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00:00:01>> WELCOME BACK TO THE OHIO
STATEHOUSE.
00:00:05WOW, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD NOT BE
A RIVER PRODUCTION INSTALLMENT,
00:00:14STORYTELLING EPISODE HERE AT THE
OHIO STATEHOUSE UNLESS IT WAS
00:00:17WINTERTIME AND DRIVING
CONDITIONS WERE TOUGH.
00:00:21DID YOU EVER GO HOME AT NIGHT
AND SIT DOWN WITH YOUR FAMILY
00:00:27AND EVERYBODY RECOUNTS THE
EVENTS OF THE DAY?
00:00:28THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS THAT I
CAN SAY THAT MAYBE YOU HAVE SAID
00:00:33THIS -- I WAS ALMOST KILLED
TODAY.
00:00:35I'M GLAD YOU ALL MADE IT HERE
SAFELY TODAY.
00:00:39A GROUP OF DYNAMIC STORYTELLERS
WITH A PASSION FOR HISTORY ARE
00:00:45JOINING US ONCE AGAIN THIS
WINTER.
00:00:46WINTER REALLY IS A TIME WHEN IN
THE PAST FAMILY AND FRIENDS
00:00:54GATHER TOGETHER TO HEAR STORIES.
THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO STAY
00:01:00WARM.
I THINK IT IS REALLY INTERESTING
00:01:04AND VERY COOL THAT WE ARE
PERPETUATING EACH WINTER IN THIS
00:01:10PROCESS OF SITTING DOWN TO HEAR
SOME WONDERFUL STORIES.
00:01:12BEFORE WE GET GOING, I NEED TO
GET SOME THANK YOU'S.
00:01:15FIRST TO OGT, OHIO GOVERNMENT TO
MEDICATIONS WHO ARE HERE WITH US
00:01:22STREAMING LIVE ON OHIO
CHANNEL.ORG.
00:01:25THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE THE MASTER OF
00:01:31SOUND, MR. PETE FINK WHO WILL
KEEP IS HEARING EVERYTHING WE
00:01:37NEED TO HERE TODAY.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO RIVERSIDE
00:01:44ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FOURTH GRADE,
FROM DUBLIN, OHIO.
00:01:46[APPLAUSE]
AROUND OF APPLAUSE.
00:01:47I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT
DIRECTLY AFTER THE PROGRAM, WE
00:01:59WILL HAVE A QUESTION AND ANSWER
SESSION.
00:02:00THINK OF SOME QUESTIONS IF YOU
WILL WHEN WE ARE DONE WE WILL GO
00:02:04AROUND THE GET THOSE.
DR. JEFFERSON WILL SPEAK TO YOU
00:02:08ON THE SUBJECT.
DR. ANNETTE JEFFERSON GIVES LIFE
00:02:14TO APPLE WATERS AND RECOUNTS THE
TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS THAT BLAZE
00:02:17THE TRAIL AND OPEN DOORS IN THE
ENTERTAINMENT WORLD OR OTHER
00:02:20PERFORMERS ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-
AMERICANS.
00:02:22MOST AMERICANS, IF THEY REMEMBER
HER AT ALL, RECORD -- RECALL A
00:02:29WHITE-HAIRED ELDERLY WOMAN WHO
SPOKE SWEETLY.
00:02:31SHE DID A LOT OF BILLY GRAHAM
CRUSADES BUT IT WAS HER HONEY
00:02:39VOICE AND SWAYING HIPS THAT
EARNED HER THE NAME OF SWEET
00:02:43MAMA STRING BEAN, MAKING HER A
POPULAR SUCCESS ON THE
00:02:47VAUDEVILLE CHITTENDEN CIRCUIT
AND NIGHTCLUBS.
00:02:49LATER, IT WAS HER EXTINCT OF
ACTING ABILITY AND SPIRIT STAGE
00:02:55PRESENCE THAT SECURED HER A
PLACE IN BROADWAY THEATER,
00:02:57RADIO, FILM AND TELEVISION.
ETHEL WATERS WAS A COLORED
00:03:03ENTERTAINER.DENIED THE LATTER TO
SUCCESS
00:03:07THE RUNS WERE BROKEN AND SHE
COULD NOT CLIMB WITH AN
00:03:10IMPORTANT FIRST STEP SO SHE
SCRAMBLED UP THE ROUGH SIDE OF A
00:03:12MOUNTAIN TO BE THE TOP EARNING
BLACK WOMAN EVER DAY IN THE
00:03:15UNITED STATES AND THE SECOND
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACTRESS TO BE
00:03:20NOMINATED FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD.
NOW WE GIVE YOU DR. ANNETTE
00:03:23JEFFERSON AS MS. ETHEL WATERS.
[APPLAUSE]
00:03:26>> WELCOME.
IT HAS BEEN QUITE SOME TIME
00:03:40SINCE I HAVE HAD VISITORS AND
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WANT TO
00:03:43TALK WITH ME ABOUT MY LIFE.
I REALLY CANNOT REMEMBER WHEN I
00:03:48DID MY LAST INTERVIEW.
IF YOU WERE NOT HERE, I WOULD BE
00:03:56PERCHED RIGHT OVER THERE BY THE
WINDOW LOOKING DOWN ON ALL THE
00:04:01HUSTLE AND BUSTLE BELOW.
BUT UP HERE, IN MY LITTLE NEST,
00:04:10IT IS COMFY, COZY, AND QUIET.
AND I FEEL REALLY AT HOME WITH
00:04:19ALL OF MY MEMENTOS IN MY AWARDS
AND PHOTOGRAPHS ALL AROUND.
00:04:23WELL, I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE.
YOU SEE, I DRESSED FOR THE
00:04:32OCCASION.
