Part: ONE AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CLARK BROTHERS Steve Clark (Born 1924) AIM: Jimmy Clark (1922 - 2009)

To develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding CHILDHOOD I shared a bed with my of the origins and development of Black variety three sisters, Fredretha , entertainment in Britain and how this has contributed We were born and brought Lorraine, Evelyn and two to British cultural heritage and entertainment history. up during the depression brothers, Cornelius, and in Philadelphia. We didn’t Jimmy. We would lie head know too much about the to toe like sardines. In the Wall Street Crash of 1929, winter it was so cold and we just knew there wasn’t if one of us wet the bed it any food on the table. was tempting to stay in the wet warmth rather than My mother used to send face the icy room. me out to line up at the soup kitchen with a bucket I remember one Christmas for me to bring back soup Eve we were all in a for breakfast. The winter bedroom at the back of streets of Philadelphia the house, Dad fired his were frozen and one gun in the air twice in the morning I slipped and garden and then came spilled nearly all the soup, in and told us Father but Mama still managed Christmas had committed to stretch the dregs out suicide. to feed all of our hungry mouths that day. My Mum was a deeply religious lady, she taught My Dad, Cornelius was us 125 gospel songs. The Clark Brothers, Moss Empire’s Pubicity Photo a cook (when he could There were six of us get work) and my Mum, kids but only four of us SYNOPSIS: Josephine Baker, Billie Octavia worked in the wanted to be singers so Holiday, Sugar Ray Jewish bakery - bringing we became a quartet In this pack Steve Clark Robinson and Frank home the day old food to called The Clark Family. will give an unrivalled Sinatra. keep us alive. insight to what it was like to be born in a time when boxing, singing and dancing were the only legitimate ways a Black boy could escape poverty.

The Clark Brothers have been in show business for 80 years. As dancers they witnessed the birth of , played the Cotton Club and Apollo in Harlem and came to London for the first time in 1948. They shared bills with Gypsy Rose Lee, Bill Robinson Elvis and The Beatles and Marian Anderson Jack Johnson Tap Dancer (1878 - 1949) were friends with Opera Singer (1887 - 1993) Boxer (1887 - 1886)

1 In the holidays we would visit our grandfather in Wilmington, North Carolina where there was a famous singing group called . They had a radio show on Sundays and one week we were booked to stand in for them and were an instant hit.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

During the Great Depression President Franklin D Roosevelt set up The Federal Theater Project, which was the largest and most ambitious effort mounted by the US Federal Government to organize and produce theater events. It was an Elena Karam as Odette and Rex Ingram as General effort to provide work for Christophe in the WPA Federal Theatre Project’s 1935 unemployed professionals hit “Haiti” at Lafayette Theatre, Harlem in the theater at a time of great hardship.

THEIR FIRST asked a man if he wanted BREAK: a shine. He said yes and while Cornelius was When I was 4 years old shining his shoes he we visited some relatives asked my brother: “Is in Atlanta. To earn a few that all you can do, shine dollars while we were there shoes?” My brother said: my older brother Cornelius “No I have brothers and made a shoeshine box and sisters and they sing”.

The Mills Brothers, Music Sheet Signed photograph of The Mills Brothers

2 This cast iron sign was placed outside Broadway Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee and is a reference to the racial segregation in the Southern United States in 1925

The man was Gene On Saturday our father “We toured with the Segregation was still Austin, who became a would go to the bank and show for six months widespread. Travelling great part of our lives and get a package of pennies, the countryside it was gave us our first break on giving 25 new pennies to and Mr Austin not unusual for us to see stage. each of us. When you’re gave my father one the body of a Black man young you see 25 brand hundred dollars a hanging from a tree and He invited us to audition new pennies and think that week for the family.” left to swing by a lynch for his show. The Theatre you’ve got all the money in mob. was the Erlanger and we the world. went there the next day. TOURING Being on the road was Thankfully he liked us. As I grew up I realised that hard for everyone. We passed the audition we got one dollar between We toured the Southern Sometimes the bands and he put us in the show us and my father kept states of America with the didn’t even have a place with him. ninety-nine dollars! Gene Austin show and in to stay and had to sleep in those states at the time their cars as many of the Our role was to re-enact If he was born in a different some white folks didn’t hotels wouldn’t let Black how Mr Austin and my time he could have been know that they had lost the people stay in them. brother met. Cornelius one shrewd businessman. war over slavery. would come on stage with his shoeshine box and ask if he could shine his shoes. Mr Austin would then ask if that’s all he could do, and that’s when we would come onstage singing our gospel songs.

