81-485: Mantan Moreland (September 3, 1902 – September 28, 1973) was an American actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s. He starred in numerous films. His daughter Marcella Moreland appeared as a child actor in several films. He was born in Monroe, Louisiana , to Frank, an old-time Dixieland bandleader , and Marcella. Moreland began acting by the time he was an adolescent; some sources say he ran away to join
162-568: A minstrel show in 1910, at age eight, but his daughter told Moreland's biographer she doubts this date is correct. She and other sources agree it is more likely he left home when he was fourteen. After "nearly ten years of working the small, small time", Moreland gained an opportunity in 1927 when he was hired as a comedian in Connie's Inn Frolics in Harlem . He next worked in the musical revue Blackbirds of 1928 , which ran for 518 performances. By
243-480: A "native" tour guide in Hawaii. Moore left Doctor Mick, first to become a stableboy and later a jockey. He also tried his hand as a professional boxer under the name "Young Klondike" in 1905, and found it lucrative. He returned to performing in 1908, with a troupe of minstrels called " The Rabbit's Foot Company ." By 1909, he was back in vaudeville and had met and married his first wife, Hester. They performed as
324-572: A Moore skit called, "Not a Fit Night for Man Nor Beast", was bought by W.C. Fields . He also did some writing for the radio show of the Two Black Crows comedy team. Moore was brought to New York to sign a writing contract but before this was done, Charles Mack of the team was killed in an auto accident, thus ending the act. Moore wrote sketches which became part of Lew Leslie's "Blackbirds" revues as well. In 1928, Moore took time off from his vaudeville bookings to try his luck once more on
405-458: A big reputation in America, and were booked for Fuller's direct from the well-known Orpheum circuit." Moore became well known for his one-man presentation of Uncle Tom's Cabin , where he would play the role of both Simon Legree and Uncle Tom, applying white chalk to half his face, and burnt cork to the other. Moore literally took his one man act into the street of San Jose, California, for
486-596: A bit about a party and mashed potatoes. Monroe, Louisiana Monroe is the ninth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana , and is the parish seat and largest city of Ouachita Parish . With a 2020 census -tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolitan statistical area , the second-largest metropolitan area in North Louisiana . As governor of Louisiana , Esteban Rodríguez Miró had Fort Miro built in 1791. Fort Miro changed its name to Monroe to commemorate
567-466: A chance to join the act as the new "third stooge" at the behest of his late brother Shemp. Moreland was reported to be enthusiastic about the offer, but Columbia Pictures insisted on a comedian already under contract. Joe Besser , one of a few comedians still making comedy shorts at the studio, was eventually recruited to join the act in 1956. Moreland's last featured role was in the darkly humorous horror film Spider Baby (1968, filmed in 1964), which
648-536: A comedy team at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem in the 1940s. This marriage won considerable publicity for him thanks to the "Roast Beef Scandal" of January 1958. Moore fired a gunshot in his home because of his "mooching in-laws" (stepson, stepdaughter, and her husband) when he found that the last of the New Year's roast beef had been eaten by them. Moore related, "These free-loaders have eaten everything in
729-410: A distinctive Georgia drawl, exaggerated for comic effect. Moore's Kingfish dominated the calmer and soft-spoken "Amos 'n' Andy" characters. Early in his career, Moore had developed a "con-man" routine he used for many years while in vaudeville; re-working some aspects of his old act produced the television character Kingfish. Moore was very popular in the show and for the first time in his career became
810-629: A dramatic actor. In 1946, he starred as Bumpsie in the musical comedy film, Boy! What a Girl! . He made some appearances on Ed Sullivan 's television show, Toast of the Town , and at the Apollo Theater; Moore then retired from show business. His wife Gertrude having died in 1934, Moore settled down with his third wife, Benzonia Davis Moore (1889–1956). The couple was married in 1941 and initially made their home in Baltimore. In 1946,
