have been able to help, and I am sad that so many others are using their energy to hurt rather than to help.

Now, on to the purpose of this blog. Inspiring those who would like to accomplish something specific, but are reluctant to do so, because of seeming obstacles. My father, Eddie Green, has been a great example to me, of a person who started out with rags (in various senses of the word) and rose to riches. Eddie’s rise was not rocket-like. But it was steady and continual.

Eddie was born in 1891, he left home at about age nine, got work where he could performing as a child magician in churches and whatnot until he got work in various theaters, by 1909 he was married for the first time, 1917 he was drafted for WWI and wrote his first song, he spent the 20s on the Vaudevile and Burlesque stage, in the 30s he got married again and started his radio career. By 1936 Eddie was 45 years old and still climbing.

No, this is not Eddie.

On April 18, 1936 Mr. Joe Bostic of Radiograph wrote an article about Eddie. He chose Eddie’s performance on the Rudy Valley radio show as the “peak radio performance of the Week.” It was the second time within a month that Eddie’s performance had been chosen. He said that “Eddie Green, it seems to be, is more than a new star in the radio firmament, he is a symbol of what race artists might achieve if they have a distinctive and individual entertainment idea to offer.” He also states “We doff our hat to a sterling performer and a great fellow.” Hear Eddie Green Thursday night WEAF 8 p.m.

Eddie’s distinctive and individual entertainment idea was to perform skits, with scripts written by John Tucker Battle, of people from certain literature, such as, The Courtship of Miles Standish, which I have just learned, is a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about a love triangle involving pilgrims who may have actually been real people; and Sir Galahad and the Knights of the Round Table, I guess these skits were sort of a “What if the Knights of the Round Table were Black” kind of thing. The skits were part of a sketch called “Heroes Wuz People”. Eddie acted out these skits with a Negro’s impression (according to the Daily Herald) and evidently they were so funny he kept getting called back to the show.

On September 3, 1936, The Daily Herald announced: Rudy Vallee to Present Karloff, Eddie Green – Mr. Karloff was there to do a dramatic sketch.

And Eddie was there to perform a humorous sketch titled “Adam and Eve”. What if Adam and Eve were Black?

This same year, Eddie performed, on the Rudy Vallee radio program, “Jonah and the Whale” – The general consensus was this was his funniest skit of all.

My very first set of books was bought for me by Eddie. Moby Dick, The Last of the Mohicans, Sir Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, The Count of Monte Cristo. As a young child these books were a connection to my father, now I see they were a connection to his entertainment career. The set of books looked something like this:

Unfortunately, sometime before I turned ten, we needed some cash, so mom sold the books. I still consider those books a legacy from my father. Eddie was obviously a reader. He taught himself.

Those appearances on the Vallee show when Eddie portrayed these classic characters, were added rungs up Eddie’s ladder to success.

Keep reading and thanks for stopping by.

April 12, 2015 elvagreen123

YOU TOO CAN BE PRESIDENT

my brother

Here is a picture of my Brudder Brian (I love my brother.) He is very happy for me. Well, he would be if he knew what I am going to post about. Since Sibling Day has just passed I will use his picture anyway, cause I know he will be happy for me when he learns about my latest find.

Research is a never-ending tool of non-fiction writing, I am finding. And I am absolutely suited to spending hours pouring over maps and newspapers and searching websites. I have had help, also. From the folks who read my posts. From people I have found on-line, and from one person who heard me on the radio. I have received cd’s, an original portrait, lyrics to my father’s (Eddie Green) songs.

There is a gentleman who told me about a library in Beverly Hills, where I have found scripts for a couple of Eddie’s movies and even a contract Eddie had with Paramount Motion Pictures. I found a letter that was written by a censor about one of Eddie’s racier movies (he made five movies). I even received a Press Sheet in regard to this comedy of Eddie’s from 1940:

EG in "One Round Jones" — EG in “One Round Jones”

Eddie is the one with his mouth wide open-I guess he is winning.

I have received messages of support for this blog and I even have a couple of people who want to read the book I am writing about my father. This has become much more than a one woman project and helps keep a smile on my face. But you know there are always things that just do not want to work out, at first.

