[78-L] Public Melody Number One

[Ken "Silver Showcase"]

soundthink at aol.com wrote:
> http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=224002&titleId=67674
>
> Anyone know why this clip with Louis Armstrong and Martha Raye was censored when it came out in 1937? I like it a lot. Vincente Minnelli apparently conceived it. The only thing I heard on first viewing that would be considered objectionable then was a reference in the lyrics?to "all the tea in Harlem."
>
> Cary Ginell

I can't seem to put my finger on the information at the moment, but I've 
read that there was a "scandal" surrounding the joint appearance of 
Louis Armstrong and Martha Raye.  I think they had also appeared 
together on stage.  It seems unbelievable today, but in the 30s there 
were strong objections to their joint appearances because, well, he was 
a black male performing with a white female.  As I recall the story, it 
was Louis who got blacklisted for a time because of this.  (The black 
guy got punished.  The white gal was apparently off the hook.)  Satchmo 
was supposed to appear in "Dr. Rhythm," in 1938, a Bing Crosby/Bea 
Lillie musical.  His name is in the credits, on the publicity materials 
and he's even listed in the credits of the NY Times review but he there 
is absolutely no sign of his appearance in the final release.  As best 
as I could determine he was removed from this film at the last minute 
because of the Satchmo/Raye "scandal."  A few years ago I tried to learn 
if his sequence for "Dr. Rhythm" survives or if it was even filmed but I 
came up empty.  If anyone knowns any more about this I'd love to hear 
about it.

-- Ken