Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Alabama History & Culture News: October 27 edition

 


Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Enjoy!


A Painter's Visions of Créolité in 19th-century Louisiana
A self-taught artist, former antiques dealer, and period history buff born in Mobile, Alabama and currently based in Savannah, Georgia, Hopkins makes ...


Fundraiser seeks donations for 'transformation' of Scottsboro Boys Museum
... Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center in Jackson County, Alabama, ... When local officials were discussing a historic walking trail in 2000, ...


A little background on Birmingham's Historic Greyhound Bus Station
Located at 618 19th Street North, the historic Greyhound Bus Station is a block away from Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA), Linn Park and City Hall ...


What reviewers are saying about 'The Witches,' set in Alabama
The storyline for the movie is based on a 1983 novel by British writer Dahl, but the location has been changed from Norway to Demopolis, Alabama.


Joel R. Anderson, philanthropist, paper money collector, dies at 76
Joel R. Anderson, of Florence, Alabama, known in the numismatic world as a ... Press; and Books-A-Million (the nation's second-largest book retailer).


John Evans Harbour, 77, founding member of Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums
John was born March 29, 1943, in Gadsden, Alabama, and for the past 20 years, he was a resident of Williamsburg. ... He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Hampden-Sydney College in 1965 and was a charter member of ...

Rich film history in focus in Alabama Hills, California
... that Lone Pine is also home to the Alabama Hills, which draw people from around the world for their recreational opportunities and rich film history.

County included on historical commission interactive map
“This continuing effort will eventually expand to all of Alabama's counties and future documentation of historic resources will be added.” Student interns ...


Voters could remove racist phrases from Alabama Constitution
In Alabama, history shows there's reason for supporters of the amendment to worry. Two decades ago, Alabama voters voted to repeal an unenforceable ...


Heritage Baptist Church, Montgomery, celebrates 50th anniversary
Lonette Berg, executive director of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission; Bobby DuBois, associate executive director of the Alabama Baptist ...

Monticello to receive new historical marker this weekend
Wes Allen was instrumental in assisting us in getting an Alabama Bicentennial Grant to purchase the maker,” Smith said. “We had planned to dedicate ...

Chelsea Middle staff members, students recognized for historical project
Rayl, Lovett and a team of students received a grant from the state aimed at preserving local history throughout Alabama. The Chelsea Middle School ...

Historical restaurant in Moulton to hold dedication ceremony Halloween
Moulton's "The Hot Spot" has been listed on Alabama's Historic Register, and owners Marvin and Elayne Jackson plan to hold a dedication ...

Timothy Leary at 100: How the counterculture icon got kicked out of the University of Alabama
... man in America,” Timothy Leary was already making trouble in Alabama. ... continued to reach millions around the world through his books, lectures, ...

Remaking 'The Witches' for 2020: How the HBO Max film updates Roald Dahl's classic story
Roald Dahl's 1983 novel “The Witches” has always been an especially ... the setting shifts from Europe to rural Alabama in 1968, and the cast gets a ...

New documentary explores Alabama 'Black Belt Blues'
Some of the photos appeared in Ramsey's book, “Been Here and Gone,” but have never appeared in a film until now. Clem, the film's producer and ...


By the book: Flagg takes us back to Whistle Stop
Why a new Fannie Flagg novel, of course. ... Stop,” Flagg fans will celebrate her return to the iconic fictional Alabama town, and she'll gain ... In the book, she explores spiritual friendships and community, the power of hospitality, and ...


The Witches Makes Family-Friendly Changes to Roald Dahl's Grimly Funny Book
... Norway, becomes Demopolis, Alabama. Though both movie and book use real places, both of the hotels where all the mousey action takes place ...

Matthew McConaughey's new book cover shot by Alabama photographer
... McConaughey's new book “Greenlights” released this week, reminding us all to just keep livin', but we also noticed the familiar work of an Alabama .
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Friday, October 23, 2020

The Boxer Who Played Joe Louis--Three Times

One of Alabama's most famous sports figures is boxer Joe Louis, whose career ran from 1934 until 1951. Considered one of the all-time greats, Louis defended his heavyweight title in 25 consecutive contests and had the longest reign in heavyweight boxing history. His two fights against German Max Schmeling in the 1930's were spectacles of the first order. On June 19, 1936, Schmeling gave Louis his first professional loss when he knocked the "Brown Bomber" out in the 12th round. For the rematch on June 22, 1938, the pair met in Yankee Stadium before a crowd of more than 70,000. Louis defeated Schmeling in the first round. In 2010 an eight foot statue of Louis by Casey Downing, Jr., was erected on the Chambers County Courthouse lawn. Louis was born in Lafayette. 

