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THE SHOW-DOWN

Detroit...The Motor City...As I Saw It...
By Sally J. Cathrell

   Arriving in Detroit, (with my traveling mate Lilyan Oliver, who is often referred to as "Toto"), our first stop was the Norwood Hotel. Entering the lobby, I was greatly surprised to meet Miss Ivie Anderson, Duke Ellington and members of his band who are all personal friends of mine, they too were checking in...My first visitor was Rollo S. Vest, who is the Detroit representative of "The Show-Down." This was my first time meeting Mr. Vest, although I had corresponded with him for eight months previous to our meeting, so you can imagine just how thrilled I was. I found him to be the same person, that I had gathered him to be from our correspondence...a courteous, likeable and intelligent young man, to him and many others I owe a delightful trip to Detroit ... Saturday, our first night, found Toto and me scanning the night life of the "Motor City." Our first stop was the Larks Club, a membership club where we were cordially greeted by Mr. Mitchell, one of the constituents of the club. There we met Dr. Kelly Robinson, a former St. Louisan [sic]and Mr. Petry Fisher, editor of "The Michigan World" ... Leaving there we visited The Frogs Club, one of the exclusive niteries [sic] of the city. There too, you must have a membership ... We met many of the prominent people of the city, who were wining and dining to their hearts content...Our eyes now were tired from looking and heavy with sleep, so we departed saying "thanks for a lovely evening"...Sunday afternoon found Toto and me, at the Cocktail Hour in the Club Plantation, escorted by Mr. Marvin Cokere, a very entertaining young man. The floor show, a stupendous one, would meet with the approval of any critic. The show included, George McClendon, who was the producer, Brown and Brown, the great whirlwind dancers, Myra Johnson, the leading lady, Lorenzo, baritone singer, who gives one character sketches as well as the great George Dewey Washington. Lorenzo, I was told, was new in the profession. He should go far, as he possesses unusual talent. Petite Alice, prima 

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"Fats" Waller A New King--

by Gene Mays

Thomas ("Fats") Waller was born in New York on May 21, 1904, the son of a minister. "Fats" played the organ and sang in the choir of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where his father preached, until his fiftieth year. Like many another minister's son, "Fats," at the age of fifteen, decided against his father's wishes that he don the cloth, and instead chose music as his career.
   "Fats" Waller, attributes his first real "break" to a chance meeting with Arnold Rothstein, the gambler, back in 1926. The gambler asked Waller if he could write music. "Fats" said "Sure!" although up to that time he had never written a song. Rothstein promptly gave him the job and Waller set to work. And, surprisingly, the show, "Keep Shuffling," and its tunes clicked. 
   Several years ago "Fats" found himself broke and owing a week's room rent as has many another artist on his ardous [sic]climb up the ladder of fame. "Fats" and his manager decided that the quickest way out of the predicament was for "Fats" to write a song ...and sell it. In less than 24 hours the genial Waller had turned out one of his typical rhythm numbers, and a short time later he appeared, with his manager, in a Tin Pan Alley music publisher's office.
   The publisher heard the number and offered an advance of $250 to "Fats" manager for it. "$500 of nothing," said the manager, confident that he could get more than the original offer. Apparently he didn't know his song publishers, for he was promptly told to leave the office and peddle the tune elsewhere.
   "Don't worry," the manager consoled the downcast Waller, as they climbed down the rickety flight of stairs. "We'll get our price for it." 
   "Yeah, I know," mourned "Fats," "but all that landlady wants is ten bucks."
   At the close of this show, "Fats" went abroad and was headlined in his song-and-piano-playing act at leading night clubs in England and on the Continent, including the Kit Kat Club in London and the Moulin Rouge in Paris. When he returned he joined Station WLW in Cincinnati, and in March, 1933, made his debut from WABC over the Columbia network. Since then Victor recordings, screen shorts and feature roles in the R-K-O picture, "Hooray for Love," and the 20th Century Fox Films "King of Burlesque" have been interspersed with his CBS broadcasts. More recently, the sepia star has been touring, with outstanding success, at the head of his won Columbia Broadcasting Orchestra.
   His songwritings, headed by the hit tune, "Ain't Misbehavin," would

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