We toured with the show for six months and Mr Austin gave my father one hundred dollars a week for the family, which was a lot of money in those days.

A family outside their home in the Southern United States

3 hardly seemed to lift his the show. Everyone else feet off the floor at all as he disappeared and Bill pulled moved around the stage. up a chair for himself and sat astride it (like he would Mrs Kean my gym teacher a horse) as Mrs Kean in Audenreid Junior High talked to him. He had an School took a liking to open kind-hearted face. me because I used to help her put on shows for I stood respectfully at the school. Without me the side of the stage and knowing, she went to see waited to be spoken to. I Bill Robinson and told him couldn’t believe that my “I’ve got a boy who fancies teacher was speaking to himself a dancer” “Bring the great man himself. him along” Bill responded, and a few days later she “Go ahead Steve” he took me to the matinee called out, his chubby show and afterwards we face breaking into a big went round to the stage smile “dance for me”. I door of the theatre. was taken by surprise but wasn’t going to miss Show Boat programme, We were shown in and this opportunity. I don’t Theatre Royal Drury directed onto the stage know what I did but I did Lane, 1928. Paul where they had just something and I did it with Robeson played the role finished clearing up after all of my heart. Joe.

My brother Jimmy and I never went to any dance school, we taught ourselves, making up the steps as we went along, (1898 - 1976) creating our own style.

I was lucky enough to work with Paul Robeson on the “I don’t know 1936 film Show Boat and what I did but I did watched as he sang “Old something and I Man River” in front of the did it with all of my cameras. heart.” I was a strange looking kid with a big head and knock I was 15 years old when knees but by the age of 5 I Bill Bojangles Robinson, was a Hollywood old hand. the man who appears in the Shirley Temple When I was 6 years old films teaching her how my mother insisted that we to tap dance, came to come back home to Philadelphia to do his Philadelphia for a bit of show Hot Mikado at the schooling. We lived in Shubert Theater. He was South Philadelphia on considered the greatest Queens Street. tap dancer of the time. When you watched him he Bill Robinson with Shirley Temple

4 5 THE COTTON CLUB

Hot Mikado Programme, Hall of Music, New Bill Robinson as “The Mikado” in Hot Mikado York, World’s Fair, 1939

At the end he applauded feel my heart beating in The club was the biggest and asked me a few my throat - Bojangles room Jimmy and I had questions. I told him “I Robinson had actually ever worked at. There was dance with my brother remembered me, I couldn’t a rail around the square usually, busking around believe it! stage with the audience the city”. Then I went sitting just the other side. back outside to sit down They would eat and then and wait for Mrs Kean. watch the show. Eventually she came out. “What did he say?” After the show the band I asked, as we made our would play and the way out of the theatre. “To customers would come leave you alone” she said up onto the stage to “You’ll get on okay with dance. Our booking with your dancing”. That felt Bill Robinson lasted for 3 good. (1904 - 1984) months.

Bill taught me a lot We knew all about the Bill taught me a lot about Cotton Club in Harlem, it dance. “Son” he used to about dance. “Son” was the main showcase in say, “you cannot make he used to say, “you America for Black artists rhythm in the air.” He cannot make rhythm and bands - was talking about all the in the air.” Duke Ellington had got his start there and dancers at the time who (1899 - 1974) so had Count Basie. went in for acrobatics; running up the walls and A few days later at school “He wants you and your Jimmy and I were 2 of doing the splits. They she called me aside brother to join him in Hot the dozen kids chosen all ended up damaging and said “Mr Robinson Mikado at the Cotton club to jitterbug around Bill themselves and having contacted me about you” in New York”. Robinson as he sat on the to have hip and knee “Yeah?” I replied. I could throne. replacements in later life.

5 SAMMY DAVIS JUNIOR (1925 - 1990)

The Clark Brothers in Vegas

Golden Boy programme, The London Palladium, 1968

The Clark Brothers to see us with his first wife leave for Hollywood Loray White. for a spell at Slapsie Maxies, The Billboard The night Sammy had his News Paper, terrible car accident and January 11th, 1947 lost his eye in 1954, Jimmy and I were appearing with While in Hollywood we Gypsy Rose Lee at Ciro’s. spent a good deal of time with Sammy Davis Junior. We thought from the His Dad and my Dad were radio reports that night first cousins. that Sammy was dead, but a few days later he We used to tap together on appeared at the club with a the street corners of Los patch over his eye. When Angeles when Jimmy and I I spotted him I stopped the were working in Slapsie band and made a speech, Maxies with the comedian welcoming him into the . Our paths room. Before I could finish crossed a great deal over the speech he was up on the years, in Vegas, New the stage singing with us. York and Los Angeles. We would be together later We were working in Los when Sammy played at Angeles at a club called the London Palladium in Ciro’s when Sammy came Golden Boy. Sammy backstage at the Palladium, 1968

