P a g e 4 P o r tl a n d O b s e r v e r A p ril 13, 1989
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BEHIND THE: IBEC a W W ^
1BÖ UM L
SCENES
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Spike Lee S p a rk s C o n tro v ersy W ith His L atest Film : Spike Lee
doesn’t like dealing with “ safe” subjects, nor is he stranger to controversy,
so then it should come as r.o great surprise that his upcoming movie, “ Do
T he R ight T h in g ” may strike a controversial chord. There are mixed
reactions from those w ho’ve seen the film, which is based on a day in the
life o f a black in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New Y ork” .
Correlations to New Y ork’s famed Howard Beach incident have been made,
though a spokesperson for the production company denies the implication,
stating only that the film “ reflects the ten sio n so f the day” . “ Do The Right
T hing” is scheduled for a late summer release. M eanwhile, Lee is at work
com pleting the soundtrack, which is due out on the Motown label.
New Role F o r Sheryl Lee R alp h ? Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, whose
living for the past few years has been as a regular on “ I f s A L iving” , will
portray the ow ner of neighborhood beauty shop in an upcoming ABC pilot
tentatively titled “ Beauty Parlor” . R&B singer M orris Day, formerly of
The Tim e, will co -star,-also portraying a hairdresser. The role is near
perfect casting for Ralph, who is somewhat the health and beauty expert
offscreen. In fact, over two years ago the actress-singer released “ Sheryl
Lee R alph’s Beauty B asics” , - a guide to makeup and skin-care for black
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to know w hat’s going on.”
Jo e C la rk to G uest O n “ 227” : Controversial Eastsidc High School
principal Joe Clark, who served as inspiration for the screen hit, “ Lean On
M e’ ’ and w as recently suspended from service by the Patterson, New Jersey
school board, will make his TV bow on an upcoming segment of Marla
G ibb’s “ 227” . In the show, which could be seen as early as April 18th.
Clark will play himself. Short Takes: Jonathan Chico DcBarge, 22,
received a sentence o f five years and eight months for his part in the
conspiracy to transport 2.2 pounds of cocaine from California to Michigan.
His brother Bobby, who was also indicted, is presently serving time in a
correctional cam p...Lonette Me Kee is set to portray Billie Holliday in a film
version of an off-Broadway hit detailing the life ol the lam ed singer...Next
week: Find out all the latest on W hoopi G oldberg’s new s itc o m -” Bagdad
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ON THE MONEY
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T h e L egacy of M ad am e C .J. W alk er: One o f the earliest and greatest
fortunes made by a black and a woman was that of Madame C.J. W alker,
who becam e the nation’s first woman millionaire in the manufacture of the
“ straightening com b” and (her own formula) black hair preparations.
W alker, w ho founded the Mme. C.J. W alker M anufacturing Co. Inc., atone
point em ployed hundreds in the door-to-door marketing of her cosmetics,
and later developed the “ W alker System of Beauty” , teaching black
women health and beauty tips. Her own regal lifestyle was just as
im pressive, as she split her time between a palatial mansion on the Hudson
River and stylish Harlem townhouse, boasting a fully-equipped beauty
parlor. W alker died at the age o f 52 in 1919. Today, Ray Randolph, 50, and
Kevin G ross, 30 arc try in g to tu rn things a ro u n d for the company that has
floundered and been kept in trust since her death. It was in 1987 that
Randolph was successful in breaking the trust in prorate court to purchase
W alker M anufacturing Company for an undisclosed fee. W ith a sta ffo f 12,
he is w orking to restore the legacy of W alker within today’s burgeoning
cosmetics industry. The company expected 1988 revenues of about $250,000,
mostly from the sales of Walker’s original formula hair preparation favorites-
G lossine and Temple Salve, which have served to keep the firm ’s annual
revenues in six-figures. At present, the company hopes to regain entry into
the m arket with the launching of a curl line called “ C riteria” , and a rclaxcr
l i n e - ’’Precedent” , that it hopes will set a precedent going into 1990.
A ccording to executive vice president, Kevin G ross, Madame C.J. W alker
M anufacturing Company is cash-strong, and in a position to make a strong
hit and maintain itself among today’s industry leaders. Said Gross, after
all, there’s always room in the market for a superior product . Currently,
the products are available via professional outlets, and experiencing its
stronger sales in Indianapolis, Ohio, Canada, and the western parts of
M ichigan. Meanwhile, the legacy of Madame C.J. W alker is being housed
in the M adame W alker Urban Life Center in Indianapolis, near the site of
her original factory.
