1 r » Page 6 Portland Observer April 6, 1989 ENTERTAINMENT BEHIND THE: SCENES * * * by Lisa Collins BEHIND-THE-SCENES * H ollyw ood G rieves W ith Beverly T o d d : Hearts have gone out to Lean On M c’s leading lady, Beverly Todd, and a dear friend of this columnist, with the passing o f her teenaged son last weekend. 18 year old Malik Smith, who was in Salt Lake City on a skiing vacation, died at a local hospital from brain injuries ju st two days after he was beaten into unconsciousness in a teen disco in the Salt Lake City suburb of W est Valley City. John Tavo Leota, 18, was arrested and held without bail on suspicion o f second-degree hom icide, according to W est Valley City Police Sgt. Thayle Nielsen. The suspect had a juvenile record and was known For fighting. Said Nielsen, “ the real tragedy is the suspect ju st went around and picked fights and this guy (Sm ith) just happened to be the target. It was an unprovoked attack.” Todd was in New York doing promotion for “ Lean On M e” , when word of her so n ’s attack came. Condolences from the entertainm ent community have been numerous, including those from former co-stars Louis Gossett, fellow Lean On Me castm ate Robert G uilliam e, W hoopi Goldberg (whose arch-nem isis was portrayed by Todd in “ C lara’s H eart” ), and Richard Pryor (with whom Todd co-starred in “ M oving” ). If yo u ’d like to extend your condolences, just address your card or note to Beverly T odd, c/o CS A, 333 N. C entinela Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90302. R o b e rt G uilliam e T o M ake A n o th er TV Bow: After nearly a year of w aiting, ‘ ‘The Robert G uilliam e Show ” , is finally set to make its TV debut. Starting April 5, the show will bow in “ Hooperman’s” 9:30 slot (Wednesdays) on ABC. Guilliame will star as a divorced marriage counselor who is rom ancing his while secretary (played by Wendy Phillips), ( “ Hooperman is on hiatus). B ridges Goes T o C o u rt: 23 year-old actor Todd Bridges will stand trial on one-count of first-degree prem editated attem pted m urder in the Feb. 2 shooting of Kenneth Clay. In a preliminary hearing, Clay testified that he and Bridges (high on rock cocaine) argued on the day o f the shooting and had alm ost com e to blows, when Bridges left, only to return five minutes later and shoot him eight times. Bridges, who appeared to be almost despondent, has reportedly attem pted suicide twice since his incarceration and was said to have been placed in a padded cell. New V isions F or R ay C h arles: New Visions Pictures has announced the developm ent o f a m ajor motion picture to center on the life story o f Ray Charles. The film is slated to be co-produced by Ray Charles, Jr.-so n of the R&B legend. M eanw hile, the famed pianist recently helped underwrite a laboratory to develop electronic implants for the deaf. Charles became interested in the deaf a few years back when he developed some minor hearing problems that have since improved. No T im e F o r Love: Eyes raised when gorgeous, 25 year-old singer Paula Abdul showed up at a recent awards ceremony unescorted. W ord in a colum n had it that Abdul (once rom antically linked with Arsenio Hall) was asking friends to set her up, how ever the former choreographer for the “ L a k e rG irls” says she just hasn’t had time. T he smashing success of her debut single “ Straight U p ’ ’ caught her offguard. “ I hoped for it, but I didn’t expect it this soon” . Abdul who broke into the industry with her choreography of Janet Jackson’s music videos, feels fortunate to have grown behind the scenes. Said Abdul: “ I ’ve learned while w atching other artists. Now that * it’s my turn, it’s a lot o f fun.” S h o rt T akes: Former “ G ood T im es” actor John Amos is winding down work on a prison adventure movie with Sylvester Stallone. Filming for the & * By Garland Lee Thompson * * L O FT E N M IT C H E L L : P L A Y W R IG H T & B LA C K T H E A T R E P IO N E E R T O PSU Some happy spring news from the Black Studies Departm ent of Portland State University; Loftcn Mitchell, playwright, historian and author o f the Broadway musical hit, “ Bubblin’ Brown Sugar,” just wrote to me jegarding our new 10 w eek