🚀 go-pugleaf

LIGHTNIN' STRIKES POLITICAL CORRUPTION!!!!

My dad is the last living major cast member of both "Amos 'n' Andy" and
Walt Disney's "Song of the South."  He played the part of Lightnin' and
created the voice of Brer Bear for Walt Disney.  His voice is on Splash
Mountain (the Disneyland ride).  He is a vaudevilian, hoofer, comedian,
and humanitarian.  He can also be seen in many vintage movies, in fact,
Mae West put him in his first movie. 

He and my mother received "Living Legend" awards from the National Black
Theatre Festival in Winston Salem, NC.  The letter said "Congratulations!
Because you made profound contributions to Black theatre in America, as
well as the entertainment industry as a whole and you are respected
internationally as humanitarian, you have chosen to be honored at the 1995
National Black Theatre Festival as the recipient of the Festival's "Living
Legend Award." 

My father also received the "Career Achievement" Award from the L.A.
Weekly Newspaper.  My parents started the careers of many famous people. 
Other famous people have been presented on the stage of the Ebony Showcase
Theatre which was founded by my parents 45 years ago. 

My parents and I have been named in an eminent domain case.  We filed a
counter complaint against the agency.  We just received a fax notice on
Friday at 11 A.M. that stated that the Los Angeles Community Development
Agency (CRA) attorney, Joseph S. Avila, will be appearing in Department 59
of the Los Angeles Superior court, located at 111 N. Hill Street, Los
Angeles, CA, on Monday, February 10, 1997, at 8:30 A.M. to file an ex
parte application for IMMEDIATE prejudgment possession of our theatre by
the Community Redevelopment Agency.  We need immediate help if we are to
save our beloved theatre from eminent domain. 

My parents have worked very hard to build their theatre.  They transformed
an empty building to an award winning theatre and arts center.  They
started their theatre over 45 years ago the old-fashioned way. They didn't
move away, but stayed in the same community and made a personal investment
which improved their community... with love and dedication for over 45 years.

The Ebony Showcase Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, Inc. is a non profit
organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of
the law.  My dad will celebrate his 87th birthday in just a few weeks. 
Please help to make his birthday a happy one by helping us to save our
community theatre from an unwelcome government take-over. 

Please e-mail me, talent@h4h.com or talentscout@cris.com, I can also be
reached at aol (humaniti@aol.com). My parents are humanitarians who for 45
years have worked with youngsters and helped keep the kids out of trouble,
and away from gangs and drugs.  Some of the kids even became famous as 
adults.

Bill Cosby told my dad, "Nick, Heaven only knows how many potential
anti-social kids you've turned around." 

My dad would be glad to send his autograph to all who help.  The Ebony
Showcase Theatre is a non profit organization and is the oldest
existing legitimate theatre in the United States that was founded by 
African Americans.  Our outreach is to everyone of any race and any 
background.

Please call me at 213-936-1107 (leave a message if I'm not there) or fax
your pledge of help or of money to 213-965-0420.  You can also log onto my
BBS 213-936-6009 (BBS validation will be done within a few hours). 

We need volunteers to help raise money and to get the word out.  All
donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.  Please help
in any way you can.  We will honor you on our website.

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Outreach from the Ebony Showcase Theatre Cultural Arts Center to the
World.  Movie/TV Memorabilia.  Resources & Opportunities for Creative &
Inventive People.  "A theatre needs to be more than just a building... A
culture must be more than a collection of art & music."  Nick (Lightnin' &
Brer Bear) Stewart, co-founder.  http://h4h.com/~talent - BBS 213-936-6009