AND I'VE WOULD DO APPEAR WET --
00:04:39APPEAR WET --A PIROUETTE BUT
THESE HIPS WERE NOT AS MOBILE AS
00:04:47THEY ONCE WERE.
I WAS KNOWN FOR MY SHIMMY.
00:04:48I COULDWOW BUT I THINK I BETTER
PERCH BEFORE I GET INTO ANUN
00:05:01MBILE STATE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE READ MY
00:05:06TWO BOOKS.
YOU PRETTY MUCH KNOW MY WHOLE
00:05:11LIFE.
I WROTE THOSE TO RAISE FUNDS.
00:05:16I DID NOT LOOK LIKE IT AT THE
TIME, A CHARITY CASE.
00:05:21AND I CAN ADMIT THAT NOW.
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW, THE
00:05:33FIRST BOOK -- THAT TITLE WAS
VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME AND THAT
00:05:40WAS A TELL ALL BOOK.
I TOLD AS MUCH AS IT WAS WISE TO
00:05:44TELL.
I TOLD THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND
00:05:51THE NOT SO PRETTY BECAUSE GOD
DON'T LIKE UGLY.
00:05:57I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS, THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS EYE IS ON
00:06:03THE SPARROW AND MY SECOND BOOK.
BY THEN, I HAD REALLY MELLOWED
00:06:10OUT.
AND MY LIFESTYLE WAS DIFFERENT.
00:06:15VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT I AM LIVING
NOW.
00:06:19BUT HAD HIS I NOT BEEN ON THIS
OVERSTUFFED BIRD, I REALLY DON'T
00:06:29KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE TODAY.
PRECIOUS, YOU DO KNOW WHO I'M
00:06:43TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY HE KNOM
TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY HE IS.,
00:06:45DON'T YOU?
IS I WAS ON ME EVERY TIME.
00:06:47NOW, I HAVE BEEN IN SHOW
BUSINESS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
00:06:55OH, YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW I
STARTED WITH BILLY GRAHAM --
00:07:04THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WAS
00:07:09BECAUSE OF LONELINESS.
YES, I WAS DOING A ONE-WOMAN
00:07:18PERFORMANCE IN NEW YORK CITY.
I WAS SINGING ALL OF MY
00:07:27FAVORITES AND OLD HITS.
THE AUDIENCE LOVED ME AND I LOVE
00:07:32THEM AND, OF COURSE, I SANG "
SPARROW" BUT I WOULD GO HOME ON
00:07:40THAT HIGH NOTE AND THERE WOULD
BE NOBODY THERE BUT ME AND MY
00:07:54350 POUND SELF.
AND I WAS JUST SICK OF MYSELF.
00:07:55I WAS JUST SICK.
YOU SEE, ALL MY LOVERS -- I HAVE
00:08:02BEEN MARRIED THREE TIMES -- WHAT
I YEARN FOR, WHAT I LONG FOR WAS
00:08:10TO BE LOVED AND UNDERSTOOD.
I WAS MARRIED WHEN I WAS 13.
00:08:16TO A MAN NAMED MERRIT PERNSLEY
AND THERE WASN'T MUCH MARRIAGE
00:08:27TO HIM.
HE WAS 23 AND HE KEPT AFTER ME
00:08:29TO MARRY HIM.
I THOUGHT THAT ONE SURE WAY TO
00:08:36GET HIM TO STOP, BECAUSE I WAS
NOT INTERESTED IN HIM, WAS TO
00:08:40TELL HIM TO ASK MY MOTHER.
WELL HE DID AND MY MOTHER
00:08:48SAID.YES
I FELT BETRAYED.
00:08:52I WONDER ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF
THAT MARRIAGE TODAY.
00:08:59BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU HAD TO BE
AT LEAST 18 TO GET MARRIED IN
00:09:05PENNSYLVANIA.
BUT THAT MARRIAGE, HE FOUND SOME
00:09:10GAL TO STAND IN MY PLACE AND
SIGN MY NAME AND THEN HE FOUND
00:09:15SOME OLD JACK LEG PREACHER TO
MARRY US.
00:09:19AND THERE WE WERE IN SOME OLD
SMALL, SMOKY ROOM AND MY WEDDING
00:09:25DRESS WAS A SKIRT AND A BLOUSE.
AND I WAS JUST SIX MONTHS AWAY
00:09:33FROM BEING 14.
BY THE TIME I WAS 14 GOING ON
00:09:3915, WE WERE SEPARATED AND I WAS
LIVING ON MY OWN.
00:09:44WELL, TO GET BACK TO BILLY
GRAHAM, I WOULD COME HOME AND I
00:09:51WOULD BE 61 YEARS OLD AND STILL
LONGING FOR THE LOVE I SHOULD
00:09:59HAVE HAD WHEN I WAS SIX OR
YOUNGER.
00:10:02BUT YOU SEE, I WAS WHAT THEY
CALLED AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD.
00:10:11I WAS BORN AFTER MY MOTHER WAS
RAISED AND SHE WAS ONLY 12.
00:10:17SHE DID NOT WANT ME.
SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH
00:10:22ME.
MY SISTER GENEVIEVE, SHE WAS THE
00:10:31LOVE CHILD.
WELL, I CARRIED THAT BURDEN FOR
00:10:35MOST OF MY LIFE.
WELL, NOW, BILLY GRAHAM -- I WAS
00:10:45LAYING ON MY BED ONE EVENING --
I WOULD COME HOME AND LISTEN TO
00:10:49THE RADIO AND JUST TURN THE DIAL
SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING THAT
00:10:56WOULD PLEASE MY DEAR AND GET MY
MIND OFF MYSELF.