course, “ A frican-A m erican Playwrights, their Craft and legacy. (Loften M itchell, Author of the book, “ Black D ram a,” is a pioneer of the original American Negro Theatre, the Federal Theatre, author of the Broadway plays, “ Land Beyond the R iver,” “ B ubblin’ Brown Sugar,” etc., and a retired professor from New York State University at Bingington.) March 22, 1989 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Garland: * Thank you very much for writing to me. I am pleased with the work you arc doing. Thank you very much for considering me in your plans. I have no problems with availability (to appear and speak during the 10 week course, scheduled to begin on W ednesday evenings, March 29th, 1989,6:40PM to 9:20PM , Lincoln Hall, Rm #319). I have an engagem ent on April 16, but after that, my schedule is clear. I am quite willing to appear there as per your schedule and to follow your program. I shall be willing to address a large audience, workshop, class - and to follow through on any plans you have for me. So - please let me know. M eantim e, I congratulate you on your class, your proposal, etc. Il all looks very exciting. I was delighted to receive your column for the Portland Observer. Beautiful * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ON THE MONEY * * * * * * * E ric Jo h n so n M ak in g H eadw ay At Helm o f Jo h n so n P ro d u cts; Last year m arked the changing o f the guard at Johnson Products, one of A m erica’s oldest and largest black-owned firms, as 37 year old Eric Johnson took over as chief operating officer at Johnson Products the m aker o f Ultra Sheen and Classy Curls, and the company founded by his father, George Jo h n so n -n o w 6 1 ,in 1954. A week before h e’d taken over, the company had announced a third quarter loss of S3O8,OOO. Fact is, Johnson Products profits had been sliding for some time. In 1984, the com pany posted sales of $41.5 million. In 1988, that figure was dow n to $33 m illion, and the com panythat had long ranked among the nation’s top five black-ow ned com panies is presendy ranked 19th. The younger Johnson has put his hopes into Celex, a new line o f hair-care products, targeting a much broader consum er base than ju st blacks. (N ext week, w e’ll have an update on how it’s doing). Ja c k so n P u ts His M oney W h ere His Love Is: Form er baseball great Reggie Jackson recently shelled out a cool $1 million for 30 rare automobiles, to replace the 34 co llector’s cars he lost in a warehouse fire last year. The transaction brings Jackson’s personal car collection to a total o f 150. Jackson began collecting rare automobiles while playing for the New York Yankees. Jackson’s love for cars also makes for good business, as he operates four California car dealerships, all o f different m akes-nam ely Chevrolet, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Ford-M ercury. E m erg e T ak es H old O f New F in an cin g : A ccording to a recent report published in the Wall Street Journal, Emerge founder W ilm er Ames is close to getting the financing he needs to launch the upscale black monthly that was scheduled to hit the stands last fall. Indeed, talks with District Cablcvision (a W ashington D.C. cable operator) for additional financing, have been confirm ed, but according to a com pany executive, the deal has not yet closed. M eanwhile, Time Inc. is standing by its pledge to invest SI .5 m illion for 19% interest in the new publication. However, experts agree that com petition will be stiff for the proposed m agazine. At present, there are ju st four nationally distributed black m agazincs-E sscnce, Ebony, Jet, and Black Enterprise. Fact is. E bony, E ssence, & J e t, have the highest percentages o f black re a d e rs in the m agazine industry, according to a recent marketing research study. For the record, other general-interest m agazines attracting black readers in significant numbers include G entlem en’s Q uarterly (where blacks account for 2 5 .6A o f the m agazine’s readership), W ashington Post Magazine (21.3% black), W orking M other (18.5% ), Esquire (18.2%) and Soap O pera Digest (17.6% ). W ell-deserved B reak M acD o n ald ’s C o rp . E xtended T o M inority S u p p lie rs Pays Off: Just three years ago, Mac D onald’s was looking to expand its minority supplier program. Executives approached two M iller Brewing Co m anagers-G eorge Johnson, 41 and David Moore, 33 with a plan to start a business milking croutons for the firm ’s new salad line. With M acD onald’s backing, they secured a bank loan o f $ 1.6 million, and a lease on an old pork-processing plant. Just seven months later, sales were exceeding S3 million, and in 1988 the firm posted revenues o f over $4 ICIEIPCIOT BROADWAY BOUND REPORT: * film, tentatively titled “ M averick, the E sc a p e ", has been on location at Rahway Prison in New Jersey...W arner Bros is reportedly developing a feature film version o f “ I Spy” , which will o f course star none other than Bill Cosby...In the studio these days working on forthcoming L P’s are the Force M D ’s, Mikki Howard, and Stacey Lattisaw. N ext week: the c o n tro v ersy s u rro u n d in g Spike L ee’s latest film. V- •« V > 4 * BOUND * * * * * * * * * * * * work! I am rushing this off to you. More Later. I hope you and your loved ones arc well. Thanks again for writing to me and for thinking of me. Best as always, Loften Mitchell (The course will run through the spring term at PSU. The exact date of Prof. Loften M ichell’s appearance will be announced or call for more information and to enroll, 464-3472.) N E W B LA C K W R IT E R S G U ILD PLA N S F IR S T PU B L IC A T IO N The newly formed African American W riters Guild, under Useni Eugene Perkins of the Portland Urban League, is planning its first publication: “ O ur Voices Are Beautiful: Anthology of Writings,” by African American writers, will represent the literacy works of members of the Guild. The anthology will be a diversified collection that includes poetry, short stories, essays, schools, churches, community organizations and is open to other cultural and literacy groups. This type o f distribution will help to introduce the African American Writers Guild to the broad community and be an incentive to inspire other writers of African American descent. In addition, a series of public readings will be scheduled so the writers can discuss their works. The editor for the anthology will be Useni Eugene Perkins, the group’s convener and published author, poet and playwright. Other prominent writers of African American descent who will be advisors o f this project, include Garland Lee Thom pson, founder of the nationally acclaim ed Frank Silvera W riters’ W orkshop o f New York and M ichael G ric e , e d u c a to r and commissioner of the Oregon Arts Commission. The Urban League of Portland will provide In-kind adm inistrative support to ensure that the above is accomplished. Also, it is anticipated that Useni Perkins and Thompson will appear on various TV talk shows to discuss the W riters’ forums and the new anthology. The Guild meets bi-m onthly on Sundays, 3 -5 PM, 10N. Russell Street, 280-2600. B L A C K A C T O R S STA R IN PO R T L A N D C E N T E R S T A G E ’S 1ST SH A K E S P E A R E PLAY The closing production of the Portland Center Stage’s 1st season in the Portland Performing Arts Center, “ Pericles Prince of T yre,” by W illiam Shakespeare, featured black actors, J.P. Phillips and Derrick Lee W eeden (the young ‘ ‘Pericles’ ’). Phillips, who has children and grandchildren here in Portland, is a veteran actor and currendy, a m em ber of the Ashland Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s company. Playing what is called, “ non-traditional casting” roles, he appeared as the narrator, “ G ow er,” “ Sim onides,” and “ Lysim achus.” Slipping in and out of different characters, such as the young ‘ ‘Pericles’s father-in- law, a ship deckhand, and he winds up the son-in-law o f old “ Pericles” and his wife, “ T haisa” (played well by Kathleen Turco-Lyon). This is the great romance sea “ Soap-opera” o f the Shakespeareanage theatre “ thatpeople were fairly flocking to see in that day. A rarely done work, “ Pericles,” an epic sea “ O dyssey” o f on board shipwrecks and disasters to child birth at sea; was last done by Ashland 22 years ago. So I was definitely interested to see it done well by this world-class