Tallulah Bankhead was the hostess of a big time radio show, called "The Big Show." It was on Sunday nights in the early Fifties, with a lot of big stars. The idea was to pull back the audience which had been lost to television. Tallulah's "theatah" way of talking probably put some people off. Her manner of speaking became a source of humor among radio commedians.
@uegmusic Did she ever mention her love life? I've read a few reports about her having dozens and dozens of affairs with men and women, just wondered if there was alot of truth to them or a little truth to them that was blown up by the press. Not that it matters either way, I've always loved Tallulah, but I love reading about my favorite actors and actresses histories :)
The story Norman Lear mangled was the incident where Petula Clarke touched the arm of Harry Belafonte on the "Petula Clark Show." It created a huge controversy in the late 60's
Otto Preminger, a Jewish director, was forever grateful to Tallulah for helping his family get them out of Nazi Germany, at the risk of her own life... she was indeed extraordinary, despite all of her personality quirks.
Lear's inability to remember his story is maddening and has me wracking my brain.
I know Ed Sullivan lost Lincoln Mercury as a sponsor because they received complaints about him shaking hands with or putting an arm around African-American performers.
The great Nat King Cole's variety show was yanked after (I think) only one season simply because he performed duets with white people.
Even in the 60s, when Petula Clark hugged Harry Belafonte after a duet the bigots went crazy.
Personally, I don't see any significance in the act either way, because I don't judge early 20th Century people by early 21st Century standards. To do so means that we agree to be judged by future 22nd Century standards. As modern as our values may feel to us today, it is a certainty that future generations will think of us as savages too, unless we stop forcing the dead to comply with values they had no knowledge of while living.
Lena Horne in her biography accused Tallulah Bankhead and others of being racist. Horne named names in her biography. I am glad this story is out, to clear the name of Tallulah Bankhead as made by Miss Horne. Tallulah Bankhead fired back in her own defense at the time to Lean Horne for a retraction, but Miss Horne never apologized. I hope this gives Miss Bankhead the respect for race relations she acted out and deserved both personally in her private and public life.
Lena Horne don't get me wrong, wonderful woman, extremely talented. Love to her hear cds, watch her films. But she was a bit full of herself and one of those that always liked to play the victim. As many do especially those that are members of minority groups yes life was tough, everyone has had there issues. But you have to move on with your life. Everybody has had problems, i could name a few personal incidents that were horrific. But you have to move on don't dwell.
@RICHARDDAVISMCLEOD What? I never can believe that Tallulah was a racist. Lena Horne wrote this book obviously to make money and not to make mankind wiser ...
Lena Horne in her biography accused Tallulah Bankhead and others of being racist. Horne named names in her biography. I am glad this story is out, to clear the name of Tallulah Bankhead as made by Miss Horne. Tallulah Bankhead fired back in her own defense at the time to Lean Horne for a retraction, but Miss Horne never apologized. I hope this gives Miss Bankhead the respect for race relations she acted out and deserved both personally in her private and public life.
Tallulah was the first star who insisted, in all her contracts, that her maid would stay at the same hotel that she stayed at. In those days many hotels did not allow African Americans as guests...Tallulah INSISTED that her staff have the same accomodations as she did.
@Redpony68 The Bankhead tunnel in Mobile, Alabama, was named for her grandfather, John Hollis Bankhead. She was brought up to accept people of all races, and she did it well.
Thank you for posting this! I probably never would have watched the full interview if you had not tagged it with "Tallulah Bankhead." I was so interested in this story that I spent a couple of days researching the issue which Norman Lear discusses here. I wrote a blog article about it and just posted a video about it as well. (Feel free to check it out.)
The little girl's name was actually "Gloria Lockerman." Norman Lear didn't get all of his facts straight, but many years had passed.
Boarrrr...RING...!!!
ThomasDeLello 1 week ago
Tallulah Bankhead was the hostess of a big time radio show, called "The Big Show." It was on Sunday nights in the early Fifties, with a lot of big stars. The idea was to pull back the audience which had been lost to television. Tallulah's "theatah" way of talking probably put some people off. Her manner of speaking became a source of humor among radio commedians.
MrFrontrowkid 1 month ago
Charles Revson and Eartha Kitt had an affair for years. And he's worrying about two old white broads kissing a black child?
