Page 6
Portland/Observer
Thursday. March 8. 1973
Drama
classes
ready
Posing prior to the "W attstax premiere in Los Angeles is the film 's director, Mel Stuart,
comic Richard Pryor, who was a guest star in the film , singer Melba Moore and Stax Board
Chairman Al Bell, who was co-executive producer of the film . "Wattstax w ill play nexl
at the Alameda Theatre.
'W attstax” premiers in Los Angeles
Searchlights scanned the
heavens pointing to the dir
ection in which a galaxy of
new film starts was to be
launched. This was a gala
affair, the m o s t exciting
event since the Academy
Awards last year.
It was
the w o r l d
premiere of
“Wattstax” held earlier this
year at the Ahmanson Thea
tre in the Los Angeles Music
Center.
The luxurious theatre was
filled with Stax recording
artists, television and motion
picture stars a n d people
from the Watts community.
And for the first time in
Hollywood history, every ele
ment of our society was
represented on the guest list
and they were all exposed to
a profound and stirring de
piction of Black life as it
really is.
The Wattstax f i l m
is
loosely based on a seven-
hour concert given for the
benefit of the Watts com
munity last August.
The
Stax/Wolper production is
being distributed by Colum
bia Pictures and has already
opened in Los Angeles, Chi
cago, New York and Wash
ington.
On that w a r m Sunday
night in hollywood, it all
began. Greg Morris, star of
“Mission Impossible", greeted
guests and in his role as
emcee, interviewed celebri
ties. Such luminaries as Zsa
Zsa Gabor, Rona Barrett,
Sonny and Cher, Jim Brown
Redd Foxx, Hugh O’Brien,
Lonne Elder, Melba Moore,
Cicely Tyson a n d Bernie
Casey were all there.
There had been 32 Stax
artists who performed in the
Wattstax “72 concert and
Isaac Hayes, the Bar-Kays.
Carla and Rufus Thomas and
Johnnie Taylor arrived to
view their contributions to
the film.
Then, there were also na
tional figures like Roy Innis
of CORE and local digni
Varies like Councilman Tom
Bradley o f Los Angeles.
Among the more popular
guests however, was comic
Richard Pryor with corn
rowed hair and leather suit.
His role as commentator in
the film is unique and be
yond description. Overall, as
the experience of Black life is
relatively new to film, so
“Wattstax” is also a unique
experience. Not a feature,
and not a documentary, the
film epitomizes a new form,
organic in nature and grow
ing, as Black culture has,
from the circumstances of
Black life in America.
In
deed. the audience had the
opportunity to laugh, cry,
shout, stomp and above all,
feel pride in the accom
plishments of Stax Films and
Wolper Pictures.
Following the premiere,
Johnnie Taylor hosted the
out-of-town guests in a party
at his Marina del Rey pent
house.
Artists and execu
tives, including Stax Organi
zation board chairman Al
Bell, w e r e there sharing
words of happiness.
The
party was the perfect ending
to a momentous event, from
the sumptious banquet to the
magnificent view of Holly
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wood rising beyond the tinsel
and glitter, into the realities
of life. All in all, it was
a most rewarding evening
for everyone who had any
thing to do with the concert
or the film.
Spring term Portland Com
munity College will offer two
drama classes designed to
m e e t everyone's interest
whether performer or an
appreciative member of the
audience,
"Fundamentals of Acting”
is for those who wish to
develop performing and pro
ducing skills. The class is
offered Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday, 10 a.m. to 12
noon followed by a two-hour
laboratory session.
The “A p p r e c i a t i o n
of Drama" class will present
readings of Brecht’s “Good
Woman of Setzuan." Miller's
“Death of a Salesman,” and
two American musicals, “My
Fair Lady” a n d "Hair”.
“Appreciation of Drama" re
quires no memorization. It
will be offered Tuesday and
Thursday from 10 to 11:30
a.m.
Both classes will meet in
PCC's Little Theatre at the
Sylvania center.
For more information con
tact Roy Stave at PTC,
244 6111.
Soul Stuff
by Joey Sasso
Joe Tex and Leah Miller
married and and are await
OBSERVATIONS IN COV
ing an infant. He's the soul
ERING THE NIGHT BEAT: singer whose square mo
nicker is Joe Hazlet . . .