6 BROADWAY

We first made it to Broadway when we took the place of the tap dancer Bill Bailey (brother of ), in a show featuring Cab Calloway’s band at the Zanzibar Club Each star in the show was the top in their field. Walter Winchell the NY columnist wrote “it was the best show on Broadway” and Bill Robinson visited whilst it was playing and told us how much he enjoyed it.

We danced with most of the big bands in America in various shows. We were the only tap team in the world that could work small Bernard Delfont presents Pearl Bailey at London’s Talk of the Town rooms and large stages as well. Real tap dance calls for a lot of dexterity, We served our time on brought his first Bebop which sometimes calls for “We danced with the hallowed boards of band to the Apollo when The Apollo Theater on we were on the bill. The extreme softness, and at most of the big other times needs to be 125th Street in Harlem. first show was a complete very loud and fast. bands in America Wednesday night was disaster. The band played in various shows. amateur night and the so fast I had to whisper in We worked the Paramount We were the only band playing the theatre Dizzy’s ear, “I can’t even Theatre in New York three tap team in the that week, however walk that fast!” famous, had to play for the times a year. One of the world that could reasons was our ability to amateurs. Dizzy Gillespie was a very work in tight spaces. work small rooms close friend of mine. We and large stages as All the bands played there lived together in New York During this period we well.” too. Dizzy Gillespie for many years. made some movies including ‘Killer Diller’ with . It was in this film that Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy Orchestra said “The Clark Brothers have more steps than the Great Wall of China!”.

We were what was called a ‘novelty act’, so the producers used to slice the footage of us dancing into other films and we would never know anything about it until we suddenly saw ourselves up there on the cinema screen.

There was no protection for artists in those days, until Mickey Rooney went to the union and had the Steve Clark and Dizzy Gillespie laws changed.

6 7 THE , NEW YORK

The Copacabana, was made him bet $26, managed by knowing that I couldn’t and was the elite nightclub lose since I was holding of the day, where all the three aces and two kings. famous faces played. He had believed I was Guests sat around the bluffing. band or on the balcony above. They would eat and then watch the show and maybe dance later.

On one particular occasion when we were working with Nat King Cole, Jack Entratter asked Nat, Jimmy and I to perform at a private party.

Nat was staying with us at the Theresa Hotel in Harlem where we usually stayed when we were in New York. The three of Nat King Cole us went back a long way, (1919 - 1965) to when Nat had been a pianist for the Peters Jack Entratter rolled up in Sisters who we had a limousine with a driver London Palladium poster, 1954 worked with in the early to pick us up. We drove Forties at the Chicago out of town for a couple As dusk settled, the lights Then he went on to thank Theatre. of hours up towards the of the house came on and Nat and Jimmy; turned and Catskill Mountains and we could hear the voices walked out. “Who’s that?” Nat and I were old poker turned through some gates of the dinner party as New Nat asked me as the door playing friends. During onto the grounds of a York society laughed and closed behind the group. I a game Nat always mansion. talked. By the time the shrugged. “Jack” he said, had an empty cigarette show started it was dark. “who’s that man?” “That’s holder clenched between The guests, about two We performed and were Frank Costello.” Nat his teeth and would be hundred of them, all well received. looked at me, his eyes attended by a boy whom in evening dress and wide with mock fear having he called Sparky. Nat Black Bow Ties, were After the show Jack just encountered a major would always say “Hey, assembling at tables Entratter came to our slice of the New York crime Mister Twenty Six”. He had around the swimming pool. dressing room to let us scene. He owned the called me Twenty Six ever On one side was a piano know the reception was Copacabana and many since a poker game when for Nat and a tap mat for enthusiastic. There was other places in town. I’d had a pat hand and I’d Jimmy and me. a knock on the door. Known as the “King of the Jack opened it and four Slot Machines” he wielded huge men in black suits enormous power. walked in. Sandwiched between them was a little The following day Jack man who was dressed said ‘You know that little to kill in a pinstripe suit, show you did yesterday?’ complete with starched ‘Sure,’ I replied. collar, tie, boutonniere and ‘Mr Costello wants you to an immaculate pocket- open our hotel in Vegas.’ handkerchief. ‘Um, that’s nice,’ I said. It was good to know we had “Thank you for a good pleased him, but I didn’t show” he said and his put much into our getting hand was as soft as a a definite booking. People lady’s. “Tell Mr. Entratter if were always making there is anything you want promises in this business and he’ll give it to you.” that they didn’t deliver on. The Peters Sisters 8 VEGAS

