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Oscar Polk
Oscar Polk (December 25, 1899 – January 4, 1949) was an American actor. He portrayed the servant Pork in the film ''Gone with the Wind'' (1939). Career His most memorable scene in that film comes when Pork discloses to Scarlett O'Hara, portrayed by Vivien Leigh, that the back property taxes on Tara are $300. He was married to Ivy V. Polk (née Ivy Parsons), who also had an uncredited role in ''Gone with the Wind''. Together they had a son, Oscar Polk Jr. On January 4, 1949, Oscar Polk was fatally struck by a taxi cab as he stepped off a curb in Times Square in New York City ten days after his 49th birthday. At the time of his death, he was scheduled to have a major role in the play ''Leading Lady'', and he was replaced by Ossie Davis. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, Long Island, New York. Theatre credits Broadway *''The Trial of Mary Dugan'' (1927) *'' Once in a Lifetime'' (1930) *''Both Your Houses'' (1933) *''The Green Pastures'' (1935) *'' You Can't Take ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maspeth, Queens
Maspeth is a residential and commercial community in the borough of Queens in New York City. It was founded in the early 17th century by Dutch and English settlers. Neighborhoods sharing borders with Maspeth are Woodside to the north; Sunnyside to the northwest; Greenpoint, Brooklyn to the west; East Williamsburg, Brooklyn to the southwest; Fresh Pond and Ridgewood to the south; and Middle Village and Elmhurst to the east. Maspeth is located in Queens Community District 5 and its ZIP Code is 11378. It is patrolled by the New York City Police Department's 104th Precinct. Politically, Maspeth is represented by the New York City Council's 29th and 30th districts. History The name "Maspeth" is derived from the name of Mespeatches Indians, one of the 13 main Indian tribes that inhabited Long Island. It is translated to mean "at the bad waterplace" relating to the many stagnant swamps that existed in the area. The area known today as Maspeth was chartered by New Netherlanders ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Notorious Elinor Lee
''The Notorious Elinor Lee'' is a 1940 race film directed, written, and co-produced by the African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. Plot Elinor Lee, a gangster’s moll living in the Harlem section of New York City, has signed up-and-coming boxer Benny Blue to a 10-year contract. Lee and a pair of corrupt fight promoter scheme to build up Blue as a potential champion, with the goal of betting against him when they force him to take a dive in a champion fight. Lee conspires to hire Fredi, an old friend of Blue and an escaped convict hiding from the law, to be his sweetheart and to control him for Lee and her partners. The plans are derailed when Blue loses a key fight to a German boxer, but he works to regain his standing in the sport and is able to meet the German in a rematch after two years have passed. Lee and her partners bet against Blue, but they are financially ruined when Blue prevails in the fight and comes out the winner. Production ''The Notorious Elinor Lee'' was s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Big Town Czar
''Big Town Czar'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Arthur Lubin starring Barton MacLane and Tom Brown. Plot New York City newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan relates the story of crime boss Phil Daley's rise and fall. To the disappointment of his parents but delight of younger brother Danny, crime has paid off handsomely for Phil, but he isn't able to discourage Danny from following in his footsteps. Danny bribes a prizefighter to take a dive, costing rival gangster Mike Luger a lot of money in bets. Danny ends up dead, and Phil needs to lay low because Luger's looking for him, too. He manages to kill Luger, but ends up arrested, convicted and sentenced to die. Cast * Barton MacLane as Phil Daley * Tom Brown as Danny Daley * Eve Arden as Susan Warren * Jack La Rue as Mike Luger * Horace McMahon as Punchy * Frank Jenks as Sid Travis * Ed Sullivan as Himself Production The film was based on a story by Ed Sullivan. Universal bought it in August 1938. Barton MacLane was cas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Underworld (1937 Film)
''Underworld'' is a 1937 gangster film directed by Oscar Micheaux, about a recent graduate from an all-black college who moves from the American South to Chicago and gets swept into the criminal underworld. The film was adapted from the short story "Chicago After Midnight" by Edna Mae Baker. Among its stars are Ethel Moses, a Micheaux regular, and Oscar Polk, best known for his appearance in ''Gone with the Wind'' two years later. Plot The film opens at an all-black college somewhere in the Southern United States. Paul Bronson, a recent graduate, is convinced by gambler LeRoy Giles to join him in Chicago. There, Paul becomes involved with Dinah Jackson, a singer who is married to club owner Sam Brown but has been having an affair with LeRoy. Paul runs into Evelyn Martin, a beauty parlor owner, who recognizes him from college. The two have lunch together, during which LeRoy spots them and reports to Dinah that Paul is seeing someone else. Dinah arranges for LeRoy to drug and ro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Green Pastures (film)
''The Green Pastures'' is a 1936 American film depicting stories from the Bible as visualized by black characters. It starred Rex Ingram (in several roles, including " De Lawd"), Oscar Polk, and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. It was based on the 1928 novel ''Ol' Man Adam an' His Chillun'' by Roark Bradford and the 1930 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name by Marc Connelly. ''The Green Pastures'' was one of only six feature films in the Hollywood Studio era to feature an all-black cast, though elements of it were criticised by civil rights activists at the time and subsequently. Plot summary An elderly black woman reads from the Book of Genesis to a group of six young children in her house. She answers their questions about God and creation. One of the girls starts to visualise heaven... We enter the pearly gates to an all-black heaven, with winged angels sitting on clouds. The Lord, Jehovah, appears dressed in a black double-breasted jacket. He is given a cup of custar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dark Eyes (play)
