Old Movies That Folks Should See

[Radar]

A movie came out not long before Gilda Radner died called, "It Came From Hollywood" and it had Gilda Radner, John Candy, Cheech & Chong, and Dan Akroyd talking about old B movies on different topics. They had a whole section about Ed Wood. Another section covered drug movies like "Reefer Madness", another was about the incredible shrinking man, 50 foot woman, etc, etc.

It is so funny and entertaining it's amazing. I watched it again the other day and one the clips they show is the most blatantly racist thing I've ever seen. It's a Hollywood dance number with Al Jolson where a black guy goes to heaven. Apparantly it's black heaven. Everyone has tin foil wings, and halos and is singing or tap dancing. Then you see a gigantic watermelon break into pieces and inside is a black tap dancing man, children dressed up in black face singing "Hydee Hydee Hydee Hydee Ho!", etc.

It's so shocking and racist it actually is kind of funny to me. They never credited the clip in the credits of "It Came From Hollywood" but I did some research and found out it was a 1934 movie called "Wonder Bar". I just ordered it from Amazon and I'll let you know what I think when it gets here. It turns out Busby Berkeley actually worked on this film too.

Here's the lyrics to the song where Jolson goes to black heaven...

(St. Peter:) Here you is, in the heavenly land where the good folks go;
(Gabriel:) Come right in, hallelujah to you,
(Kids:) And a hi-de-ho!
(St. Peter:) Step right up, get a new pair o' wings and a new halo.
(Al Jolson:) Thank you, suh, and my thanks to the Lawd.
(Kids:) And a hi-hi-de-hi, hi-de-ho!
And a hi-hi-de-hi, hi-de-ho!
(Jolson:) Oh, Saint Peter, is I goin' where the pork chops am a-growin' on the trees?
(Picks:) On the trees.
(Jolson:) Tell me, is I goin' where the watermelon vines am a-blowin' in the breeze?
(Picks:) In the breeze.
(St. Peter:) Yes, you is an' the chickens am free 'cause they roam at large,
Help yourself to the fat of the land, and there ain't no cover charge.
(Jolson:) Who's dat there?
That's a friend of mine, why, it's Old Black Joe;
Hear him play on his little banjo.
(Picks:) And a hi-hi-de-hi, hi-de-ho-o!
(Jolson:) Who's dat there?
Why, it's ol' Uncle Tom that I used to know;
I'm so glad that he landed up here with his cabin show.
Seems like home from the things I've seen and the folks I've met.
(Gabriel:) Wait a while,
You'll have a reason to smile,
'Cause you ain't seen nothin' yet.