Frank Costello was true to African-Americans were A Chinese man bought a his word and we performed not treated as equals in house in the area. He’d at the grand opening of Vegas at the beginning – probably come to Vegas The Sands hotel in 1952. nothing like today. Soon when Jack Entratter after arriving in Vegas, brought the complete At that time no one with a Jack Entratter became Chinese kitchen staff with Black face was allowed to President of the Hotels him from the New York stay, eat or gamble in the Association. He told me Copacabana. He saw the hotels on the Strip. We “things are going to potential and started were only allowed to change around here buying up land to create a perform there, park the Steve”. I knew he was community for the Black cars, shine the shoes and referring to discrimination, people in town so we wait on tables, but not but it was going to take would all earn our money spend our money. him some time to make on the Strip and then take those changes. it back across the tracks to The first time we went in through the doors, clutching our jangling Cab Calloway booty, the guards leapt on (1907 - 1994) us, holding guns to our heads, thinking we were making our way out, rather were excluded from the than in – Black men with Strip and eventually in bags of money only meant 1960 there was a march, one thing in those days. organised by a man called Dr West. It was a peaceful Some of the other artists demonstration, just making who were performing on a point. the Strip were people like Cab Calloway and , who we knew from the Apollo in New York.

While Lena Horne was headlining at The Sands she chose to have a swim in the pool and a guest made the Sands management drain the pool because she’d been in the water. The Clark Brothers, Moss Empire’s Pubicity Photo

spend. He built a little Poster advertising Cab casino and restaurant that Calloway at Moss Empire served soul food, things Theatre, Newcastle, 1955 like pig feet, chitterlings, corn bread ham hocks and rice, all laid out on a Finally it dawned on the steam table for people to management of the big help themselves to for fifty hotels that by excluding us cents whenever they got they were losing money, hungry. sending it all down the road into the Chinese Other people, mostly those man’s pocket, so they who didn’t live in Vegas changed the rules and but came in from places allowed all nationalities to like Detroit, were angry gamble on the Strip...but Lena Horne about the way African- we had to pay twice as (1917 - 2010) Flyer for Colston Hall, Americans much to get in! Bristol, 1962

8 9 Jack Entratter had been “When Sammy Davis Junior was in town Sinatra sometimes would brought to Vegas to we used to get invited, as his cousins, to get up on the Lounge manage the stage with us and he and Lounge at The Sands join him and his friends in the bar.” would sing while we Hotel. He was given a danced around him. He free hand to run the place would then sit back down however he thought best. again at the end of the bar That meant he could book with Jack or one of the all the best acts in the other guys as if nothing world, which made him had happened, making one of the best the crowd in the bar feel impressarios in America. that they were part of the Thankfully he liked Jimmy scene. and I and booked us regularly. One morning at about three o’clock, During one of our runs came into the Lounge. they were filming the iconic He ordered a drink and sat 1960 film Ocean’s Eleven himself down at the bar. with all the members of the “Hey, Steve” he called out including Sammy between numbers. “Do Davis Junior. All the stars Louis!” I obliged and every were in the hotel at the time I finished one Louis same time and they would Armstrong song he asked all end up in the Lounge at for another, until I had the end of the night. been through the whole repertoire. Whenever When Sammy Davis he was in The Sands Junior was in town we he made me do my used to get invited, as his impressions of Louis. cousins, to join him and his Sammy Davis Junior on set friends in the bar.

Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) Hammersmith Gaumont (now Hammersmith Apollo, London) 1962 Handbill 10 Part: TW0 THE CLARK BROTHERS IN LONDON

AIM: Whilst we were there we To provide pupils with an insight into were snapped up to do a The Clark Brothers’ work in London show at Windsor Castle for King George VI so we must have been doing something right!

The Queen Mary cruise ship brought us over from New York on this our first trip to Britain. We were accompanied on the voyage by Gracie Fields.

Cruise ships have different classes: first-class, cabin class and tourist class. One night the captain asked if we would do a Hellzapoppin on Broadway, 1938 show for the first class passengers, but Gracie Fields told him she would only put on a show in the engine room.