891-524: A fictional television show called Mantan: The New Millennium Minstrel Show featuring stereotypes of minstrel theater and starring a tap dancing character, played by Savion Glover , named Mantan. Clips of Moreland are featured during a montage at the end of the film. "B-Boys Makin with the Freak Freak", a song by Beastie Boys featured on their 1994 album Ill Communication , samples a line from Mantan's comedy album That Ain't My Finger , referencing
SECTION 10
#1732779678484972-413: A household in the city was $ 30,438 versus $ 51,073 nationwide. Families had an annual median income of $ 38,374, married-couple families $ 75,089, and non-family households $ 21,210. Approximately 36.8% of the population lived at or below the poverty line ; 54.1% under 18 years, 32.2% aged 18 to 16, and 21.3% aged 65 and older lived at or below the poverty line in 2019. In 2019, the racial and ethnic makeup of
1053-549: A journalist for the African-American newspaper, the Los Angeles Sentinel , calling Moore "disgraceful" and labeling the two shows with Moore as "television's darkest hour." Coates replied to his critic in his January 29, 1958 Los Angeles Times column, calling Moore "a pretty wonderful, sincere man" and saying he strongly resented Robertson's attack on him. Because of the "Roast Beef Scandal," Moore
1134-509: A larger potential capacity of up to 7,200 seats. The arena houses events such as banquets , circuses , and rodeos . The center also holds the B. D. Robinson Conference Hall, Monroe Convention Center, equestrian pavilion, and the 2,200-seat W. L. Jack Howard Theatre named for W. L. "Jack" Howard , the Union Parish native who served as mayor of Monroe from 1956 to 1972 and again from 1976 to 1978. The Harvey H. Benoit Recreation Center
1215-516: A national celebrity as well as the first African American to win stardom on television. When leaving a train in Albuquerque to buy some Native American pottery, the proprietor recognized him immediately, saying, "You, you Kingfish." This was the first time it happened in Moore's 52 years in show business. The show aired on prime-time TV from June 1951 to June 1953. Although quite popular, the series
1296-580: A silent film comedy, His Great Chance , directed by Ben Strasser (North State Film Corp.). The following year, the Moores toured vaudeville together in "Aces and Queens". Subsequently, he went on tour as one of the stars of producer Edward E. Daley's "black and white musical comedy sensation", Rarin' to Go , for three seasons on the Columbia Burlesque Wheel (1925, 1926 and 1927 editions). In June 1925, Tim Moore made his Broadway debut as
1377-585: A team, "The Moores – Tim & Hester", appearing in the United States and abroad. In 1910, the couple was part of an act called the Four Moores. They next performed together in "Georgia Sunflowers," a minstrel show that played the southern vaudeville circuit. The Moores drew glowing reviews, Hester for her singing and Tim for his comedy. By 1914, both Moores were co-stars of an act that was billed as Tim Moore and Tom Delaney & Co. . Tim played
1458-632: A tour of personal appearances as "The TV Stars of Amos 'n' Andy ". The tour was halted by CBS , who viewed this as infringing on their exclusivity. Moore, and fellow cast members Williams, Childress and Lee, were able to perform for one night in 1957 in Windsor, Ontario , since legal action had not been taken against them in Canada. Moore married his last wife Vivian Cravens (1912–1988) eight months after Benzonia's death; she should not be confused with actress Vivian Harris with whom he had been performing as
1539-452: Is Monroe's third-largest religion, with most being of the Reform denomination. Temple B'nai Israel, established in 1868, is Monroe's oldest synagogue . According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are: Monroe uses a mayor–council form of government . It is led by a city council consisting of a mayor and five councilors. The mayor
1620-555: Is elected at large and city councilors are elected by members of a geographic district. The city council holds meetings the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:00pm. The agenda is posted at city hall 5 days prior to the meeting. Each city council meeting has time for public comment. In the Louisiana State Legislature , Monroe is in the 33rd and 34th Senate districts, represented by Republican Stewart Cathey Jr. and Democrat Katrina Jackson , and
1701-640: Is free. The City of Monroe owns and operates 17 city parks. Monroe was home to the Monroe Moccasins minor league hockey team in the Western Professional Hockey League from 1997 to 2001. The team will resume play in 2024. The Gannett owned News Star is the primary daily newspaper serving Monroe and area. Monroe is served by two African-American-owned weekly newspapers: the Monroe Free Press and
