Uncategorized

elvagreen123

Keeping my eye on the Beauty of the World

millicent-and-eddie
Millicent Roberts receiving award from Eddie; with Miss Futter and Miss Graves.

Article in the Norfolk Journal and Guide: Some of Harlem’s most beautiful girls turned out for Eddie Green’s Second Annual “Night of Glamour”, last Thursday night at the Renaissance Casino when the popular comedian offered valuable prizes plus a movie contract with his Sepia Art Pictures Company. Eddie is standing next to the winner Millicent Roberts Miss Glamour.

 

As well as being a filmmaker, stage star, old time radio icon and composer, Eddie was also well-known for holding beauty contests, usually in Harlem, that featured beautiful Black women. He even put together the Miss Sepia America contest which was held at the 1939-40 World’s Fair in New York. There was a pavilion at the fair that showcased exhibits for and about Black people (though today it is difficult to find mention of this). 5814421775_46ea0e10b6_b

As I have mentioned in former posts Millicent (Miss Glamour) is still with us. She is a living testament to the fact of Black beauty contests. I don’t think we have those anymore.

My father believed in promoting Black people. Through beauty contests or in his movie studio and in his office. His letterhead from his movie studio read “Producing the best in Moving Pictures, of, by and with Negroes.” (We were negroes back in Eddie’s day and proud of it.)

Eddie possessed the ability to get along with people though, be they Black or White, men or women. It’s what helped propel him through his career as a comedian. It helped him work at the Apollo drilling white chorus girls for 45 weeks, and this was such a big deal it was written about in the local newspaper.

Lately, I have found it difficult to write upbeat posts because of the recent shootings of Black men. Eddie must have been extremely upset though back in the early 1900s. But he focused on the goals he wanted to achieve. He was a good husband to my mom. He was all-business when he was supposed to be. And he was a funny, if droll, comedian. People liked to see him coming. Eddie lived a good life through hellish times for Black people. Eddie lived through the depression, hellish times for everybody. And he just kept going.

I feel for all those who are losing loved ones to violence. And I know that positivity exists.

Thanx for stopping by and don’t forget to check out my book Eddie Green The Rise of an Early 1900s Black American Entertainment Pioneer

Eddie Green

http://www.bearmanormedia.com

 

 

elvagreen123

Research in Black Culture-A Celebration

momwithfur (2)The latest good news is that the biography I have written about my father, Eddie Green, will now be featured in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York.

The picture I have posted with Eddie and Mom (Norma) is in the Eddie Green Portrait Collection also at the Schomburg. I did not put this picture in the book because I do not own the photo. But I want to show it off here because these two look like they are enjoying the good life. Mom made her own hats back then. I don’t remember that fur coat but I do remember her fox fur stole. She kept it in that drawer that I wasn’t supposed to open.

If you have bought the book (thank you so much!!), you will see a picture of Eddie in a white suit and black tie, I was able to purchase a copy of the picture from the Schomburg and it works perfectly for my back cover.cropthisforpost (2)

As a filmmaker, movie and Broadway star and Old Time Radio Icon, Eddie was always sharp. He was a good business man. He was well-read. Eddie travelled with his books. He had his own library at the Hudson Theater in New York. They say a lot of those old time vaudeville actors read a lot of the classics in order to come up with ideas to incorporate into their funny skits, similar to a reference to Shakespeare’s Hamlet that was used in an old Three Stooges movie:

” Among the insane sights in this Stooges short is a burro wearing galoshes. The burro is named “Yorick,” and when it appears it was accidentally blown up, yes, we hear: “Alas, poor Yorick. We knew him well.”

Eddie was a comedian. A good comedian. He was funny, someone said he could not open his mouth without being funny. He didn’t mind acting funny, either.eddiegreensillyphotoas he did in his movie One Round Jones.

Over the time it took for me to write the book, I have had a number of people tell me that Eddie is looking down at me and smiling (even the lady who has my first consignment said it). I don’t know if this is so, but if it is he can now be proud that in 2016 both of our works are housed together in the same public access building in New York. I know I am proud. Thank you Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

And thank you, for stopping by and celebrating with me.

 

 

 

elvagreen123

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

fallingasleep

In case you missed it for whatever reason, here is an upload of my internet radio interview with Walden Hughes, John and Larry Gassman.

