Alabama History & Culture News: September 17 edition

For a number of years I've been posting links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles in the "alabamahistory" group at Yahoo!Groups. Most of the articles are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio websites. You can subscribe to the emails there if you wish; I send out two or three a week along with relevant meeting announcements and so forth. 

Here's the latest batch:

Arlington Author Shaun Hamill Receives Praise from Stephen King for Debut Novel, A Cosmology ... Dallas Observer I loved it,” Stephen King has said, as quoted on the book's dust jacket. ... Hamill lives in Alabama with his wife, his in-laws and his dog, but it was in ...

New Book Chronicles History of Ruffner Mountain

WBHM

Author Mark Kelly chronicled the preserve's history in his book “Back to ... The preserve's namesake, William Henry Ruffner, was not an Alabama ...

'My Alabama' Opelika Auburn News One such pictorial book recently released by NewSouth Books, based in Montgomery, is the hardback coffee table sitter “My Alabama” by ...

Alabama historical commission claims control of Clotilda, the last US slave ship

AL.com

Alabama's state historical commission apparently will retain control of the last U.S. slave ship, the Clotilda. Friday was the deadline for any potential ...

Alabama Maker Siluria Brewing has tapped into local flavor of Alabaster Alabama NewsCenter Siluria Brewing is an Alabama Maker of local beer from Alabama ... “We knew we wanted an old building, we wanted there to be some history and ...

Alabama's bicentennial cookbook launches with signings around the state

WSFA

“Time to Eat, Y'all: Celebrating the Culinary Heritage of Sweet Home Alabama” is a commemorative book includes recipes and family stories from Gov.

On this day in Alabama history: Looney House deeded to St. Clair Historical Society Alabama NewsCenter The John Looney House was built by its namesake and his sons around 1820, west of the Coosa River – near what is now the town of Ashville, in St.

Historians want authority after historic cemetery disturbance whnt.com Police are investigating if a historic cemetery in south Huntsville was ... County and spread out all over the southwest and south Alabama," says Miller.

Pinson Valley High School named Alabama Bicentennial School

Trussvilletribune

PINSON — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey named Pinson Valley High School one of 21 ... The history, tales and recipes were published in a book.

in 'A Cosmology of Monsters,' Alabama author Shaun Hamill tells a horror story about a family that ... Herald-Mail Media “A Cosmology of Monsters” is the first novel from Shaun Hamill, a recent Texas transplant to Alabama. The book is a family saga about the anguish of ...

Alabama artists make an indelible impression as Ken Burns explores 'Country Music' AL.com Alabama artists make an indelible impression as Ken Burns explores ... Music” at the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery.

On this day in Alabama history: Educator Nathan B. Young was born Alabama NewsCenter Born in Hale County on this day in 1862 to an enslaved mother, Nathan Benjamin Young grew up in Alabama during Reconstruction. Young attended ...

Alabama's Michael Rooker officially cast in new 'Suicide Squad' movie

AL.com

Comic book movie fans got some fun news Friday afternoon when director James Gunn revealed the cast of his upcoming sequel “The Suicide Squad.

Anne Rivers Siddons, Novelist Whose Muse Was the New South, Dies at 83 The New York Times Hearing that, Mr. Conroy told her, “That's the opening of your great book ... high school and a popular sorority sister at Auburn University in Alabama.

40 years ago Aubie the Tiger jumped into mascot history AL.com 40 years ago Aubie the Tiger jumped into mascot history .... During the Alabama game at Legion Field in 1979, Aubie wore a houndstooth hat and ...

On this day in Alabama history: 'Miss Nina' was born Alabama NewsCenter Nina Miglionico was born in Birmingham on this day to Joseph and Mary Miglionico, Italian immigrants who owned a delicatessen and sundries store.

Hulu's "Looking for Alaska" Releases First Full Trailer Starring Kristine Froseth and Charlie Plummer

Yahoo Lifestyle

We see him as he packs up his bags (and books) and leaves his native Miami to arrive at Alabama's Culver Creek for boarding school, his father's ...

Dr. Joseph Landers creates opera in celebration of Alabama Bicentennial University of Montevallo News Dr. Joseph Landers creates opera in celebration of Alabama Bicentennial ... were eventually published in a 1941 book titled Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. ... Additionally, the Alabama State Council on the Arts provided financial ...

Colbert County starts historic marker program Times Daily The project's initial funding is through grants from the Alabama Bicentennial ... "Colbert County has its share of old homes, some even before 1820.".

From Three on a String to Ken Burns documentaries, this Alabama Music Maker is making history Alabama NewsCenter Bobby Horton has been interested in the Civil War since he was 9 years old, igniting his lifelong love of history. “Every adult male in my life, from my ...