SECTION 20
#17327796784841782-589: Is home to the 528th Engineer Battalion of the Louisiana Army National Guard . This unit is part of the 225th Engineer Brigade which is headquartered in Pineville, Louisiana at Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville . Monroe was the founding city of Delta Air Lines in the 1920s. As the airline expanded, it moved to Atlanta . Monroe Regional Airport serves the city and northeast Louisiana. It has three main runways and
1863-601: Is interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, Los Angeles , California. In 2004, Moreland was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame. Robert B. Parker makes allusions to Moreland in A Catskill Eagle and Hush Money , both being part of his long-running series of Spenser novels. Bamboozled , a 2000 film directed by Spike Lee , centers around
1944-493: Is served by regional partners of American Airlines and Delta Air Lines . Greyhound Bus Lines provides transportation from Monroe to many cities across the nation. Monroe has the oldest municipally-owned transit system in the nation. Created in 1906 as a four-line street railroad, the Monroe Transit System now provides 13 fixed bus routes covering most areas of the city, and three demand-response buses serving
2025-507: Is the center of the Monroe metropolitan statistical area . It is the parish seat of Ouachita Parish , and northeastern Louisiana's economic and cultural hub. Monroe has an elevation of 72 feet (21.9 m) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 31.6 square miles (83.9 km ), of which, 28.7 square miles (74.3 km ) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km )
2106-479: Is used for basketball games and has outdoor tennis courts. During the last week of June, Monroe hosts the annual Miss Louisiana pageant. Monroe is the home of the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo , which collectively maintains over 500 animals. It also offers boat rides and a catwalk, in addition to other seasonal activities. The Monroe area is home to several museums, including
2187-532: Is water. The total area is 11.46% water. Monroe has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ). Rainfall is abundant, with the normal annual precipitation averaging over 51 inches (1.3 m). Monthly averages range from less than 3 inches (76 mm) in August to more than 5 inches (130 mm) in June. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain , hail , damaging winds and tornadoes occur in
2268-409: The 2020 Easter tornado outbreak , on April 12, the community was struck by a low-end EF3 tornado . Damage was severe, but there were no deaths or injuries due to advance warnings. As of the 2020 census , there were 47,702 people, 17,327 households, and 9,811 families residing in the city. At the 2019 American Community Survey , there were 48,241 people and 17,327 households. In 2010, the population
2349-628: The African Methodist Episcopal and Christian Methodist Episcopal churches. The Catholic Church is the third-largest, and the city's Catholic population is served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport as of 2021. Pentecostalism is a growing tradition among the population, divided among Classical Pentecostals, and Oneness Pentecostals . The Church of God in Christ and United Pentecostal Church are
2430-533: The Monroe Dispatch. The Free Press was founded in 1969 by Roosevelt Wright, Jr., and The Dispatch was founded in 1975 by Irma and Frank Detiege. The Ouachita Citizen is a locally owned and operated weekly newspaper that was founded in 1924. It has all-local coverage of events in Ouachita Parish, including Monroe, West Monroe , Sterlington and Richwood . Monroe is the principal city of
2511-934: The Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum , the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens , the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum , the Masur Museum of Arts , and the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum . This is one of the 26 sites identified in the early 21st century as part of the state's African American Heritage Trail . Monroe is home to the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge . Admission
Mantan Moreland - Misplaced Pages Continue
2592-515: The boll weevil , which destroyed cotton throughout the Mississippi Delta in the early 20th century. Woolman originated the first crop-dusting service in the world. The collapse of cotton production meant a widespread loss of farm jobs, which contributed to the early-20th-century Great Migration , when a total of 1.5 million African-Americans left the rural South for jobs in northern and midwestern cities. They were also escaping