Jo h n so n K eeps G ood C om pany: John H. Johnson was the first black as
well as one of the first five to be inducted into the new National Sales Hall
o f Fame, which by designated by the Sales & Marketing Executives of
G reater New York, to honor the country’s sales and marketing leaders.
Others named among its first five inductees include Mary Kay Ash,
M alcolm Forbes, and J.W. Marriott.
H ot T ick ets: Last m onth’s Oscar Awards translated into big bucks for LA
ticket brokers. And while the Academy frowns upon ticket selling Tor the
invitation-only affair (and bans those caught selling their tickets from future
shows), seats scattered throughout L A 's Shrine Auditorium could be had lor
as little as $1 ,(XX) a p a ir,-in the balcony, to $4,000 for two scats in the
orchestra section am idst the nominees.
M oney Briefs: W ord has it that a joint venture deal between Solar Records
chief Dick Griffey and CBS Records is in the closing stages...
b.
- Mil i
7:0 0 -8 :0 0 PM
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?,■ The nearly soldout production of
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j , “ The Forbidden C ity,” is a p a rt of the
NBS “ New Voices” Program, which *
I just relum ed from ‘ ‘The Forbiddin
-enco u rag es a num ber o f theatre *
organizations like the Public Theatre, *
C ity,” (New York City) after seeing
„th ro u g h o u t the U nitod States to
Emmy
A w ard -w in n in g
A frican
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American playwright, Bill G unn’s new i. commission and produce new work for
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the American Stage. .N B C “ New
play, “ The Forbidden C ity,” in it’s
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world premiere at Joseph Papp’s Public/ • V oices” projects include-new plays,
the work of new directors, and the *
LuEsther Theatre. Producer Joseph Papp
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directs G loria Foster (Drama Desk , performance of new actors,
Award-winning Black actress), Frankie i ,f Now that, theatre fans, is what was *
R. Faison (nominated for a Tony for t happening downtown in Lafayette Square *
Broadway show hit - “ Fences” ) and a Lal the Public Theatre, Stitt the “ hottest
of the hot” in New York City, but then *
great cast o f actors, headed by a new
; w e swing back “ uptown Saturday night,” *
young actor, Akili Prince.
to Harlem on W est 125th Street....
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Besides seeing old friends on stage,
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T H E SILV ER A ST A G E D
some o f whom are members o f tfte
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REA D IN G SE R IE S SH O W S “ T H E
Frank Silvera W riters’ W orkshop,
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ST U D Y ” O F A PR O B L E M
M ansoor N ajeeullah, Cortez Nance, Jr.;
•„ Uptown in Harlem, the Frank Silvera *
I see walking onstage, Guy Davis (son
W rite rs’ W orkshop is currently *
of actors, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis).
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celebrating
its 16th anniversary in 1989. *
The young Davis is playing a cameo
: Under new executive director, Bryon *
role in this powerful piece, set in West
C. Saunders, the W orkshop presented a
Philadelphia in 1936, and deals with a
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.Staged Reading o f a new. black woman
young black m an’s struggle (played by
playwright, Debbie Patrick’s play, “ The *
Akili Prince) to survive the grip of his
Study,” during the A p ril-1st weekend, *
“ striving” Black Bourgeois parents.
One of the deeply penetrating lines
Friday & Saturday evening. So, I was *
uptown for board, staff meetings at the *
in the show says: “ I ’d rather live in the
W orkshop and this key event in new *
movies than die in Philadelphia! ’ ’ My
w riter developm ent o f em erging
friends in Philly may not be impressed
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playwrights.
or care what this playw right feels about
Ms. Patrick’s new play, “ The Study,” *
their town, but the entire statem ent from
someone who com e from the scene is , was first read in the Workshop’s Monday *
very powerful.
