Heat Wave

by Donald Bogle

  anti-communism of, 522, 531

  appearance and dress of, 69, 92, 187, 246, 248, 263, 278–79, 523–24

  appearance and skin color of, 47

  appearance and weight problems of, ix–x, 257, 263, 287, 288, 313, 367, 368–69, 384, 409, 415, 419, 448, 445–46, 467, 473–75, 490–91, 501, 504, 509, 535–36

  arrest of, for furniture, 159–60

  Bessie Smith and, 35–38

  birth of, 3–4

  Broadway breakthrough in Africana, 143–52, 155–58

  Broadway comeback in Member of the Wedding, ix–xii, 440–43, 447–57, 458–59

  Broadway final show of, in At Home with Ethel Waters, 476

  Broadway hit with As Thousands Cheer, 216–30

  Broadway hit with At Home Abroad, 256–57, 259–69, 275–78, 280

  Broadway hit with Cabin in the Sky and, 338–49

  Broadway performances after Africana, 152–54

  Broadway push of, in 1920s, 132–36

  Broadway return of, in Blackbirds of 1930, 190–94

  Broadway revue with white cast, 154–55

  Broadway style of, 145–47

  Broadway triumph of, in Mamba’s Daughters as Hagar, 201, 270–75, 284, 309–30, 336–37

  Bunker Hill Towers move of, 529, 531

  career slump of, 418–19, 300–301, 354–55, 421–29

  Carnegie Hall appearance of, 306–7

  charity performances of, 106–7, 238–41, 249, 266, 278–79, 307–8, 324–25, 363–64, 371–72, 374, 395, 406–7, 427, 457, 478

  childhood of, xii, 3–21, 151, 202–3

  civil rights movement and, 485–87

  club act at Apollo, 257–59, 280–81

  club act at Cotton Club, 210–17, 291–92

  club act at Plantation Club, in Tan Town Topics, 107–13

  clubs and touring by, 233, 393–94, 408–10, 413, 412–13, 423, 466, 467, 473–76, 479–80, 491–92, 502, 518–19

  comedy and, 112

  conflicts with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, 308, 330

  conflicts with Billie Holiday, 228, 230, 282–83

  conflicts with co-stars, xi–xii, 32–33, 47–48, 53, 153–54, 276–78, 311–12, 322, 323, 416–17, 465

  conflicts with Josephine Baker, 110–11, 113–14, 136, 179, 269–70

  conflicts with Lena Horne, 91, 374, 383–89, 393, 408

  creates Black Cargo with Dancer, 136

  daily life and recreation of, 200–203

  death of, 537–42

  Waters, Ethel (cont.)

  death of Aunt Ching and, 16

  death of Earl Dancer and, 520

  death of Eddie Mallory and, 505–6

  death of father and, 8

  death of Florence Mills and, 155

  death of Frank Mallory and, 281–82

  death of grandmother Sally and, 16

  death of Harry Pace and, 402

  death of mother and, 519–20

  death of niece Ethel and, 161

  death of Pearl Wright and, 295–96, 306

  death of Van Vechten and, 522

  Depression and, 186–87

  desire to be mother, 160–61

  early career of, on vaudeville and chitlin’ circuit, x–xi, 19–22, 26–43, 72, 102–3

  early fame of, in Chicago, 104

  early interest in music and performing, 12–13, 17–18

  early jobs of, 15–20, 42

  early performing in New York, and rise of, 42–43, 47–51, 53–56

  early performing in Philadelphia during WWI, 41–42

  education of, 13–14, 17

  Eleanor Roosevelt and, 320–21

  European performance of, in West Berlin, 499–500

  European tour, in London and Palladium, 179–85

  European tour, in Paris, 178–80

  fame and popularity of, 85–86, 88–89, 104, 121, 123, 206–7, 336

  family background of, 6–9, 407, 462–64

  films Cabin in the Sky, 372–74, 376, 379–92, 396–98, 425–26

  films Cairo, 367–71

  films Carib Gold, 483

  films closed to, after Cabin, 389, 393

  films first made, 169–73

  films Heart Is a Rebel for Graham, 500–501, 517, 518, 519, 525

  films Member of the Wedding, The, 469–73

  films On with the Show, 169–73, 181, 182

  films Pinky in comeback, 430–39, 443–47, 456

  films Rufus Jones for President, 221, 241–43

  films Sound and the Fury, The, 502–4

  films Tales of Manhattan, 360–62, 370, 377–79

  finances and spending of, ix, 29, 67, 89–90, 95, 115–16, 122–23, 160–61, 167, 207–8, 230, 232, 233, 240–41, 256, 275, 286–87, 293–94, 305, 354, 390, 433, 439–40, 455–57