2673-679: The 14th, 16th, and 17th House districts, represented by Republican Michael Charles Echols, and Democrats Adrian Fisher and Patricia "Pat" Moore. Monroe is located in Louisiana's 5th congressional district , represented by Julia Letlow in the United States House of Representatives . The Monroe Civic Center has multiple facilities, the main complex being the Civic Center arena. The arena provides 44,000 square feet (4,100 m ) of exhibit space along with 5,600 seats, with
2754-582: The 18th century. Under Spanish colonial rule, Jean Baptiste Filhiol was sent from South Louisiana to oversee the settlement of the Poste du Ouachita in 1781. In 1785 Filhiol designated Prairie des Canots , now Monroe ... as the governmental center of the Poste du Ouachita. In response to a petition by the settlers, a fortification was built in 1791 and named Fort Miro in honor of the Spanish governor, Estavan Miro . Fort Miro changed its name to Monroe to commemorate
2835-502: The Agriculture Experimental Station to dust crops from airplanes in order to combat the devastating effects that the boll weevil had on cotton crops. Biedenharn's home and gardens have been preserved and are now operated as the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens and are open to the public. Collett E. Woolman , the Ouachita Parish agent, was originally from Indiana . He pioneered crop dusting to eradicate
2916-600: The Alhambra, Andrew Tribble, performed one of their funniest routines in Oscar Micheaux 's first talking picture, The Darktown Revue . After a disagreement with Lew Leslie , Moore starred in two unsuccessful Broadway revues for other producers, Fast and Furious (1931), and The Blackberries of 1932 . In the former, Moore wrote some of the skits along with his friend and co-star Zora Neale Hurston . Moore and fellow comedian "Morton" (i.e., Mantan Moreland ) left
2997-588: The British throne for love of American Wallis Simpson . There was a wave of anti-Americanism, with women picketing performances of the Blackbirds , carrying signs disparaging American women. Yet the next season saw the return of the revue as Blackbirds of 1937 , its last edition in England. Two years later, on Broadway, Lew Leslie presented the last edition of the Blackbirds (1939); the principal singing star
3078-704: The Desert , Moreland played a more serious role as the sergeant in charge of a squad of Senegalese Tirailleurs in French colonial Algeria alongside Ralph Byrd , known for appearing in Republic Pictures' Dick Tracy serials. He is perhaps best known for his role as chauffeur Birmingham Brown in Monogram's Charlie Chan series. During the 1940s, he teamed up with Ben Carter as his straight man, touring America in vaudeville and making personal appearances in
3159-603: The Great White Way – Broadway . This time he met with enormous success as the star comedian of Lew Leslie's hit musical comedy revue, the Blackbirds of 1928 . Moore's co-stars were singers Adelaide Hall and Aida Ward and renowned tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson . The hit musical scored high in Paris and London as well as on the road throughout the states. In 1931, Moore and his then vaudeville straight man at
3240-517: The Monroe media market for television. Both KNOE-TV and KTVE offer a full range of network and local daily news programming. Monroe is served by local radio station KJLO , and KMVX , that also broad KMLB AM 540. Monroe's department of education, Monroe City Schools , operates separately from the larger Ouachita Parish School System . The department consists of three high schools, three junior high schools, and 18 elementary schools. Monroe
3321-760: The Ouachita Parish Public Library. Monroe's origins date back to the Spanish colonial period . As the 19th century began, the entire Ouachita Valley region ... was part of Spanish colonial holdings. Ouachita Parish encompassed the area between the Red and the Mississippi Rivers, from north of Concordia and Rapides Parish to the Missouri . The area was sparsely populated, primarily by itinerant hunters and trappers until late in
Mantan Moreland - Misplaced Pages Continue
3402-884: The United States, the Hawaiian Islands, Australia and New Zealand, he returned to boxing once more as "Young Klondike", training in New Zealand . He fought there and in Australia, England, and Scotland . Before this, Moore fought as "Young Klondike" in the US, with Jack Johnson and Sam Langford as some of his opponents. While Tim and Gertie were entertaining in New Zealand, a story in The Evening Post from May 28, 1917, went on to say, "Another "star" item will be that of Tim and Gertie Moore, who have earned