W hereas, L orratnti . PRetiding Series in 1984 and is based on *
Hansberry (“ A Raisin in the Sun) took
-the Tuskeegee Institute Study of untreated
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us, to the Black family as we prepared « Syphilis in Black men from 1932-72. A
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for “ upward m obility,” to where we
play and work of this magnitude, dealing
are today (some of us)
as it does with a real live record ol a *
Bill G unn’s play (a press o p e n in g , 'actual series of events and people, *
April 6, 1989) on the night I say it,
requires thorough research, development *
brought out “ the Black Brass” of the
and numerous Te-writers to get it right.
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Am sterdam s News, The leadingJJlauk.i . Write b n ,‘D obblb'abd fh e ’FSWW:'
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weekly in New York, is-seen in the-—
B A S S IN A R T T H E A T R E O PE N S
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forceofW illiam T ate,publisher,giving i
N EW PLAY AT IFC C
hand signals and speaking across friendly
Right here “ in river city,” we have *
rows to Abiola Sinclair, Black critic for .. a new play, “ Escape by Land,” opening *
at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural *
.the Amsterdam. She and Mr. Tate
by
Michael G rant, produced by
were
the house
lights , Center,
TT wa xz standing before
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dimmed, to face the audience prior to ^.Passinart Theatre Company of Portland,
the show starting and to be acknowledged
At the mid-point of one o f the biggest *
slightly by John Simon (LaG rce), or as.
Black and white theatre seasons in the *
theN ew York Times calls: “ a prince of
C ity’s history (“ Simply H eavenly,” *
th n r e
th p
,» C « n ” T h p C ’ n ln r p H
prescriptivism ,” and to o others,-as
the
Zooman and ih the
Sign,’ ’ The Colored *
anti-actors, theatre critic o f the “ right
M useum ,” the new Portland Center
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of Attila, the Hun,” New York magazine,
Stage at the Alliance) we are beginning
LEA D IN G N E W Y O R K
to see something new happening in *
PR O D U C E R D IR E C T S
theatre from coast to coast, the Northeast *
Enter Joseph Papp with his w ile and
,(Ncyv York, New Jersey, M ass., PA., *
associate, Gail M errified. The Papps / i& i/a n d the P acifit Norfhwbst. W hat
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held a little press and photo session on
this mean for the local theatre
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stage for us to meet the cast alter the '» ’ people and the community? Stay turned,
show. The last time, I worked for
Arks lovers and performers for the late, *
Joseph Papp at the New York (l1 breaking events as they happen in “ Our *
Shakespeare Festival, several years ago, ,4. tow n.” Write on.
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I stage managed Gloria Foster in a one-
, “ African American Playwrights, iheir *
character, play by Sonia Sanchez, “ Sister ¿ .c ra ft and Legacy,” a n e w 10 week class
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Son/ji,” as a part of a scries o f new ,m i(W ods., 6:40 to 9:20PM ) a t PSU
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Black plays that Mr. Papp produced
continues to register. Call Black Studies
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that year, 1971, at the Public Theatre (a
Dcpt., 464-3472.
series of theatres housed in the former
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old Public Library of New York).
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R O L E M O D E L IN G
featuring:
M A R T IN L U T H E R K IN G
SCH O O L TU M BLERS
Dr. B illy F low ers
T u e sd a y , M ay 2, 1989
F A M IL Y L E A D E R S H IP
featuring:
M A R A N A T H A C H U R C H C H O IR
and W O O D L A W N C H IL D R E N
R ev. D r. Jam es M artin
T h u rsd ay , M ay 11, 1989
C O M M U N IT Y , S C H O O L & P A R E N T IN V O L V E M E N T
featuring:
W O O D L A W N D R IL L T E A M
M r. M acceo P ettis
T u e sd a y , M ay 16, 1989
M A L E L E A D E R S H IP
featuring:
W O O D LA W N BOYS CLUB
M r. K en B erry
T u e sd a y , M ay 23, 1989
A L L S E S S IO N S A R E F R E E A N D O P E N T O T H E
P U B L IC
. fo r m ore in fo rm atio n , co ntact A da R eed, W o o d law n S chool
C o m m u n ity A gent (503) 280-6282
The 33 st Annual
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F a s h i o n
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Sponsored by
PORTLAND
CHAPTER
THE LINKS. INC.
FRIDAY
April 21. 1989
8:00 p.m.
University of Portland
Earle A. Chiles Center
5000 N. W illamette Bv
Portland. Oregon
BENEFITING
Links E ducational
& Scholarship Fund
Tickets: $20. & $25.