  finances of, with age, 484, 487–89, 506, 512, 517, 528–30, 539

  friendships with boxers, 77, 324–25, 335, 413–14, 325

  friendship with Alberta Hunter, 79–81, 92, 423

  friendship with Carl Van Vechten, 124–32, 143, 145, 148–49, 158, 179–84, 390–92, 533

  friendship with Jack Johnson, 76–77

  friendship with Joan Croomes, 513–17, 523, 526–28

  friendship with Julie Harris, 443

  friendship with Pearl Wright, 93–95, 102, 164, 174

  friendship with Thelma Carpenter, 424–25, 456

  friendship with Zora Neale Hurston, 130–31, 362–63

  Graham testimonial for, 535–37

  grandmother Lydia Waters and, 19

  grandmother Sally Anderson and, 10–11, 76

  Gumm dropped by, as manager, 371, 384, 390

  Gumm manages, 161

  Harlem home of, on Morningside Ave., 293–94

  Harlem home of, on St. Nicholas Ave., 121–22, 236–37

  Harlem investments by, 327–28

  Harlem Renaissance and, 48–53, 123–24, 126–32

  health problems of, and Birmingham leg injury, 54

  health problems of, and car accident in Roxbury, 91

  health problems of, ix, 9, 100, 288, 421–22, 467, 468, 475–476, 478, 500, 504, 505–7, 509, 512, 521, 526, 534, 535–36, 537–38

  honored at Academy Awards, 522

  honored at Ethel Waters Day, Chester, PA, 534–35

  honored at Ethel Waters Day, NY, 476

  honored at Ethel Waters Day, World’s Fair, 521

  honored at Philadelphia Arts Festival honors, 518

  honored by Sojourner Truth Award, 461

  honors and awards, 338, 406–7

  horseback riding of, 17, 201–2, 265, 281, 292–93

  household and staff of, 122–23, 187, 257, 295, 464–65

  Keith-Albee circuit and, 115

  last important show, Evening with Ethel Waters, 504

  last TV appearances, 534

  LA Sugar Hill home and, 361–63, 498–99, 506

  LA Sugar Hill home and white homeowners suit, 419–21, 426

  LA Sugar Hill home sold by, 514–15

  lawsuit vs., by Hill over Mallory divorce and, 304–5

  marriage to Merritt “Buddy” Purnsley, 15–17, 175

  media and image of, 70–71, 75–76, 79–80, 82, 103–4, 150–51, 231–33, 245, 275–77, 344–45, 463–64, 541

  media interviews by, 198–200, 473, 476–77, 487–91, 506–7

  miscarriages or abortions of, 180, 288

  mother’s difficult relationship with, xi, 4, 8–11, 41, 94, 123, 205–6, 311, 323, 333, 366, 402, 426, 429, 463, 518

  moves to Hollywood, 354, 357–58

  moves to New York, 42–43

  moves to Wilsons’ in old age, 506, 528

  musical style of, 67–69, 93, 94, 105–6, 128, 172, 184–85, 306, 477, 510, 533–34

  musical style of, and hot-cool sexuality, 54, 117–19, 147

  musical style of, developed, 35–37, 53–55, 116–21, 268

  NAACP and, 193, 238–41

  Waters, Ethel (cont.)

  NAACP Image A
ward of, 537

  Negro Actors Guild and, 298–99, 307–8

  Nixon White House and, 531–32

  nominated for Emmy, for Route 66, 511

  nominated for NY Drama Critics Award, for Member, 457

  nominated for Oscar, for Pinky, x, 456

  old age of, 520–22

  paranoia and unhappiness of, xii, 130–31, 484–92

  performs for wealthy socialites, 201

  performs in Blue Holiday and criticized for stereotypes, 415–19

  personality of, 69, 131, 223, 539

  politics and, 207

  portraits of, bronze bust by Salemme, 123

  portraits of, photograph by Van Vechten, 130

  prostitutes and, 11–12

  racial issues and civil rights and, 348, 522–23, 532–33, 536

  racial issues and pride of, 81–85, 150–51, 207

  racism faced by, in South, xi, 30, 38–40

  radio performances by, 83, 267, 281, 293, 328, 348, 353, 355, 393, 410, 468

  radio show American Revue and, 229–30, 234–35

  radio show Rhoda Monroe and, 394–95

  recordings by, x, 75, 121, 214, 192, 393–94, 422–23

  recordings reissued by Columbia, 533–34

  recordings reissued by RCA, 482

  records Ethel Waters Reminisces in 1960s, 519

  records for Black Swan, 88–89, 96–97

  records for Blue Bird, 304–5, 327, 330–31

  records for Brunswick, 230–31

  records for Cardinal, 59, 65

  records for Columbia, 115–21, 136, 154, 158–59, 230–31

  records for Decca, 231

  records for Liberty, 267

  records for Pace’s Black Swan Label, 59–67

  records “Harlem on My Mind,” 230

  records “Heat Wave,” 226, 230

  records hit “Am I Blue?,” 170–73

  records hit “Dinah” and rise to stardom, 114–15

  records hit “Stormy Weather,” 216

  religion and, xii, 14–15, 28, 94, 150, 176, 203, 294, 361, 412, 419, 442, 450, 485, 511, 530–31

