Arts and Entertainment

It has been said that a successful man is least known in his own environment. Possibly, this was the case of Donald "Don" Redman, a Mineral County native by way of Piedmont, West Virginia, who lived with and entertained area audiences before his rise to stardom.

A graduate of Howard School ('15), Don was the son of Daniel and Henrietta Redman. He earned his degree in music at Storer College, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and did advanced work at the Boston and Detroit Conservatories.

This band was giving a concert on Pratt Street where the Devon Club now stands (in Luke, Maryland) when this photograph was taken in about 1906.

Identified here are,
Front row, left to right: Wesley Streets, Ed Bush, Hennis Taylor, Don Redman, Mac Clifford, and Richard Gilmore.
Back row, left to right: Charles Gilmore, Clarence Martin, Scott Washington, Harry Stewart, Herb Washington, Jessie Kent and Pete Jones.

Notes of Appreciation
Supporters appreciated

Editor:

This goes out to each of the 267 people who attended one of the three nights of discussion and the movie, Cabin in the Sky.

To Al Feldstein, the moderator, very special, heartfelt thanks for his research into local black history that made each night a wealth of information. And for his personality which made each night entertaining and a safe place to share.

Musical being shown as part of observance

Alison Bunting

CUMBERLAND — Black History Month will be the focus as the New Embassy Theatre, 49 Baltimore St., shows the 1943 musical classic Cabin in the Sky, beginning Thursday.

The MGM film stars Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, and contains music and lyrics written by, among others, Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, according to Mark Baker, director of the Embassy.

On June 11, 1918, the "True American Minstrel Show" gave a benefit performance at the Maryland Theatre, which was an eye-opener to a crowded house of whites and blacks, who enjoyed the fun immensely. The program included songs by Charles Green, Major Lee, Lillian Fisher, Edward Clark, Jessie Taylor, Samuel Jefferson, Perry Smith, Hattie Casey, and John Brown. P. Hayes performed an acrobatic feat. There was much dancing and a cake walk contest. The program ended with the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner".