News Archive 3
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Ethel Waters
book
Stephen Bourne, author of of recently published Elisabeth Welch: Soft Lights and Sweet music advises that his new book on Ethel Waters will be published by Scarecrow Press sometime in 2007
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Jonelle Allen
Jonelle Allen, of TV fame ("Dr Quinn" amongst others), continues to develop her Florence Mills musical show and will present it in a new production at Laguna Beach, California, in April 2007. More info on this exciting development as it arrives.
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[Sadly this was not to be, due to the GFC, and the theatre was demolished in 2013] As mentioned elsewhere, the formerly derelict Florence Mills Theatre on Los Angeles Central Avenue is now to be redeveloped as part of a residential revitalisation project being undertaken by the Dunbar Economic Development Corporation. It will include a community Center and performance space which will have a tribute to Florence Mills in the lobby area. It's great to know that Central Avenue is regaining some of its famous vitality and that Florence will be part of it, as she performed often in LA, including with Jelly Roll Morton.
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It was very gratifying for me to be advised that "Florence Mills Harlem Jazz Queen" had been singled out for Honorable Mention for the 2005 Kurt Weill Prize, as much for the recognition of Florence's significance as for my own work.
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The Blockson Collection (Temple University)
One of the great pleasures of my many research visits to the USA has been the opportunity to meet with famous African American bibliophile Charles Blockson, learn from him and appreciate his encouragement of my Florence Mills researches, so it was with particular pleasure on my last visit that I was able to present him with a copy of my newly published book. Of all the libraries I would wish to see the book in, the Blockson Collection is among the very highest. Here is me making my presentation:
