Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 24, 1977)
Page 4 Portland Observer Thursda*. March 24. Iÿi7 Digest re-issues 'Roots’ bv Allea Ja PRIMP TIME THEY'RE GETTING THERE me I have thia thing about performers appearing in hotel lounges. I’ve always thought hotels were the proving grounds for many up and coming entertainers. I suppose in many they are. Just stop and think a minute. Most people who patronise hotels, motels and inns are usually people on the go. in a word - transitory. I’ve said all of this to say its hard as hell to work 5 or 6 nights a week in a lounge and have to put up with the rudeness and insults so many of the hotel residents dish out. But never the less. the show must go on. Prime Time is currently appearing at “The Red Lion Motor Inn” formerly the Raniada Inn. They get into their usual mixture of selections of tones associated with hotel performances. Trying to appease the appetites of the diversified audiences that listen to them perform, they did some Roberta Flack tunes, along with: Marvin Gaye. Phoebe Snow and others. Generally, their entire performance was good. However. I do think they should seriously consider updating the bulk of their m a te r ia l Not only for the sake of the audience, but for their owns growth and development as performers. Doing the same show is like playing the same record over and over again - stagnation sets in after a period of time. “Nothing ventured nothing gained“ is a cliche thats been around along a long time. I certainly hope Prime Time is hip to it! UL Guild holds luncheon The Urban Guild of Portland is spon soring a membership luncheon at Luck ey’s Buffet, located at N.E. Weidler and Grand on Saturday. April 2nd at 11: 30 a.m. The guest speaker will be Gladys McCoy. State Omsbudman. who will speak on the theme "Show me my place.” The Urban League Guild is an auxiliary group of the Urban League operating under the rules and regulations of the National Urban League and pursuant to those rules and goals. Urban League dues are (3.00 yearly. Guild membership dues are (2.00 yearly. Members of the Urban League are eligible for membership. Applications for both organizations will be available at the luncheon. Tickets for (3.00 will be available from Guild members and at the door. Tables may be reserved for groups. Music teachers give scholarship The Oregon Music Teachers' Associa tion sponsors nine scholarship awards which will be available this spring to young musicians throughout the state. The Frances Virginia Melton Award, Jean Williams Award and the Rex Under wood Memorial Award will be given to pianists of high school age. Also to be granted to high school musicians are the R. Cloyd Riffe Voice Award, the Carla Wood Vincent String Award and the Rex Underwood Violin Memorial Award. The O.M.T.A. Voice Award is open to voice students, high school graduates through age 25. The Portland District Award is open to students of any instrument, including piano or voice, between the ages of 14 through 17. These awards are available to students or any member of the Oregon Music Teachers' Association. Each con testant shall be prepared to play three memorized compositions from contrast ing period at the awards contest which will be held May 14 at the Day Music Company, 5516 S.E. Foster Road. Port land. Application fo m s are available from the O.M.T.A. Awards Chairman, Loleta L. Oleksak. 13405 N.W. Northrup Street, Portland. Oregon 97229. Deadline for entries is April 15th. 'T ma U from tke, 7W hy UlvHesfe Marshall IN an u np reced en ted publishing action. The Reader's Digest will re issue its two condensations of Alex Haley’s record-breaking book. Reota The two condensations from the book, which ap peared originally in the Digest's May and June. 1974 issues, will be published again as a bonus to readers in the upcoming April and May issues. Along with the second installment, to be published in its May issue. The Digest will carry an exclusive article by Mr. Huley. titled “What Roots Means To Me.“ In his four-page article. Haley discusses ¿he reaction to his book and the TV series: the thousands of inquiries from people. Black and white, seeking clues to their own backgrounds. “Personally." he writes. “I have gotten thousands upon thousands of letters in which people pour out their hearts to me. with one recurring poignant line: Help me find out whe I am!" “In all of us," he says, “Black, brown, white, there is a desire to make this symbolic journey back to the touchstone of our family.