All the tuxedo wearing first-class passengers The Clark Brothers on stage had to come down to the engine room and mix with In 1948 boys covered in grease in suggested to Olsen and order to hear Gracie Fields Johnson that they take us sing her heart out while we to England with the show danced on the tables. The ‘Hellzapoppin’, which they show was a great success. did. Hellzapoppin, London Casino 1948 Hannen Swaffer, who was a journalist for The Daily Herald newspaper wrote that ‘Hellzapoppin’ was the worst show America had ever sent to England. But despite this bad review the show ran for one year at the London Casino in Soho, which is now the Prince Edward Theatre. After that the show went to the Princess Theatre, which is now the Shaftesbury Theatre where Postcard of The Queen Mary, Britain’s largest cruise it ran for another year. ship of the time

11 We disembarked at we would sit at one of the Southampton where a tables in the audience and car was waiting to take Harry would get the us to the Regent Palace compere to say “Oh look, Hotel in Piccadilly where who do we have here? bed and breakfast cost It’s The Clark Brothers! us £13.10 a week. As we Maybe we can get them up lived so close to Soho we to do a few dances?” made lots of friends: the We would have our tap butcher, the baker, the shoes on and do a whole restaurant owners, and the routine. sportsmen in the Jackson Solomans gym. Princess Margaret came to the Churchill club quite On the opposite side of the often. Once she had a street from the Regents cast on her arm and asked Palace Hotel was a little Harry if he could get us to dance school where the sign our autographs on it, legendary Buddy Bradley which of course we did. taught tap dancing. She said to us “Whenever you are playing please let me know and I’ll try and be there”.

Jimmy and I hadn’t been in England long before The Clark Brothers we decided we wanted to make it our base. We realised that there was a bookings too. It was a Following on from our lot of work to be had in smart move and we never success in Hellzapoppin,

Europe. In those days it stopped working. in 1950 we opened at the was expensive to bring London Casino in Soho in well-known acts all the We toured up and down a show called Latin way across from America, the country as well as Quarter for the Grade but we reckoned that if we across Europe and were Organisation with Vic were based in England we able to travel back to Oliver who married would be able to get all the the U.S. when suitable Winston Churchill’s mainland European engagements came up. daughter. Anything Goes, The Palace Theatre,1935. Choreographed by Buddy Bradley

This was our first meeting with Buddy and we became good friends over the years.

We also met Harry Meadows who owned the Churchill club in Bond Street, a place where society people like the Queen’s late sister, Princess Margaret used to go till the wee small hours of the morning.

Jimmy and I would go to Churchill’s after finishing at the theatre. Every night Latin Quarter programme, London Casino, 1950

12 THE WEST END STAGE

Some of our fondest It was a Royal Command memories are of the shows Performance for the we did in the London’s Queen Mother starring West End. .

At the London Palladium The whole of Leicester we danced with the Tiller Square was a sea of Girls, sharing the bill with screaming girls. Margot Fontaine and Beatlemania had exploded Rudolf Nureyev, who were onto the world. Marlene considered the best Dietrich was billed as the ballet dancers of the time. star of the show, but there was little doubt who most of the world wanted to “I can’t understand see. how they keep dancing so fast for Our dressing room was so long.” opposite The Beatles. I walked into their dressing room and said to Ringo: One of the greatest shows “You think you’re big?” we ever had the pleasure which was rather stating of appearing in was at the the obvious given the Prince of Wales Theatre in pandemonium in Leicester 1963 with The Beatles. It Square at precisely that was at this show that John moment. I said “Watch Lennon told the audience, this!” I lifted the window “Would the people in the and heard a voice out of cheaper seats clap your the crowd saying: “there’s hands….and all the rest one of them”, the boys all of you just rattle your laughed. Louis Benjamin and Leslie Grade present jewellery!” International Variety at the London Palladium.

After the show we all stood in line to meet the Queen Mother. When she got to us I shook her hand and Lord Bernard Delfont asked the Queen Mother if she remembered the Clark Brothers. She said: “Yes, but I can’t understand how they keep dancing so fast for so long.” I reached over Lord Delfont’s shoulder and said to her: “You’re not doing so bad yourself!” She smiled and continued along the line.

We have sung and danced before Kings, Queens and Presidents, including Prince Ranier of Monaco and Princess Grace Kelly who was a fellow Philadelphian.