00:10:59I FOUND THIS YOUNG PREACHER AND
HE SOUNDED GOOD TO ME.
00:11:05HE WAS WHITE BUT HE WAS
PREACHING RIGHT.
00:11:08I HAVE NEVER BEEN A CHURCHGOER
BUT SOME FOLKS WOULD SAY THAT I
00:11:15WAS RELIGIOUS AND I THOUGHT OF
MYSELF AS BEING RELIGIOUS AND
00:11:21THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.
BUT I DID NOT KNOW IT THEN.
00:11:23YOU SEE, IT WAS NOT ANYTHING FOR
ME -- IF YOU MADE ME MAD OR SAID
00:11:34SOMETHING I DID NOT LIKE, I
WOULD JUST SNATCH OFF MY
00:11:37RELIGION AND TALK TO THE GROUND.
I WOULD GIVE YOU A GOOD CUSSING
00:11:41OUT OR WHATEVER ELSE I THOUGHT
YOU NEEDED.
00:11:49THEN I WOULD SCOOP UP MY
RELIGION AND SHAKE IT OFF
00:11:50BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU LAY IT
DOWN, IT GETS DIRTY.
00:11:52THEN I WOULD PUT IT BACK ON AND
GO ON MY MERRY GOD BLESS YOU,
00:12:01THANK YOU JESUS WAY.
SINCE YOU READ MY TWO BOOKS, YOU
00:12:05KNOW THAT'S HOW IT WAS IN THE
FIRST BOOK.
00:12:08WELL, I WAS JUST TIRED.
ONE EVENING, LAYING ON THE BED,
00:12:19I THOUGHT I WOULD JUMP UP OUT OF
THE BED WHEN I HEARD DR. BILLY
00:12:25GRAHAM CRUSADE WAS COMING TO NEW
YORK OR IN I MADE IT MIGHT
00:12:27BUSINESS TO BE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT WAS QUITE A CHORE, HAULING
00:12:36ALL OF ME AROUND.
WE HAD TO STAND IN LINE AND
00:12:40WAIT.
MY LEGS JUST COULD NOT STAND IT.
00:12:45I WOULD GET WINDED.
FINALLY, I CONTACTED SOMEONE IN
00:12:54THEGRAHAM ORGANIZATION AND I
ASKED THEM IF THERE WAS SOME WAY
00:13:00I COULD BYPASS STANDING IN LINE
AND JUST GET IN AND GET TO MY
00:13:05SEAT.
WELL, THEIR SOLUTION WAS FOR ME
00:13:12TO JOIN THE CHOIR.
WELL, PRECIOUS, I NEVER DID LIKE
00:13:18TO SING IN A CHOIR.
GROUP SINGING WAS NOT MY THING.
00:13:21I KNOW.
I DON'T THAT THE STEREOTYPE OF
00:13:27FAMOUS NEGRO ENTERTAINERS, A
SINGER WHO DID NOT GROW UP
00:13:36SINGING IN A GOSPEL CHOIR.
I WENT TO CHURCH SOMETIMES.
00:13:40BUT THE CHOIR WAS NOT FOR ME.
WELL, I DECIDED THAT IF I HAD TO
00:13:49BYPASS THOSE LINES AND THE CHOIR
WAS THE WAY TO DO IT, I WOULD DO
00:13:53IT.
AND THEY GAVE ME A LITTLE BUTTON
00:13:58THAT ALLOWED ME TO BE USHERED
RIGHT IN.
00:13:59THOSE GRAHAM PEOPLE WERE THE
MOST PRECIOUS KIND OF PEOPLE.
00:14:06THEY MADE A SPECIAL SEAT FOR
MAY.
00:14:11THEY DID NOT MAKE IT THAT THEY
MADE IT SPECIAL.
00:14:13THEY SAWED OFF THE ARMS OF THE
SEAT TO ACCOMMODATE ME, MOST OF
00:14:21ME, AND MY EXTRA FLASH.
--FLESH AND THEY PUT A RESERVE
00:14:33SIGN ON THE SEAT SO THAT NO ONE
ELSE WHO MIGHT ALSO HAVE
00:14:38SPILLAGE COULD COME AND TAKE MY
SEAT.
00:14:41I WAS QUITE PLEASED TO SIT IN
THE ALTO SECTION AND LEND MY
00:14:49VOICE WITH THE REST OF THE
CHOIR.
00:14:50ONE EVENING, PRECIOUS CLINT
BARROW ANNOUNCED THAT THE GRAHAM
00:15:02CRUSADE WOULD BE EXTENDED FOR
FOUR WEEKS AND WHEN I HEARD
00:15:06THAT, THERE WAS A SPARK IN MY
SPIRIT AND I KNEW THAT I WOULD
00:15:12BE THERE FOR THOSE FOUR WEEKS
BECAUSE I HAD BEEN GOING BACK
00:15:17AND FORTH IN MY MIND ABOUT
WHETHER I NEEDED TO GO BACK TO
00:15:20LOS ANGELES.
USUALLY -- MY HOME WAS UP FOR
00:15:25SALE AND A NEED TO TAKE CARE OF
BUSINESS BUT I DID NOT WANT TO
00:15:27MISS THE CRUSADE.
I KNEW THAT I WOULD BE THERE FOR
00:15:32THAT FOUR WEEKS.
THEN CLIFF ANNOUNCED THEY HAD
00:15:39RECEIVED A SPECIAL REQUEST FROM
SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE.
00:15:42THE REQUEST WAS THAT MS. ETHEL
WATERS SING " HIS EYE IS ON THE
00:15:51SPARROW" WITH THE CHOIR.
I WAS SO STONED THAT ALL I COULD
00:15:58DO -- STUNNED, THAT ALL I COULD
DO WAS NOD MY HEAD.