“ Surpisingly. Haley says that about 90 percent of his mail is from whites. “The pattern is for the writers to tell me that (1) the are white: (2) Roots caused them to realize they had never understood the Black condition; (3) the book started them thinking about their own family.” Noting that the book took him 12 years to do, Haley says that its publication came "at a time of a convergence of social assuagement and a healing political clim ate. People are starting to find each other." he writes, “and this is where, for me. the meaning of Roots lies." In his Digest article. Haley notes: “In my long and troubled journeys to com plete Roots. I ow e an undying debt to the Reader's Digest Without its help and encouragement Roots could not have been written with the scope that it has. The magazine's support enabled me to make repeated trips to Europe and Africa. Without it. I could not have afforded the traveling, and consequently, explored my roots.” The Roeder's Digest became involved in Mr. Haley's project when he brought Digest editors the idea for Roots in 1966. Haley had previously written several art irles for the magazine. Digest editors agreed to support the project, and began to pay Haley a monthly stipend plus travel expenses so that he could continue his research. He delivered the first manuscripts some eight years later, and the Digest published these in its May and June 1974 issues. The first condensation was preceded by a six-page article by Mr. Haley, “My Search For Roots,” in which the writer described the impetus for his work and discussed some of his research. That work is to be the basis for Mr Haley's next book. Haley notes that, far from takiag 12 years of his life, the book as added years “and brought me incomparable rewards." For example, he says that in Los Angeles, a pregnant Black woman asked him to autograph two copies of the book. “One is for me." she said; "The other is for him" - and with that she patted her belly. Haley believes that his book has helped to give Blacks, particularly young Blacks, an image model. “Roots is becoming a springboard to striving for millions of people.” he writes. "When you see that a goal is attainable, hopefully you are prompted to pay the dues, do the work, and thus pursue the long hard apprentice ship that is the handmaiden of achieve ment." “When the Reader's Digest published the first condensation of Alex Haley's Roots, we said that it was an epic work destined to become a classic of American literature," said Digest Editor-in-Chief Edward T. Thompson. "That was an understatement. More than one million hard-cover copies have already been sold; Roots will take its place among the greatest best sellers of all times. Its impart on television was historic: the ABU dramatization series drew 130 mil lion viewers, and the final installment, with 80 million Americans watching, became the highest-rated show ever on TV." Williams joins Coast Guard Steven Allen Williams has enlisted for four years in the United States Coast Guard. A former Sam Barlow High School Student, Williams hopes to work in search and rescue. Williams will undergo nine weeks of basic training at the Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Alameda. California. After basic training he will be assigned to a Coast Guard ship or shore station or receive advanced technical training. ( )rcgons Canadian Connection P o llt-r* ( unadiun W h isk* is a sm oolh, In s id ili blend made al our o*».n distiller* in I ancle*. I I . ( - and b o llle d in IN rrtla n d . Hit p ro o f, S5.2O 7SW m l i ap p ro *, tilth 1. P o ller D istilleries In c .. Portland. O regon 972.W U of P holds jazz festival The University of Portland's twelfth annual Festival of Jazz will be held Thursday through Saturday. March 31- April 2nd. More than 1600 student musicians from 77 junior and senior high schools in Oregon, Washington. Idaho and California will participate. Concerts, clinics given by outstanding guest soloists and competition among the bands highlight the three-day Festival, one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the Northwest. Featured this year is trumpet player Ray Brown, who has worked with the Stan Kenton Band and written a textbook on jazz improvisation. He teaches at Cabrillo Junior College in California. Other guest soloists are Charles Doud. percussionist, who teaches jazz studies at the University of Oregon; Stewart Turn er. trombonist, professor of music at Southern Oregon College in Ashland; and Don Nelson, saxophonist, member of the CT 99 Band and University of Portland instructor. Several clinics, open to the public at a cost of (2.00 per day, will be conducted each day of the Festival by the guest soloists. The guest musicians, the University of Portland's Jazz Ensemble and winning high school bands from the Festival competition will play at a Gala Concert Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the University Commons. Tickets are (3 for adults, and (2 for students and will be available at