I haven’t listened to it yet, but I hear I did a super job!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ct32z61m8g2jd45/Yesterday%20USA%202016-07-31%20John%20Gassman%20Walden%20Hughes%20with%20Elva%20Green%2C%20daughter%20of%20Eddie%20Green.%20Her%20new%20book%20has%20been%20published.mp3?dl=0

 

As always, thanx, for stopping by.

 

 

 

elvagreen123

Eddie Green The Rise of an Early 1900s Black American Entertainment Pioneer

Eddie Green -Social MediaOk, let’s see, how can I put this? I AM A PUBLISHED AUTHOR. Eddie Green The Rise of an Early 1900s Black American Entertainment Pioneer is now available for public consumption. Of course, I let family members know first and now I am announcing to my wonderful blogging family. Woo hoo!!!

On November 12, 2014 I wrote these next two paragraphs on my first post on my brand new laptop:

Bestsellng author, Dean Koontz said, “I really believe that everyone has a talent, ability or skill that he can mine to support himself and to succeed in life.”

I found this quote while doing some research for a book I will eventually complete.  I began my research in about 1998 because my then small grandson’s favorite words seemed to be “I can’t”.  Usually in regard to why he did not finish his homework.  His homework was always too hard.  I came up with the bright idea to enlighten him on what a person can accomplish by telling him about, and by writing a book for him about my father, his grandfather, who was a black man born in poverty in 1896 and who rose to prominence despite many obstacles.

Well, it is now 2016 and eventually has arrived. My original idea of writing a book was small. I mean, you know, you gather the information and type it up and you have a little book. And then you give him, your grandson, this little book. Once I began the research my knowledge of the true progression of my father’s life from poverty to prominence grew. I knew Eddie was a radio star, had written a song, had made a movie, had appeared in a movie. But since Eddie died when I was three and he had only been married to my mom for five years, I never really learned half of the things my father had accomplished. My little book grew.

One thing I discovered which I could not share with my mom because she had passed on by 2010, was that my father lied about his age. She thought Eddie had been born in 1896, but according to his Social Security Application from 1937, Eddie was actually born in 1891. So when my twenty-two year old mother married Eddie he was actually fifty-four, not forty-nine. I learned that not only had Eddie written one song “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, he wrote twenty-nine songs. Not only did he make one movie, he made wrote, produced, directed and acted in five all-black cast movies. He had appeared on and co-hosted radio shows, he had appeared on Broadway and on and on and on. My little book became a BOOK. And the progression has been documented on this blog.

I have loved every minute of sharing my journey here through WP, and I am very happy that I have a loyal group of followers (which I acknowledged in my book). This journey is not over. I have the job of marketing to do. I will continue to post regarding progress, and I will continue to share other items of interest to keep the spark of inspiration going. Thank you all so much for being a part of this journey. Check me out at http://www.bearmanormedia.com.

and we have a Facebook site for the book:

https://www.facebook.com/EddieGreenBook/?view_public_for=1134428443290744

As always, Thanks, for stopping by, and Spread The Word!

elvagreen123

GOING PLACES

Eddie Green Cover Image composit
Eddie Green

I love this portrait. I found it online one day while looking for information for my book. At that time I had one head shot of my father that had been given to me by my mother for my 40th birthday, and a few pictures I had found at online auctions and in newspapers. I was so excited to see this portrait that I contacted the artist and thanked him. He sent me the portrait! He’s a fan. Well, this portrait will be featured on the front cover of my book, along with the title, Eddie Green The Rise of an Early 1900s Black American Entertainment Pioneer, and my name, of course.

The finished product is in the works as I write this.

I am fortunate to have a good number of followers of this blog, some for a long time and some very recent. For the more recent followers, this blog has pretty much been about my book writing journey regarding my father, Eddie Green who was a prominent moviemaker, film star, Old Time Radio icon and beloved comedian active in the early 1900s, but whose name became buried in the sands of time. I have spent years researching and in February of 2015 I bought my first laptop for the specific reason of writing my book which will be published this year. I will post a copy of the front and back covers on the book when I receive my completed copy.