3483-554: The act became less effective and Miss Miskel sent them back to their parents in Rock Island. Shortly after this, Moore joined the medicine show of "Doctor Mick" (Charles S. Mick), who sold a patented quack remedy called Pru-ri-ta . Doctor Mick travelled through the Midwestern states, with songs and dances provided by Moore and four Kickapoo Indians. The young man also worked in a carnival sideshow and gave guided tours as
3564-724: The area during the spring and summer months. The winter months are normally mild, with an average of 35 days of freezing or below-freezing temperatures per year, with ice and sleet storms possible. Summer months are hot and humid, with maximum temperatures exceeding 90 degrees an average of 91 days per year, with high to very high relative average humidity, sometimes exceeding the 90 percent level. In March 2016, rainfall amounts ranging between 15 and 20 inches fell area-wide over 3 days, more than any 3-day period ever previously recorded. In Ouachita Parish alone, there were 9,500 homes with flood damage, and 5,400 were completely flooded. More than 1,700 high-water rescues were performed. As part of
3645-458: The charges to be dropped. Moore entered a not guilty plea before the case went to trial on March 24. He received a $ 100 fine and a year's probation as his sentence. When the story broke, local television personality and columnist Paul Coates invited Tim Moore to appear on his KTTV television show; Moore explained the situation in two guest appearances. Coates was promptly taken to task for Moore's appearances on his show by Stanley Robertson,
3726-637: The city was 62.0% Black or African American , 32.7% non-Hispanic or Latin American white , 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native , 0.8% Asian , 1.0% some other race, 0.9% two or more races , and 2.3% Hispanic and Latin American of any race. Among the Hispanic and Latin American population at the 2019 American Community Survey, the largest groups were Mexican Americans (1.2%) and Puerto Ricans (0.1%). Other Hispanic and Latin Americans made up 1.0% of
3807-492: The couple settled down in his home town of Rock Island. There, he kept busy working the night shift at the Servus Rubber company, where boots and shoes were made. In 1948, CBS hired Flournoy Miller as a casting advisor for the planned Amos 'n' Andy TV series. They had failed to locate Tim Moore for the role of George "Kingfish" Stevens, a role which was created and voiced on radio by white actor Freeman Gosden . It
3888-399: The disabled. Monroe can be accessed from Interstate 20 , U.S. Highway 165 , Louisiana Highway 15 , U.S. Highway 80 , and Interstate 420 (proposed). Kansas City Southern , Union Pacific , BNSF , and Norfolk Southern serve freight traffic in the city. Tim Moore (comedian) Tim Moore (December 9, 1887 – December 13, 1958) was an American vaudevillian and comic actor of
3969-502: The effort to pay Tim Moore's funeral expenses. Moore's grave remained unmarked from the time of his burial until 1983; fellow comedians Redd Foxx and George Kirby raised funds for a headstone. There is now one marking the graves of Moore and his wife, Vivian, who died in 1988. Paying tribute to one of its favorite sons, the Rock Island Public Library held "Tim Moore Day" July 16, 2008. Moore's relatives in
4050-556: The first arrival of the steamboat James Monroe in the spring of 1820 (see "Etymology" above). In 1913, Joseph A. Biedenharn , the first bottler of Coca-Cola , moved to Monroe from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Biedenharn and his son Malcolm were among the founders of Delta Air Lines , originally Delta Dusters. That company was founded in Tallulah, Louisiana in Madison Parish. It was based on products and processes developed by
4131-402: The first arrival of the steamboat James Monroe in the spring of 1820. The ship's arrival was the single event, in the minds of local residents, that transformed the outpost into a town . Credit for the name is indirectly given to James Monroe of Virginia , the fifth President of the United States , for whom the ship was named. The steamboat is depicted in a mural at the main branch of
SECTION 50
#17327796784844212-520: The first half of the 20th century. He gained his greatest recognition in the starring role of George "Kingfish" Stevens in the CBS TV's The Amos 'n' Andy Show . He proudly stated, "I've made it a point never to tell a joke on stage that I couldn't tell in front of my mother." Moore was born Harry Roscoe Moore in Rock Island, Illinois , one of 13 children of Harry and Cynthia Moore. His father