the door. For more information, phone 283 7228. Dreams in my mind That avoid reality. That play peekaboo with illusions That sidestep reality Don’t mean a thing girl As long as I don't have to dream about you As long as you are here girl Dreams won't make me blue. THE RIGHT WOMAN I need the right woman to satisfy me Not just any old woman will do I need a woman just like you I need a woman that's sweet and kind I need a woman that's all mine I need a woman just like you I need a woman that understands I need an understanding woman to hold my hand I need a woman just like you Something New Breakfast Served All Day OPEN 8; IN I a m. to MIDNIGHT FOB YOUR CONVENIENCE THIS ( ’UPON WORTH 50r ON ANY BREAKFAST ORDER OF (1.00 OK MORE N.E. UNION AT AINSWORTH Community Calendar Coldfire will appear at the Royal Esquires Club, 1706 N.E. Alberta, from 9:30 to 1:30 on March 25th and 26th. Donations of (3 will go to Jr. Miss Black Oregon pageant. sAnm&ws ©a «•©©-«©jrrw Registration is still open for Portland Dance Theater's Spring Dance Workshop Classes began on March 14 and will run for eight weeks. Both modern and jazz dance classes are being offered at 2109 S.E. 8th (S.E. 8th at Lincoln). For more information call 233-9019 evenings, or 227-3840. Former Portlander. Dr. Linda Gordon, Associate Professor of History. University of Massachusetts speaks on the Impact of Birth Control at the Jewish Community Center. 6651 S.W. Capitol Highway on Wednesday. March 30th at 8 p.m. Dr. Gordon is the author of tw o recently published books - “Women's Body, Women's Right" and ‘'America's Working Women." Admission is (1.50. Ali The Fighter the professional comeback of current world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. is documented in a film about Ali's preparation for his fight against Joe Frazer. Highlights include commentary with actor Burt Lancaster, a fight fan; a retired boxer, Archie Moore; and film clips of previous Ali victories over Sonny Liston. George Forman, and Frazier. On KGW-TV at 10:00 p.m. on Monday. March« 28.1977. A credit class focusing on the single parent experience starts at Portland Community College Cascade Center on Monday, March 28th, and continues through the sprint? term. Contemporary issues with children such as drues, alcohol, sexual experimentation and delinquent behavior take one class session. Another is based on assertiveness and role playing to show how to deal with anger as well as meeting one's needs. Open registration starts March 28th. The class will be held from 7-10 p.m. each Monday through June 11th in portable building 11 at the Center, 705 N. Killings worth. Pre-Retirement for Single Women, will cover such topics as the myths and facts of aging, financial and legal planning, preventive medicine and mental health, living arrangements, personal relationships and activities. The four sessions of the class will be condensed into two weeks meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6: 45 to 9: 45 p.m. beginning March 29th. The cost for this course is (15. 10 30am KRAZY KAI kboo'r. kom ix 10 35 UNCLE HOMERS JAZZHOLE COVER o u r longest running ja z z p ro g ra m 2 0 0 om JAZZ RAP * a ? GEORGE cookin' ja z z & b lu e s a ll a fte r n o o n » 0 0 KDNEY SIEW blues wf John Head » 0 0 YOUR WN0 OF SOUL SHOW bold, b la c k & to g e th e r m u s ic w /M ichael 0. co lla g e s o f ro c k , ja z z eiriu S ufnetune» c iv e i'o -y c ird e m u s ic w /R ick M itchell and Dan Chinn 1000 RADIO LAB George Pag« RLTERNRTIUE DISCO LOUNGE Corner off 8th A N.E. Dokum Tnureday« 7 - 12 p.m. Fridays, Saturday., 9 p.m. - 2 No ID nocossary . non-alcoholic b«v«rag«s . sandwich«! fiOZfLL’S Lt.’S The Episcopal Church Women of St. Philip's Church are sponsoring their annual Green Ten Sunday. March 27. at the Church Parish Hall from 2: 00 until 5: 00 p.m. A Fashion Show, featuring models from various Church organizations, will be the highlight of this year's program. Mrs. Angie Britton is Chairperson for the Tea. DREAMS The Coast Guards primary mission is preservation of life and property at sea. Under the Department of Transportation in peacetime, the Coast Guard maintains aids to navigation, enforces federal laws on navigable rivers, conducts oceano graphic research and inspects the mer chant marine. It time of war the Coast Guard serves under the Defense Depart ment. John Head Michael D. IENOW S NORTH A N X PORTLAND FOR ONE DAY SERVICE B R A N D S you M.aor Repair. - Na Charge Pick up A Delivery V A R IE T IE S y r 282*8361 _____ N. Alexander, Proprietor R. Mitchell — SHO P PORTLAND CLEANING WORKS KNIT BLOCKING OUR SPECIALTY 3 9 6 6 N. WMame Av«. Dan Chinn --- -U»--« I mananasi Ster«! In T«wn| S ine 1900- T ■ I na ra SIZES vou wc '■ / A* * • . , • K <1 A N I • MIMHH O f U N lU U
