Eddie Green (actor)
Eddie Green (August 16, 1896 – September 19, 1950) was an American actor, film director, composer, and radio personality best known for his vocal work in the radio programs Amos 'n' Andy, and Duffy's Tavern.
Early life and career
Eddie Green was born on August 16, 1896, in Baltimore, Maryland. Before age eight, he had already gained a reputation in local show business circles by performing as a "boy magician" in Baltimore area churches. As he grew into his teen years, he started to gain employment in local concert halls as a magician before breaking into the vaudeville circuit, where he made nine dollars a week. Early in his vaudeville career, Green began to branch out from magic and work in burlesque acts. For eleven years, Green worked with the legendary vaudeville company headed by Billy Minsky, Minsky's Burlesque.[1]
Move to Broadway and film
Green left Minsky in the late 1920s and moved to
As the age of the "talking pictures" began, Green participated in creating what would later be known as the "race pictures". Green was involved in many film productions, namely; Mr. Adams Bomb, Laff Jamboree, and Mantan Messes Up. Through his film career, he got noticed by famous radio personality Rudy Vallée, who convinced him to move to radio.[3]
Songs
Green wrote many songs, the best known being "A Good Man Is Hard to Find."[4]
Work in radio
Vallée featured Green heavily on his radio programs
However, Green did not gain his highest acclaim until he began to work with Amos 'n' Andy and Duffy's Tavern, the latter of which also became a hit movie. Through his work with Ed Gardner he became one of the most influential black artists in radio.[6]
Eddie Green died of a heart ailment on September 19, 1950, in Los Angeles, California.
Filmography
- Sending a Wire (1929) with James Baskett
- The Devil’s Parade (1930)
- What Goes Up (1939)
- Dress Rehearsal (1939)
- Comes Midnight (1940)
- One Round Jones (1941), short boxing comedy[7][8]
- Duffy's Tavern (1945) (based on Duffy's Tavern radio show)
- Eddie Green's Laugh Jamboree (1947),
- Mantan Messes Up (1946)
- Mr. Adam's Bomb (1949)
References
- ^ "Radio Spirits » Blog Archive » Happy Birthday, Eddie Green!". www.radiospirits.info. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
- ^ League, The Broadway. "Eddie Green – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
- ^ "Eddie Green". IMDb. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
- ISBN 978-0810883505 [page needed]
- ^ Grams, Martin (2016-09-23). "Eddie Greene: Pioneering Black Filmmaker, Movie Star, Old-Time Radio Icon". Martin Grams. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
- ISBN 978-1593939670.[page needed]
- ^ https://www.daaracarchive.org/2017/12/one-round-jones-1941-lost-film.html?m=1
- ^ https://myauctionfinds.com/2017/10/09/picture-stories-lobby-card-for-eddie-jones-one-round-jones/
- ^ https://www.abebooks.com/Eddies-Laugh-Jamboree-Black-Cinema-Toddy/31688948187/bd
- ^ https://collections.new.oscars.org//Details/Archive/71332595