Shakespearean company, now fifty years old and in town for the first time. The costume design budget was $10,000 and the m oveable ship’s set with sail, wheel, line-rigging against a great color changing eye (cyclorama), and splashing seasounds, took me on “ this great long sea voyage,” that is believed to be a “ r e p o rte d ” S h a k e sp e a re an te x t, reconstructed from memory by an actor (or actors) who once played a role in it. Who really wrote this “ crazy game of whisper-down-the-line that resulted in a text that is often unreliable - sometimes downright chaotic - in its approximation ofShakespearsc’soriginal?” W riteon, to the real playwright. * * * * * * AUDITION NOTICE!!! * * * * * * * * * * * PassinArt: A Theatre Company will hold auditions for its summer production “ Long Time Since Y esterday” by P.J. Gibson, April 11 and April 12,1989 at the Portland Com m unity College Cascade Campus Auditorium between 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Six Black females in their late twenties or thirties are needed, and two Black females ages 11-12. The play centers around the reunion of former college m ates, now in their thirties. These women are prosperous, professional, middle-class Black women who have gone through the turbulence of the sixties and have come out on top in the eighties. C ontact PassinArt: A Theatre Company to schedule an audition time at 284-4108 or Connie Carley at 282- 0003 (w). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ★ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SEX AND BLACK * * WOMEN: THE TRUTH- * * ESSENCE * * DISPELS THE * * MYTHS BLACK * * ABOUT FEMALE * * SEXUALITY * * WITH REPORT GROUND * * ON BREAKING * * STUDY * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ***¥•**•*****•************* million. T oday, Johnson and Moore are looking to extend their clientele, but while other custom ers presently include Pizza Hut, United A irlines, and Kraft Foods, M cD onald’s still accounts for 90% of their sales. If you’re interested in information cwta-iriac Donald’s minority supplier program, contact David M cDuffie, c/o M cD onald’s Corporation, 1 McDonald Plaza, II MT. HOOD FESTIVAL OF JAZZ FOUNDATION PO BOX 696 GRESHAM, OREGON 97030 TELEPHONE (503) 666-3810 G RESH A M , Orc. - Veteran vocalist Lou Rawls and contemporary Kevin Eubanks have been booked to appear at the 8th annual Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz, bringing to six the number o f acts signed for the 1989 event, according to Paul Kreider, Festival of Jazz Foundation President. Already set to perform at the popular Aug. 5-6 Festival are singer Diane Schuur, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Yellowjackets and saxophanist Branford Marsalis. The Festival is held from noon to 11 pm each day outdoors in the Mt. Hood Community College stadium. Rawls, whose recordings of “ Stormy Monday” and “ Tobacco Road” brough him fame years ago, is presently in a revitalized career that has seen him back singing jazz and blues after several years in the pop field. H isd eb u tjazzL P in the mid 60’s coupled Rawls with the top-draw er Les McCann Trio, a successful effort followed by R aw ls’ recording with the jazz big bands of Benny Carter and Onzy Matthews. He has had a half-dozen hit singles, including “ Natural M an” and “ Y ou’ll Never Find Another Love Like M ine.” Eubanks brings to the Mt. Hood Festival o f Jazz a striking and facile guitar style first recorded in 1983’s debut album. He is equally as capable in fusion territory as mainstream jazz and his choice o f recorded and concert material is nearly as strong as his technical proficiency. A Rolling Stone Magazine jazz critic said, “ Eubanks handles with equal facility solo acoustic pieces, standards and fo o t-to -th e -flo o r band arrangem ents.” The annual Festival, this year occurring Saturday and Sunday, August 5 and 6 has for the past few years been a com plete sell-out. The Festival also stages the Friday Night Event, a separate concert to be held Friday, A ugust 4. New York, N.Y. - “ Black women arc more sexually experienced and leant about sex at a much earlier age than other w om en.” This is just one of many