4293-497: The height of his career, Moreland received steady work from major film studios, as well as from independent producers who starred Moreland in low-budget, all-African American-cast comedies. Monogram Pictures signed Moreland to appear opposite Frankie Darro in the studio's popular action pictures. Moreland, with his bulging eyes and cackling laugh, quickly became a favorite supporting player in Hollywood movies. In 1940's Drums of
4374-400: The house. My wife protects them and every time we talk about it, we get into an argument. The argument got a little loud and the next thing I knew, the big boy (his stepson Hubbard) jumped out of his chair. I ran upstairs and got out my old pistol. I didn't want to hit anybody." When the police arrived at the home, Moore, pistol still in his belt, told them, "I'm the old Kingfish, boys. I'm
4455-632: The largest Christian denomination by affiliation. As a predominantly-African-American city, the largest Baptist denominations are the National Baptist Convention, USA ; the National Baptist Convention of America ; and the Progressive National Baptist Convention . The Southern Baptist Convention also has churches throughout the Monroe area. Methodism make up the second-largest Christian denomination by affiliation, primarily divided among
4536-540: The largest Pentecostal denominations in the city and metropolitan area; there are also some independent Oneness Pentecostal churches in the city. Islam is Monroe's second-largest religion. Muslims are predominantly Sunni , though the Nation of Islam also maintains a presence in the area. Former mayor Jamie Mayo controversially awarded a key to the city to the head of the Nation of Islam Louis Farrakhan . Judaism
4617-443: The late 1920s, Moreland had made his way through vaudeville , working with various shows and revues, performing on Broadway and touring Europe. Following the death of Aubrey Lyles , one half of African American vaudeville act Miller and Lyles, in 1932, Flournoy Miller asked Moreland to team up with him for personal appearances. With Moreland, Miller performed comedy routines he had done with Lyles. The pair performed together in
4698-475: The late 1940s and the early 1950s with Bud Harris, Tim Moore , Redd Foxx and Nipsey Russell as his straight men . Mantan's biographer, Michael Price, states Moreland was briefly considered as a possible addition to the Three Stooges . After Shemp Howard died of a sudden heart attack on November 22, 1955, at age 60, Moe Howard was said had been observing Moreland's act for years and offered Moreland
4779-454: The nation's movie theaters. Moreland and Carter performed comedy routines the former learned when he became Flournoy Miller's understudy in the 1930s, including the famous "indefinite talk" routine, in which they would speak to one another, start a sentence only to be interrupted by the other, yet they understand each other perfectly. Moreland and Carter had developed an excellent rapport and impeccable timing. During World War II, they performed at
4860-514: The one you want. I fired that shot. I didn't want to hit anyone, although I could have. Anyway, you should have seen the in-laws scatter when I fired that gun." The shot Moore fired hit the china cabinet; he was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, with police calling him the "funniest prisoner in police history." Moore was initially ordered held on $ 1,000 bond; the judge changed his mind and released Moore on his own recognizance. Tim and his wife reconciled, with Vivian's pleading for
4941-583: The one-reel short film That's the Spirit (1933) as a pair of night watchmen and for stage productions by Miller, Dixie Goes High Hat (1938) and Hollywood Revue (1939). Moreland appeared in low-budget " race movies " aimed at African American audiences, including One Dark Night (1939) with Bette Treadville , Lucky Ghost (1941), Mr. Washington Goes to Town (1941) and Mantan Runs for Mayor (1946), again with Miller. As his comedic talents became recognized, Moreland appeared in larger productions. At
SECTION 60
#17327796784845022-632: The oppressive racial conditions and violence under Jim Crow and the disenfranchisement that excluded most blacks from the political system. Howard D. Griffin (1911–1986) purchased a boat dealership in 1936 while a student at what became the University of Louisiana Monroe . By the 1960s, Griffin's company had become the world's largest outboard motor dealership, and he also sold motorcycles . From 1955 to 1985, Griffin and his wife, Birdie M. Griffin (1915–1985), operated their seasonal Land O' Toys store in Monroe. Located in northeastern Louisiana, Monroe