Naturally, Hollywood brought Louis to the screen in at least three biopics. In 1938 Louis himself had starred in a fictionalized account of his life, Spirit of Youth. The second one was  The Joe Louis Story from United Artists and released on September 18, 1953. Louis was played in that film by a professional boxer, Coley Wallace. Ring of Passion, a made-for-TV movie with Bernie Casey as Louis, appeared in 1978. 

Wallace was born April 5, 1927 in Jacksonville, Florida; he died  January 30, 2005, of heart failure in Harlem, NY. At the time of his death he was married to Pearlie-May Wallace; she died in 2016. The couple had a daughter named Pat. 

As an amateur, Wallace was New York Daily News Golden Gloves heavyweight champion in 1948 and 1949. In the 1948 semi-final he defeated Rocky Marciano in a split decision, an outcome unpopular with the crowd. Wallace is believed to be the only fighter ever to defeat Marciano. You can find more highlights from his amateur career here. 

Wallace's first professional fight took place in April 1950 and his final one in April 1956. In that period he had 29 bouts, with 22 wins [16 by knockout] and seven losses [four by knockout]. His best known pro opponent was probably Ezzard Charles, who defeated Wallace by a knockout in December 1953. Charles held a world heavyweight title and in 1950 defeated his idol Joe Louis who was at the end of his career. Another opponent was Jimmy Bivins, who defeated Wallace by a knockout in September 1952. Bivins never had a title fight, but defeated eight of eleven world champions he faced. He lost to Joe Louis in an August 1951 bout. 

Thus Wallace was in the midst of his professional boxing career when he made this film. In the early 1950's he also worked as a bouncer at the Savoy Ballroom, a legendary music and dancing venue in Harlem that operated from 1926 until 1958. Wallace was a referee in two bouts in 1974 and a judge in several fights in the 1980's. 

Wallace had small roles as Joe Louis in two later films, the 1979 TV movie Marciano and Martin Scorsese's classic Raging Bull [1980] based on the life of boxer Jake LaMotta. In 1956 he starred in a non-boxing film, Carib Gold, along with Ethel Waters. It's also the first known film role of Cicely Tyson. 

The Joe Louis Story has been released on VHS and DVD, and is available on Amazon Prime and for free on YouTube. The boxer's mother, Marva Louis, is played by Hilda Simms in the movie. 

More comments are below. 



Joe Louis [1914-1981] in 1941 

Source: Wikipedia



Source: Wikipedia



Coley Wallace [1927-2005]

Source: BoxRec




On May 14, 1953, Joe Louis and Coley Wallace stand in front of a 1951 poster for what turned out to be the Alabama heavyweight's last fight. Marciano won in the eighth round. 

Source: A 2011 commentary on the film by Louie Shields



This issue of Look magazine 3 November 1953 included an article "Corey Wallace Plays Joe Louis" on pages 86-89. Five photographs by Wil Blanche show Wallace training at his New Jersey gym, etc. 

Source: WorthPoint




Source: Wikipedia





Marciano was first broadcast on the ABC-TV network on 21 October 1979





Frankie Manning and Coley Wallace at the dedication of a Savoy Ballroom plaque 26 May 2002

Source




Wallace's grave in the Calverton Cemetery, Suffolk County, New York

Source: Find-A-Grave




Source: Wikipedia 







In this 1978 TV movie actor Bernie Casey portrays #Alabama native Joe Louis as he fights German Max Schmeling, losing the first fight 19 June 1936 but winning the rematch 22 June  1938 





An article about Louis by William Jerome appeared in the May-June 1937 issue of this magazine.








Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Alabama History & Culture News: October 22 edition


Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Enjoy!


The Witches review: A bland and neutered version of Roald Dahl's book
The action might have been transported to Alabama in 1968, but The Witches otherwise remains faithful to Dahl's novel. Following the death of his ...

Paranormal history in the Wiregrass
NEWTON, Ala. (WDHN) — Bill Sketoe is one of the 13 ghosts of Alabama. The story goes he was hung here before this bridge was built during the civil ...


The haunted history of Kinston's dancing, fiddling Grancer Harrison
There are few locations in the entire State of Alabama with a “ghost story” as well known as that of Grancer Harrison. Outside of the tiny Coffee County ...

Alabama Historical Commission Launches Historic Preservation Map Initiative of Historic ...
The AHC has been diligently working to convert the agency's paper files associated with Alabama's historic architectural resources into a web-based ...

