Page 4—The Portland Observer -M arch 27, 1991
Portland Observer
ENTERTAINMENT
Please Hammer, Don’t HurtHer
Real-Life Fresh Prince Proves Life
Can Be Stranger Than Fiction
Television producer and record
executive Benny Medina details the
events of his childhood which led to his
becoming ‘‘The Real-Life Fresh Prince
of Bel-Air,” and describes his view
from the top of the show business in
dustry, in the April EBONY.
M edina’s life is royally satirized
Monday nights by actor/rapper Will
Smith on the highest -rated new TV
sitcom, ‘ ‘ The Fresh Prince of Bel- Air.
Medina explains how he and music and
TV great Quincy Jones, the comedy’s
executive producer, convinced NBC
head in one night to sign the show and
buy Smith’s acting abilities. As vice
president and general manager of Blac k
music at Warner Brothers Records, the
32-year-old tycoon details his profes
sion from living in a Los Angeles ghetto,
to securing a position at the top of the
music industry and earning SI million
before his 30th birthday.
Medina also comments on how the
popularcomedy differs somewhat from
his actual experiences, including how
an abusive uncle prompted his move to
Beverly Hills. His successes also in
clude his two-year romance with super-
model Beverly Johnson, and an up
coming film project starring Smith, who
refers to him as a ‘‘business genius.”
Black America’s War
PBS airdate: Tuesday, April 2, 9 P.M., 60 minutes
Black soldiers comprised almost
thirty percent of the U S. troops
in the Persian Gulf War. In
"Black America's War," airing
Tuesday, april 2, at 9 P.M.
(check local listings).
It came to be known as the ‘ ‘race
gap.” Amid the rush to consensus
that marked much of the public senti
ment surrounding the Gulf War, black
Americans stood conspicuously apart.
Blacks were three times more likely
to oppose America’s involvement in
the Gulf than their white counter
parts. At the same time, nearly thirty
percent of all ground troops in the
Gulf were black men and women.
Throughout American history, the
armed forces have mirrored the divi
sions of American daily life, and, at
times, contributed to their healing.
No American war in this century has
failed to change the lives of black
Americans. What will be the legacy
of the Gulf War?
in “ Black America’s W ar,” air
ing Tuesday, April 2, at 9 P.M., (check
local listings), FRONTLINE looks at
the role of the black American soldier
in the United States military. The pro
gram will be highlighted by a town
hall meeting and debate held in an in
ner-city church in Philadelphia, Penn
sylvania. Harvard University Prol'es-
sorof Law Charles Olgetree will serve
as moderator.
Every Democratic member of the
Black Caucus opposed the use of force-
from the Reverend Jesse Jackson to
Martin Luther King, III-the peace
movement read like a “ Who’s Who”
of black American leadership.
At the same time, this war marked
the anointment of a man nicknamed
the “ black Eisenhower.” General
Colin Powell is now the most power
ful black man in America. The first
African-American ever to gain entry
into this nation’s “ inner circle,” Pow
ell provided the Bush administration
with the military doctrine that in
formed the Gulf War and the early
resolve to carry it through.
With victory in the Gulf, Ameri
cans have embraced him, with polls
showing Powell triumphing in all
mannersof hypothetical “ dream tick
ets.” Intriguingly, his popularity ap
pears greater among whites than blacks.
In production at this time, inter
views and panelists will include Jesse
Jackson, Lt. Gen. Frank Petersen (who
is the firslblack marine general), jour
nalist and author Hodding Carter III,
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and pro
fessor Roger Wilkins, and Major El
wood Driver, a retired Army Air Corps
officer who is one of the original
members of the all-black World War
II “ Tuskegee Airmen.”
“ Black America’s W ar” is pro
duced by Thomas Lennon and is di
rected by Michael Kirk.
Completes Principle Photography
Capitol recording artists M.C. Hammer and Tracie Spencer were the center of
attention at the post-American Music Awards party hosted by Capitol Records at
Eureka on the Westside, January 28, M.C. Hammer (pictured right), who walked
away with five AMA awards that evening, was congratulated by young singing sen
sation Spencer (picture left), who is currently celebrating the success of her new
album, Make The Difference and its fresh hit single, “ This House.”
Coronation Moves To New Site
Lloyd Center To Host 1991 Queen Crowning
newness to the Queen’s Coronation.
Moving the event certainly accomplishes
this objective,” adds Marcia Apper-
son, chairman of the Coronation Com
mittee.
The Queen’s Coronation will be
the first major event held in the newly
remodeled Ice Pavilion. The project
was part of a S200 million, two-year
renovation of Lloyd Center.
Moving the event from the Civic
Auditorium to the Lloyd Center also
moves it away from the usual traffic
congestion in downtown Portland.
The Lloyd Center Queen’s Coro
nation will take place Friday, May 31 at
8 p.m. The event will be televised live
on KOIN-TV.
A major Rose Festival event is
moving to a new location. Starting in
1991, the The Lloyd Center Queen’s
Coronation will be held at the Ice Pa
vilion at the Lloyd Center.