UM has many connections to state's Bicentennial celebration University of Montevallo News In recognition of two centuries of statehood, Alabama's Bicentennial ... Everyone's story matters, because it's all tied to the history of Alabama,” ...

On this day in Alabama history: Talladega Superspeedway held first race Alabama NewsCenter Bill France Sr., founder of NASCAR, helped created the Talladega Superspeedway in the late 1960s at a time most major tracks were located along ...

5 reasons to see The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963 at the Birmingham Children's Theatre ... Bham Now Directing The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963 “is another opportunity to reenact some of Alabama's history that affected the world, and hopefully ...

Remembering Alabama's Allene Roberts, Hollywood's girl next door AL.com Her oval face and wide brown eyes had a girl-next-door innocence that Hollywood couldn't resist. Allene Roberts was 17 or 18 years old when she ...

The never-before-told story of Alabama's only Frederic death FOX10 News (WALA) – As the ferocious winds from Alabama's storm of the century ... Fellows Cemetery in Bayou La Batre, where Bosarge's mother and brother are ...

Meetings at Hatchet Creek -- Flynt series on Alabama's bicentennial

AL.com

L. A. and Grady House were buried side by side in the cemetery next to Hatchet Creek Presbyterian Church. Every Labor Day Sunday, her family ...

Lawrence County's famous General Joe Wheeler honored with birthday celebration Moulton Advertiser In honor of one of Alabama's most enduring legendary figures, Gen. ... It includes the family cemetery and the original out buildings, some which ...

Johnny Mack Brown & "A Lady of Chance" (2)

Our adventure through  A Lady of Chance, the 1928 film starring Johnny Mack Brown and Norma Shearer continues. Part one can be found here. 

We pick up the action on Dolly and Steve's date in the park, where the talk has turned to the value of plantations....

Dolly no doubt has visions of how wealthy Steve must already be, living on a plantation and all....

The couple soon ends up in Dolly's hotel room, where Steve makes his declaration:

Not only that, but he asks her to marry him, too! 

They confirm their feelings with a hug and kiss, and Dolly agrees to marry Steve. But of course she has two fingers crossed. 

Dolly's old partner in crime Brad shows up while she is packing. He wants his share of their latest crime, but Dolly outwits him again and heads south with Steve.

The newlyweds soon arrive in Steve's hometown of Winthrop, Alabama. 

The workers at MGM worked their magic to create an "Alabama" town on the set in Hollywood where the film was shot. 

Steve's mother and brother Hank meet the newlyweds at the train station, and they drive home. 

Dolly is surprised that the Crandall homestead is not quite a plantation. That sign declares the location of "Steve Crandall Cement Construction."

Naturally Dolly is disappointed, but Steve assures her his new cement invention with make them rich. 

So Steve carries Dolly over the threshold while she is probably wondering what she's gotten herself into.

TO BE CONTINUED

Johnny Mack Brown & "A Lady of Chance" (1)

After his football playing days at the University of Alabama ended, Dothan native Johnny Mack Brown signed a contract with MGM and took up residence in Hollywood. His spectacular performance in the team's win at the 1926 Rose Bowl against the University of Washington--which was heavily favored--created a media sensation. Brown even made the front of the Wheaties cereal box. Producer and director King Vidor took notice; Brown went to California again in 1927 and had a long career in the movies. His first film appearance came that year in Slide, Kelly, Slide--a baseball movie. 

Brown became best known as one of the kings of the B westerns; he starred in dozens--and dozens. Yet in the early part of his career--mostly the silent movie part--the studio attempted to make him a leading man to play alongside some of Hollywood's female stars including Mary Pickford, Joan Crawford [several times] and Norma Shearer. He even acted with fellow Alabama native Dorothy Sebastian--along with Crawford--in Our Dancing Daughters also released in 1928. In the following year he starred opposite Mary Pickford in her first talkie Coquette--for which she won an Academy Award. He was sometimes billed as John Mack Brown in those days.

In 1928 Brown appeared in eight films. I recently watched one of those efforts, A Lady of Chance, released on December 1 of that year. Brown is the romantic lead opposite Norma Shearer, at the time one of the biggest stars of either sex in Hollywood. She also happened to have married the previous year Irving Thalberg, who at the age of 26 in 1925 became head of production at the newly formed MGM studio. I wonder if the former football player from Alabama was a bit nervous his first day on the set?

I'm going to do something a bit different with this topic, five different posts containing about twenty screen shots each from the movie. That will take us through the entire 78 minute film. Why am I doing this? Well, this movie not only stars an Alabama native early in his career, but a significant portion of the film is set in the state as well. So there's that. Hmm, I wonder where that idea came from?

