The Black Russian

by Vladimir Alexandrov

  3–4 Frederick’s rush to consulate, diplomats’ reaction: DF; CPI 151, 363; Moore, Digest, 927, 936. Paris as haven: Lloyd, 74–75, 91, 95–96, 101–2, ff. Frederick’s note, Washington’s response: CPI 363.

  5–6 Bristol’s involvement: March 4, Nov. 13, 1923, MLB. Rue to Bristol: DPT 470 (typos corrected). Turlington: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45752619/Rhodes-Scholars-Roster [1911]; TT. Brist asked colleague: DF.

  7–8 vacillation on prohibition: Vp, Oct. 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 24, 25, 1923, 3; Hoover, Fisher, Oct. 30, 1923, 3-4; Ravndal to World League Against Alcoholism, Dec. 1, 1923, CPI 370; S, March 19, 1924, 1; May 25, 1925, 2; March 6, 1926, 2; Jan. 11, 1927, 2. epochal historical changes: Shaw, IV, 1963–1964; Lewis, 261–62; American present: Hoover, Fisher, Oct. 7, 1923, 3–4. crowds on streets: Hoover, Fisher, Oct. 30, 1923, 4. shop signs: Vp, Oct. 9, 1923, 3. Mikhail leaves for Prague: Interview, Nov. 8, 2006; Andreyev and Savický, 41, 53, 65; Keeny.

  9–10 Frederick’s boasting: Sackett. Krotkov, Frederick’s “broad” Russian nature: Argus (a band’s percussion instruments are more likely than Krotkov’s “pots and pans”). Fourth of July: “Gallant Yanks Organize a Klan to Rescue Pearl,” CDT, July 27, 1924, 16.

  11–12 Bebek, downpours and destruction: S, June 14, 15, 22, 24, 26–28, 1924; Jan. 20, 1925, 2. La Rose Noire: S, June 26, 1924, 3; July 19, 1925, 3; Le Moscovite: S, April 30, May 7, 1925, 3.

  13–14 tourism increases: S, March 2, 5, 10, 1925, 2; July 3, 1926, 2; Hoover, Fisher, March 20, 1925. the most audacious plan: S, Aug. 25, Nov. 27, 1925, 2; S, July 2, 1926, 2. Serra’s financial deal: S, April 29, 1927, 2; Yildiz; DPT 539. Hagia Sophia: Interview, June 16, 2009. American companies write to consulate general: CPI 398. “American Association of Jazz Bands”: “Would Jazz in St. Sophia,” NYT, Jan. 12, 1927, 6; “Sophia Mosque for Dances,” NYT, Dec. 16, 1926, 10. Maxim’s entertainments: S, July 2; Aug. 5, 25, 31; Nov. 7, 11, 13; Dec. 24, 1925, 3; Jan. 28, 1926, 3; Feb. 11, March 10, 1926, 2; La République, Nov. 26, 1925, 3.

  15–16 caliph leaves: Shaw, IV, 1965; S, March 10, 1924, 2. fez abandoned, Soviet Union takes over embassy: Hoover, Fisher, Sept. 26, 1925; Lewis, 253, 283–84. new laws: S, March 12, May 25, 1924; May 25, 1925; Feb. 28, March 6, 11, 1926, 2; Hoover, Fisher, Feb. 1, 1924; Vp, Feb. 2, 1925, 3. restrictions on foreign workers: Hoover, Anna V. S. Mitchell Papers, Stokes to Bouimistrow, Feb. 18, 1926, box 1. Turkish language mandatory: S, Jan. 18, 1926, 2. Nansen: Nansen, 36.

  17–18 “Villa Tom”: S, May 6; June 24; July 14, 21, 27, 1926, 2; June 10, July 1, 1926, 4; Aug. 19, 1926, 3. Olga: CPI 393. waiter at Maxim, flower merchant: CPI 403.

