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THE SHOW-DOWN Page 3 "NOAH'S" THOMAS MOSELEY THOMAS MOSELEY PORTRAYAL OF NOAH PRAISED BY CRITICS IN WPA'S LATEST PRODUCTION Comes Long Way to Stardom By MAURICE DANCER - Associate Editor A very few of the first night audience, who witnessed the WPA Negro Federal Theatre Ppoject's newest offering, "Noah", at the New Lafayette Theatre, October 7th, know the trials experienced by its star, Thomas Moseley, on his way to the top. His portrayal of the age old biblical figure won the praise of the critics. His soft and tender expression of a man who seems to be alone with his ideals, added the only outstanding performance of the evening. When automobiles and burlesque rang the death knell for the once popular "weeping willow plume", Thomas Moseley, found himself with an ostrich feather in one hand and a fistful of unpaid bills in the other. For years he had been manufacturing graceful, sweeping plumes, plucked from the tender skins of choice ostriches for the adornment of milady's wearing apparel. And now, due to the fickleness of the feminine mind, plumes, ostriches, bustles and Moseley found themselves in a quandary. But Moseley did not choose to emulate the weeping willow plume he had created. Nor did he take a trick from the ostrich and bury his head in the ground. He faced the music and saw that the tune called for a change of rhythm. The languid tempo of plume days had given way to more erratic measures of "swing time". And so Moseley decided to "swing it". "When the feathery vogue was relegated to the garbagescows," Moseley explained, "I found myself with time on my hands and holes in my pockets. I had succeeded in establishing a flourishing business, but the sudden change in fashions hit me right where I lived. Other hat-plume manufacturers were taking options on jumping-off-points on bridges. Suicide vendors were doing a land office business and windows in sky-scrapers were leasing at a premium." But paradoxically, Moseley welcomed the sudden upheaval. It wiped out his holdings, his business and his responsibilities, but it gave him the opportunity to flee to the flinty bosom of his first love: the theatre. "For years I had wanted to take a whack at the stage," he said. "But I happened to fall into the feather business and there I remained. The disorder of business, however, gave to me the chance I had been seeking. I couldn't give up a good business, but when the going business gave me up - - well, that was different." And the records prove that Moseley might have done a lot worse than go into the theatre. He appeared under the Wm. Brady management in "House of Shadows" in which Tom Powers and Margaret Churchill were starred. A Brorak Pemberton production, "Going Home" with Barbara Bulgakov, followed. Other plays in which Moseley appeared were "The Tree" with Barton Lane; "Brown Buddies" with Bill Robinson, Ada Brown and Adelaide Hall; "In Abraham's Bosom" with the late Rose McClendon; "Stevedore" with Jack Carter and Edna Thomas of "Macbeth" fame, and in the George Gershwin folk opera, "Porgy and Bess". Radio, too, has shared the Moseley talents. Listeners to "True Story", "Soconyland Sketches" and "March of Events" know the Moseley voice. Thomas Moseley's Federal Theatre career started with his characterization of the seedy Colonel Dutton in "Turpentine", and his present star role in "Noah" has carried him to new heights, placing him among the leaders of the theatre. [[begin box]] IN AND OUTS Rochester, N. Y. By Al S. Smith [end box]] Back again after a two months absence of my column I am taking the liberty to give the Low-Down on The-ats and what have you... * * * We find that many the-ats have come and departed from this flower city, but clubs are being packed every evening with patrons seeking to get the most enjoyment out of life... * * * Let's take a peek at Bardos (Ofay) Inn, there we find Ida Lamb and Margaret Hall dispensing hot songs. Polite Elanor Allen with that pleasing personality - - Lovella Brown the snake hips queen from the Heat Wave Club of Cleveland, Ohio, and that dazzling, dashing little dancer Lucus, who for the past seven months has been doing the work of two boys and get paid for one. How does it feel Lucus... * * * Hobart Dustye, when will you print the first edition of your newspaper. * * * Putts Guin the M. C. and producer doing velly, velly good job for Bardo's Inn by producing a top notch show which is very satisfying to the patrons. I know he is due for a raise in salary soon. * * * Alberta Dustye the girl who is credited with a solid run of thirty one months at Bardo's is still performing like a good trouper. * * * Putts, when you are ready to go in for prize fights write the Joe Louis outfit, they need sparring partners. * * * Leroy Skinner seems to be the man about town now-a-days. What's your rackt pal?... * * * Jeanette Seymour of the well known dance team of Seymour & Seymour who for many years toured the B. O. Keith chain of theatres, is holding sway at the (Continued on page 17)
