Newspaper advertisement for a Victory Jubilee Dance ("An All-Star Jubilee Special") at Birmingham's Masonic Temple. On occasions like this, the Masonic Temple -- a center for Black life in segregated Birmingham, and a key venue for top local and…
Newspaper advertisement for Sonny Blount and his Orchestra in a special dance for white visitors to the Colored Masonic Temple. "The most exciting event of the season. Doors open 7:30, dancing at 8 o'clock. Come early, be patriotic, obey the curfew."…
"Witches! Witches! Are You Afraid Of Them?"Newspaper advertisement for a Halloween night dance featuring Fess Whatley, organized by promoter Monroe Kenedy at Birmingham's Masonic Temple.Weekly Review, October 28, 1944.
Newspaper advertisement for a Masonic Temple dance to follow a 1944 football game between Atlanta's Clark College and Tuskegee Institute. Singer Dolly Brown performed with Fess Whatley and his Orchestra, in an event managed by promoter Monroe…
Newspaper advertisement for John L. "Fats Waller" Bell and his All-Star Band at the Grand Terrace.Notable in the advertisement is the photo of a blackface comedian. Even among Black entertainers, the stereotypes and conventions of blackface comedy…
Newspaper advertisement for Sonny Blount's "New Style Rhythm Band" at the Grand Terrace, 1943. Featured performers include singer Fletcher "Hootie" Myatt (misidentified here as Fletcher Myles); the "Famous Female Impersonator" Chick; and the…
Newspaper advertisement for Sonny Blount's "New Style Rhythm Band" at the Grand Terrace, 1943. Featured performers include singer Fletcher "Hootie" Myatt (misidentified here as Fletcher Myles); the "Famous Female Impersonator" Chick; and the…
Newspaper advertisement for Sonny Blount's "New Style Rhythm Band" at the Grand Terrace, Christmas 1943. Featured performers include, in addition to Blount's band, singer Fletcher "Hootie" Myatt (misidentified here as Fletcher Myles) and "Mammy Blues…
Newspaper advertisement for drummer/bandleader Mevlin Caswell's Grand Terrace Swingsters, featuring Chick ("That Famous Female Impersonator") and the shake-dancing Madame Twannie (pictured). This and similar (or identical) ads for the Grand Terrace's…
Newspaper advertisement for a "Battle of Music" to benefit the Negro T. B. Association. Featured acts include the bands of Fess Whatley, Bob Harris, and Sonny Blount (the future Sun Ra).Birmingham News, December 5, 1943.
Newspaper photo and caption depicting the Rhythm Four: "They Do Jive Differently." The popular quartet, originally founded by Sonny Blount (the future Sun Ra), had likely undergone some personnel changes since this collection's earlier photos of the…
Newspaper photo and caption depicting the Rhythm Four. The popular quartet, originally founded by Sonny Blount (the future Sun Ra), had likely undergone some personnel changes since this collection's earlier photos of the group.Weekly Review, August…
Newspaper advertisement for Fess Whatley and His band at the Masonic Temple's Halloween Ball. "WITCHES! WITCHES! WITCHES!"Weekly Review, October 31, 1942.