  19–20 Yildiz Municipal Casino: DPT 539; Greer, 318–20. Frederick tries to continue: S, Dec. 18, 1926; Jan. 2, 10, 11, 1927; Feb. 17, 1927, 2. Englishman: “Finds Trade Dull in Constantinople,” NYT, July 31, 1927, E2. new restrictions: S, Jan. 2, 11, 19, 1927, 2. Greer: Greer, 319–20.

  21–22 Frederick flees to Angora, city character and population, “Villa Djan”: S, May 5, 1927, 2; Ahmad, 91. competition: Argus; “Angora Made into a City of Jazz Bands,” CDM, Oct. 6, 1926, 14; “Life Is Less Hectic in Constantinople,” NYT, July 8, 1928, 50. French consul general: French Consul to American Consul, June 18, 1927, DPT 660. creditors seize Maxim: S, May 18, 19, 21; Dec. 19, 1927, 2; June 17, 1927, 3. “ex-Villa Tom”: S, June 17, 1927, 3. job in Angora: “Mr. Thomas de Maxim invite ses créanciers à Angora,” P’st, April 26, 1928, 3; the note is dated April 1 and mentions that the report of Frederick’s sighting in Angora was “delayed”; other evidence also suggests that the encounter was during the last half of 1927.

  23–24 in Angora prison: “Dancing Negro in Angora Jail for Old Debts,” Milwaukee Journal (The Green Sheet), Monday, Jan. 16, 1928, n. p.; Allen to USSS, Nov. 1, 1928, CPI 409; Elvira to Allen, March 8, 1933, CPI 443; Argus. demise of Yildiz Casino: Crosby to USSS, Sept. 28, 1927, DPT 539; Grew to USSS, Oct. 24, 1927, DPT 539.

  25–26 Constantinople prison: “Sultan of Jazz Dies in Poverty,” Boston Post, July 9, 1928, 10. prison conditions: Constantinople To-Day, 336–43; S, Nov. 20, Dec. 22, 1927, 2; “Prison Life Is Easy in Constantinople,” NYT, Feb. 2, 1930, 53. illness: Allen to West, July 20, 1928, CPI 409. death and funeral: S, June 13, 1928, 3; Sperco, 144; SE; FC. “Sultan of Jazz”: W. G. Tinckom-Fernandez, “Life Is Less Hectic in Constantinople,” NYT, July 8, 1928, 50.

  Epilogue

  1–2 Elvira in Czechoslovakia, restrictions on employment, legal problems, journey to Germany, return to Constantinople: Elvira to Allen, March 8, 1933, CPI 443.

  3–4 brothers’ difficulties, Fred’s passport applications, U. S. government changes mind: DPT 423, 430, 629.

  5–6 Elvira’s appeal: DPT 629; USSS to Consul General, Sept. 17, 1935, Central Decimal File, box 577, 367.1115, Thomas, Bruce, and Frederick/2, RG 59. SS Excello: Bruce Thomas, Application for Passport Renewal, June 20, 1938, box 16, General Records, U.S. Consulate General, Istanbul, RG 84. Fred’s work in Manhattan: Frederick Thomas Jr.’s application for Social Security Number, Sept. 1, 1938. Bruce tries to enlist: Central Name Index, 1940–1944, box 1219, RG 59. African-American newspapers: New York Amsterdam News, February 7, 1948, 2; a garbled variant appeared in CDe, February 14, 1948, 7. Fred asks for State Department’s help: Central Name Index, 1945–1949, box 456; 1950–1954, box 463, RG 59.

  7–8 Bruce travels to United States: Central Name Index, 1950–1954, box 463, RG 59. meeting with Mikhail: Interview, Nov. 8, 2006. Bruce’s death: Bruce Thomas Certificate of Death, State of California, County of Los Angeles, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Fred’s death: Death Notice, February 12, 1970, Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, NY), 7B; e-mail from Younglove-Smith & Ryan Funeral Home, Rochester, NY, October 30, 2008. Olga’s traces: Interview, Nov. 8, 2006. Irma’s fate: CPI 383; interviews, Nov. 8, 2006; June 16 and 18, 2009. Mikhail’s life, Chantal Thomass: Interview, Nov. 8, 2006; http://www.chantalthomass.fr.