5103-686: The participation of Amos or Andy. These Kingfish-only episodes were originally produced as a spinoff series, The Adventures of Kingfish , which made its debut on CBS on January 4, 1955, but lasted only a few episodes. When the Amos 'n' Andy half-hours went into syndication, the Adventures of Kingfish shows were added to the syndicated package under the Amos 'n' Andy series title. In 1956, Moore and his fellow cast mates Spencer Williams , Alvin Childress and Lillian Randolph with her choir, tried
5184-422: The sale of War Stamps in 1918. Having made $ 141,000 with his fists, in 1921 Moore and his wife returned to performing full-time in vaudeville. He formed his Chicago Follies troupe and was a favorite on the Theater Owners Booking Association vaudeville circuit during the " Roaring Twenties " period. In 1923, Moore and his wife co-starred with Sandy Burns , Fannetta Burns, Walter Long , and Bobby Smart in
5265-434: The second half of the 1940s, the public attitudes toward the portrayals of African Americans in the cinema had changed. When filmmakers began to reassess roles given to black actors, Moreland's characterization in his film appearances was considered demeaning to the African-American community, resulting in his being offered fewer roles in the 1950s. Financial difficulties forced Moreland to tour making personal appearances during
5346-452: The show in April 1932, refusing to perform what were termed "dirty lines". Needing each other, he and Leslie patched up their differences and Moore resumed his position as star comedian in the Blackbirds revues of 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1939. Politics played a role in the 1936 edition of the Blackbirds , causing the London run to be shut down. At the time the troupe was booked in the United Kingdom, King Edward VIII had just abdicated
5427-442: The star of Lucky Sambo (based on "Aces and Queens'). However, the show closed after only a few performances. He was a success in burlesque in the mid 1920s with the hit show Rarin' to Go , followed by a return to vaudeville in 1927 with The Southland Revue . In 1928, he produced and starred in weekly shows at Harlem theatres such as the Alhambra. Moore wrote all of his own material and also did some writing for other performers;
5508-408: The then segregated USOs such as one in Riverside, California . Their version of "indefinite talk" can be seen in two Charlie Chan pictures, The Scarlet Clue and Dark Alibi , as well as in the big-budget Universal musical Bowery to Broadway . The partnership lasted until Carter died in 1946. Moreland and Nipsey Russell performed this routine in two all-black variety films in 1955. During
5589-449: The total population. Vietnamese and Chinese Americans were the largest Asian American groups in the city, followed by Asian Indians ; the Vietnamese community in Monroe and the rest of Louisiana grew following the Vietnam War . As part of the Bible Belt , Christianity is the largest religion in Monroe, the city's metropolitan area , and North Louisiana . In common with much of northern and Central Louisiana , Baptists makes up
5670-400: The tuba and Hester played drums as part of a band. Moore's own stock company was responsible for all aspects of it. The couple toured China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands and Hawaii with a vaudeville troupe. The marriage ended in divorce in 1915, and in September, Moore married a vaudeville actress named Gertrude Brown . After more than a year on the road in vaudeville in
5751-448: Was Lena Horne . Moore's last Broadway show was Harlem Cavalcade (1942), produced by Ed Sullivan and Noble Sissle . When Al Jolson attended a performance of Harlem Cavalcade at the Ritz Theatre, he declared that "Moore was one of the most expert craftsmen he had ever roared at." During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Moore was one of the top comedians headlining at the Apollo Theater in Harlem . He also performed on radio as
5832-602: Was 48,815, declining from the city's historic high of 57,597 at the 1980 U.S. census . Of the 17,327 households in 2019, there were 7,409 owner-occupied housing units. An estimated 3,493 of owner-occupied housing units were married couples living together; 354 were male households with no female present, and 927 were female households with no male present. There was an average family size of 3.58; 27.4% of all households were married couples living together, 29.8% were male households with no female present, and 46.4% were female households with no male present. The median income for
