me what had become of our radio show and if it would
be postible to brin1 it back. I said we'd rather do a
tdnision show which would sivc wider exposure to the
kind of matrrial we shared on our coUqe tours. That
wu the md of the conversation. I paid little attention to
it because I had made that same speech a thousand times
in a thousand places, and nothina had ever come of it.
Sometime later, our aacnt informed us that some
people in Tuu wanted me to do a television show.
When I fanally stopped to pay attention to these Texas
people, it turned out to be KERA'• Bob Ray Sanders
and the station'• director, David Dowe. Tbcy pve us a
proposal, and what they said made sense to us. Io our
areat surprise. we found that theirs was a real
proposition, a real chance. In short, they made us an of-
fer we couldn't refuse, and "Witlt OU~ cf Ruby" wu.
at lasl, on its way to becomina a reality.
Since then, thinp have been a bit frantic at times as
we've selected material. written and rewritten scripts
and then bqan production. But I think viewers will be
satisfied - and perhaps a little aurpriscd - at the results.
"Witlt Ossw cf Rub:," is a different kind of television
series. Each proaram presents a different aspect, a dif-
ferent view or the American ellpcrience. And we're
combinina many art forms -- poetry, drama, music,
duKc, wmcdy - to entertain our audience.
It has been a special pleasure for Ruby and me, who
have always dreamed of havina our own television
sbow, to see "Witlt Ouir cf Ruby" become a reality.
Now that it has, we can at last share with millions of
Americans the words, ideas and songs that are most
dear to us. All the work and struuk and hope it took to
make it happen seem well spent. I think "With Ossw cf
R11b:," is proof that the American Dream does work -
at leul. for those who work for it.
program concludes with Della Reese, dynamic new en-
tertainer General McCarthur Hambrick and the Con-
cord Memorial Baptist Church Gospel Choir of Dallas
joinina Ossie and Ruby for a rousina musical tribute to
the joy and spirit of living. The ensemble performs
"Wr Can Makr It to th~ Promisftl Land," written by
Ruby, and "Today Is Ours." Reese also sings "A
Strr,n~ H~rr on Earth. "
-··
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"L■ughir19
Mattera.
" LAUGHING MATTERS"
The life and works of poet and teacher Sterling
Brown are profiled as Ossie and Ruby travel to
Washington. D.C., to visit Brown in his home and on
the campus of Howard University. Brown, one of the
most respected figures in Black American letters,
recollects many of the now-famous 11. riters he has
known and taught. Also featured is a tour of Bro11.n's
home, • hich houses his vast collection of books,
ra:ords and memorabilia marking the art and history of
Black Americans. Other segments of the program in-
clude Brown reciting his own poetry, giving a walking
tour through his garden and remembering Ossie as a
student at Howard. The program captures Bro11,n's
robust appetite for living and shows the humanist's
great love for his fellow man.
i
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PAULENE MYERS
Three hundred years of Black hiwory and heritage arc
dramatized in a one-woman performance special. "1'111
World of My Amrric-a, "which will premirr Monday,
February 16 at 10 p.m., on most public television
stations. Veteran actress Paulene Myers creates a
pageant of characters for the role, springing from the
writings of Frederick Douglass and the works of Black
poets Langston Hughes, Paul Lawrence Dunbar and
Raymond Patterson.
Beginning with the era of slavery and movina throuah
to the present day, Paulene Myers'" World" emerges as
she ponrays over 30 different characters from all walks
of Black life - a slave girl durina the Civil War biddina
farewell to her first day at an all-white school •· and
many more.
Paulene Myers' career spans more than lQ years with
performances in over I 00 television programs, in
Broadway productions of "Anna L11cru,. .. and "Mnn-
brr of th~ Wrdding" and appearances on screen in
"Tlw Sting, " "Lady Sin1s th~ Blu~s. "and "1'111 N~w
Centurion."
"T~ World of My Am~ric-a was created by Paulene
Myers for the stage. The production has been honored
with the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and a
Scotsman First Award at the Edinburgh Drama
Festival. "Tltr World of M.'11 Am,ric-a" was produced
for television by award-winnin1 writer and television
journalist Brue Franchini. A presentation of KCET Los
Angeles; Manha Carrell is executive producer.