The covers depict Eddie in white coat and black tie (he was always sharp), and it reminds me of the fact that he frequently emceed floor shows, also. Especially after he became famous as Eddie, the waiter on the Old Time Radio show Duffy’s Tavern. For instance, during the Spring of 1947 he emceed the 68th Anniversary of the leadership of Charlotta A. Bass of the California Eagle newspaper (In 1952, Bass became the first African-American woman nominated for Vice President, as a candidate of the Progressive Party.)

One of the performers in that floor show was Mabel Fairbanks, a Black ice skating star. Ms. Fairbanks performed in the 1930s through the 1940s, but because she was Black she was denied the chance to compete in the national qualifying events for the Olympics, though she did tour nationally. In 1997 she became the first African American to be inducted into the U. S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Today we have 19-year-old Simone Biles who has become the first woman to win four consecutive U. S. all-around titles in 42 years and who will be attending the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. It all blends together and becomes relevant to today’s generation.

All you wonderful people out there, I welcome comments, anecdotes or neighborly hellos, and tell your friends to check me out, cause we are going places.

Thanx, for stopping by, and keep coming back.

 

 

 

elvagreen123

DAD

1377285_408063912679921_1904812000674135875_n
Nathaniel Leroy Beasley

Nate was my second dad. About two years after my father, Eddie Green died, my mother met Nate. She knew the Beasley family already through other family members namely Odessa, Nate’s mom (Nana) and Dorothy, Nate’s sister (Aunt Dot).

I remember clearly the first time I saw Nate. He was standing on our porch on 2nd avenue in his Navy whites knocking on the door.  Later, after  we moved from 2nd Avenue in Los Angeles to 66th Street Nate was living with us. Mom  told me to call Nate, Uncle Nate. Hmmm. Then she wanted me to call him Daddy. Well, even though I was a child I knew he was not my Daddy, so I chose to call him Dad. And he was my Dad until he passed away.

In this picture he looks like a gangster to me. Cigarette hanging out of his mouth, clean and smooth. Truth be told, when he got angry he would grit his teeth and talk like James Cagney. Then he started smoking cigars.

Still today I associate cigars with Dad. Cigars and a scratchy beard. Overtime his hair got thinner, his cigars got more raggedy because he chewed rather than smoked them and it seems to me that he never shaved. So when you had to give Dad a hug you got to smell his cigar and get your face all scratched up from his beard. Ewww!

Dad was a painter, he painted houses. So he also always smelled of paint.  Or had paint on his hands and on his clothes and on his paint cap.

Dad was funny. His sister, Aunt Dot, thought he was the funniest man ever. I heard what I thought was the dirtiest joke from Dad, when I was twelve years old. Actually it only had one “bad” word. I had my ear to the door and was listening at one of their parties:

 

“A man fell off of  a cliff but managed to catch hold of a branch. Hanging there he began to scream for help. Help!!! Help!!!!!!!!!!. A voice from out of the sky said “I will help you. Will you do anything I say?” I’ll do anything, anything! Just tell me what to do.””Okay. Let go of the branch.” And the man said…..”Shiiiit!!”.

Through Nate I gained a whole new family. And new father figures. Uncle Jim, his brother. Uncle Harry, his sister’s husband. Uncle Jim was a very kind man. Uncle Harry was a hard working guy.

Put these guys and the rest of the family members together on a Saturday night and watch out. You never knew what might happen.

On Father’s Day now when I look back I don’t see us giving Dad ties or tools or fixing him dinner (had to do that anyways). There was no big shaggy dog sitting by Dad’s chair. Our home life was a bit more chaotic.

But through Nate I gained a whole new family,  a sister and three brothers and a family that stretches from L. A. to Philadelphia and points in between. I love my family.

Nate, Uncle Jim and Uncle Harry have passed on, but they are certainly not forgotten. Happy Father’s Day you guys.

Thanx, for stopping by.

elvagreen123

This One is for Lorenzo

lorenzosincanula

Isn’t he cute? This photo was taken about five months ago. I chose to start this post off with Renzo because looking at him always puts a smile on my face, always. Lorenzo is my brother’s grandson. One of the newcomers to the family during the time I was writing my book, which is at the publisher’s now being prepared for introduction to the world.

