Where Are They Now?

Exactly, the guy who played the Dad was an 86 year old former slave. He was dicovered in New York City working at a newspaper.

Everett McGarrity (Spunk) was discovered in Chicago.

Fanny Belle DeKnight (Mammy) was discovered in New York City where she was a veteran on black theatre.

The Dixie Jubilee singers were Fisk University students.

Nina Mae McKinney in real life was a tragic Mulatto.

King Vidor travelled to different cities across the US searching for talent for the film.

I remember writing to you a while ago about Rita Christiani, who played the part of "Ice Cold Katie" in the musical number of the same name in the film "Thank Your Lucky Stars."

I recently finished a mammoth article on filmmaker Maya Deren, who used Christiani in two of her films. I tried to get an interview with Ms. Christiani but was informed by a reliable source that she was suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia. As of this writing, I am not sure if this captivating, beautiful woman is still alive.

I got some sketchy information about Rita Christiani from doing research on Maya Deren (who passed away in 1961.) I would greatly appreciate any information about Ms. Christiani's life, as she has been sitting near my heart since I first saw "Thank Your Lucky Stars" on TV in 1964.

My email:

[email protected]

Victoria Spivey was primarily famous for her blues singing. She began recording when she was about 17 in 1926 & wrote such seminal blues songs as The Black Snake Blues & T. B. Blues, covered by Blind Lemon Jefferson & Leadbelly respectively. She did duets with arguably the 1st genius of the acoustic guitar Lonnie Johnson. She was the cat's meow. I strongly urge people to seek out her recordings. Bob Dylan did his first recording accompanying her. I stumbled across her music in the early 1990's & have since become a really big fan. I also play a number of her songs. Although in popular recognition she is often overshadowed by Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters & Ma Rainey, Spivey was no second fiddle & her sexily insinuating voice comes across really well even today.
Here is a page that has a lot of Spivey's early recordings for free, in RAM format.

http://www.redhotjazz.com/spivey.html

Altho' many of the records are in poor condition you'll find some real knock-outs here . . . check out her 'Dope Head Blues' with Lonnie johnson on guitar, a classic. There are also several that are in the racy vein like the two part 'Toothache Blues' & the 'New Black Snake Blues Pt. 1-2'

'In my path lay a black snake
'bout eight or nine inches
hear my screamin'
man, I ain't dreaming'

She also recorded with such luminaries as Louie Armstrong, Tampa Red & Georgia Tom & King Oliver.
Also, check her out as an older but still fiery & sexy lady from this 1960s version of 'T.B. Blues' on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b56femgj90E&feature=related

I just purchased 'Hallelujah' this evening after having heard about it for years. Can't wait to watch it.