stereotypes dispelled in an Essence report on a ground-breaking study on the sexual socialization and experiences of 248 women from Los Angeles County, of which 126 were Black. “ Myths About Black Female Sexuality” by Bcbc Moore Cam pbell, a contributing editor for Essence, the Black women’s lifestyle m agazine, appears in the April issue. R esearch for the study w as spearheaded by Gail Elizabeth W yatt, Ph.D., an associatcprofcssorof medical psychology at the University of California at Los Angeles. W yatt says that her study presents a far more realistic portrait of the sexuality of Black women than did the seminal research by Alfred P. Kinsey, Sc.D., which only included a small sample o f Black women in its report on the sexual experiences of * American women. According to Wyatt, * the Kinsey Report, published in 1958 * promoted some of the m isconceptions about the sex lives of Black women that * still abound today. “ The sexuality of * Black women is different from that of * white women, but there is something * * O akbrrok, IL 60 5 2 1 -(3 1 2 ) 575-7412. * Next week: A look at the legacy left by Madame C.J. Walker America’s first female, as well as black millio*' • Sre. * * BAN APARTHEID! Tickets to the 8th annual Mt. HootfJ Festival o f Jazz go on sale in June. Sponsors o f the Festival o f Jazz are the G resham A rea C ham ber ol Com m erce and Mt. Hood Community College Foundation. Corporate sponsors are Maletis Beverage/Seagrams Coolers, Portland Bottling/7 Up, K IN K FM 102, KGW -TV 8, G.I. Joe’s and Portland^ Area Volvo Dealers. A dditional information may W obtained from the Mt. Hood Festival o f Jazz office by phoning 503-666-3810.1 FACTS 8TH ANNUAL MT. W HAT HOOD FESTIVAL O F 1 JAZZ k W HEN SATURDAY- SUNDAY, AUGUST 5-' 6 FRIDAY NIGHT EVENT, FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 W HERE MT.HOOD COM M UNITY COLLEGE, GRESHAM , ORE W HO 1 M AJOR JAZZ STARS? New Bookings Are: ’ Lou Rawls, Singer Kevin Eubanks, Guitarist’ Already Signed: Diane Schuur, Singer Count Basie Orchestra ) Branford Marsalis, Saxophone Yellowjackets M ORE TO COM E TICKETS ON SALE IN JUNE INFORM ATION I Mt. Hood Festival o f Jazz, 503-666-1 3810 > w rong w hen prom iscuous sexual behavior is attributed only to Black* w om en,” says the psychologist. B lack ’ and white respondents in W yatt’s study overwhelmingly attributed the behavior' to Black women. “ Today the m y th s ’ are shared by everyone, and both Blacks and whites keep them alive,” s h e ' remarked. The media m ust also take credit for perpetuating stereotypes about B lack_ family sexuality. The hot and ready “ sister” in a skintight dress is seen on television every night and in the print media as well. The December 1988 issue o f a national m en’s magazine featured a photographic spread of women wearing men’s shirts-rather, the models w ere teasing the readers by clutching shirts that m anaged to hide their breasts and pubic areas. Three while models m anaged to look like virgins and striptease artists at the same time. The lone Black model stood clutching a dripping-w et dress shirt against her soaked body, one wet breast fully exposed, her eyes closed, lips pouting. If the other models were teasing with sex, she was selling it. W yatt says that Black women need to own their sexuality and define their sexual image. “ W e do n ’t have to be victims. We need to write in to magazines that display us like pieces o f meal. We shouldn’t watch television shows or films that portray us as loose women. We shouldn’t listen to music that gives that message. W e need to send letters to all these places, voicing our concern...W e can becom e agents of change.” FULL HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM LINE Cheryl “ Pepsii” Riley’s recent show at N .Y .’s Bottom Line brought out a full house of adm irers, including the m em bers of Full Force, who wrote and produced her Colum bia Records Me M y se lfa n d l album. Shown here in the stylish backstage area are (from left): Mark Fried o f BMI (the performing rights organization); Full Forces’ Shy- Shy, Bowlcgged Lou, B-Fine (top), Cheryl “ Pepsii” Riley, C urt-t-t and Paul Anthony o f Full Force, and BM I’s Rick Sanjck. MM