  religion and tours with Graham Crusade, 493–501, 505, 512, 528–32, 534, 537

  relationship with Archie Savage, and robbery by, 363, 366, 399–406, 409–11, 413–14, 426

  relationship with Mozelle Holmes, 165, 424, 491–92

  Rhapsody in Black breaks stereotypes and displays acting of, 194–98, 205–9

  robbed in apartment building, 208

  same-sex romances and, 12, 18, 33–34, 80–81, 181, 400, 462, 516–17

  scandals over “marriages” and, 176, 183

  segregated theaters and, 132–33, 334–36

  Serena Blandish offer from Minnelli, 301–2

  Shuffle Along part lost, 58–59

  shyness of, 130–31, 151

  sister Genevieve and, xi, 8–9, 41, 94, 123, 402, 540–41

  social life of, in Hollywood, 174, 374–76, 400–402, 412–13

  social life of, in New York, 149–50, 192–93, 246, 270, 325–26

  songwriting by, 331

  southern tours and racism faced by, 84

  stereotyping and, 300–301, 377–79, 396–98

  “St. Louis Blues” first performed by, 26, 28, 32, 37–38

  “Stormy Weather” and, 212–13, 231

  “Supper Time” and, 213, 224–25, 227–28

  tax problems of, 95, 426, 440, 457, 468, 484, 506

  temper of, x, xii, 12, 20–21, 39, 93, 131, 154, 157, 322–23, 386–89, 474–75

  touring by, 1920s, on Black circuit, 67–86, 89–93, 121, 132–33

  touring by, 1930s, 284, 296–98

  touring by, 1940s, 366–67, 395–96, 428–29

  touring by, after breakup with Dancer, 161

  touring by, in As Thousands Cheer, 244–47, 249–56, 280

  touring by, in Cabin in the Sky, 347–49, 353–54

  touring by, in Laugh Time, 401–3, 406–8

  touring by, in Mamba’s Daughters, 331–37, 354–56, 358–49, 479

  touring by, in Member of the Wedding, The, 464–68, 482–83, 484, 491, 501, 520–21, 530

  touring by, in Swing Harlem Swing, 285–90

  touring by, on West coast, 165, 169–70

  TV appearance at World’s Fair of 1939, 329–30

  TV appearance on quiz show, 489–90

  TV appearance on Route 66 “Good Night, Sweet Blues,” 507–11

  TV appearances, 1950s, 427, 466, 479–82, 484, 500, 504–5

  TV appearances, 1960s, 519, 522–26

  TV appearances, 1970s, 530, 534, 537

  TV interview with Edward R. Murrow, 476–78

  TV interview with Mike Wallace, 485–87

  TV show Beulah and, 455, 457–61

  TV show regular on Tex and Jinx, 478–79

  Van Vechten article highlights, 127–29

  voice lessons of, 184

  voice problems of, 93, 177, 179, 181–82, 184

  weight-loss drugs and dieting, 368–69, 384

  whites suspected by, 53, 129–31, 439

  white vs. Black audiences and, 86–87, 105–6, 257–58, 398

  writes autobiography His Eye Is on the Sparrow with Samuels, 457, 458–59, 461–63

  Waters, Ethel (cont.)