''Dark Eyes'' is a play written by Elena Miramova (in collaboration with Eugenie Leontovich) that premiered in 1943. The comedy centers on three Russian-American actresses who have fallen into serious financial trouble and are urgently seeking a backer for their new play. The story is based upon an earlier Miramova work called "Love Is Not a Potato"; the play originally was titled ''To the Purple''."Gossip of the Rialto". ''The New York Times''. 20 December 1942. List of characters *John Field: A well-to-do widower and successful businessman who lives in Long Island with his family. *Grandmother Field: John's mother, whose birthday is the day that the play begins. *Larry Field: John's son, twenty-two years old, a self-described "bum". *Helen Field: John's daughter, younger than Larry, a girl of romantic temperament and the fiancée of Nikolai. *Pearl: A Negro maid who works for the Fields. *Willoughby: A butler employed by the Field family. *Prince Nikolai Toradje: A Georgian émi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Midsummer Night's Dream
''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict among four Athenian lovers. Another follows a group of six amateur actors rehearsing the play which they are to perform before the wedding. Both groups find themselves in a forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans and are engaged in their own domestic intrigue. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular and is widely performed. Characters * Theseus—Duke of Athens * Hippolyta—Queen of the Amazons * Egeus—father of Hermia * Hermia—daughter of Egeus, in love with Lysander * Lysander—in love with Hermia * Demetrius—suitor to Hermia * Helena—in love with Demetrius * Philostrate—Master of the Revels * Peter Quince—a carpenter * Nick Bottom—a weaver * Francis Flute—a bellows-mender * Tom Snout—a tinker * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swing (music)
Swing music is a style of jazz that developed in the United States during the late 1920s and early 1930s. It became nationally popular from the mid-1930s. The name derived from its emphasis on the Off-beat (music), off-beat, or nominally weaker beat. Swing bands usually featured soloists who would improvise on the melody over the arrangement. The danceable swing style of big bands and bandleaders such as Benny Goodman was the dominant form of American popular music from 1935 to 1946, known as the swing era. The verb "to swing (jazz performance style), swing" is also used as a term of praise for playing that has a strong groove (music), groove or drive. Musicians of the swing era include Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Harry James, Lionel Hampton, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw and Django Reinhardt. Overview Swing has its roots in 1920s dance music Musical ensemble, ensembles, which began using new styles of written ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
You Can't Take It With You (play)
''You Can't Take It with You'' is a comedic play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The original production of the play premiered on Broadway in 1936, and played for 838 performances. The play won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and was adapted for the screen as '' You Can't Take It with You'' in 1938, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director. The play is popular among theater programs of high school institutions, and has been one of the 10 most-produced school plays every year since amateur rights became available in 1939. Plot Act One The story takes place entirely in the large house of a slightly odd New York City family. Various characters in the lives of the Vanderhof-Sycamore-Carmichael clan are introduced in the first act. The patriarch of the family, Grandpa Vanderhof, is a whimsical old man who keeps snakes and has never paid his income tax. Penelope "Penny" Vanderhof Sycamore is his daughter (a writer of adventure- and sex ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Green Pastures
''The Green Pastures'' is a play written in 1930 by Marc Connelly adapted from ''Ol' Man Adam an' His Chillun'' (1928), a collection of stories written by Roark Bradford. The play was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1930. It had the first all-black Broadway cast. The play and the film adaptation were generally well received and hailed by white drama and film critics. African-American intellectuals, cultural critics, and audiences were more critical of white author Connelly's claim to be presenting an authentic view of black religious thought. The play portrays episodes from the Old Testament as seen through the eyes of a young African-American child in the Great Depression-era Southern United States, who interprets ''The Bible'' in terms familiar to her. Following Bradford's lead, Connelly set the biblical stories in New Orleans and in an all-black context. He diverged from Bradford's work, however, in enlarging the role of the character "De Lawd" (God), played on s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Both Your Houses
''Both Your Houses'' is a 1933 play written by American playwright Maxwell Anderson. It was produced by the Theatre Guild and staged by Worthington Miner with scenic design by Arthur P. Segal. It opened at the Royale Theatre on March 5, 1933 and ran for 72 performances closing May 6, 1933. It was awarded the 1933 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and included in Burns Mantle's ''The Best Plays of 1932–1933''. The title is an allusion to Mercutio's line "a plague on both your houses", in ''Romeo and Juliet''.Review: “Both Your Houses” , in the '''', by Anne Spiselman; published November 5, 2014; retrieved December 3, 2014 Plot Reception |