The Clark Brothers meeting Queen Elizabeth II, The Royal Variety Performance, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1981

13 TOURING THE REGIONS

England became our They were also the agent second home. As well as for a Leeds variety show performing on the West called The Good Old End stage we did many Days, which we appeared tours up North in the big on many times and was theatres and the working televised.on the BBC. men’s clubs where the audiences were very Barney Colehan produced enthusiastic. The Good Old Days, which ran from 1953 to 1983 In Leeds there was a and was in the style of Landlady by the name of Victorian-Edwardian music Mrs Bradley of number 12 hall. Barney was a great Street Lane, who turned producer for the shows her house into a haven for because he knew his show people. We loved audience and made them her because she loved dress in period costumes show people and we got to and had all the artists use know her very well. popular tunes which the We stayed with her on public knew and loved. every occasion we could when performing around “We did many tours Leeds. up North in the big theatres and We were booked by an agency called A.T.S. the working men’s clubs”

The Stars Midnight Spectacular flyer, Opera House Blackpool, 1987

We played Blackpool Richard and The Opera House on numerous Shadows,The Tiller Girls occasions. The Blackpool and Jimmy and I. The shows were always family show was so good that the orientated. One that sticks people of Blackpool talked out in my mind was in about it for many years 1959 starring Cliff afterwards.

The Good Old Days programme

The Clark Brothers, Billy Petch’s “HighLife” 1972 -73

14 UNIVERSITY OF SHOWBUSINESS

I started to do a bit of dance teaching when I was a teenager and later in the U.S. ’ mother asked me if I would teach him a few steps, so the natural progression was for Jimmy and I to start a dance school. It opened in the mid Sixties and was called ‘The University of Show Business’ on University Street, off Tottenham Court Road in London.

The Clark Brothers, Lord James Baring and Tom Jones at The University of Showbusiness

how make their Langford, who was just Lord James a member Hines, Hines and Dad. performance more setting out on her career at of the Baring family had Gregory is on the right polished with a few simple the time and was already little recording studio dance steps. able to do everything I on Denmark Street and asked of her. asked if he could share We were extremely They all came to the our premises. I set it up privileged that Princess University: Cliff Richard for him and all the acts Margaret cut the ribbon at and The Shadows, Freddie of the day started to its opening, which meant and The Dreamers, The come through the doors that we received a lot Mindbenders as well as to record, including the of press. I hired a Rolls performers like Bruce Rolling Stones and the Royce especially for the Forsyth, Dickie Beatles. occasion, but as we didn’t Henderson and Roy have much money, I told Castle. the driver to meet us a “If a film star needed couple of blocks away from If a film star needed to to dance for a the school so it was only a dance for a particular role, particular role, the short distance to drive and the producer or agent producer or agent therefore much cheaper. would send them along to would send them the school. When James After Jimmy and I opened Fox was cast in Throughly along to the school.” our dance school we Modern Millie opposite became permanent Julie Andrews The Grade During the day we worked residents in Britain; Office brought him to me at the school and at night indeed, I am still the only and offered to pay for The Clark Brothers we danced at the Churchill dancing entertainer with private classes for him. I club, working alongside the Queen’s stamp on my refused and insisted all the cabaret stars of the American passport. that he must come to the “After Jimmy and I day. It became too tiring normal class because I opened our dance and regrettably we had It was a time when pop knew that was what he school we became to close the school down groups were beginning to would need. He agreed permanent residents after only two years. appear on television and and came along, lining up in Britain.” they wanted our advice on next to little Bonnie

14 15 MEMORIES DANCE THROUGH MY HEAD

Jimmy and I have been Despite performing in so very fortunate to perform many different countries all over the world from Britain always called us the US to Cuba, Australia home. We found a sense and throughout Europe, of belonging here that was both on land and sea. unrivalled anywhere else. Indeed, when the Beatles changed the popular We became part of the landscape and the age of British show business Variety began drifting into establishment, despite the history, one great fall- fact that our act continued back of ours became the to be as American as transatlantic cruises and Apple Pie. We got to occasionally longer World know almost everyone Cruises. We spent eight in the industry and we years ploughing around were invited to join the the globe entertaining legendary show business passengers on many of the brotherhood The Water Cunard Line cruise ships Rats in 1968. - QE2, RMS Queen Mary, Sagafjord, Vistafjord, Up until Jimmy sadly Cunard Princess and passed away in 2009 we Cunard Countess. still performed together for audiences on nostalgia The Clark Brothers were trips as well as for the kept as the headliners for young jitterbug-swing the big show at the end of dance crowd. I miss him each cruise so we worked greatly but have such only one day out of ten wonderful memories of The Clark Brothers featured in a 2006 advertisement and on that final show we our time together dancing for ntl:Telewest/Virgin Mobile pulled out all the stops! through my head.

