![]() He did have experience with the American Negro Theater in New York City. Returning later to acting, he played a projectionist in the 1975 film "The Day of the Locust" and appeared in "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings" in 1976 and "The Main Event" in 1979. Amos: Alvin Childress (1907-1986) Childress was born in Meridian, MS, and had little in the way of film or TV credits before taking over as Amos when the show moved to the screen. He went to New York in 1931 and first appeared on Broadway in "Savage Rhythm." He later joined the Federal Theater when it was formed and worked as an instructor with the American Negro Theater.Īfter the cancellation of his series, he was a social worker for Los Angeles County. Childress graduated from high school in Meridian, Miss., and earned a bachelor's degree in sociology at Rust College. Other characters included attorney Algonquin Calhoun, played by Johnny Lee Andy's girlfriend, Madame Queen, played by Lillian Randolph, and the slow-moving janitor, Lightnin', played by Horace Stewart. Two members of the TV cast ensemble also played their parts on radio - Ernestine Wade, who portrayed Kingfish's shrewish wife, Sapphire Stevens, and Amanda (Mama) Randolph, who played her mother. Andy was the most gullible character in the series, and his actions often drew from Kingfish the flabbergasted response, "Holy mackerel, Andy!" That role was rarely at the center of action, but Amos usually served as narrator. ![]() Alvin Childress, Spencer Williams, Tim Moore (starring). He was played by Tim Moore.Īmos was the philosophical, sweet-natured owner and sole operator of the Fresh Air Taxi Co. The Amos n Andy Show (Collection of 15 original photographs from the 1951-1953 television series). The program's plot involved the antics of a group of three friends in Harlem - Amos Jones, Andy Brown and George (The Kingfish) Stevens.Īction often centered on the activities of The Kingfish, a conniving character who headed a lodge called the Mystic Knights of the Sea and who usually was looking for a dubious scheme to pursue with the aid of his lodge brothers. Childress and Spencer Williams were the actors chosen after an extensive search to play the title roles on television. Actually, the series had many episodes that showed the Negro with professions and businesses like attorneys, store owners and so on, which they never had in TV or movies before." Summary: Set in the Technicolor TV boom years of swimming pools and movie stars, Holy Mackerel is a battle royal between Spencer Williams, Alvin Childress and Tim Moore, the brilliant black. "I didn't feel it harmed the Negro at all. Childress did not agree with the protesting groups. The racially stereotypical situations depicted in the series drew protests from various groups and contributed to the television series' demise, despite good ratings, in 1953. They were replaced by black actors when the program moved to television. White actors had played all the leading roles on the radio. "Amos 'N' Andy" had been a popular radio program for years before CBS brought it to television in 1951. Erne Sanitarium in suburban Inglewood, Calif. ![]() Near Fine to Very Good plus, some with light wear on the versos and edges.Alvin Childress, 78, the actor who played sweet-natured Amos on the landmark "Amos 'N' Andy" television comedy series in the early 1950s, died April 19 at St. Photographs range in size from 7.25 x 9 inches to 8 x 10 inches. The group's pressure was a primary factor in the series' early cancellation, with CBS pulling the show from the air in 1953. Having long opposed the radio series for its stereotypical depiction of African American life, the NAACP mounted a formal protest of the show almost immediately after its release, contending that the series upheld racial prejudices and created a distorted view of African Americans. Aware that viewers would expect to see Black actors in the main roles, television producers cast Spencer Williams, Alvin Childress, and Tim Moore in the main roles, but instructed the actors to keep their voices and speech patterns close to Gosden and Correll's. Gosden, who had previously performed in the minstrel tradition. The radio show was created and voiced by white actors Charles J. 14 with printed mimeo snipes affixed to the verso, and all 15 with provenance stamps, including five representing the Cleveland Press.īased on the popular 1928-1960 radio show, following the misadventures of two African Americans from Georgia as they try to make it in the big city. Included in the set are five studio still photographs and ten reference photographs. Collection of 15 vintage reference and studio still photographs from the controversial and short-lived 1951-1953 television sitcom. Alvin Childress, Spencer Williams, Tim Moore (starring)Ĭharles J.
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