00:16:05I SAYING -- SANG "SPARROW" FIVE
TIMES THOSE FOUR WEEKS.
00:16:15I HAD THE SENSE THAT I WAS DOING
WHAT GOD WANTED ME TO DO.
00:16:21YOU SEE, BEFORE THE CRUSADE, I
HAD BEEN HAVING THESE LITTLE
00:16:29TALKS WITH JESUS.
I WAS TELLING HIM ALL ABOUT MY
00:16:34TROUBLES ABOUT JUST LIKE IN THE
GOSPEL SONG.
00:16:36I WAS TELLING HIM THAT I WANTED
TO BE IN THE TYPE OF
00:16:45ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS, OUT OF
THE TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT
00:16:52BUSINESS I WAS IN.
I FELT IT WAS NOT ALL RIGHT WITH
00:16:57ME.
I WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
00:17:01AND NOW I'M GOING TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU.
00:17:07IT WASN'T EASY FOR ME TO MAKE
THE CHANGE THAT I WAS WANTING TO
00:17:13MAKE.
ENTERTAINMENT, SHOW BUSINESS,
00:17:20THAT WAS ALL I KNEW.
I HAD BEEN IN IT FOR YOU 50
00:17:23YEARS, IT WAS MY BREAD AND
BROADER -- WHAT ARE -- BUTTER.
00:17:29BECAUSE I STARTED AS AN
ENTERTAINER, WHEN I WAS 17.
00:17:37I SAID I WAS GOING TO BE
TRUTHFUL.
00:17:4117 IS WHAT I WROTE MY FIRST BOOK
, AND IT MADE FOR GOOD COPY.
00:17:51I WAS REALLY 21.
I GOT DISCOVERED IN A JUKE JOINT
00:18:01.
I CAN SEE BY YOUR FACES YOU DO
00:18:06NOT KNOW WHAT A JUKE JOINT IS.
IT WAS THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE
00:18:12YOU GO AT NIGHT WITH SOME
FRIENDS, AND YOU SIT THERE AND
00:18:17HAVE A GOOD TIME, BUT YOU KNEW
BEFORE THE END OF THE NIGHT,
00:18:22THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME KIND OF
A ROWDY UP EVIL -- UPHEAVAL,
00:18:35BECAUSE SOMEBODY WOULD BE
DIGGING ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S
00:18:37CHECK, OR SOMEBODY WOULD STEP ON
SOMEBODY'S FEET, OR BRUISE THEIR
00:18:42FEELINGS IN SOME KIND OF WAY,
AND THEN IT WOULD BE ON.
00:18:44I WAS DISCOVERED IN SUCH A
PLACE, A REAL DIVE.
00:18:53I HAD BEEN SNEAKING INTO THERE
SINCE I WAS IN MY TEENS,
00:19:07BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNEW ME.
A MUST HAVE BEEN HAVING A TALENT
00:19:11SHOW, BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNEW ME,
AND PEOPLE USED TO SAY THAT SHE
00:19:16CAN SAY.
WE WANT TO HEAR HER.
00:19:18I WAS TIPPING -- CHIPPY, SO I
GOT UP AND SANG A SONG ABOUT
00:19:31BEING A LONG WAY FROM HOME.
I JUST LIVED AROUND THE CORNER
00:19:36FROM THE PLACE, BUT THAT WAS THE
NAME OF THE SONG.
00:19:38IN THE AUDIENCE THAT NIGHT WERE
TWO WELL-KNOWN VAUDEVILLIAN
00:19:46ENTERTAINERS.
BRAXTON AND NOBLE -- ME
00:19:54LVILLE.
THEY HEARD ME SING, AND THEY
00:20:00LIKED WHAT THEY HEARD.
THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD GET ME
00:20:04$10 IF I WENT WITH THEM FOR TWO
WEEKS IN BALTIMORE.
00:20:06$10 A WEEK FOR SINGING IN
BALTIMORE.
00:20:10THEY INSIST DID THAT I GET THE
PERMISSION OF MY MOTHER.
00:20:15MY MOTHER SIGNED.
I THINK MY WHEEZY WOULD HAVE
00:20:34SIGNED ANYTHING FOR $10 A WEEK,
BECAUSE I WAS ONLY GETTING 350.
00:20:37-- $3.50 AT BEING A CHAMBERMAID.
SOMEBODY WHO DID THE DIRTIEST OF
00:20:49THE DIRTY WORK IN THE KITCHEN,
THAT IS WHAT I DID FOR $3.50 A
00:20:54WEEK.
I DID NOT HAVE MUCH FAITH IN
00:21:05ENTERTAINMENT, I DO NOT THINK
THERE WAS A FUTURE IN IT.
00:21:07BUT I WAS WILLING TO GO, ONLY IF
MY WHEEZY PROMISED TO TAKE MY
00:21:15PLACE AT MY JOB, SO THAT WHEN I
RETURNED FROM BALTIMORE, I WOULD
00:21:19HAVE A JOB.
SHE DID, AND OFF I WENT.
00:21:24NOW, I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN MY OWN
MIND.
00:21:31THAT IS JUST CODE FOR BEING
STUBBORN.
00:21:36I KNEW WHAT SONG I WANTED TO
SING.
00:21:40I WANTED TO SAYING -- SING
"ST. LOUIS BLUES."
00:21:52I WAS TOLD THAT SONG WAS
RESTRICTED, AND I WOULD HAVE TO
00:21:56GET HER MISSION.
I WROTE TO THE MAN, AND HE WROTE
00:22:02BACK AND GAVE ME PERMISSION.
