Ethel Waters Archive of Photos and Memorabilia, 1930s-50s

Black Film, Ethel Waters

About this Item

Ethel Waters Archive of of 6 items including two original vintage photographs and four pieces of memorabilia relating to the career of American actress and singer Ethel Waters between 1934 and 1959. Waters rose to fame as a jazz and blues singer in Harlem in the 1920s, where she was renowned for her powerful vibrato and quickly became one of the highest paid black recording artist of the time. Waters was the first to break a number of racial barriers; the first person to integrate a Broadway show, the first African American to have her own television show, and the first Black woman to be nominated for a primetime Emmy Award. She has become an icon of theater and film, as well as an LGBT idol - Waters was bisexual and had a devoted lesbian and gay following. Her renditions of "Stormy Weather" and "Am I Blue?" have both been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Archive includes: [1] Playbill for As Thousands Cheer at the Shubert Grand Opera House in Chicago. November 5, 1934. 4 pages. 5.5" x 8". Irving Berlin's As Thousands Cheer premiered on Broadway in 1933. The musical is notable as the first on Broadway to give an African-American performer (Waters) equal billing to her white co-stars. As Thousands Cheer enjoyed a successful run and tour. It is best remembered for introducing the song "Heat Wave", a Berlin classic sung by Waters. [2] Playbill for Cabin in the Sky at the Selwyn Theatre in Chicago. May 4, 1941. Approx. 6" x 9". 16 pages with black and white photo of Waters with co-stars Todd Duncan and Dooley Wilson on cover. Cabin in the Sky was one of the earliest all-Black musicals, premiering just five years after Porgy and Bess. The play, a fantastical "parable" of Southern life, had a successful 156 performance run. [3] Press photo for Cabin in the Sky (film). 1943. Approx. 7" x 9.5". Black and white silver gelatin photograph of Waters and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Petunia and Little Joe in the film adaptation of Cabin in the Sky. After the musical's smash success, MGM adapted Cabin in the Sky with director Vincente Minelli. Waters and co-star Rex Ingram reprised their roles alongside Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. Photograph includes accompanying press caption affixed on verso. [4] Playbill for Carson McCullers' Member of the Wedding at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut. July 13, 1953. 16 pages. 6" x 9" Yellow pages with green text. Playbill includes a blurb on Waters as the "Star of the Week". Water originated the role of Berenice Sadie Brown in the 1950 Broadway production and reprised the performance both at Ivoryton Playhouse and in the 1952 film. [5] Playbill for Waters' Broadway Musical revue At Home with Ethel Waters at the 48th Street Theatre. September 22, 1953. 32 pages. 6.5" x 9". This performance featured 26 songs sung by Waters and her longtime personal accompanist and arranger Reginald Beane. The program includes some of Waters' biggest hits such as "Am I Blue?', "Suppertime", "St. Louis Blues", and "Stormy Weather." [6] Press photo for The Sound and the Fury (film). April 9, 1959. Approx. 7.5" x 9". Black and white silver gelatin photograph of Waters with co-stars Joanne Woodward and Yul Brynner. Waters starred in this adaptation of the Faulkner novel of the same name in 1959. It was her final film role, though Waters continued sporadic television appearances in the 60s and 70s. Photograph includes accompanying press caption affixed on verso. Overall very good condition. A well preserved archive commemorating the life of pioneering Black performer Ethel Waters. Seller Inventory # 20645

Bibliographic Details

Title: Ethel Waters Archive of Photos and ...

Binding: Soft cover