FW: Re: [78-l] need advice on Thomas Jones LaRue

[Sandra Layman <sandralayman...>]

Dear Donna,

I forwarded your query to a friend who's the Judaica librarian at the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

I hope his response (below) will be of some help, if it's not too late.

All the best,

Sandra Layman
sandralayman (at) earthlink(dot)net
Seattle, WA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Elliot Gertel" <p031293b (at) pb(dot)seflin(dot)org>
To: "Sandra Layman" <sandralayman (at) earthlink(dot)net>
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2001 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: FW: Re: [78-l] need advice on Thomas Jones LaRue


> Just tell her to check the _Forverts_ for the date(s) in question, Yivo,
> or American Jewish Periodical Center at HUC in Cincinnati, or the JTS
> Library; also check the Index to Jewish Periodicals and RAMBI online.
>
> Zol zayn mit mazl.
>
> Elliot
>
>
> Elliot Gertel
> p031293b (at) pb(dot)seflin(dot)org
>
> On Sun, 22 Apr 2001, Sandra Layman wrote:
>
> > Have any ideas about this interesting topic, Elliot? Please reply to me
if
> > you do, and I'll forward any info on.
> > Thanks,
> > Sandra
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Joel Bresler" <jbresler (at) ma(dot)ultranet(dot)com>
> > To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> > Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 7:47 AM
> > Subject: Fwd: [78-l] need advice on Thomas Jones LaRue
> >
> >
> > > Can anyone help?
> > >
> > > Please reply to Donna directly, with a cc to the list.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Joel
> > >
> > > >Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001 22:52:56 -0400 (EDT)
> > > >To: Xanajew (at) aol(dot)com
> > > >Cc: 78-l (at) topica(dot)com
> > > >From: Donna Halper <dlh (at) donnahalper(dot)com>
> > > >Subject: [78-l] need advice on Thomas Jones LaRue
> > > >Reply-To: 78-l (at) topica(dot)com
> > > >
> > > >We briefly talked about this a while back, but it is still on my
> > > >mind.  Somebody has to have some further info about it:
> > > >
> > > >The New York Age (a black newspaper) of 8 April 1922 had an
interesting
> > > >profile of Thomas Jones LaRue, said to be the only African-American
> > cantor
> > > >in New York City, and probably the first black Jew to sing on the
> > Broadway
> > > >stage.  (Thomas Jones LaRue was born Jewish, btw-- his mother had
> > > >converted to Judaism and she even sent him to Orthodox Day School).
Mr
> > > >LaRue was not only a cantor, but he also recorded several Hebrew
songs
> > and
> > > >acted in the Yiddish theatre.   According to the article I read, on 5
> > > >April 1922, at the Lenox Theatre, 111th Street and Lenox Avenue in
New
> > > >York, a benefit concert was given in his honour.  At that time, he
was
> > > >starring in a play called "The Wedding Gown."  Attending the benefit
were
> > > >some of the music and theatre industry's big names, including the
> > > >legendary Jewish Cantor Josef (Yossele) Rosenblatt and impresario
David
> > > >Belasco.
> > > >
> > > >I have looked in all sorts of places trying to find confirmation of
this
> > > >event-- given that big names attended, one would think some other
> > > >newspaper would have mentioned it, but so far, I can't find it
mentioned
> > > >in the NY World, the NY Times or the Herald-Tribune.  Who might have
> > > >written about it-- what other New York newspapers of April 1922 wrote
> > > >about Jewish music or Yiddish theatre?  And I wonder if any
recordings
> > > >were made as a result of this event, which evidently included quite
an
> > > >impressive programme of both sacred songs in Hebrew and selections
from
> > > >opera in various languages.
> > > >
> > > >When I was in NY recently, I asked at the NY Public Library, but they
> > were
> > > >not especially helpful (they weren't especially friendly either)--
And
> > the
> > > >NYPL collection of Judaica had nothing on Cantor LaRue  either; much
of
> > > >the Judaica collection (at least the materials available in English)
was
> > > >about events from the 30s and beyond.  I checked Yossele Rosenblatt's
> > life
> > > >story, hoping for a mention, but didn't find one there either.  I'm
open
> > > >to suggestions.  Got any?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Joel Bresler
> > > 250 E. Emerson Rd.
> > > Lexington, MA 02420 USA
> > >
> > > Home Office:    781-862-4104
> > > FAX:            781-862-0498
> > > Email:          jbresler (at) ma(dot)ultranet(dot)com

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