I WAS THE FIRST WOMAN, AND THE
00:22:05SECOND PROFESSIONAL TO SEEING
"ST. LOUIS BLUES."
00:22:11YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT FAMILIAR
WITH THAT SONG, BUT LET ME SEE
00:22:16IF I CAN LET A STANZA OF IT.
?
00:22:27OVER THE YEARS, MY VOICE HAS
FALLEN UNFORTUNATELY.
00:22:36THAT SONG BECAME A BLUES
CLASSIC, AND LOTS OF PEOPLE
00:22:42RECORDED IT.
JESSE SMITH, THE QUEEN OF THE
00:22:46BLUES IN THOSE DAYS BUT SHE
RECORDED IT IN 1929.
00:22:52BUT SANG IT -- ETHEL SANG IN
1917 WHEN I WAS 21.
00:23:06I STAYED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT
BUSINESS, AND WAS INVOLVED BILL,
00:23:15WHICH THEY CALLED THE COLORED
TRADE.
00:23:17THAT MEANT THERE WERE
THEATERS WHERE THE THEATER
00:23:24OWNERS WHO WERE WHITE CATERED TO
COLORED AUDIENCES.
00:23:28THOSE THEATER OWNERS, THEY
WORKED US LIKE HEBREW SLAVES.
00:23:36FROM NINE IN THE MORNING TO 12
MIDNIGHT, AND AFTER.
00:23:42WELL, THOSE THEATER OWNERS WERE
BANDED TOGETHER IN AN
00:23:51ORGANIZATION CALLED THEATER
OWNERS BOOKING ASSOCIATION.
00:23:57TOBA.
WE CALLED IT TOUGH ON BLACK --
00:24:07WELL, YOU FILL IT IN.
I WAS IN THE COLORED TRADE FOR A
00:24:16NUMBER OF YEARS.
I REALLY WASN'T INTERESTED IN
00:24:23DOING ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT MY HUSBAND AT THE TIME CAP
00:24:28URGING ME TO GO TO WHAT WAS
CALLED THE WHITE TIMES.
00:24:33FINALLY, I DID MAKE THAT SWITCH.
BECAUSE, I HAD HAD MY TIME IN
00:24:44SOME VERY NICE CLUBS.
THE COTTON CLUB IN HARLEM, MAYBE
00:24:49YOU HEARD OF IT, I WAS THE FIRST
ENTERTAINER THERE.
00:24:54I WAS THE HIGHEST-PAID
ENTERTAINER AT THAT TIME IN THE
00:24:59COTTON CLUB, LOCATED IN HARLEM,
BUT FOR WHITES ONLY.
00:25:05THAT WAS A GOOD VENUE FOR ME,
BECAUSE A SPECIAL SONG WAS
00:25:14WRITTEN JUST FOR ME.
IT WAS CALLED "STORMY WEATHER."
00:25:20I SO ENJOYED SINGING STORMY
WEATHER.
00:25:24IT WAS A RELEASE FOR ME, BECAUSE
I COULD GET OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF
00:25:33THE COTTON CLUB FLOOR, AND I WAS
BACKED UP WITH THE DUKE
00:25:38ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA.
I COULD EXPRESS INC. IN SONG
00:25:45THAT I REALLY COULDN'T FRAME IN
WORDS.
00:25:48IN THAT SONG I COULD TALK ABOUT
THE INJUSTICES AND THE
00:25:56OUTRAGEOUS -- OUTRAGES THAT WERE
DONE TO BE BY PEOPLE THAT I
00:26:03LOVED AND TRUSTED.
"STORMY WEATHER," I WILL TRY A
00:26:10LITTLE SNIPPET.
?
00:26:17TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHERE I AM
WITH MY AGE.
00:26:42I DO NOT HAVE THE VOICE I ONCE
HAD.
00:26:45THEY TELL ME THAT MY VOICE, AND
I BELIEVE IT, IT WAS
00:26:50HIGH-PITCHED AND BELL LIKE
QUALITY.
00:26:54WELL, YOU BE THE JUDGE TODAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT "STORMY WEATHER"
00:27:04SOUNDS LIKE.
THAT SONG WAS A TURNING POINT
00:27:09FOR ME, BECAUSE WHILE I WAS
PLAYING THE COTTON CLUB ABOUT
00:27:14MR. IRVING BERLIN DISCOVERED ME.
AT THE TIME, HE WAS WRITING A
00:27:21MUSICAL, AND IT WAS DECIDED THAT
I COULD PLAY A PROMINENT ROLE IN
00:27:30HIS MUSICAL.
THAT WAS A GROUNDBREAKING
00:27:37EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE UP UNTIL
THEN COLORED AND WHITE TO NOT
00:27:43SHARE THE STAGE UNLESS THE
COLORED PERSON WAS A SERVANT OR
00:27:50ACTING AS A BUFFOON.
MR. BERLIN HAD THREE SONGS WOULD
00:28:00-- WRITTEN FOR ME.
ONE OF THE BECAME BESTSELLERS,
00:28:06ONE WAS "HEAT WAVE," AND THE
OTHER WAS "HARLEM ON MY MIND --
00:28:14," AND THE THIRD SONG ALLOWED
ME TO EXPRESS MY DRAMATIC
00:28:23QUALITIES ABOUT CALLED
"SUPPERTIME."
00:28:26IT WAS ABOUT A WOMAN PREPARING A
MEAL FOR HER TWO CHILDREN, AND
00:28:34SHE HAD JUST BEEN TOLD THAT HER
HUSBAND HAD BEEN LYNCHED.
00:28:39I REALLY COULD POUR MYSELF INTO
THAT SONG, BECAUSE WHILE I WAS
00:28:46DOING VAUDEVILLE, I HAD AN
EXPERIENCE OF HAVING A YOUNG BOY
00:28:53WHO WAS LYNCHED, AND THEY THREW
HIS BODY INTO THE THEATER WHERE
00:28:59I WAS PERFORMING.
I COULD IDENTIFY WITH THAT SONG
00:29:06"SUPPERTIME."
BUT "HEAT WAVE" WAS A JAZZY
00:29:13NUMBER.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT ONE
00:29:25ALONE.
THE OPPORTUNITY WAS GREAT,
00:29:33BECAUSE I WAS ON BROADWAY.
I HAD BUILDING WITH THE THREE
00:29:38TOP STORES, MY NAME WAS UNDER
THERE'S.
00:29:40-- THEIRS.
THE CRITICS LOVED THE PROGRAM,
00:29:48AND THEY LOVE TO MEET.
THE CAST HOWEVER, HAD ISSUES.
00:29:51THE THREE TOP PERFORMERS WENT TO
MR. BERLIN AND TOLD HIM THAT
00:29:59THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY SHOULD
TAKE THEIR CURTAIN CALLS WITH ME
00:30:05.
MR. BERLIN LISTEN TO THEM, AND
00:30:09OF COURSE HE WANTED TO MEET
THEIR DEMANDS.
00:30:13HIS SOLUTION WAS, THAT THERE
WOULD BE NO CURTAIN CALLS.
00:30:21I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE
FOLLOWING NIGHT ALL OR THOSE
00:30:28WERE OFF THE STAGE -- ON THE
STAGE BOWING AND GRINNING TO THE
00:30:33THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE THAT WE ALL
RECEIVED TO OUR PERFORMANCE.
00:30:37IT WAS GROUNDBREAKING, IT LED
THE WAY TO OTHER COLORED
00:30:43ENTERTAINERS TO, AND MAKE THEIR
WAY TO BROADWAY.
00:30:45YOU ASKED ME OF ALL THE PLAYS
THAT I HAVE BEEN IN, WHICH ONES
00:31:00ARE THE MOST MEANINGFUL?
THEY ARE ALL MEANINGFUL, AND OF
00:31:04COURSE I HAVE TO INCLUDE THE ONE
THAT LAUNCHED ME ON TO BROADWAY.
00:31:12I WOULD HAVE TO INCLUDE MAN
VERSUS DAUGHTER, THAT WAS A ROLE
00:31:21THAT I KNEW WAS FOR ME.
BECAUSE, THE MAIN CHARACTER, I
00:31:29LIVED HAGAR.
IT ALSO WAS A CHANCE FOR ME TO
00:31:38SHOW MY DRAMATIC ACTING SIDE.
BUT THE REAL IMPORTANCE, I WAS
00:31:47THAT THE EMPIRE THEATER, ON
BROADWAY, NAME IN LIGHTS, AND I
00:31:53HAD THE SAME DRESSING ROOM AS
HELEN HAYES, ETHEL BARRYMORE,
00:32:04AND ALL OF THE OTHER GREAT
ACTRESSES.
00:32:05THERE I WAS, ETHEL WATERS
.
00:32:10GOD WAS IN THE ROOM WITH ME THAT
NIGHT, AND I TALKED TO HIM UNTIL
00:32:16THE CALL BOY IN SAID FIVE
MINUTES MS. WATERS TILL
00:32:21SHOWTIME.
THAT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
00:32:26I CANNOT LEAVE OUT "CABIN IN THE
SKY."
00:32:31IT WAS REALLY A NEW VENTURE FOR
BROADWAY.
00:32:37IT WAS AN ALL NEGRO
CAST, A MUSICAL, AND A
00:32:50STAR-STUDDED PERFORMANCE.
I AGAIN HAD TOP BILLING ON
00:32:53BROADWAY, AND IT WAS "CABIN IN
THE SKY," THAT GOT ME TO
00:32:57HOLLYWOOD.
THEY MADE A MOVIE, "THE CABIN."
00:33:04THAT WAS WHITE A DIFFERENT PLACE
-- QUITE A DIFFERENT PLACE,
00:33:15ESPECIALLY FOR A COLORED
ACTRESS.
00:33:17WHAT CAME AFTER "CAP IN THE SKY
-- CABIN IN THE SKY, THE MOVIE
00:33:26PINKIE WAS A LIFESAVER BECAUSE
AT THAT TIME I HAD FALLEN INTO
00:33:34DIFFICULTY WITH THE IRS COME AND
20TH CENTURY CAME AND RESCUED
00:33:38ME.
IT IS NOT EASY LIVING THE LIFE
00:33:42OF AN ENTERTAINER.
YOUR PUBLIC EXPECTS YOU TO DRESS
00:33:47A CERTAIN WAY, AND HAVE THE
JEWELS AND THE FURS AND THE CARS
00:33:52AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS AND
THEN SOME.
00:33:54OF COURSE, I WANTED TO PLEASE MY
PUBLIC.
00:33:58I WAS TAKING CARE OF MY MOTHER,
AND MY SISTER, AND MY ADOPTED
00:34:05DAUGHTER, AND I HAD SO MANY
DEMANDS THAT I WAS MAKING GOOD
00:34:11MONEY, BUT AS THEY SAY THE EAGLE
FLIES VERY QUICKLY.
00:34:17PINKIE WAS A LIFESAVER OF A IN
THAT MOVIE WAS ABOUT IMITATION
00:34:28OF LIFE.
VERY FAIR SKINNED GIRL HAS AN
00:34:42IDENTIFIABLY NEGRO MOTHER,
LEAVES HOME, PASSES FOR WHITE.
00:34:45FOR SOME REASON, COME BACK ABOVE
WRESTLES WITH HER IDENTITY,
00:34:51EXCEPT SUSHI IS -- ACCEPT WHO
SHE IS, AND LIFE MOVES ON.
