[78-L] Public Melody Number One

[Julian Vein]

David Weiner wrote:

> Are you kidding? The huge objection - especially in the South - was that a
> white woman was cavorting with blacks - Details are given in the book LOUIS
> ARMSTRONG ON THE SCREEN.  Variety's reviewer said, "this intermingling of
> the races isn't wise. It may hurt her personally." 
> 
> The reviewer in the "Georgian" newspaper said, "Martha Raye, thinly
> burnt-corked, does a Harlem specialty with a fat Negro trumpeter and a
> hundred other Negroes. It is coarse to the point of vulgarity. I don't like
> mixing white folk - and especially a white girl - in (Negro) acts." 
> 
> In later years, this number lead to rumors that Raye was part black - she
> was turned down for an apartment by a fancy New York building some years
> later, for that reason. 
> 
> Pretty disgusting, huh? 
> 
> Dave W.
==========
This wasn't the first time Raye had worked with black musicians:

Martha Raye (vcl) acc by Bobby Henderson (p) Lonnie Johnson (g) + others
New York, October 6, 1932
73783-1,2    I heard    (unissued)   Vic
73784-1,2    How'm I doin' ? [Hey-hey]    Timeless (Du)CBC1-020 [CD]

      Julian Vein