\
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It's man against machine as guest star Clevon Little
joins Ossie and Ruby for a satirical look at canned
audience laughter, the rating game and some other un-
savory aspects of television. When Clevon discovers
that "With Ossie & Ruby" presents dramatic inter-
pretations of poetry, he fears audiences used to more
conventional fare will switch their TV dials in record
numbers. He unveils his ans•cr to the problem: the
Simulated Nielson Indicator Gigglcgenerator with Elec-
tro-mcephalographic Readout Responder - SNIGGER
for short -- a laugh - track machine Clcvon says is
piaranteed to make "With Ossie & Ruby" a hit.
Convinced they don't need the help of a machine to
entertain their viewers, Ossie and Ruby cnaflenge tne
SNIGGER to a storytelling contest. The result is a laugh
riot that is anything but canned. In another segment of
the program, Oevon performs his comic interpretation
of Modeste Mussorgsky's operatic piece, "Tltr Flea.••
!
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America's romance with the railroads is recalled as
Ossie and Ruby remember their fathers, both railroad
men, through poetry, folktales, stories and song.
A tribute to all rathers everywhere, the program par-
ticularly honors the proud and hard-working Black men
who served as porters, cooks, waiters, boilerstrokers
and track-layers during the heyday of the American
railroad. The program offers an overview of the rise and
fall of the railroads, their impact on American history
and the celebration of the railroad in literature, art and
music. Also featured arc several profiles of some
veteran railroad men who remember life on the tracks
during the 1920s and 1930s.
hi• canned audience laughter machine on
t'
J
0
MY DADDY WAS A
RAILROAD MAN"
Actor Clevon Little ahowa Onie Davia and Ruby
DELLA REESE
Hosts Ossie Davis and Ruby Dec and guest star Della
Reese seek aa ann,er to one of mankind's oldest
qunaions - "What is life?" - on the premicrc of "With
-41 Ossie & Ruby " A series of dramatic vignettes ponray-
~ 1ng folks of all ages and all walk of life offers anous
intrrpre1at1ons to this qe-old question Children rom
ir. pen, on a playpound, an old
,1 r l~ mo~mg from their
dilapidated rural shant in the hopes of I , , a
o life m the cit and a 011:e fr , he r \ C provide an
creasing evidence that there
, male ans"Acr t •he
,I quemon or the meaning life
~
!none seamcnt of the program Ru port a • a
a. woman • hose nch husband bring her to the Un ted
• States from her natave Jamaica. where she qu1 .. kl
discovers that the comforts of 111ealth do not "'
l. sate for the family and friends has le 1 • beh nd The
Actors Robert and Kevin Hooks -- father and son --
join Ossie and Ruby in the dramatization of two short
stories by famed writer Langston Hughes. In the first
story, "Thank You, Ma'am," Kevin plays a young man
who tackles more than he bargained for when he mugs
Luella Bates Washington Jones, played by Ruby, a
woman who's stronger than her years suggest. Luella
fights off the young attacker, then, twisting his arm
behind him, forces him to her apartment. Inside, Lucila
gives the youth a dose of her own hard-won wisdom,
which proves to be the antidote to the would-be
mugger's anti-social ways.
In "Sailor Asltor~. "Ruby portrays a prostitute who
offers more than her pleasures to a lonely sailor, played
by Robert Hooks. When the sailor laments the injustices
he suffers because he's Black, the prostitute, Azora, is
digusted at his self-pity. She challenges him to be a man,
the kind of man she is raising her I I-year-old son to be.
The sailor has no response to her advice and leaves, only
to be called back to learn the truth about Azora.
11
DH how to add • little humor to their ahow with
" ADAY WITH
STERLING BROWN "
Dell■ ReeH . General McArthur Hambrick and
t he Concord Memorial B ■ptlat Church Choir of
D■tlN join Oule and Ruby In • tribute called "Ufe
,_
"TWO FROM LANGSTON"
•
LORRAINE HANSBERRY
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Humoriat John Henry Faulk demonatr■ te1 th ■
■ rt of tall-tale telling to 0Hie while Ruby
listen• in on "Kn ... lappera."
old
11
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KNEESLAPPERS"
Glynn Turman portray• young Charlie Smith in
The old but dying rural tradition of storytelling is
brought to life again as playwright/actor Samm-Art
Williams, author of the Broadway hit "Homr"; fabled
humorist John Henry Faulk; Ossie Da\is and Ruby Dec
dramatize Williams' original tcleplay "Krrttslap,wrs."