  Index

  Abdülmecid II, 1

  Adel, Stepan Osipovich, 1, 2

  Adil, Fikret, 1, 2

  Adrianov, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich, 1, 2, 3

  African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, 1

  alcohol consumption, 1, 2, 3, 4

  alcohol laws, 1, 2

  Alexandra, Tsaritsa, 1, 2, 3

  Alexis, Tsarevich, 1

  Alhambra Theater, 1

  Allen, Charles E., 1, 2, 3, 4

  background and overview, 1

  Fred and Bruce Thomas’s passport applications approved by, 1

  on Frederick, 1

  Frederick’s interview with, 1

  Frederick’s passport application sabotaged by, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Karp Chernov and, 1

  Larry Rue on, 1

  Ravndal and, 1

  Robert Skinner and, 1

  Wilbur Carr and, 1

  American Civil War, 1

  Anglais, Hôtel des, 1

  Anglo-American Garden Villa (“Stella Club”), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  finances, 1

  in the media, 1

  name of, 1

  opening weeks, 1

  popularity and success, 1, 2

  shows, 1, 2, 3

  Angora, 1

  Angora (Ankara), Frederick’s escape to, 1

  anti-Semitism, 1

  Apollo, 1

  Aquarium, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

  advertisements, 1

  antiforeign riots and, 1

  benefit evening at, 1

  boxing matches at, 1

  Bruce Lockhart and, 1

  Charles Aumont and, 1, 2, 3, 4

  description and overview, 1

  finances, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  Frederick began working at, 1

  Grand Duke Sergey at, 1

  Grigory Konsky and, 1, 2

  living quarters at, 1

  Maxim, Apollo, and, 1, 2

  in the media, 1, 2

  military officers at, 1

  nationalization of, 1, 2

  Odessa and, 1

  performers at, 1,
2, 3

  drafted into army, 1

  foreign, 1

  parade led by, 1

  popularity and success, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  reopening, 1

  rivals, 1, 2, 3

  shows at, 1, 2, 3, 4

  ballet, 1

  operettas and farces, 1, 2

  sexuality in, 1

  “siege” of, 1

  “Skating-Palace” at, 1

  “soldiers’ theater” at, 1

  staff of, 1, 2

  control of Aquarium transferred to, 1, 2

  drafted into army, 1

  Arkansas, 1

  Armstrong, Harold, 1

  Auditorium Hotel, 1

  Aumont, Charles, 1, 2

  Austria-Hungary, 1, 2

  Bagge, Picton, 1

  Berlin

  Frederick Thomas in, 1

  Irma Thomas in, 1, 2

  Valli Thomas in, 1

  Berry, Burton Y., 1

  “Bertha and Thomas” partnership, 1, 2, 3

  See also Anglo-American Garden Villa

  Berthet, Mr., 1, 2

  biracial people, 1

  Bloody Sunday, 1

  boardinghouse, Frederick’s, 1

  Bolshevik Revolution. See October Revolution

  bourgeoisie, terror against. See terror

  Bowen, George, 1

  boxing, 1, 2

  Brest-Litovsk, Treaty of, 1, 2, 3

  Brist, George L., 1

  Bristol, Mark L., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Britain, 1

  Brooks, Billy, 1, 2

  Bruce, Blanche K., 1

  Brusilov Offensive, 1

  Burri, Alfred, 1, 2

  Cameron, Lucille, 1

  Cantacuzene, Mikhail Mikhaylovich, 1

  Carr, Wilbur J., 1, 2

  Carter, Harry A., 1, 2

  Catholicism, 1

  Chaliapin, Fyodor, 1, 2

  “Champion Osman, the Tambura-Player,” 1

  Chanticleer (Maxim), 1. See also Maxim

  Cheka, 1, 2, 3

  Chernov, Karp, 1

  Cherry Hill Methodist Church, 1

  Chicago, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  churches, 1

  Russian, 1, 2, 3

  U.S. southern, 1

  Ciniselli Circus, auctioning of, 1

  Çiragan Palace, 1

  Civil War, Russian. See Russian Civil War

  Civil War, U.S. See American Civil War

  Clarendon Hotel, 1

  Coahoma County, Mississippi, 1, 2, 3, 4.

  See also specific topics

  cocaine, 1

  cockroach races, 1

  Codolban, Nitza, 1

  Conservatory of Music, 1

  Constantinople.

  See also specific topics

  Allies’ occupation of and British martial law in, 1

  arrival in, 1, 2

  description and overview, 1

  Elvira Thomas in, 1, 2, 3

  foreigners and increasing xenophobia, 1, 2

  racial attitudes in, 1, 2

  Russian refugees in, 1

  tourism and entertainment, 1, 2.

  See also Maxim

  World War I and, 1, 2

  Cooke, Henry, 1, 2

  Cutrer, John W. “Jack,” 1, 2, 3

  Cutrer, Will D., 1

  d’Anselme, Philippe, 1

  Dickerson, Levin, 1

  Dickerson, Oliver, 1

  Dickerson, Peter, 1, 2, 3

  Dickerson, Susan, 1

  Dickerson, William

  attempt to swindle the Thomases’ out of their farm and property, 1

  background and overview, 1, 2

  death, 1

  Lewis Thomas’s lawsuit against, 1

  relationship with Lewis and India Thomas, 1

  Douglass, Frederick, 1

  drug use, 1

  See also alcohol consumption

  Drysdale, William, 1, 2

  Duncan, George, 1, 2

  Dunn, Robert, 1

  Easley, G. Gilmer, 1

  Eastbrook, Joseph, 1

  England, 1

  Eustis, J. B., 1

  Evelinov, Boris, 1

  Excello, SS, 1

  Farson, Negley, 1

  “First Russian Theatrical Stock Company,” 1

  “For the Russian Army, from the Artists of Moscow” campaign, 1

  France, 1, 2.

  See also Paris and French society and culture, 1

  Francis Ferdinand, Archduke, 1

  French Army’s occupation of Odessa, 1, 2

  Friars Point, Mississippi, 1

  Gaisberg, Fred, 1

  Gallagher, Michael F., 1

  “Gamma” (journalist), 1

  Garden Bar, 1

  Germany, 1, 2, 3.

  See also Berlin

  Elvira Thomas in, 1

  Moscow’s “anti-German” pogrom, 1

  Valli Thomas in, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Giselle (ballet), 1

  Golitzine, Olga Thomas (daughter), 1, 2

  birth, 1

  disappearance, 1, 2, 3, 4

  finances, 1, 2

  Frederick and, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  later life, 1, 2

  marriage, 1

  in Romania, 1

  Grand Hôtel Fontaine, 1

  “Great Festival of Charity,” 1

  Greer, Carl, 1

  Hagia Sophia, 1, 2

  Hähn, Hedwig Antonia. See Thomas, Hedwig Antonia Hähn

  Harper, Lila Edwards, 1

  Harris, Emma, 1

  Hermitage Garden, 1, 2

  Hospital Pasteur, 1

  Hôtel de Paris, 1, 2

  Hôtel des Anglais, 1

  Howe, Peter, 1

  Howe Institute, 1

  Imperator Nikolay (passenger ship), 1

  interracial marriage, 1, 2

  Istanbul, 1, 2

  jazz, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Jeffries, James J., 1

  Jenkins, William, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Johnson, James Weldon, 1

  Johnson, John Arthur “Jack,” 1, 2

  Jungmann, Elvira. See Thomas, Elvira Jungmann

  Kemal, Mustafa, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Kerensky, Alexander, 1, 2

  Kitchen, Karl K., 1

  Klegin, Richard, 1, 2

  Konsky, Grigory Grigoryevich, 1

  Kremer, Isa, 1

  Kremlin, 1

  Krotkov, Sergey, 1, 2

  La Potinière (“The Gossip”), 1

  labor strikes, 1

  Lahn, SS, 1

  Lausanne, Treaty of, 1, 2

  Le Moscovite, 1

  Leicester Square, 1

  Lenin, Vladimir, 1

  Lobanov-Rostovsky, Andrey, 1, 2, 3

  Lockhart, R. H. Bruce, 1

  London, 1

  London Hotel, 1

  Louisville, Kentucky, 1, 2, 3

  Mannix, Daniel, 1

  Martynov, Matvey Filippovich, 1, 2

  Maxim (in Constantinople), 1, 2, 3, 4

  alcoholic beverages at, 1, 2

  “Champion Osman” at, 1

  description and overview, 1

  employees, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  failure of

  Carl Greer and, 1

  seized by creditors, 1

  Yildiz Casino and, 1, 2

  famous patrons, 1

  finances, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Fourth of July celebration at, 1

  opening, 1

  popularity and success, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  reopened as “Yeni Maxim”/“New Maxim,” 1

  restrictions aimed at enterprises like, 1

  shows, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  violent incidents at, 1, 2

  Maxim (in Moscow), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  advertisements, 1, 2, 3

  alcoholic beverages at, 1, 2

  and the authorities, 1, 2

  finances, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  foreign performers at, 1

  Frederick took over, 1

  Frederick’s
loss of, 1, 2

  interior, 1

  Karl Kitchen and, 1

  location, 1

  in the media, 1, 2, 3

  nationalization of, 1, 2

  opening, 1, 2

  politics and, 1

  popularity and success, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  renaming of, 1

  shows at, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  shut down in 1915, 1

  as “The Favorite Place of Muscovites,” 1

  World War I and, 1

  Maynard, George F., 1

  McKay, Claude, 1

  McVey, Sam, 1

  Mehmet VI, 1, 2

  Memphis, Tennessee, 1, 2

  Mendelino, Ermano, 1

  Methodist churches, 1

  Mississippi Delta, 1, 2

  mixed-race people, 1

  Morel, Monsieur G., 1

  Morfessi, Yury, 1

  Moscow, 1

  See also specific topics

  alcohol laws, 1, 2

  bribery of public officials in, 1, 2

  changes in, 1, 2

  See also World War I

  compared with Constantinople, 1

  Frederick’s escape from, 1

  Frederick’s first several years in, 1

  Frederick’s possible leave from (1904-1906), 1

  as heart of Russia, 1

  nightlife, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  See also Aquarium; Maxim

  schools in, 1

  Moscow Soviet of Soldiers’ Deputies, 1

  multiracial people, 1

  Murat, Lucien, 1

  Nansen, Fridtjof, 1

  Natruskin, Aleksey Fyodorovich, 1

  New York City

  Bruce Thomas in, 1, 2

  Frederick Thomas in, 1

  Nicholas II, Tsar, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  See also specific topics

  alcohol consumption, 1

  Duma and, 1, 2

  Frederick asked to become subject of, 1

  Frederick’s “love” for, 1

  Frederick’s petition for citizenship and, 1, 2

  as leader, 1, 2, 3

  downfall of, 1, 2, 3, 4

  opposition to, 1

  Rasputin and, 1

  striking workers and, 1

  World War I and, 1, 2

  Norton, Roy, 1

  October Manifesto, 1

  October Revolution, 1, 2

  Odessa, 1, 2

  Bolshevik occupation of, 1

  description and overview, 1

  Frederick trapped in, 1

  Frederick’s citizenship and, 1

  Frederick’s escape from, 1

  See also Imperator Nikolay 1, 2

  Frederick’s first two trips to, 1

  French occupation of, 1, 2, 3

  Osman. See “Champion Osman, the Tambura-Player”

  Ostend, Belgium, 1

  Ottoman Empire, 1.

  See also Constantinople; Sèvres, Treaty of;