Since sending my book off to the publisher, I seem to have become sluggish and sad. The fact that I will be a published author makes me want to jump up and down and laugh hilariously and do my dance. But I am trying to be cool. So I seem to have gone in the opposite direction.

I have a feeling that my father Eddie, in his rise to success in show business, did not spend much of his time being depressed because he propelled himself into being known and loved as a comedian, actor, movie producer, director and writer, owned two successful Harlem restaurants and was a hit with the ladies, according to my mother.

Yesterday, I received a copy of my publisher’s newsletter. In it was this:

We know our list of upcoming titles is amazing . . . every title.
Get a load of these subjects that are coming soon:

Columbo Under Glass (TV series review)
Are You Afraid of the Dark? (TV series review)
635 Things I Learned from The Sopranos
When War Returns (Book 3 in Wes Britton’s new sci-fi novel tetrology)
A Throne for an Alien (Book 4 in Wes Britton’s new sci-fi novel tetrology)
Over There (British films)
Seeing Stars Memoirs of a Celebrity Articles Writer
Barbara Nichols That Kind of Woman (biography)
No Strings (Bio and career review of Dick Jones)
Eddie Green (Biography of Eddie the Waiter on Duffy’s Tavern)
As you can see that is my book listed at the bottom. Hallelujah!!

This is great news! And I am now beginning the process of marketing my book, talking it up, emailing people, meeting people. It’s very exciting. Why, I ought to be thanking my lucky stars. Which is where Lorenzo comes in. Today my niece posted his picture and said that he likes cereal snacks. I went online an look what I found!:

Renzo

Haha! Cereal snacks for Renzo, Lucky Stars for me. I laughed out loud.

Thank you so much, for stopping by and being a part of this book writing adventure. Your participation inspires me.

 

 

 

elvagreen123

In REMEMBRANCE

jubileeotr
Old Time Radio Program 1939-1945

During WWII the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) decided to create a program specifically geared toward Black soldiers. Today it is said that some of the best jazz shows came out of this program with greats such as Fletcher Henderson, Lena Horne, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Fats Waller.

Jubilee was conceived and programmed to present African-American artists and their music to the Armed Forces personnel of the United States and allied nations around the world.
During the history of the program, eventually other artists were invited to participate, but Jubilee is remembered as a showcase for African-American talent. In addition to big bands, small jazz groups and singers, many talented dramatic and comedic performers appeared on Jubilee. Aimed as a morale-building service for black troops and aired for military personnel, The show was hosted first by Dooley Wilson, the piano player in the movie Casablanca, then by Ernie “Bubbles” Whitman, a well-known comedian. Most of the shows were recorded before live audiences in Los Angeles.
By 1942 Eddie, my father, was fifty-one years old, too old to be drafted (although the government chose to sign up  “men of a certain age” just in case), however, he was asked to perform his comedy routines along with Lena Horne in 1942,  Ernie Whitman in 1944, and Hattie McDaniel in 1945, on the Jubilee radio program.

Here is one routine Eddie and Ernie did on a Jubilee program for the troops in October, 1944. Ernie introduces Eddie Green from Duffy’s Tavern. Eddie says he is bored and is looking for something exciting to do in his life. Ernie suggests Eddie become a volunteer fireman:

ERNIE: It’s Saturday morning at the station house and the alarm goes off. I can see you now, sound asleep up there in the firehouse.

EDDIE: So far, I like it.

ERNIE: Four in the morning the fire alarm rings, what do you do?

EDDIE: I get up. Then I take a sleeping pill and go right back to bed.

ERNIE: No, you don’t. You grab your fire hat, run to the pole and slide down.

EDDIE: OOOO!!

ERNIE: What’s the matter?

EDDIE: The pole is cold, I forgot my pants!!

Lucky me, someone sent me a CD with this Jubilee program on it, so I get to hear these shows.

In 1942 Memorial Day had become the popular title for a day to acknowledge all of our military personnel who died while in service.

This post is just a glimpse into how other citizens, along with our government, were helping to keep up the morale of our soldiers.

In Remembrance

 

elvagreen123

Laughter, Love and Respect

elj

In 1936 my father had been in show business for nineteen years. He was forty-five years old. He had done so well that one newspaper wrote: This brings up the subject of Eddie Green, the fine comedian who appears occasionally on the Rudy Vallee hour. Eddie who specializes in burlesques of famous plays and men of history, is one of the few people of color ever to win such radio recognition as a comic.