5913-596: Was Miller's job to trace the actor's whereabouts. Meanwhile, in January 1950, Moore went to New York to perform at the Apollo and appear as guest star on CBS-TV's Toast of the Town . After fulfilling these engagements, Moore returned to Rock Island. A few months later, Flournoy Miller called the manager of the Apollo and finally received Moore's address. Moore did voice tests at CBS radio studios in Peoria and Chicago, and then
5994-414: Was a night watchman at a brewery. Tim Moore dropped out of grammar school to work at odd jobs in town and even danced for pennies in the streets with his friend, Romeo Washburn. In 1898, Moore and Washburn went into vaudeville in an act called "Cora Miskel and Her Gold Dust Twins." It was booked by agents and travelled through the United States and even Great Britain. As Moore and Washburn grew older,
6075-462: Was brought to CBS-TV in Hollywood for a screen test. He returned to Rock Island. Shortly after this, he was signed by Columbia Broadcasting System to star in a new television adaptation of Amos 'n' Andy . As the radio series had developed in prior years, the scheming but henpecked Kingfish had become the central focus of most of the plots. In the television version, Moore played the character more broadly, with louder and more forceful delivery and
6156-453: Was canceled, it was shown in syndication until 1966 when increasing condemnation and pressure from the NAACP persuaded the show's owners (CBS, which still owns the copyrights) to withdraw it from further exhibition. It was resurrected in the early days of home videotape through public domain video dealers who had acquired episodes from collectors of used 16mm TV prints, although the copyright
6237-404: Was eventually canceled due to complaints about ethnic stereotyping. Shortly after the television show left the air, there were plans to turn it into a vaudeville act in August 1953, with Moore, Williams, and Childress playing the same characters. Although it is not known if this ever materialized in that year, a vaudeville-style Amos 'n' Andy road show did tour the country in 1957. After the series
6318-451: Was never in the public domain. Illegally produced copies continue to be sold over the internet. The series itself would not be seen on a regular basis again until independent network Rejoice TV began re-airing episodes in 2012. Many of the episodes revolved around Moore's Kingfish character, supported by Ernestine Wade as his level-headed, emotionally strong wife Sapphire, and Amanda Randolph as his openly aggressive mother-in-law, without
6399-974: Was no money to pay for his hospital care or for his funeral, Moore having received his final $ 65.00 residual payment from Amos 'n' Andy in January 1958. At one time, Moore had made $ 700 per week. After a large funeral at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, he was buried at Rosedale Cemetery . At the funeral service, 10,000 fans and mourners passed his open coffin; attendance was star-studded and included Groucho Marx , Frank Sinatra , Dean Martin , Louis Armstrong , Eddie Cochran , Tony Curtis , Sidney Poitier , Charlie Barnet , Noble Sissle , Erskine Hawkins , Louis Prima , Freeman F. Gosden , Charles Correll , Spencer Williams Jr. , Alvin Childress , Ernestine Wade , Amanda Randolph , Johnny Lee , Lillian Randolph , Sammy Davis Jr. , Eddie "Rochester" Anderson , Andy Razaf , Clarence Muse , Roy Glenn , Mantan Moreland , Pigmeat Markham , Willie Bryant , Earl Grant . Sammy Davis Jr. later related that Frank Sinatra organized
6480-519: Was once more in demand and even received a testimonial tribute dinner from the Friars Club of Beverly Hills , and appearing on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar . The publicity also won an extended performance engagement for him at the legendary Mocambo nightclub. Moore died at age 71 on December 13, 1958, of pulmonary tuberculosis in Los Angeles, four days after his birthday. There
6561-489: Was patterned after Universal 's thrillers of the 1940s. After suffering a stroke in the early 1960s, Moreland took on a few minor comedic roles, working with Bill Cosby , Moms Mabley and Carl Reiner . He later partnered with Roosevelt Livingood to form the comedic team of Mantan and Livingood, which produced a number of recorded albums on Laff Records . Moreland died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1973 in Hollywood , and
#483516