Elrod Tate, played by Ossie. and Judge Percy, played
by John Henry Faulk, idle a•ay their hours by telling
some very funny and very tall tales. Elrod has retired
from serious storytelling competition and is content to
rest on his laurels as the greatest storyteller Burga•.
Creek, North Carolina, has ever known. Bui ""hen
Elrod's reputation as the champion liar of the county is
challenged by his 011, n son-1n-la11,. a young upstart
named Sylvester. played by Samm-Art \\ illiams, the
stage is set for some of the most outrageous and fun-
niest tall tales ever 10 roll from a talc-teller's tongue.
Also reatured is a guest appearance by Guy Davis, son
of Ossie and Ruby. "ho sings an original compos111on.
II
SOLO ON THE DRUMS"
The rhyihms of jazz and the language or short-story
11,riter Ann Petry merge in "Solo on the Drums," the
poignant story of a drummer 11,hose 11,ife leaves him for
a piano player who turns out to be hi own partner.
Pian st Billy Taylor and drummer Ma., Roach JOIR Ossie
and Ruby to tell the story. in music and words. of Kid
Jones, a drummer who performs 11.ith his piano-playing
partner, the Marquis , Brund, en ,n t day he has
learned his wife has left him for the Mar l • Fealunng
an original ore by Ta lor and Roach that musical•
.. apturcs 1hc anger and pam the drummer feels • •1
,n tht Drum • make dear the -.onnccllon bct11.cen
emotion and music and af irms the po11. r
J ,,. 10
communicate subtle ieelings
In another segment •I the pro11,ram, 1 1 ,1e off
lUCI 1 reml.'.mbrancc ' l ,
1 1 '1
, and R l1
• ,, a tribute to Billie Holiday. Roach and Tavlor
n Ossie and Rub\· for a Lonvcrsau >n about
1
111, here II , been and where 11' going
1
Kevin Hooks. left, and his father, veteran actor
Robert Hooka. join Ossie end Ruby on ""Two from
Langston ..
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CHARLI E SMITH AND THE FRITTER TREE. a 90-
minute film dramatization of the life of former
alave Charlie Smith, a man of remarkable re-
silience. humor and forebe■ rance.
CHARLIE SMITH
Charlie Smith and the Fritter Tree, a 90-minute
dramatization of the life of a 135-ycar-old former slave,
Charlie Smith, 11, ill be broadcast February 22 at 10 p.m.,
KOAP-T\' .
Based on w rittcn and videotaped interviews with
Smith, the film "Aas conceived by David Johnson,
author of the novels, "Faith and the Good Thing .. and
"Ox Herding Tale."
The drama shows the ups and downs m the colorful
life of a man of remarkable resilience, humor and
forcbearance, who was brought to the United States
from Liberia aboard a slave ship in 1854. The program
opens in a Florida nursing home, 11,hcre Charlie (played
as an old man by Richard Ward). still vital and cager for
youthful company, tells his story for the benefit of a
skeptical orderly. Tricked aboard a slave ship with the
promise that corn fritter gre" on trees ready for
picking. Charlie tell the orderl . ''l'~c gro""n old
lookin for ·cm ••
\\ hen • harhe (11.hosc real name was M111:hell
\\ atk• 1 11.a~ a ,
. he was bought at aucuon b
T..
rancher nam
harlic Smith Smith grc11. t
c the b
Ju t '
he died, Sm11h asked him
t t.. 1 nanc O
1 '""n hen 111,(h rhcSm1th
t
I u
I d time drove him t
ram 111,11h h
I ,m
harll turned to
•uni hunting , , 1pturcd a man named Railroad
Bill T
her • hey dr
J up a scheme t
hich hey
..: luld share the bounty , "
\\ 1th the ne11,
, . Charlie Smith started a
"'!
business m Hor
He soon married and had a -.hild
The good umcs 11,cre \hort-liveMo•ever, as Smith rell
"1cum to gambling fever and a conniving partner.
"To Be Yo11n1, Gift#d and Black -- A Portrait of
Lomzinr Hans~ ,n H~ Own Words" will be ,ivm a
Great Performances encore on Monday, February 16 at
8 p.m .• on public television stations.