I am still very active...and working! I do personal appearances, interviews and masterclasses and in 2014 appeared at The Hackney Empire in a show called Don’t Knock - Tap! which was inspired by Jimmy and I.

2014 also saw Viral Media Art release and win an award for The Clark Brothers - Happy Scatman, which synchronised old footage of Jimmy and I dancing to contemporary music.

As my dream has always been to leave a legacy for future generations it fills me with an immense sense of pride that our work is still relevant today and can be enjoyed by The Clark Brothers taking their round of applause at the end of a show new modern audiences.

16 Part: LIVING LEGENDS CLASSWORK AND ACTIVITIES ONE AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CLARK BROTHERS

Read an introduction to Suggested 12) At what age did Steve The Clark Brothers to Questions return to school? (6) pupils and / or get pupils to read it individually. 13) At 15 years of age 1) What was the name of what was the name of Choose questions Steve’s dad? (Cornelius) the celebrated tap dancer that assess the pupils’ Steve met? (Bill Robinson) learned knowledge. 2) What did his dad do for The questions below a job? (Cook) 14) What was the name of will help focus the the famous club Steve pupils on the origins 3) Where did Steve’s mum appeared at with Bill and development of The work? (Jewish bakery) Robinson in New York? Clark Brothers. (The Cotton Club) 4) What was one of the errands Steve’s mum 15) Duke Ellington and Suggested asked him to do? (Go to Count Basie were famous for? (Jazz music) activities: the soup kitchen) 16) Who was Steve’s 1) Divide pupils into 5) Steve shared his bed with how many brothers famous cousin? (Sammy groups and get them to Davis Junior) make up a story based on and sisters? (2 brothers and 3 sisters) the following themes: 17) In which club did Steve make his Broadway • Soup Kitchen 6) How many gospel songs did Steve’s mum debut? (Zanzibar) • Shoe shine. teach him and his brothers and sisters? (125) 18) What was the name of the film Steve made • Meeting Bill Robinson 7) Name the singing group with Nat King Cole? (Killer Diller) • Touring the South that Steve and his brothers and sisters stood 19) Who did Steve live in for on the radio. (The 25) What were Black • Meeting Jack Entratter with in New York for many Mills Brothers) people only allowed to years? (Dizzy Gillespie) • Life in Las Vegas do on the Strip initially? 8) For how many months (Perform, park cars, shine 20) Who managed the did The Clark Family go on shoes, wait on tables) tour with Gene Austin for? Copacabana in New York? 2) Ask the pupils to: (Jack Entratter) (6 Months) 26) What sort of food did the Chinese man serve in • Tell their stories 21) What did Nat King 9) How much money did his restaurant? (soul food: Cole call Steve? (Mister Steve and his brothers pig feet, chitterlings, corn • Act out their stories Twenty Six) and sisters make a week bread ham hocks and rice) working on the show with • Write their stories down 22) Who did The Clark Mr Austin? ($100 a week) 27) Which film was shot Brothers meet with Nat in Las Vegas while Steve • Paint a picture depicting King Cole after performing 10) How old was Steve and Jimmy were working their stories. at a party? (Frank when he heard Paul there? (Ocean’s Eleven) Costello) • Make a shoeshine box Robeson sing on the film set of Show Boat? 28) Who got up on the 23) The Clark Brothers (5years) Lounge stage with The performed at the opening Clark Brothers and sang of which hotel in Las 11) Name the famous song while they danced around Resources: Vegas? (The Sands) sung by Paul Robeson in him? (Frank Sinatra) the film Show boat. (Old • DVD workshop footage 24) What is discrimination? Man River) 29) Who did Steve do an of The Clark Brothers (not being treated as impression of for Bing equals) • Art materials and paper Crosby? (Louis Armstrong)