  writes autobiography To Me It’s Wonderful, 530–31

  writes comedy skits, 90–92

  Waters, Harry (uncle), 56

  Waters, John, Jr. “Johnny” (brother), 8, 12, 297, 407

  Waters, John (father), 4, 8, 12

  Waters, Junior (nephew), 12

  Waters, Lydia Timbers (grandmother), 8, 19, 76

  Waters, Mary Williams, 8

  Waters, Richard (brother), 8

  Waters, Wesley (brother), 407

  Waters, William (grandfather), 8

  Watkins, Perry, 310, 416

  Watts, Richard, 344, 453

  “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans,” 142, 153

  Wayne, John, 434

  Weary Blues, The (Hughes), 125, 130

  “Weary Feet,” 136, 148

  Webb, Chick, 68

  Webb, Clifton, 218–20, 224–25, 229, 244, 283, 395

  Webb, Elida, 122, 280, 285, 331

  Webster, Margaret, 348

  Wein, George, 230, 283, 474, 533–34

  Welch, Elisabeth, 119, 142

  Welles, Orson, 214, 310, 314, 321, 336, 355, 412, 503

  Well of Loneliness, The (Hall), 178

  Wells, Willie, 110

  West Adams Improvement Association, 419–21

  “West End Blues,” 158

  “What Goes Up Must Come Down,” 327

  “What’s Keeping My Prince Charming?,” 196

  What’s My Line (TV show), 466

  Wheeler, Bert, 106, 401

  “When You’re a Long, Long Way from Home,” 19

  “Where Is the Sun?,” 291, 293

  Whipper, Leigh, 299, 392, 446

  Whirlybirds (TV show), 504

  White, Alvin, 106–7, 540

  White, E. B., 146

  White, George, 100, 188

  White, Josh, 415

  White, Oletha, 540

  White, Slick, 74

  White, Walter, 124–25, 227, 298, 320, 377, 417, 421, 443–44, 463, 487

  Whitehead, Robert, 427, 440–43, 448–49, 455, 465

  Whitman, Alice, 207

  Whitman, Bessie, 122, 167, 200, 237, 265, 267, 284, 326

  Whitman Sisters, 17, 31, 38

  Whitney, Salem Tutt, 89–91

  “Who,” 219

  “Who Dat Say Chicken in Dis Crowd,” 138

  Wicant, Dr. M., 177, 179, 181

  Wickman, Roscoe, 85

  Widow Jones, The, 138

  Wilder, Thornton, 499–500

  Wild Roses (Heyward), 272

  Wilkin, Baron, 99

  Willard, Jess, 73

  Williams, Bert, 24, 49–50, 56, 62, 104, 115, 123, 139–41, 336

  Williams, Big Joe, 92

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nbsp; Williams, Clarence, 116

  Williams, Cordy, 65

  Williams, Ethel, 56–58, 71, 74, 79–80, 84–85, 90–92, 94–95, 99–103, 162, 296, 462

  Williams, Frances, 420

  Williams, Herb, 261

  Williams, Mary Lou, 416

  Williams, Musa, 270

  Williams, Paul, 362

  Williams, Reverend, 14

  Williams, Sleepy, 297

  Williams, Spencer, 168

  Williams, Tennessee, 435, 449–50, 503

  Wilson, Dooley, 340–41, 368, 370, 372–73, 392–93, 398, 460

  Wilson, Earl, 223, 294, 346, 419

  Wilson, Edith, 59, 155

  Wilson, Elwood and Donna, 506, 528

  Wilson, Frank, 141, 233, 267, 271, 299

  Wilson, George, 499

  Wilson, Grady, 540

  Wilson, John S., 533

  Wilson, Lena, 155

  Wilson, S. David, 280

  Wilson, Teddy, 425

  Wilson, Woodrow, 40

  Wilson, W. Rollo, 147

  Wimberly, W. A., 93

  Wimbish, Emery, 452, 454–55

  Winchell, Walter, 193, 197, 211, 224, 234

  Winifred, Henry, 144

  Winner by Decision (TV show), 481

  Winston, Edna, 53

  Winterset (Anderson), 303

  With a Song in My Heart (film), 473

  Wiz, The (film), 425

  Woll, Allen, 140

  Woman of Quality, A (Bagnold), 301

  Women, The (Luce), 299

  Wonder, Stevie, 523

  Wong, Anna May, 131

  Woods, Clisson, 501

  Woods, Johnny, 17

  Woods, Trevy, 100

  Woodward, Joanne, xii, 502–3

  Woollcott, Alexander, 125, 193, 233, 315, 321

  World’s Fair (New York)

  1939–40, 329–30, 338

  1965, 521

  World War I, 40, 49–51, 98, 181

  World War II, 346, 348, 357, 359–60, 364, 371–74, 392, 406–7, 416

  Wright, Kathryn, 93, 267, 295

  Wright, Pearl, 67, 93–94, 102–3, 118, 122, 133–34, 164, 167, 170, 173–74, 185, 187, 196, 201, 213, 222, 229, 237, 239–41, 265, 267, 270, 281, 284, 426

  Wright, Richard, 314

  Wright, Vernon, 295

  Wright, Virginia, 406

  Wright, Vivian, 93, 267, 295, 478

  Wynn, Ed, 152

  Wynn, Keenan, 534

  “Y’ Had It Comin’ to You,” 327

  Yip! Yip! Yaphank, 217

  “You Can’t Do What My Last Man Did,” 67, 116, 117

  “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down,” 59

  “You Can’t Stop Me from Loving You,” 196

  Youmans, Vincent, 369

  Young, Colonel, 97

  Young, Felix, 374

  Young, Harold, 483

  Young, Irma, 23

  Young, Lee, 23, 26, 31, 297–98

  Young, Lester, 23, 297

  Young, Robert, 368–69, 536