Tickets Available
Mrs C s Wigs
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NEW UPDATE: Black playwright, -screened during C ritic’s Week at the
Bill Gunn, who new play, “ The \ ^ 9 7 3 Cannes Film Festival. His other
fcrèenplays
include, “ The Alberta
Forbidden C ity,” that I saw recently in
. .
New York and wrote about in this column
Hunter Story,” which was produced by
above, passed away in New York on i iSoulhcm Picturcs/BBC, and “ Angel
Thursday, April 6 ,1 9 8 9 , the day of the
^ e v in c ” (written with Ronald Ribman,
official press opening at the Public
produced by United Artists. His novels
Theatre. Bill Gunn’s earlier play, “ Black
include, “ Black Picture Show, “ All
Picture Show ,” that w asvo-directcd by < The Rest Have Di4d,” and “ Rhinestone
Joseph Papp and he, at the Vivian
Sharecropping.”
Beaumont Theatre, won the 1975 p Joseph Papp told us the night I saw
AUDELCO Award (New York, Black
the new play, “ The Forbidden C itjt”
Theatre Recognition Awards) for Best „that heJhasoptioned another play of Bill
i the near future
Play by a Black writer.
’ s 45unn, to be presented in
at'the Public. W ritcon.Joc. W e’ll miss
A screenwriter, novelist, director and
you, Bill, and shall work to keep your
actor, Mr. Gunn received an Emthy
work alive. “ Keep the faith” and support
Award for his tcleplay, “ Johnas,” which
was also produced onstage at New York’s 'i Black Theatre!
Chelsea Theatre, and his film, “ Ganja . »'
& Hess was the only American film
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„
E v an d er H olyfield ren ted an a rm o re d tru c k , filled it with sacks ol money
and drove through Central Park to dramatize his bid to fight heavyweight
champion Mike Tyson...A leading California econom ist has predicted a
m ild recession in A pril as consum ers cuwback oiHuxury purchases (e m r
etc). However, interest rales should begjn to fall around Septem ber as the
Federal Reserve Board cases h$ restricliO s on the money supply, thus
pushing the economy up by October. Nekl w eek: Eind out why a black
w om an is suing the C alifornia L ottery t,flnitT)issn<m lo r $3 m illion.
F a ir
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TH E DEATH O F A
P L A Y W R IG H T
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M A Y S C H E D U L E , 1989
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“ THE FORBIDDEN
CITY”
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R obinson’s mother.
H om ew ork Pays O ff F o r K aren W hite: “ I thought I would probably be
at num ber four for about a y e a r-b e in g it Bobby Brown, Anita Baker and
Luther, but it feels really great to see the success that I’m having” , said
Karen W hite, about her chart-topping smash hit, “ The Way you Love M e” .
Today, her LP simply titled “ Karyn W hite” , is a top seller, and a second
single “ Superw om an” is winding its way up the R&B charts. The 23-year
old LA-native began her career as a background sessions artist with Jeff
Lorber. It was through session work that she got a deal ol her own with
W arner Bros. Staying on top, however, is a horse of another color. Said
W hite, “ I’m always studying the charts to see w hat’s happening-w hat the
kids arc liking and what they’re not. I think it’s really important for an artist
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by G a rla n d Lee T hom pson
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women.
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L o v e r’s L ane: Actress Troy Beyer, who once co-starred on “ D ynasty” as
Diahann C arroll’s daughter, and who is presently starring in “ Rooftops” ,
has announced that she is engaged to be married. The LA-based actress met
surgeon Frank Lacqua (with whom she’ll tie the knot in June) in a New York
em ergency room where Beyer was taken for a painful in grown toenail. By
B eyer’s account, it was love at first sight. Meeting Lacqua has changed the
priorities o f the 24 -year old actress, who said: “ I ’ve seen a lot ol actresses
with w onderful careers and no children and no husbands.” Obviously,
Beyer who is gearing up to move to New York, doesn t want to be just
another one of them...Seen about town in New York were M ichael Tyson
an d Holly R obinson, o f “ 21 Jump Street” . There is no love lost between
Robinson and Robin Givens,—once schoolmates. In fact, Robinson reportedly
hauled o ff and hit Givens, after she’d made a nasty com m ent about
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