17 Part: LIVING LEGENDS CLASSWORK AND ACTIVITIES TWO THE CLARK BROTHERS IN LONDON

Read The Clark Suggested 11) Name two West End theatres that The Clark Brothers in London to Questions pupils and / or get pupils Brothers performed in. to read it individually. (The London Palladium, the Prince of Wales 1) What year did The Clark Choose questions Theatre, the London Brothers come to London? Casino, the Princess that assess the pupils’ (1948) learned knowledge. Theatre) The questions below 2) In which show did Steve 12) Who did The Clark will help focus the and Jimmy perform when pupils on the origins Brothers perform with they first came to Britain? at the Prince of Wales and development of The (Hellzapoppin) Clark Brothers Theatre in 1963? (The Beatles, Marlene Dietrich) 3) What was the name of the ship The Clark 20) Name three countries 12) Who did Steve and in which The Clark Suggested Brothers came over to Jimmy meet after the Britain on? (The Queen Brothers performed? (U.S, activities: show? (The Queen Cuba, Australia, Britain) Mary) Mother) 1) Divide pupils into 4) What was the name of 21) Name three of the six groups and get them to 13) Which princess Cruise ships The Clark make up a story based on the singer who did The Clark Brothers accompanied The Clark Brothers performed on. the following themes: perform for who also (QE2, RMS Queen Mary, Brothers on the Queen came from Philadelphia? Mary? (Gracie Fields) Sagafjord, Vistafjord, • Travelling on the Queen (Princess Grace of Cunard Princess and Mary. Monaco) 5) Name the hotel where Cunard Countess) The Clark Brothers stayed • Arriving in Britain for the 14) Which two Northern 22) Which legendary show first time in Piccadilly Circus? (The cities does Steve mention Regent Palace Hotel) business brotherhood did he worked in? (Leeds, The Clark Brothers join in • Performing for royalty Blackpool) 6) What was the name of 1968? (The Water Rats) the legendary tap dancer • Performing in the 15) What was the name 23) In which year did West End and the regions who had a school close to of the televised Variety the hotel where The Clark Jimmy Clark sadly pass show on which The Clark away? (2009) • The University of Brothers stayed? (Buddy Brothers appeared? (The Bradley) Showbusiness Good Old Days) 24) In which show did Steve appear in at The 2) Ask the pupils to: 7) What was the name of 16) The mother of which the royal who frequented Hackney Empire in 2014? famous tap dancer asked (Don’t Knock - Tap!) • Paint a picture depicting the Churchill Club? Steve to teach him a few their stories. (Princess Margaret) steps? (Gregory Hines)

• Tell their stories 8) Why did The Clark 17) Name the dance Brothers decide to stay school The Clark Brothers • Act out their stories in Britain? (So that they founded in London. could get all the jobs in (The University of Show • Write their stories down mainland Europe) Business)

9) What show did The 18) Which royal cut Resources: Clark Brothers do at the the ribbon at The Clark London Casino in 1950? Brothers’ dance school? • DVD workshop footage (The Latin Quarter) (Princess Margaret) of The Clark Brothers 10) What were Margot 19) What sort of people • Art materials and paper Fontaine and Rudolf came to the dance school Nureyev? (Ballet dancers) to learn how to dance? (Pop stars, actors)

18 Part: LIVING LEGENDS CLASSWORK AND ACTIVITIES YOUNG PEOPLE AT URDANG ACADEMY AND ON THE ARTIST THREE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AT THE HACKNEY EMPIRE 2014

Research The Clark Brothers in your local library or Young people at Hackney Empire viewing footage of online The Clark Brothers

Young people viewing a Slave Recipt as research for Research other artistes of the period The Clark Brothers touring the Southern United States

The young people from Hackney were able to benefit from meeting Steve himself, but research into the period can be undertaken by speaking to elders in your own communities to find out their experiences of the time and recollections of The Clark Brothers

19 Mount your own exhibition using photographs and Draw and create your own exhibition ephemera

Create a character for your performance Researching and viewing footage of The Clark Brothers to aide characterisation

Research costumes Research props

20 Rehearsals

After all your hard work.....its SHOWTIME!!!

21 “Reworking the past to create the future.”

Positive Steps houses the biggest and most authoritative collection of primary source material on Black artists who have contributed to the cultural landscape of England from the 19th Century onwards. Positive Steps was formed in 1990 by Leon Robinson as a vehicle for exploring, archiving, interpreting and educating about the Black experience in British history, focusing particularly but not exclusively on arts and culture, especially theatre, as this provided an interesting and accessible window to the lived experiences of people through the times.

For more information about the work of Positive Steps contact: [email protected]

This Living Legends legacy pack is published by and copyright of Leon Robinson, Positive Steps and has been made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

All images used are from the personal collections of Steve Clark and Leon Robinson.

Written and designed by Emily Phillips with contributions from Leon Robinson, Ann Phillips, Audley Smith, and Monique Robinson.

Cover design by Audley Smith.

RESOURCES

• Living with Legends by Stephen E Clark • Living Legends Website • Living Legends Film (available on the Living Legends Website and Vimeo)

We hope you find this Living Legends legacy pack useful to your experience and study of Black performance history.