At one point in 1922, Eddie made his first foray into the movie business, in Washington, D.C. Over the past few years, I have not been able to find anything more than a couple of two line articles about this business. Very frustrating. But today I found a listing where I never before thought to look:

10th Annual Edition, 1922-23

THE FIRST COLORED

Professional, Clerical, Skilled and Business

DIRECTORY

OF BALTIMORE CITY

With Washington, Wilmington and Annapolis Annex

PRICE 5O CENTS

Sold at AFRO-AMERICAN OFFICE. Eutaw St. and Druid Hill Avenue
and R. W. COLEMAN. Publisher. 418 Federal St., Baltimore. Maryland

————————————————————————————-

DEANWOOD MOTION PICTURES CORP.

308 SOUTHERN AID BUILDING
WASHINGTON, D. C.

Capitalization $200,000 Stock $1.25 per share.

Edward Green, President.
Anything that you want to know about Moving Pictures, Write us.

Eddie’s business is the first listing on the page. Not only do I now have the verification, I also have the address and money info. I am sure more will be revealed, which can go into my second rough draft of the book.

So, everything is cool and life is good. Thanks, for stopping by.

April 7, 2015 elvagreen123

Hard Work and Perseverance Equals Cash Money

Hello! In my head today, it is 1925, and my father, Eddie Green, who is now 33 years old, is working at Minsky’s. Minsky’s Burlesque is a theater run by the Minsky brothers, Abraham Minsky (Abe), Michael Minsky (Billy), Herbert Minsky and Morton Minsky. Eddie, at the time was what one article called, Billy’s right hand man. I have not actually verified that but I came across an article from the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper that had high praise for Eddie’s role with Minsky, at what was then called the “Little Apollo” on 125th Street in New York.

Eddie has by now, written a few songs, he has gotten married and started a family and signed up for the WWI draft. He’s become a music producer and has even spent some time in Washington, D.C. in 1922, starting up a movie production company, Deanwood Productions. He has played a few vaudeville shows all across the country, Eddie is beginning to make a name for himself.

Which, I imagine, is why, a few months after the famous Minsky raid (due to a young performer ending her act bare-chested with her arms over her head), an article appeared giving Eddie kudos. I can’t print the Baltimore Afro-American article, but I can share a portion: “Eddie Green, East Baltimore Boy Is Now Making Good” is the headline. “Eddie Green Makes Stock Record, Finishes 45 Weeks Engagement with White Company in New York.” ” Will Stage 5 Burlesque Shows.” “Former Member of Daly’s Is Now In Forefront of Profession.”

The article goes on to mention Eddie’s recording contract with Paramount, and his dancing studio on 46th Street. It says that Eddie had been re-engaged with a considerable increase in salary, and that those fat salaried contracts should keep him quite busy.

The opinion is that “Green’s success is another feather in the hat of East Baltimore”, probably referring to other celebrities who were East Baltimoreans.

Oh yea, I may have written this before but the article also says Eddie’s success is a good example of work and perseverance.

Perseverance. Works for me.

Come back again, won’t you?

April 2, 2015 elvagreen123

To Coin a Phrase-PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION

Hi there. Cutting and pasting is extremely easy. I should try it more often. The above is a recording of a song my father, Eddie Green, wrote in 1924. This song’s copyright was renewed by Eddie just before he died in 1950, and is still in copyright. Soon, I hope to have the moola to get copies of the paperwork in regard to this song, and a few others. I have only learned of these songs in the past five years and I did not realize the Copyright Office wanted so much money to do a search for materials and file new documents! Anyhoo, I get a kick out of listening to this song. I haven’t found much information on the lady singing with Eddie, Billie Wilson, but I think this is the only Paramount Recording she did.

I wanted to start this post with something that gives me pleasure, because lately I have begun to feel so confused in regard to the writing I am doing, meaning this blog and my book. I forget what I wrote where and when. I have found that in writing these posts, I have gone back and forth, from 1949 to 1917 to 1923 and then to 1945, when, of course, my book, as a biography, is chronological, and this all gets mushed up in my head.

This has been a real learning process for me. Today, I sat down and tried to put my thoughts and words into some kind of order.

The blog is supposed to relate the progress of my book. To share portions of the book and any other stories I find inspiring or funny, and to, hopefully, enourage others to research their own family members.

The book is about Eddie, from birth in 1891 to death in 1950. As of today, I have begun Chapter V – Takes Broadway By Storm. I will include an article from the Brooklyn Eagle dated July 18, 1929 that begins with this sentence: “The Whole Town Is Talking About Eddie Green.” I will also include an article which was written by Eddie in 1949 about this period of 1929 and which I first posted in my second post “Screaming Sirens Can Be Inspiring”.