00:34:58THAT WAS PINKIE, AND IT WAS
GROUNDBREAKING BECAUSE IT WAS AN
00:35:03UNUSUAL TOPIC FOR HOLLYWOOD.
AND THEN MEMBER OF THE WEDDING,
00:35:11THAT PUT ME BACK ON BROADWAY.
IN A STARRING ROLE, BUT I WAS A
00:35:20MAID, BUT A MAID WHO
MADE A VERY GOOD SALARY.
00:35:30ACCEPTING THAT ROLE, IT PUT ME
AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID
00:35:36FEMALE PERFORMERS ON BROADWAY.
AND ALSO PUT ME IN LINE TO ASK
00:35:43FOR A RAISE, BECAUSE THE CRITICS
LOVED "MEMBER OF THE WEDDING."
00:35:50I KNEW I WAS IMPORTANT, SO I
ASKED FOR A RAISE.
00:35:54THE AUTHOR, WE WERE FRIENDS, AND
I LOVED HIM, -- HER, BUT SHE
00:36:07DIDN'T WANT ME TO HAVE THAT RACE
BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE MONEY OUT
00:36:11OF HER POCKET.
THE PLAY HAD ALREADY RECEIVED
00:36:13THE NEW YORK THEATER GUILD TOP
RATING, AND OTHER AWARDS, SO IT
00:36:21WASN'T AS THOUGH THERE WASN'T
CASH FLOW -- WAS A CASH FLOW
00:36:27PROBLEM FOR THE PLAY.
I STOOD MY GROUND, WHICH IS
00:36:30ANOTHER CODE WORD FOR SAYING I
WAS STUBBORN, AND I GOT A RAISE.
00:36:34IT HAS BEEN A GOOD LIFE.
AND AS MANY WONDERFUL LIFE, AND
00:36:45AS I SAID, THE TITLE OF MY
SECOND BOOK WAS "TO ME, IT'S
00:36:52WONDERFUL."
IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO ME TO
00:36:57HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
SOME OF MY LIFE WITH YOU.
00:37:02NOT ONLY DID I WRITE TWO WORKS
ABOUT MY LIFE, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
00:37:09WRITTEN BIOGRAPHIES ABOUT MY
LIFE.
00:37:12MAYBE YOU'LL WANT TO READ ABOUT
MS. ETHEL WATERS
00:37:18, AND FIND OUT ABOUT SOME THINGS
THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME TO
00:37:26SHARE WITH YOU, BUT GLAD THAT
YOU ARE HERE.
00:37:28THAT IS WHY I CAN SING, BECAUSE
I AM HAPPY.
00:37:32I CAN SING BECAUSE I AM FREE.
IS I -- HIS EYE IS ON THE
00:37:46SPARROW, AND I KNOW HE WATCHES
WE.
00:37:51THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
00:37:56DR. ANNETTE JEFFERSON.
WOW.
00:38:06>> ANOTHER STUNNING
PERFORMANCE.
00:38:19>> SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE IN
HER DINNER TO HAVE HER OWN RADIO
00:38:25SHOW.
SHE CAME ON THE AIR TWICE A WEEK
00:38:38MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS AT 11:00
P.M.
00:38:40IT WAS IN PRIME TIME, BUT STILL
SHE WAS ON THE AIR, AND A LOT OF
00:38:47PEOPLE KNEW HER.
I MENTIONED IN HOLLYWOOD, FOR
00:38:55PINKIE SHE WAS NOMINATED AS BEST
SUPPORTING ACTOR.
00:39:03SHE ALMOST HAD AN OSCAR.
SHE DIDN'T GET IT, BUT HARDLY
00:39:12MCDANIELS WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ACTRESS TO BE
00:39:19NOMINATED FOR BEST
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, AND SHE WON
00:39:25THE OSCAR.
>> DID SHE LOOK BACK TO ETHEL
00:39:30WATERS AS AN INSPIRATION?
WAS SHE COGNIZANT OF STANDING ON
00:39:36THE SHOULDERS OF HER?
>> I THINK HARLEY MCDANIEL AND
00:39:43ETHEL WATERS WERE
CONTEMPORARIES.
00:39:44THEIR HOMES WERE VERY CLOSE
TOGETHER.
00:39:48IF YOU RECALL, I MENTIONED,
BEING A BLACK ACTORS IN
00:39:56HOLLYWOOD AT THAT TIME ABOUT
REALLY WAS LITTLE MORE THAN
00:40:00BEING UNEMPLOYED.
ETHEL WATERS WAS ABLE TO FIND
00:40:06MORE EMPLOYMENT THEN HARDLY
MCDANIELS, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD
00:40:11AN OSCAR TO HER REPUTATION.
ETHEL WAS MORE KNOWN BECAUSE SHE
00:40:19WAS VERY VERSATILE, SHE DID
SING, SHE COULD DANCE, SHE COULD
00:40:23ASK, AND YOU CAN ALSO ACT
DRAMATICALLY.
00:40:24FROM RADIO PROGRAMS, SHE SPREAD
HER FAME ACROSS THE NATION.
00:40:32EVEN THOUGH HAD A MCDANIEL WAS
IN GONE WITH THE WIND, SHE WAS
00:40:40JUST NOT AS WELL KNOWN AS ETHEL
WATERS.
00:40:43>> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR DR. JEFFERSON?
00:40:48>> DID YOU EVER PERFORMED IN
OHIO?
00:40:56>> I'M GLAD YOU SAID CLEVELAND,
YES, I DID PERFORM IN CLEVELAND.
00:41:05AT A VERY DEAR FRIEND TO LIVE
RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBUS OHIO.