Ruby Dee, Barbara Barrie, Claudia McNeil, Al
Freeman, Jr., Roy Sheider, Blythe Danner and Lauren
Jones portray Miss Hansberry, the ltey people in her life
and the characters she created. The tdeplay interweaves
~cenes from her works with episodes in her life.
When she died in 1965, the 34-year old Miss Hans-
berry's works had already brought her national acclaim
and her career was on the rise. It had been launched in
1959 with her play "A Raisin in th~ S11n, " which won
her the New York Drama Citic's Circle (Play of the
Year) Award, and which was made into a major motioin
picture and a Broadway musical. Rudy Dec and Claudia
McNeil starred in both the stage and film versions. Miss
Hansberry was also the author of "Tltr Si1n 1n Sidn~y
Brustein 's Window" and " ~ Blancs. "
• •
THE BLACK DYAD
Deriving its title from a Greek word meaning pair",
The Black D:vad is an Emmy Award-winning drama
which takes a "Aitty, knowing look at contemporary
male/female relationships, as seen throu1h the eyes of
t•o "dyads."
The Black D:~ad, premiering nationally Wednesday,
February 25 at 10:00 p.m. KOAP-TV on public
television, uses a series of eight vignettes to explore
unresolved connicts and confrontations experienced by
and between men and women. This hour-long drama
taped before a live studio audience, has the four actors
speak directly to the group, inviting them to share
common emotional reactions to familiar situations
played out on stage.
Each scene depicts some variation on the themes of
love, m\ccurity, guilt, rejection and commitment The
monologue, "Colrtte," show an ,nsccure woman
gradually reveal, first with bra"ado, then poignancy
the truth behind her romantic fantasies In "Tlr~ Darr."
w, people
1
)Ut on their 1r t date
ether arc
pectin totall di fcrcnt t' r
The re ult I a
Y>ect >mmcnt
>n rclatt • h p \\ >IT en in th
_, udicnce can ident ""n h t
h
>ung w man
"Aho a she 11,a1t f>r th
,, 1 anno)· d
masher trvmg to pick her up
The t"'- dyads in the program arc pla ed \ ' " e
newcomers to the reen - Michael Ea 1 rhrr Khalig
Hassan (in her a~ mg dcbut l Sharon H
and I eR1 1
Shelton The Blac Dvad has been a popular staple m
various Boston commun11 theater
er the past f, e
years.
0
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iaJ
Pub lic televlaion p■y• trlbuM to the many top-
flight Black bHeb■ II player■ who were denied
at■ rdom by the color barrier on ONLY THE BALL
WAS WHITE. Actor Paul Winfield n■ mata■ 1h11.
minute apec:1■ 1 documendng the bygone and bit-
terswee t ■ r■ when Black baaeb■ II talent
blouomed only In the Negro .........
ONLY THE BALL ...
In the days of Nqro leagues there was as midi pain
as pleasure connected with the sport. Recalls Satchell
Paige, who pitched over I 00 no-hitters in his career,
"You couldn't name a town that we didn't play ia.
Sometimes we even had to build the diamoacl. Then
we'd pass the hat." Jimmy Cnatdaftdd, one-time ri&ht
fielder for the Pittsburah Crawfonb, amply Cllprcued
the sentiments of many Nep-o leque pla,en: "Bueball
was our game. We loved to play. Whm ,ou're doiq
somethina you lcwe, there's ncithina lousy aboul it."
\\ hen Jackie Robinson walked onto the fidd with the
Brooklyn Dod1en m 1946 the fans bcaan to desert
Black baseball. In one of the most poiplant sepnaits of
this half-hour film the men of the Nep-o ~ express
their feelinas about Jackie Robinson mtqration of
maJor league baseball.
The Negro leagues died in the early I
"Thar
demise went as unnoticed as their heyday aments Kai
ar , prodllCff director of ONL t' THI:. li ALL 14-'AS
H HITE and an avid baseball fan He
1es the only
' d c,n be found 1n the memone1
stories of
• • ode all night to play the l&IM >NL t' THE
R , I H ~
H HITI 4 a r t tlu hon t WfTW
t h1
Black History Week
February 15th to 21st.