My chapter titles have changed and I have discovered new information that has had to be inserted into earlier chapters, such as the discovery of a fourth wife. I will be blogging about Eddie’s wives.

Hey, thanks for stopping by and I hope you get as much of a kick out of “I’m Sorry For It Now” as I do.

March 14, 2015 elvagreen123

MY FATHER, A MAN OF MANY TALENTS

Introducing Eddie Green and Dancers in “Connie’s Hot Chocolates”, in its fourth month at the Hudson Theater in New York, 1929.

When I was young, about ten years old, my mom told me that my father said that he had never performed in blackface. The way she said it, sounded to me like she was saying, he would not stoop so low. But, maybe, he told her he would never perform in blackface again, as he had already been there and done that, because clearly Eddie did perform in blackface as the above picture shows. I found this picture while searching the net and I was shocked. Like Mr. Fallon says, I was like “Eww!” Which is where my mindset was about this type of performing. Whether it stems from societal influences or parental influences, I realized, at that time, that I was embarrassed for Eddie. And, I did not know how I was going to be able to present this to the public.

Hm. Obviously, I had a problem. One minute I am so proud of my father and the next I want to hide a portion of his life. I had to take a good look into my thought processes. I had to educate myself about the business of performing in blackface. So I started reading.

I learned that way back in the 1700s actors were performing in blackface-supposedly as an exaggerated, humorous imitation of blacks as they were perceived in those times. I learned that minstrelsy became wildly popular as time went on, with troupes performing in circuses in the US and the UK, and that a circus was not considered complete without at least one minstrelsy act. I learned that at one time blacks were not allowed to perform in blackface on stage with whites. It was exclusively a white thing. I learned that though whites performing in blackface was basically about making a black person seem ridiculous, it also assured that a black person had no opportunity of performing on stage and, maybe, becoming famous. This, as I now know was to change.

I learned that George M. Cohan, young author and actor, who became famous, appeared in blackface in 1891. he played in his father’s production of “The Molly Maguires”; and he was co-proprietor and part producer of Cohan and Harris’ Minstrels, the first performance of which was at the Apollo Theatre, Atlantic City, N. J., July 27, 1908.*

I learned the by the 19th century, blacks were allowed to appear on stage with whites only if they wore blackface. They painted their lips white and their costumes were usually gaudy combinations of formal wear; swallowtail coats, striped trousers, and top hats. I learned that Bert Williams popped up, and of course, became famous. Mr. Williams was the most popular blackface comedians of his day,and, was also the highest-paid in 1912, working for Ziegfeld Follies after signing a 3-year contract for $62,400 or $1.5 million today. ( Strausbaugh 2006, p. 136) I learned that It was through blackface minstrelsy that African American performers first entered the mainstream of American show business.*

I went back to some of the articles I have found in which Eddie’s performances were reviewed. In an article of Stage and Screen it says: “Eddie Green, late star of “Plantation Days, as he was billed on the program, was also exceptionally good. His was a blackface number, dancing and singing and his droll manner won fave. His talking song “Previous” was enjoyed. He also did some clever dancing.” The Utica Herald says “Eddie Green scores a hit with his softshoe dancing.” A blurb in The Billboard from 1921 says, Eddie “Simp” (his nickname to those who knew and loved him) Green, the acrobatic dancer is singing his own songs with “The Girls De Looks” Burlesque Show. Eddie is a good business man and has his own publishing business. . . . He is contracted with the show for the next two years.”

Today, my personal perception of Eddie’s life as a performer has changed drastically. My father was not degrading himself by doing blackface, he was presenting himself as the actor that he was in the makeup expected for the roles he played. He had a plan. He knew where he was going and what it was going to take to get there. What to some was disgraceful, provided Eddie with a stepping stone to a better life. He constantly received kudos. I discovered new information from these articles, also. Mom never told me that Eddie was an acrobatic dancer? A softshoe dancer? Really. Eddie was exceptionally good at whatever he put his hand to. That is the point.

Eddie wrote a letter to The Billboard in 1920 to let his fellow actors know about the most convenient place to get a room, the Hotel Francis, opposite the New York City Depot. The editor of The Billboard had this to say about that letter: “The following letter from Eddie (Simp) Green. . . . is beyond doubt the most unselfish communication that has come to us since the department has started, . . . Eddie Green writes something besides letters. He wrote “A Good Man is Hard To Find”, “Algiers”, and the “Blind Man’s Blues. He also has written himself into a class of regular fellows with the above letter.”