00:41:11I AM WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE
BUCKEYE STATE.
00:41:16>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> DID YOU EVER GO TO CANADA?
00:41:27>> DID I EVER GO TO CANADA?
NO, SWEETHEART, I NEVER DID.
00:41:33I DID HAVE A CHANCE TO GO
OVERSEAS, TO PARIS, FRANCE, AND
00:41:43REALLY IT WAS MORE OF A
VACATION.
00:41:44I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY
VOICE, AND A LITTLE LIKE I AM
00:41:51HAVING TODAY, I NEEDED A REST.
I WENT TO PARIS, AND IT WENT TO
00:41:58ENGLAND, AND BY THE TIME I GOT
TO ENGLAND, A WELL-KNOWN SURGEON
00:42:03WAS ABLE TO PERFORM AN OPERATION
ON MY THROAT AND THE REST
00:42:09CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.
SO I DID A PERFORMANCE IN
00:42:13ENGLAND WHILE I WAS THERE.
>> ONE MORE?
00:42:16>> DO YOU HAVE ANY KIDS?
>> DO I HAVE ANY CHILDREN?
00:42:22I NEVER HAD CHILDREN, BUT
ADOPTED DAUGHTER, THE DAUGHTER
00:42:32OF A DEAR FRIEND, WHO WAS DOWN
ON HER LUCK.
00:42:37I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD TAKE THE
CHILD, AND RAISE HER.
00:42:42I RAISED HER AS MY OWN, VERY
PRECIOUS AND DEAR TO ME.
00:42:48THERE WERE OTHER CHILDREN, I
WOULD CALL THEM MINE, TAKE
00:42:57CARE OF THEM COME A CLOSE THEM,
AND DO WHATEVER I COULD FOR
00:43:01THEM.
VERY GOOD QUESTION.
00:43:04>> ONE MORE?
>> HAVE YOU EVER DONE ANY
00:43:10PERFORMANCE IS OVERSEAS
BESIDES THE ONE IN ENGLAND?
00:43:15>> NO ABOUT PARIS, FRANCE, AND
LONDON, ENGLAND ARE THE ONLY TWO
00:43:24FOR AN INJ -- ARE THE ONLY
TWO FOREIGN COUNTRIES I HAVE
00:43:31BEEN PRIVILEGED TO VISIT.
"THE SPARROW" IS FIGURATIVE.
00:43:38THE THOUGHT IS IF GOD'S EYE IS
ON A LITTLE ITTY-BITTY SPARROW,
00:43:49THEN HOW MUCH MORE IMPORTANT ARE
WE?
00:43:51AND CERTAINLY HIS EYE IS ON US.
THAT IS WHAT I MEAN WHEN HIS --
00:43:59WHEN I SAY HIS EYE IS ON THE
SPARROW.
00:44:02I'M GLAD THAT YOU MEANT THAT,
BECAUSE "SPARROW" IS NOT
00:44:13JUST A SONG TO ME.
IT IS IN THE MARROW OF MY BONES.
00:44:16MY GRANDMOTHER WAS THE ONE WHO
RAISED ME, SHE WOULD CALL ME IN
00:44:23FROM OUTSIDE AND HAVE ME PUMP UP
THE ORGAN AND SEEING "SPARROW"
00:44:33TO HER.
WHEN SHE WAS ON HER DEATHBED,
00:44:39DYING OF CANCER, I SCOOPED MOM
UP IN MY ARMS, AND I SAYING
00:44:44"BARROW" TO HER.
-- SANG "SPARROW" TO HER./
00:44:53THAT WAS THE LAST TIME.
EVEN THOUGH THAT SOUND SAD, I
00:45:00CAN SAY THAT I AM HAPPY, BECAUSE
I AM.
00:45:02>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE DR.
JEFFERSON REALLY IS ETHEL WATERS
00:45:08RIGHT NOW?
ONE MORE QUESTION.
00:45:10>> WHEN YOUR MOM DID YOUR MOM
GIVE YOU OFF TO YOUR
00:45:19GRANDMOTHER?
>> I CANNOT REALLY SAY SHE GAVE
00:45:24ME TO MY GRANDMOTHER, MY MOTHER
WAS ONLY 12.
00:45:29MAYBE SOME OF YOU ARE CLOSE TO
THAT AGE.
00:45:33IT ONLY MADE SENSE FOR MY
GRANDMOTHER JUST TO TAKE THE
00:45:38INITIATIVE.
REALLY MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A HARD
00:45:42WORKER.
THERE WEREN'T MANY JOBS THAT
00:45:48BLACK WOMEN COULD HAVE IN THOSE
DAYS, EARLY IN THE 1900'S.
00:45:53I WAS BORN IN 1896.
JUST TO KEEP A ROOF OVER OUR
00:46:02HEAD, AND FOOD IN OUR BELLIES,
SHE HAD TO WORK AS A
00:46:10LIVE-IN DOMESTIC.
THAT MEANT THAT HER CHILDREN
00:46:12WERE LEFT ON THEIR OWN COMMENTS
CAN ONLY COME HOME ONE DAY A
00:46:16WEEK -- THEIR OWN, AND SHE COULD
ONLY COME HOME ONE DAY A WEEK.
00:46:22I WOULD BE OUT IN THE STREET ON
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY,
00:46:29THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY.
SUNDAY I WOULD GO TO CHURCH, AND
00:46:34THEN BACK OUT ON THE STREET.
THAT IS THE WAY IT WAS, AND THAT
00:46:40IS WHY I CAN SAY HIS EYE WAS ON
THE SPARROW, AND I KNOW HE IS
00:46:45WATCHING ME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
00:46:50[APPLAUSE]
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions