theatre audience in Alabama - early 20th Century

from His Eye Is On the Sparrow, page 161:

Playing theaters of the type we were working in, performers constantly had trouble getting the stagehands to co-operate. These stagehands are usually relatives or favored pals of the owner. Sure of their jobs, they spit at the actors and paid them little mind. This caused me great trouble in Bessemer, Alabama, the coalmining town. For a number called "When You're Lonesome, Telephone Me," I was wearing a radium dress that showed up luminous when all the lights were put out. On opening night there in Bessemer I instructed the theater's electrician to put out all the lights. "I will wave my …   more >>

cite as

Charles Samuels and Ethel Waters, His Eye Is On the Sparrow (1950), p. 161. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1429789723847 accessed: 29 March, 2024

location of experience: Alabama

Listeners

Listening to

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When You're Lonesome, Telephone Me performed by Ethel Waters

Experience Information

Date/Time early 20th Century
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, indoors, in public

Originally submitted by Gill on Thu, 23 Apr 2015 12:48:43 +0100
Approved on Fri, 25 Sep 2015 20:27:35 +0100