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St. Louis Spotlight
By Ivory Watt

Spring is here again, offering us new inspirations, to better our conditions. The "the-ats" in and around this "sho-me town" are still offering the best in entertainment to their critical public. Well! It's a great life if you don't weaken. . . . During the past month we have had the pleasure of hearing two renowned bands, which were the great Jimmie Lunceford, now the new king of syncopation, and the incomparable Lucky Millender and his Blue Rhythm Boys. The Lunceford aggregation featured "Rhythm In My Nursery Rhymes" and scored heavily doing it. The line up is: Brass Section: Eddie Tompkins, Paul Webster, Sy Oliver, Russell Boles, Elmer Crumbley and Eddie Durham; Reed Section: Wm. Smith, Edward Brown, Jr., Joseph Thomas, Dan Grisson and Earl Caruthers (one of our home boys); Rhythm Section: Edwin Wilcox, James Crawford, Moses Allen and Al Norris. . . . Lucky Millender's Band featured "Ride, Red Ride," the vocalist Chuck Richards, received much praise with the medley of "Where Am I" and "Please Believe Me.' The line up is: Brass Section: Henry Allen, Jr., Shelton Hemphill, Wardell Jones, Jay C. Higgenbotham and George Washington; Reed Section: Crawford Wetherington, Eugene Michael, Willie Humphries and Joseph Garland; Rhythm Section: O'Neal Spencer, Lawrence Lucy, Elmer James and Edgar Hayes. . . . NEW FACES SEEN: Slip and Slide (Verlena Williams and Elinor Jones), a clever and versatile act imported from Chicago by the jovial Sol, to give their impression of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson at the Golden Lily Nite Club. These girls were discovered by petite Mary Hall, one of the all-star entertainers who is also hired at this spot. . . . Duke Ellington and his internationally known band and that renowned artist, Ivie Anderson, while here they were the recipients of many social affairs. . . . Edith "Empress" Ganawai, the personality girl from Buffalo, New York, to the Club Plantation. . . . The Three Phantom Steppers (Leo, Fred and Rudy) from K. C. to Club Plantation. . . . Lucile, Fred's wife, joined him here after being in Chicago for the past few months. . . . Herman Ferdinand, Comic M. C. and producer at the Club Harlem, formerly of Chicago, and who has made quite a success at Club Harlem inK. C., dropped in the city to spend a day; with him was Alice Dixon, Two Chocolate Flashes, Strange Mann and E. J. Scott. . . . Earline "Ray" Vondell, from K. C. to spend a few weeks with us. . . . Maceo Birch from Chicago enroute to K. C., stopped over for a night; with him was his buddy, John. . . . Aurora Greeley and Leroy Broomfield, famous dancing and singing act, who are playing an engagement at Club Plantation. . . . Will Anderson from Detroit, who spent five days of enjoyment as the guest of his "ole time friend," Charley Mills of the Democrat Club. . . . Johnny Hodges, Hayes Alvinson, Sonny Greer, Joe "Tricky" Nanton, and Harry Connie seemed to have had a lovely time, with lovely ladies while here. All are members of Duke Ellington's Band. . . . Freddie Guy, the guitar player, spent his time in K. C. He joined the rest the night they left town. . . . HERE AND THERE: The Three Cadets, clever dancing act, who recently finished an engagement at the Grand Terrace Cafe in Chicago, may now be paged at Club Plantation in Detroit. . . . The Woods Sisters and Marjorie Montgomery are scoring heavily at the Cotton Club in Columbus, Ohio. . . . The famous Edwards Sisters on the coast, are still rated as "Tops." They are in and out of Los Angeles. . . . AROUND TOWN: At the exclusive Thomas Jefferson Club, Dorothy Jones, the songbird, and Roosevelt Thomas' Orchestra: their rendition of "Lights Out" is solid murder. . . . Spencer's cozy little place offers their own style of entertainment. . . . David Reems, the theatrical columnist with the St. Louis American, is fast becoming one of our sophisticated crooners. His version of "Dinner for One, Please, James," was solid kicks. . . . Eddie Randle and his top-rated Blue Devils, are gaining wide recognition. . . . At the 17th Ward Democratic Club Charlie Thompson, Mary Callender and Cherry Griffin are still pleasing the patrons with the latest hits. One feature is, "I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket.". . .  Hyde Park Beer is the rage at the Carioca. . . . The Delmar Cafe, where one finds the genial Mr. Meyer as the host, has an environment of friendliness. . . . Peggie O'Neal, our own little tap dancer, is the lead at the Dreamland Cafe. . . . Way over in Brooklyn, Ill., is the beautiful Club Harlem, where Eddie Johnson and a gigantic floor show is there for your approval. . . . The Golden Lily featuring Doc Payne and his Maniacs, Nelda Hodges, Mary Hall, Marie Walker, Slip and Slide, all headed by the Personality Kid, Jeff O'Neal. . . . At the Four Roses, Ethel Hutt, Madeline Porter, Lucretia Williams, all sharing honors with Krazy Jimmie Mitchell and his All-Star Floor Show. . . .  Joe Johnson, one of the best youngest producers, is still producing the shows that are raved about at Club Plantation. There, too is the charming Hattie Watts, a very clever and sweet person, who was discovered in New Orleans, and imported here a few years ago. Hattie is pep and vitality personified. She, too, holds the spot at the Thomas Jefferson Club. . . . Evelyn "Streamline Sue's" birthday party was one enjoyed by all the guests. Evelyn served everything from msoup to nuts, and received many beautiful and valuable gifts. . . . When Alice Dixon, the wistful-eyed beauty, closed at Club Plantation, she was the recipient of a surprise get-together given by Joe Johnson. Wine and tears flowed. The following poem was written to her by Chickie Collins, one of the chorines:

TO ALICE
To a person whom I know, lovely and sweet,
And friendly and good to all that you meet;
I speak from my heart when I say to you, 
You can't but succeed in what ever you do.
Some day when you top the throng,
And your life is one long, glad song,
Look back at unhappiness and smile, and say,
It may have been hard, but I found the way,

Keep the good work up, Chickie, and maybe you will change your profession some day. . . . At the modernistic Julia Ann's Rendezvous there is Christie A. Potten, pianist and singer, who enchants you as he sings "Alone." . . . Congratulations to Sidney Catlett, former Drummer with Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, who is now with Fletcher Henderson. . . . Here's to it for a Happy Easter.

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