A new version of “The
Another fall series to an
Harlem Globetrotters Pop ticipate, possibly with more
corn Machine" kicks off a big enthusiasm than most of the
CBS night of specials March others announced, is one
16th, followed by Lily Tomlin based on the TV movie
and Ed Sullivan.
Public called “Four Devils”. Sammy
reaction will decide if the Davis is set to star, and the
famed basketball team will co-star might by Chris Lee of
be a fall series with weekly British horror-film fame . . .
songs, dances and comedy
Dionne Warwick, who has
skits.
If you’re a Globe been working toward getting
trotters fan, nows’ the time her master’s degree in music
to write CBS and register and who is expecting her
your vote . . .
second child soon, has con
Muhammad Ali may soon fided to friends that she
be giving Jim Brown and plans to retire from per
other Super Black hero stars forming when she gets her
a run for their money. He's degree! The singer, who is
on the verge of signing a one of Las Vegas’ top draws,
contract with Warner Bro says that she wants to teach
thers for a new detective music to children . . .
flick to start filming in the
late winter . . .
Hubby Bill Elliott is a
The whisper from Holly
wood this week concerns a regular on the "Bridget and
well-known actress who sup Bernie" TV series . . .
Godfrey Cambridge is fin
posedly has been off in
Europe doing some location ally ready to go back to
shooting, which turned out to work - and is all over his
be a cover up for the fact physical problems. And he's
that she was pregnant by a 150 pounds lighter. That is
man other than her well- what the man said, 150
pounds!
But it took him
known husband . . .
That was Al Green, Bobby almost a year to lose it, and
Womack, Sarah Vaughan and he ended up in a hospital for
a couple of months!. . .
the Harry Belafontes cheer
Cicely Tyson, who is just
ing Aris San at Sirocco the
other nite.
They toasted great in Sounder" and has
each other with Teacher’s already picked up a couple of
and
Scotch to celebrate a forth acting prizes for it
is expected to be nominated
coming e v e n t. . .
is really
Record breaker: The all- for an Oscar
time record for the number coming down hard on the
of performances in one week B l a c k exploitation movies.
by a Broadway show has She's of the opinion that the
been established by the musi films are harmful to the very
cal, “Don’t Bother Me, I Blacks that they are sup
Can’t Cope". It played five posed to help. Needless to
shows at NAACP benefits in say, she will not be ap
Indianapolis, and then re pearing in one of them, no
turned to Broadway to play matter how much money
six more, for a total of 11 . , . she's offered . . .
Diana Ross, former Su
Incidentally, Micki Grant,
who wrote the lyrics and preme, is c o u n t i n g her
music for “Don’t Bother Me, chances for b e s t actress
Some
I Can't Cope", and is also awards coming up.
featured in it, returned to people say that her role in
the TV soap opera, “Another “lauly Sings the Blues” was
World”, in her role of lawyer fantastic. Rumor has it that
Peggy Nolan. She was on she plans another movie al
that show six years before ready. Her singing seems to
leaving in October for the have taken a back seat to the
acting bit. Diana, who's had
play . . .
It's rare when you find a two babies in two years, says
native New York entertainer she won’t quit until she's had
starring in a New York spot. six more. Needless to say,
That’s the case of Jules Diana's j u s t crazy about
Podell's Copacabana where kids . . .
On the “Mannix" TV show,
exciting songstress M e l b a
Moore is headlining. She'll Gail Fisher and series' star
be welcoming neighbors and Mike Connors seldom see eye
tourists there through March to eye on anthing, either on
or off camera . . .
14th . . .
King Floyd, Chimneyville
recording artist, has released
his newest effort entitled,
"Think About It". Floyd is
best known for his past
million s e l l i n g
success,
"Groove Me”, which became
a gold hit of the past. He
also released a tune last year
which placed high on the
national c h a r t s entitled.
“Woman Don't Go Astray"
Currently preparing for
national tour, Floyd has bei
acclaimed throughout t h
country as “a great sho
man", and his recording si
cess gives strength to I
shows. Floyd is also in tl
process of finishing his late
album, and he hopes to ha
it released by spring.