“ The Rose Festival supports all of
the development efforts in Northeast
Portland, and we want to show that
support by holding one of our tradi
tional, major events there,” says Gene
Leo, executive manager of the Portland
Rose Festival Association. “ From the
opening of the Oregon Convention
Center to the newly renovated Lloyd
Center, the Northeast community is
thriving and we want to be a part of it.”
“ The Coronation Committee had
been looking at ways to bring a sense of
World Beat Reggae House Rap Blues Soul Gospel Folk Jazz
USED
v?
April 30. May 1-5. 1991
8:00 PM Intermediate
Theatre. Portland Center for
the Performing Arts
All Seats Reserved:
$5, $9. $11
PC PA Box Office:
(503)248-4496
FASTIXX
(503) 224-8499
Two Programs
C P 'S
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503-284-4828
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“POWERFUL AND COMPELLING.
I wholeheartedly recommend this important film''
—Coretta Scott King
Sissy Spacek is excellent.
W hoopi Goldberg plays her part with
strength and quiet dignity. A fine film !’
W td. (XX)D MORNING AMFRIC A
“TWO THUMBS UP!”
-S IS M I .A EBERT
Seafood Restaurant & Bar -- Since 1891 --Lunch & Dinner
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The Long Walk Home
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CREED OF THE BLACK PRESS
The Black P re u belie« «9 that America can b a t lead Uic «»orld • * » ] from social and
national antagonisms when It accords to every person, regardless or race, color, or
creed, hill human and legal rights. Ilatlng uo person, fearing no person, the Black
Prase strives Io help t cry person In the firm belief that all sre hurt as long as anyone
KOIN CENTER
243-3515
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Portland, Or. 97232
“POWERFUL, HONEST
AND REAL!
,
is music by the Jungle Brothers led by
Afrika Baby Bam.
M ichael Schultz (CRUSH
GROVE, CAR WASH, COOLEY
HIGH) directed “ THE TAPES OF
DEXTER JACKSON” from an origi
nal script by William Mosely Payne.
The film’s executive producer is David
V. Picker (THE JERK, AN OFFICER
AND A GENTLEMAN).
“ THE TAPES OF DEXTER
JACKSON” is scheduled for domes
tic release in the summer of 1991 by
The Samuel Goldwyn Company.
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CHINOOK SALMON OR BROILED LOBSTER
TAILS JUMBO PRAWNS FISH & CHIPS CLAM
CHOWDER BROILED HALIBUT CRAB STUFFED
MUSHROOMS LOBSTER THERMIDOR OR PAN
FRIED OYSTERS SAUTEED SHRIMP ROSSI OR
STEAK & LOBSTER CRAB AU GRATIN OR
FRENCH FRIED SCALLOPS STEAM CLAMS
OYSTER STEW CHICKEN STEAKS OR . . . .
k
Principal photography has been
completed on The Samuel Goldwyn
Company’s comedy “ The Tapes Of
Dexter Jackson.”
Shot on location in Atlanta, Geor
gia, “ THE TAPES OF DEXTER
JACKSON” is the story of a young
black student at the Ajax School of
Broadcasting who gets the scoop of a
lifetime that lands him a newscasting
job at the local affiliate. In the wake
of his success, Dexter leaves more
than a few battered relationships and
part of his identity as he tries to cap
ture his dreams. Featured in the film
à
TUES - SAT
4
(L-to-R) Lisa C. Arrindell, T.C.Carson and Afrika Baby Bam star in this
new comdey.
Music
&
Photo provided by Jim Hollander/Peuters/Bettmann Newsphotos
1035 S.W. Stark (Corner 11 th & Stark)
the tapes of dexter jackson
4
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Packy Celebrates
29th Birthday
Metro Washington Park Zoo is
throwing a gigantic birthday party to
help Packy, Portland’s famous elephant,
celebrate his 29th birthday...the date is
Saturday, April 13, the time, 11 a.m. to
3p.m.
During the festivities, party-goers
can meet Babar, the fairy-tale elephant
featured on HBO, and have a piece of
cake baked especially for Packy’s guests
by Albertson's Bakery. The 4-foot by
8-foot concoction will be designed and
decorated by special team under the
watchful eye of Albertsons Bakery
manager, Steve Wylie.
TCI Cable will be honored as
Packy’s official Zoo Parent, and prizes
will be awarded to winners in the Packy
Birthday Coloring Contest, sponsored
by TV Host. Entry blanks for the contest
arc available at TV Host offices, TCI
Cable and the Zoo. Winners will be
selected in random drawings.
At 2 p.m. the Marshall High School
band will strike up “ Happy Birthday”
and Packy will make his grand entrance
and c a l his cake.
31 NW First
223-9919
WEDNESDAY MARCH 27
Nine Days Wonder
THURSDAY MARCH 28
Mother tones
FRIDAY MARCH 29
Arnold Bros.
SATURDAY MARCH 30
Neros Rome
SUNDAY MARCH 31
Perfect 10
MONDAY APRIL 1
Portland Music Assc.
Fools Walk
TUESDAY APRIL 2
Norton Buffalo