DCFunBud 7 months ago
old people talking about race as if it mattered....fascinating, but glad that is over with.........
epiksonik 1 year ago
One of my aunts was Ms Bankhead's maid
uegmusic 1 year ago 2
@uegmusic Did she ever mention her love life? I've read a few reports about her having dozens and dozens of affairs with men and women, just wondered if there was alot of truth to them or a little truth to them that was blown up by the press. Not that it matters either way, I've always loved Tallulah, but I love reading about my favorite actors and actresses histories :)
vampirehuntress1018 9 months ago
The story Norman Lear mangled was the incident where Petula Clarke touched the arm of Harry Belafonte on the "Petula Clark Show." It created a huge controversy in the late 60's
vanessafabulay 1 year ago
I believe that Tallulah is up there in Heaven, holding court, as was her forte. Yes, she most certainly was an amazing person.
jslasher1 1 year ago
Otto Preminger, a Jewish director, was forever grateful to Tallulah for helping his family get them out of Nazi Germany, at the risk of her own life... she was indeed extraordinary, despite all of her personality quirks.
102936 1 year ago 2
Lear's inability to remember his story is maddening and has me wracking my brain.
I know Ed Sullivan lost Lincoln Mercury as a sponsor because they received complaints about him shaking hands with or putting an arm around African-American performers.
The great Nat King Cole's variety show was yanked after (I think) only one season simply because he performed duets with white people.
Even in the 60s, when Petula Clark hugged Harry Belafonte after a duet the bigots went crazy.
So dumb!
5tpxyyrk 1 year ago 5
my hometown is named after her its called Tallulah Louisiana
sexylovestephanie 1 year ago
He doesnt remember who anyone is/was
MPL029 1 year ago
Personally, I don't see any significance in the act either way, because I don't judge early 20th Century people by early 21st Century standards. To do so means that we agree to be judged by future 22nd Century standards. As modern as our values may feel to us today, it is a certainty that future generations will think of us as savages too, unless we stop forcing the dead to comply with values they had no knowledge of while living.
mnpd007 2 years ago 4
she is my great aunt... my sister was named after her
blueangles123 2 years ago
Lena Horne in her biography accused Tallulah Bankhead and others of being racist. Horne named names in her biography. I am glad this story is out, to clear the name of Tallulah Bankhead as made by Miss Horne. Tallulah Bankhead fired back in her own defense at the time to Lean Horne for a retraction, but Miss Horne never apologized. I hope this gives Miss Bankhead the respect for race relations she acted out and deserved both personally in her private and public life.
RICHARDDAVISMCLEOD 2 years ago 2
Lena Horne don't get me wrong, wonderful woman, extremely talented. Love to her hear cds, watch her films. But she was a bit full of herself and one of those that always liked to play the victim. As many do especially those that are members of minority groups yes life was tough, everyone has had there issues. But you have to move on with your life. Everybody has had problems, i could name a few personal incidents that were horrific. But you have to move on don't dwell.
cmcb09 2 years ago
@RICHARDDAVISMCLEOD What? I never can believe that Tallulah was a racist. Lena Horne wrote this book obviously to make money and not to make mankind wiser ...
SpaceCowboy641 8 months ago
Lena Horne in her biography accused Tallulah Bankhead and others of being racist. Horne named names in her biography. I am glad this story is out, to clear the name of Tallulah Bankhead as made by Miss Horne. Tallulah Bankhead fired back in her own defense at the time to Lean Horne for a retraction, but Miss Horne never apologized. I hope this gives Miss Bankhead the respect for race relations she acted out and deserved both personally in her private and public life.
RICHARDDAVISMCLEOD 2 years ago
Tallulah was the first star who insisted, in all her contracts, that her maid would stay at the same hotel that she stayed at. In those days many hotels did not allow African Americans as guests...Tallulah INSISTED that her staff have the same accomodations as she did.
Redpony68 2 years ago 14
Yes that does not surprise me..Tallulah was way ahead of her time..amazing woman, just amazing. <3
DiabolicalAngel 2 years ago 15
@Redpony68 The Bankhead tunnel in Mobile, Alabama, was named for her grandfather, John Hollis Bankhead. She was brought up to accept people of all races, and she did it well.
streetwhereulive 7 months ago
i mean belafonte
wuzzlesAgogo 2 years ago
Thank you for posting this! I probably never would have watched the full interview if you had not tagged it with "Tallulah Bankhead." I was so interested in this story that I spent a couple of days researching the issue which Norman Lear discusses here. I wrote a blog article about it and just posted a video about it as well. (Feel free to check it out.)
The little girl's name was actually "Gloria Lockerman." Norman Lear didn't get all of his facts straight, but many years had passed.
OurKrazyKulture 2 years ago 5