Comments are below many of the photos. I'll have some final thoughts on the film at the end of the last post. 

This production was Norma Shearer's last silent film. She continue acting until 1942; her final film was Her Cardboard Lover. Shearer was the first actor to be nominated five times for an Academy Award; she won in 1930 for The Divorcee. Her brother Douglas G. Shearer was a pioneer of sound design in motion pictures; he won seven Academy Awards during his long career. The two were the first siblings to win that award.

The film was written by A.P. Younger and Edmund Goulding. Younger wrote for some 60 films between 1919 and his suicide in 1931. Goulding had a long career as screenwriter, director, songwriter and producer; he directed the classic film noir Nightmare Alley in 1947. He died in 1959.

Robert Z. Leonard was an actor director and producer whose career lasted from 1913 until 1957. He died in 1968.

The film was edited by Margaret Booth, whose Hollywood career spanned nine decades. 

As of this writing, you can view A Lady of Chance on YouTube.

Three supporting actors in this film were all veterans. Lowell Sherman who played Brad, had success as both an actor and director. He directed May West and Katherine Hepburn in two successful films before his untimely death at age 46 in 1934. Gwen Lee, who played Gwen, had mostly supporting roles in some 60 films. Eugenie Besserer often played mother roles as she did here; she acted that part for Al Jolson's character in The Jazz Singer.  

The early part of the film introduces us to Dolly Morgan, known as "Angel Face".  She is a parolee still using her looks to entrap wealthy men into situations where she can relieve them of some of that wealth. Two other con artists, Gwen and Brad, recognize her and persuade her to join them in their next job. The pair attempt to bilk Morgan out of her share after their success, but she manages to steal the entire $10,000 and disappear.

Here's what the New York City police had on "Angel Face"

Dolly next turns up in Atlantic City where she happens to meet Steve Crandall, a businessman from Alabama, at a convention. 

Steve is working on a telegram but is interrupted before he pays for it.

Dolly reads the telegram to Crandall's mother, which mentions the coming deal that will be worth a million dollars. Naturally, Dolly's interest in Steve is immediate. 

Dolly pays for the telegram, and thus the cynical and crooked city woman and the innocent from Alabama can "meet cute."

And does Steve ever fall hard for that "angel face". 

You can just see the wheels turning in Dolly's head as she realizes she has this sap in the palm of her hand and plots her way to Steve's coming riches. 

The black man pushing their cart through the park one evening has been entertaining them with song, so here we have the first "ahem" moment of this more than eighty-year-old film. This actor looks familiar, but he is unlisted in the film's entry on IMDB.

TO BE CONTINUED 

John Benson Brooks' "Alabama Concerto"

John Benson Brooks [1917-1999] was a jazz pianist and composer

born in Maine. In the early part of his career in the 1940's he wrote the
music for hits by Tommy Dorsey's orchestra with vocalist Frank Sinatra
and others. Later he adapted folk music such as blues and spirituals
to the elements of modern jazz. During this later period he worked with such
jazz greats as Gil Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Gerry Mulligan and Miles
Davis. You can read a more detailed account of his professional life written by Eugene Chadbourne at AllMusic.

In 1950 folklorist, anthropologist and novelist Harold Courlander made a
field trip to Alabama and recorded blues, spirituals, hollers and children's
gaming songs. He wrote about the trip in "Recording in Alabama in 1950" in Resound: A Quarterly of the Archives of Traditional Music (October 1985). Alabama folklorist, Ruby Pickens Tartt, assisted Courlander just as; she had done for John A. Lomax on his trips to Sumter County between 1937 and 1940. 

In the mid-1950's Brooks and Courlander met and began a collaboration based on some of the material the latter had recorded in Alabama. One result was Brooks' 1958 recording Alabama Concerto that features Brooks on piano, Cannonball Adderley on sax & Art Farmer on trumpet. In 1963 a revised and enlarged second edition was published of Brooks' musical score Negro Songs from Alabama.

John Benson Brooks

Source: Discogs 

Harold Courlander

Source

This 1959 release by Adderley includes "Stars Fell on Alabama" and the presence of another saxophone great, John Coltrane. Coltrane wrote a composition, "Alabama", after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in September 1963.

The classic "Stars" was composed in 1934 by Frank Perkins; Mitchell Parish wrote the lyrics. A 1975 version appeared on Adderley's Phenix album.

Music recorded by Harold Courlander in Alabama was released on six vinyl records between 1951 and 1960. They have also been issued on CD. 

Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 1: Secular Music (1951)

Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 2: Religious Music (1956)

Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 3: Rich Amerson—1 (1960)

Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 4: Rich Amerson—2 (1955)

Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 5: Spirituals (1950)

Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 6: Ring Game Songs and Others (1955)