Bill 'Bojangles'
Robinson |
Some
of the displays of early entertainment
have never been equaled, and there are
distinct reasons why. American
Vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, radio, and
the early film industry with its studio
system, provided invaluable (and
abundant) opportunity, not only to
display talent, but to acquire and hone
the necessary skills to please an
audience time and time again. This field
of opportunity often lifted the
impoverished and obscure to levels of
wealth and notoriety simply by allowing
the individual to learn as they worked,
and by keeping certain standards for
what was presented to the public. The
same is needed now.
Yes,
opportunity plus lots of mentors and
helping hands. What if Fred Karnow had
not brought Stan Laurel and Charlie
Chaplin to America? That would have been
a tragedy. What many don't realize is
that this tragedy has been happening a
million times over for the past 40, 50,
and 60 years, for the simple reason that
vaudeville and other important parts of
the entertainment industry are no longer
there to provide the opportunity that
the artist needs.
But
what can be done? Can we restore the
foundation of great entertainment? Of
course we can, but not without your
help. With your contributions, large and
small, you will help to fulfill the
dreams of countless young people, mature
ones, and those that are in between, and
all the while, you will help fulfill the
heart's desire of those whose faces you
see here, for they could only watch that
which gave them greatness fade away and
die, and there was nothing they could do
to stop it. It's time to bring it back
again. |