By 1937 Eddie was appearing on a radio program with Louis Armstrong which was announced in a local New York newspaper: Standard Brands Inc. (Fleischmann Yeast) through J . Walter Thompson Co. yesterday announced the full talent line-up of its all-negro show which will make its debut over 30 NBC-Blue network stations, April 9 at 9-9: 30 p.m. Eddie Green and Gee Gee James, a comedy team, with Louis Armstrong and his orchestra will be the regular talent.

In 1938 the papers reported: Eddie Green, well known Black comedian of the stage and screen, with a long line of appearances to his credit, jumped into screen favor last week when he was given a screen test for the role of ‘Pork’ in the 20th Century Fox production of Gone With The Wind.

In the 1939-1940 Eddie was making, writing, directing, producing and starring in his own movies. (Back then they were called ‘race’ movies, meaning everyone associated with the movie was Black, at least that is what it meant to Eddie.) The Eddie’s Laugh Jamboree poster was from 1947, but the movies were made earlier.

During the time Eddie came to Hollywood for the screen test he met my mom, Norma. In my last post I showcased Norma, as in Norma Amato Green Beasley Washington. Amato was her maiden name and Green was her first married name. For those who have just found my blog and for all of the newcomers in the Green Beasley Washington families I will just share a bit about Eddie and Norma’s marriage, back in the day. They met at Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles when mom was about seventeen. They were married in 1945. Mom was twenty-two, Eddie was fifty-four. One article in the paper read:

Eddie Green Takes Bride – LOS ANGELES – Coming as a pleasant surprise to even his closest friends, Eddie Green, former New Yorker and one of the Nation’s top-flight comedians, and a member of “Duffy’s Tavern” radio show eloped with attractive Norma Amato, concert vocalist, last Wednesday.  The couple were married at Yuma, Arizona, where they spent a brief honeymoon before motoring back to Los Angeles.

They were married a little short of five years because Eddie died in September of 1950. Mom married two more times. The book I have written will introduce Eddie to all the members of all the branches of my family who have been born since 1950. My hope is that they can find Eddie’s life story of success relevant today, because as a Black man coming up in the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s Eddie’s life is a good example of personal achievement that I hope resonates with anyone, no matter what color,  who thinks because of this or that obstacle they will never be able to fulfill their dream.

One piece of knowledge that Eddie found in regard to dealing with one’s colleagues and achieving success was, “you get respect if you know your business.”

Thank you so much, for stopping by.

 

elvagreen123

A Truly Inspiring Mom

momatwedding (2)
Norma Anne Amato Green Beasley Washington – MOM

Hi there! Well I finally figured out how to get a more recent picture of my mom into one of my posts. Here she is dressed up for my niece’s black and white themed wedding. Knowing mom if she were still here she would probably laugh at me for taking so long. Mom died in 2010 but she made it to age 87. She is still an inspiration for me because before mom got sick this last time, she was an eight year breast cancer survivor.  After the eight years, in 2007 she went into her first hospice  after having an embolism, we were told that she would not survive if we took her off oxygen and that she would die either way.  She survived. She told the hospice nurse that she had to go to the Laguna Hills Art Festival, and she went. I won’t go into her early health issues. Just know she was a survivor. This last illness was just too much but mom never complained. She did her crosswords and watched Jeopardy till the end. Mom had a full life.

In about 1998, mom was at the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles and she was looking at a book titled “Blacks in Blackface” by Henry T. Sampson, and she found a picture of my father, Eddie Green, standing on a stage in front of a microphone with the cast members of the Amos n Andy radio program from about 1946. She made a copy of the photo and brought it to me. Mom had lost most of her mementos from her life with Eddie in a fire back in the early 1970s, so she was happy to find the photo. This was the first picture that began my search for more information about my father’s show business career. This weekend I will be sending the manuscript with photos to my publisher for them to edit.

Finding info and more photos of Eddie and also finding photos and finding additional info about mom that I was unaware of, has helped fill the void that was left when she died. It is what I would call a true blessing.

 

Thanks very much, for stopping by.