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Tam ara Dobson's curvaceous body and athletic prowess
serve her well In Che exciting action sequences of "Celopatrs
Jones", the W arner Bros, picture in which se s u r a . Com
peting in a motorcycle hill climb and using karate on gangsters
t r e Just two of tbs physical talents she displays In the fUrn.
'Cleopatra’ star special
Tamars Dobson is no or
dinary person. One glance
at the beauty of her cover
girl face and the regal bear
ing of her shapely 6'2" fi
gure is enough to convince
anyone of that fact.
As the star of "Cleopatra
Jones" she plays a screen
heroine of extraordinary at
tributes as movie fans will
see w h e n
the Warner
Brothers picture is released
this summer.
However, there are other
things about Tamara that
prove h o w exceptional she
is . . . things less obvious and
more personal.
If she were merely an
ordinary person she might
well have settled for what
life had to offer her in the
Baltimore ghetto where she
was born.
After finishing
public schools. Tamara re
ceived her degree in fashion
illustration at the Maryland
Institute of Art.
“I also have my license for
beauty culture," Tamara ex
plain*. “I know the business
quite well and know how to
handle the books.
I have
my owner's license, too. and
operate a shop with my
mother."
"But I decided there was
something else, something
more that I wanted."
The determination to act
on this decision is cne of the
many qualities that sets her
apart from ordinary indivi
duals.
Although she knew she
could always go back to
beauty culture or could use
her education as a fashion
illustrator. Tamara n e v e r
once looked back after shak
ing the dust of Baltimore
from her feet.
"But even as I moved into
new areas, met new people,
learned new concepts of life.
I found the story was al
ways the same - 'You're
still Black, my dear "
“But I held onto that and
used it a* my own tool.
That's how I got this role.
Because many Black girls
who get to be models be
come very white in that
they forget where they came
from.
I always remember
where I cam from, who I
am. and why I'm here.
“So being a model helped
me educate myself as far as
acting is concerned.
It
helped me further my educa
tion as far as fencing, and
my speech, all those things
the theatre, the ballet, music
and concerts -- These exper
iences helped me fulfill my
self as a person."
And that person is cer
tainly no humdrum, ordinary
person.
T h e excitement
Tamara generates on the
screen in the title role of
“Cleopatra Jones” is what
Hollywood once called "star
quality".
Ordinary p e o p l e don't
have it.
"Cleopatra Jonea" is being
directed by Jack S urrett
and produced by William
Tennant for Warner Bros,
from an original screenplay
by Tennant, Max Julien and
Sheldon Keller.
Artist displays work
A collection of drawings
by former Portland resident
Harold Jacobs will be on
display in Portland State
University's White Gallery
beginning March 5. The ex
hibit. "Ligre Suite", w i l l
hang the entire month.
The 11 d r a w i n g s are
owned by Arlene Schnitzer
of t h e FounUin Gallery.
Completed In 1970, they are
drawn with numerous medi
urns (charcoal, pencil, oils,
etc.)
Jacobs studied at New
York University and on a
Fulbright Scholarship at the
Sorbonne in Paris.
The
former Portland M u s e u m
Art School instructor is cur
rently on the faculty of
Moore College in Philadel
phia.
Jacobs' p a i n t i n g s and
drawings h a v e been ex
hibited in Paris and through
out the United SU tes. His
most recent one man exhibi
lions were in Muaeo de Arte
de Ponce, Puerto Rico; the
Vanderlip Gallery, Philadel
phia; and Gimpel and Weit
zenh^ffer Ltd.. New York.
Jacobs says his art work
seeks to "affirm what I care
about most deeply as a
person."
E. C. SOUL SURVEY
1. Love Jones...Brighter Side of Darkness
2. Could It Be I'm Falling In Lovp..............
................................................................. Spinners
3. Paint M e................................ Ohio Players
4. Kissing My Love.................. Bill Withers
5. Why Can’t We Live Together...............
..................................................... Timmy Thomas
6. I Can't SUnd To See You C ry.................
......................................................... The Miracles
7. The World is a Ghetto........................ War
8. Daddy's Home............. Jermaine Jackson
9. Love Train.........................................O'Jays
10.
Masterpiece...........................TempUtions
PICK o r THE WEEK
Letter To Myself.................................. Chi Lites
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