Valarie Stewart Knight <talentscout@ebonyshowcase.org> Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999
Note: Hollywood legend Nick Stewart is the last surviving member of the 1950s Amos 'N' Andy CBS TV series. He recently turned 89 years old on March 15. He and his family are fighting developers to keep intact their historic Ebony Showcase Theatre and cultural arts center in Los Angeles. We encourage all of you to support their preservation efforts and to wish Mr. Stewart a happy birthday. - SB
I am the daughter of Nick and Edna Stewart, founders of the historic Ebony Showcase Theatre in Los Angeles (founded in 1950). My father was one of the first inductees in the Academy of Television Arts and Science's new ARCHIVE OF AMERICAN TELEVISION for his pioneering work in Television. He is a pioneer of vaudeville, radio, movies, theatre and television who played the part of Lightnin' on the CBS TV series AMOS 'N' ANDY. He also created the voice of Brer Bear in Disney's SONG OF THE SOUTH (1946); he recreated the voice for the SPLASH MOUNTAIN RIDE at Disneyland.
We are deeply concerned about MAXWELL STREET, the demolitions that have already taken place and the demolitions that are scheduled to take place there. Maxwell Street is important to the history of our country. The Chicago Blues music style originated there. It has provided a place where immigrants from many countries lived, worked, and contributed to this country's history.
We feel a kinship with MAXWELL STREET and with the people who live and work there: The buildings that housed our theatre for nearly 40 years is also threatened by redevelopment and demolition, a very disturbing trend in this country... the manipulation and attempted eradication of people, history, and culture; and the related replacement with a cold sterile environment of parking lots and with buildings that lack history, soul, and character.
The people who remain and who live and work in the area are innocent people who are wrongly accused and threatened with an unjust death sentence for their very lives and for the life of their historic neighborhood. This is in direct violation of the intent of EXECUTIVE ORDER 11593 for the "protection and enhancement of the cultural environment" and of PROCEDURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PROPERTIES (ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION--36 CFR part 800).
It is requisite that, rather than demolish any more buildings or dispossess or displace any more people, you make a historic cultural district of the section that remains. Save the buildings. Involve the people. Respect and honor the history. Do not destroy it.
Yours truly,
Valarie Stewart Knight
Nick Stewart
Edna Stewart
Ebony Showcase Theatre and Cultural Arts Center
1285 S. La Brea Avenue, Suite 203
Los Angeles, California 90019
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The historic EBONY SHOWCASE THEATRE and Cultural Arts Center, Inc., founded in 1950 by living legends Edna & Nick (Brer Bear/Lightnin') Stewart. http://www.ebonyshowcase.org or http://www.h4h.com/talent
Ph 323-965-8837/BBS 323-936-6009/fax 323-965-0420.
web page provided by OPENAIR-MARKET NET
return to Preserve Maxwell Street