A class of regular fellows. A good man. A man of many talents. My father, of whom I am proud.

p.s. I forgot to mention, is he surrounded by beautiful women, or what?

*Excerpts from Monarchs of Minstrelsy (1911)
by Edward Le Roy Rice (1871-1940)

January 23, 2015 elvagreen123

A Journey of Awareness and Motivation

Great-grandfather, great-grandmother, great-grandson.

Ok, here are pictures of my father, Eddie Green, my mom, Norma and my grandson, Edward. When my grandson was born he was named Edward, not because he was Eddie’s great-grandson, but because it was simply the name his mother chose. Until 2014 I thought my father’s natal name was Eddie, in my research I came across information verifying my father’s birth name was Edward. I was ecstatic. Another discovery! Which totally aligns with the fact that Eddie copyrighted his first song under the name Edward Green in 1917. Another fun fact for me has been that my grandson, Edward has chosen to have people call him Eddie. Just like his great-grandfather. Plus, they look so much alike, don’t you agree?

My idea of writing a biography about my father came from the fact that when my grandson, Edward, was little, he used to use the phrase “I can’t” a lot. So, I decided to put together what I knew about my father, who rose from poverty to prominence, and put it in book form. My purpose for doing a biography of my father, was to give my grandson an example, from within his own family, of what a person can accomplish. I figured if I show him what his own great-grandfather was able to accomplish as a black man, beginning in the early 1900’s until 1950, that it would provide him some motivation and inspire him to believe in himself and his own abilities.

I had no idea 15 years ago when I came up with this book idea, that the information I had about my father would lead me to finding so much more, and that I would still be discovering, to this day, new articles and more pictures featuring my father, such as this one on the set of the radio program, “Duffy’s Tavern”, in which my father played “Eddie, the Waiter” from 1941-1950.

Life happens. It interrupts the flow of our endeavors. Edward, my grandson, is an adult now, and my book has just gotten started. But it’s OK, because Edward has been able to follow along with me on this journey of awareness. We are both learning about accomplishing our goals and what it takes to do so. I have to say here, that I am truly proud of my grandson, he has grown into a good listener and has kept himself on the right track. As for myself, I have accomplished a new skill in starting a blog, I wasn’t sure I could do it, but here I am! I am learning that in regard to my own endeavors, “Can’t Is Not In My Vocabulary.” Stay tuned!

December 5, 2014 elvagreen123

Exposure

Hello, happy Thursday, today I am posting an internet radio address below for anyone who would like to tune in on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 8:15pm to listen to yours truly being interviewed about why I have chosen to write a book about my father, Eddie Green. If you are a fan of OTR (old time radio) or you like trailblazer stories or are just looking for something a little different to enjoy, try this:

www.yesterdayusa.com

click on either the red or blue link.

We will begin at about 8:15 Pacific and should be finished in 45 minutes to an hour.

Since starting this blog, I have written about 14 posts and almost every one of them has some mention of my father, or of the book I am putting together regarding my father. While focusing on getting this blog up and at the same time researching my father’s life from 1950 back to 1896, I never even considered someone might want to interview me. I had, of course, hoped to build an impressive group of followers to have something to show potential publishers, and then, once I got started, I realized I really did want to be that person who helps others find inspiration. But to actually have someone point me out and bring me forward and have me speak out loud to a live audience, is something that just had not occurred to me. Well, truthfully, I thought it would probably happen to me after I became famous.

What I am learning is that part of this blogging and book-writing process, is me going out and making myself visible, if for no other reason than to get ideas that I can then pass on to others with similar ambitions. Actually, this blog is late in the process, as I made the decision, at least 15 years ago, to write a book chronicling my father’s accomplishments. It is only in the last four years that I have actually done the necessary footwork it takes to gather material, such as birth certificates, copyright information, newspaper clippings and photographs. I understand now that with exposure and active research, I will learn things that may help another blossoming writer, things like the fact that people want money to give you pictures of your father, pictures that they own. Meaning people in museums and people who work at newspapers. I have learned also, that there are people out there who are more than willing, and able, to help another person achieve positive results in their endeavors. I absolutely look forward to this experience and I will blog about it.

In the meantime, and in between time, I am still adding and subtracting elements to my site and I have received some good feedback that I really appreciate. My intent is to post pretty much in the realm of inspiration through examples, motivational stories and poems, and about daily happenings. Comments and shares are welcome.