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3 unusual facts about Ethel Waters


Ethel Waters

In 1933, Waters made a satirical all-black film entitled Rufus Jones for President, which featured then-child performer Sammy Davis Jr. as Rufus Jones.

She lost tens of thousands in jewelry and cash in a robbery, and had difficulties with the IRS.

Hendy Woods State Park

The park was formally dedicated on July 7, 1963; the dedication was attended by state senator Frank S. Petersen, musician Ethel Waters, and various local dignitaries.


Bill Benford

While Tommy worked out of Europe for much of this time, Bill worked in America, playing with Bubber Miley, Marie Lucas, Elmer Snowden, the Gulf Coast Seven, the Plantation Orchestra, Thomas Morris & His Seven Hot Babies, Ethel Waters, Willie "The Lion" Smith, and Jelly Roll Morton.

Joe Leahy

Other radio and television shows for which he did uncredited background music included those for Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth Eddie Cantor, Tony Martin, Ethel Waters, Constance Bennett and many others.

Josephine Premice

The show was choreographed by Katherine Dunham, who Josephine had studied dance with and her co-star was Ethel Waters.

Kurt Kaiser

He has produced and arranged albums for the likes of: Kathleen Battle, Ernie Ford, Larnelle Harris, Burl Ives, Ken Medema, Christopher Parkening, George Beverly Shea, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ethel Waters, and Anne Martindale Wiliams.

L.S. Alexander Gumby

The scrapbooks contain autographed photos, stories and letters from such notable performers as Paul Robeson, Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Ethel Waters, and letters and autographs from Black historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Father Divine, W.E.B. Dubois, and Marcus Garvey.

Race film

African-American participation in World War II contributed to the casting of black actors in lead roles in several Hollywood major productions, such as Pinky with Ethel Waters; Home of the Brave with James Edwards; and Intruder in the Dust, all in 1949; and No Way Out (1950), which was the debut of the notable actor Sidney Poitier.


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