New documentary focuses on blues music in Alabama Black Belt
(AP) — A new documentary about the blues tradition of Alabama's Black ... An announcement says the show traces the history of the region's African ...


Ballard House expansion to emphasize Birmingham's rich legacy and enhance nonprofit's mission
Renovations underway for Birmingham's Ballard House from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo. The story of the Ballard House is part of the historic fabric ..


Alabama's 200 years of history captured in new interactive map
A new, interactive map highlights thousands of historical structures and places in Alabama. The Alabama Historical Commission said its Historic ...


Fannie Flagg pens sequel to 'Fried Green Tomatoes'
But Alabama native Fannie Flagg is best known today as the author of ... And now, 33 years after the book's publication, Flagg, 76, has written the ...

Award-Winning Alabama Writer and Wife of LA Entertainment Lawyer Launches Acclaimed Thriller ...
"Books remain a primary resource for entertainment. As for the silver screen, it's the perfect time to reset, gather talent, and plan for future book-to-film ...

Author to talk Marquis de Lafayette book
The public is invited to a book talk by Dr. Lawrence Krumenaker, author of “Nine Days of Traveling: Lafayette's 1825 Alabama Tour, Today's Historical ...

CST at the post chapel. Burial will follow in Section 12A, grave 552 next to his late wife, Mary. Adkins, who lived in Opelika, received the Medal of Honor ...

New documentary focuses on blues music in Alabama Black Belt
Produced by One State Films and APT and director by Alabama filmmaker Robert Clem, the hourlong show traces the history of the region's African ...

DON NOBLE: Chilling true-crime story focuses on Alabama-born serial killer
John Douglas, back in the late '70s, was one of the very first FBI profilers and, with Mark Olshaker, has written nine previous books on the subject. Here ...

Book Review: Gwendolyn Patton 'My Race to Freedom'
One particular focus of Gwen's story is Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and what went on there as the civil rights movement of the 50s led to the ...

Pine Hill Cemetery, located on Armstrong St., is one of the many stops on the Spectral Investigators' haunted tours in Auburn, AL.


Shreve Memorial welcomes three authors in November
... serves as director of Historic Blakely State Park in Spanish Fort, Alabama. ... Fourteenth Colony is the first comprehensive history of the colony and ...


(WPMI) — Two police officers who were killed in the line of duty in Mobile in the early 1900s will finally receive grave markers, Mobile Police say.

The last known slave ship has spent 160 years under the Mobile River. Can it be preserved?
The Alabama Historical Commission is fielding proposals from maritime archaeologists as the task requires industrial-level diving skills. The commission ...


This Alabama musician's best song is actually a book
Huntsville author J.W. Fowler's debut novel digs into this idea. Titled “Free and Clear,” the book intertwines arcs of Ben Landry, a successful songwriter ...

Historic Society to host nighttime tour of Old Live Oak Cemetery
The Walking History Tour will feature historical figure buried in the historic ... Alabama's first Black Congressman, will be portrayed by Winston Williams; noted ... Though Hudson is not buried at Old Live Oak Cemetery, he will “make a ...


Artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins Reimagines the Antebellum History of Southern Port Cities
Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1977, the artist traces his lineage to a major Creole family descended from Nicolas Baudin, a Frenchman who received a ...

... 33 Alabamians awarded the Medal of Honor, three of them were born in Leeds, Alabama. ... He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Alabama Photo of the Day: Amphitheater at Auburn University

In recent wanderings through Alabama Mosaic I came across this 1940's photograph of the amphitheater on Auburn University's campus. I seem to remember seeing a few events there in my time at Auburn during the 1970's.

The formal name of the facility is the Graves Centre and Amphitheatre. As noted below, the location has been used for various assemblies over the years. The Centre was a facility for agriculture and then fisheries conferences and the original 30 cottages housed guests.. Athletics the occupied the cottages for a while. When the cottages were torn down is unknown. The amphitheater is built of Belgian granite blocks from the streets of Montgomery. 

Also below is a link to the Change.org petition seeking to remove the name of Alabama governor David Bibb Graves from the facility. 

Apparently there s a plan for another amphitheater to be built at the school's Ag Heritage Park. 




The amphitheater about 1940 with two guest cottages in the background





A more recent photo of the amphitheater taken from a Change.org petition to remove the name of David Bibb Graves from the facility. 




These two images appear in Lengthening Shadows that contains information about Auburn University buildings up to the time of publication in 1977. 







David Bibb Graves [1873-1942]


Source: Encyclopedia of Alabama






Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)