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MID-NIGHT MAN ABOUT CHICAGO (Town)
by T.R. Watson

TODAY IN CHICAGO: With sunshiny days and warm nights in Chicagoans take great pride in dressing up and making a few of the night spots, seeking the best fun to be had at prices that fit everyone's pocket-book. Even now one can spot a top coat bobbing in or out of a place, the object covered reeling bobbing or weaving about at each step; but regardless, seemingly a fine time is being had in the Windy City.

DIARY: (Midnight Man About Town.) Out to Henry Hervey's in Morgan Park to talk art... Off-hand I learned that he has a dog named Mable Hervey and has license to that effect, in the pound headquarters. Slices of fine cake made by his lovely wife and takes leave... Little Viv Thompson, a cute dancer at Panama Cafe, will leave this brightery about April 25th... To open up as Mistress of Ceremony with Nat Cole unit at Savoy Ballroom... It is rumored that she will take a trip to Europe with her sister-in-law after that... The Sunset Cafe has opened again... At the place they have the "Queen of Splits" Mae Alix... A number that was made famous in the same spot many years ago, when Cab Calloway was signing with Sammy Stewart's Band... Mae heads the show which includes Lil Christian, Dorothy Derrick, formerly a song bird at Dave's Cafe, Baby Joe and Lem Robinson... Caroll Dickerson and Band, plays the music which is not up to par... Clarence Black, known for many years the Collegiate Band Leader, opened at Regal Theatre amidst a huge crowd of money hounds who make their regular trip to this show on Sundays to try for the lovely bank-night purse... The last reading was $1,000.00... The show-down can be found on news stands located at 43rd and the L, also 47th. 55th and 58th at the L.... Thanks a lot to Billy Pikes at West's 55th elevated newspaper counter for those lovely cookies that were given to the midnight Man... Then too, they served their purpose well... Those Pittsburgh Courier boys are doing big things here... Are opening up a Chicago office at 35th and the L... Malcolm B. Smith will be general-manager... while Earl J. Morris and George Lee help out in their respective positions... Julius Adams is showing John Sengstacke, nephew of Robert S. Abbott, how to spend heavy-sugar on Mildred and Marion Jackson... Am wondering when Jimmy White will come out with that "Gas Crate" he has been talking about so long... Most exotic eyes belong to Jennie Stroud, that petite singer of songs cut at Panama... Adell Wherry writes and produces shows at a new spot called the "29" Club which is located at 47th and Dearborn... Earl Partello at DeLisa Gardens.

ST. LOUIS MEETS THE "EMPRESS." EDITH GANAWAI
AN Empress came to town and it was none other than the charming Edith Ganawai, to hold her court in St. Louis at Club Plantation for the rest of the season. Empress, as she is called by all of her friends, was born on the west side of Chicago, November 20, 1909. She was a student of Wendal Phillips High School, and later of the University of Illinois Normal. She is a born singer, beginning her career in a choir. Her first professional appearance was with Billie King, Chicago's old famous comedian, in the city of Detroit, in 1928. Returning to Chicago, Empress went to the fashionable Golden Lily for twenty-eight weeks, making a real name for herself. Empress had now paved the way to success. Leaving there she was hailed by the Cotton Club on the West Side with Lucky Millender's band. After holding a spot at most of the outstanding night-clubs in Chicago. Empress was called to Milwaukee and established another record at the Cotton Club of that city. Returning to Chicago, she worked at the ElRado with the one and only Jerome Carrington. Ralph  Cooper, who is now on the coast making a picture and who at that time was M.C. at the Grand Terrace Cafe, stole her to work with Earl Hines and his band. Closing the Terrace, Empress started her eastern tour, going over greater and greater at every point. Buffalo liked her so well that spent three years working in the prominent night rendezvous. Leaving there she made an extensive tour of Canada, where she made many friends. Empress has personality personified and a sweet person to know. She swims... she dances... and is a lover of sweet music... she is fond of children... and she says that she is happily married to one of the sweetest men in the world. She likes vegetables, but no sweets. Her favorite dish is green peppers and rice. Edith, too, is fond of playing Po-ke-no, a game that is quite thrilling and is the fad in St. Louis. She was taught the game by that great artist, Ivy Anderson, of the Duke Ellington aggregation. Joe Johnson, the youthful producer at Club Plantation, stated: "Empress is truly a singer from her heart, and I, too, enjoy working with her." The patrons of the Club are raving over this genius singer of songs...

[[image - black & white photograph of "Empress" Edith Ganawai, posing with a smile and elegant and flattering floor-length dress]]