Pre-Oscar Night Award Set Design
Stars shine as Ebony honors four at pre-Oscar fete
March 5, 2006
BY BILL ZWECKER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST
HOLLYWOOD — Linda Johnson Rice, CEO of Johnson Publications and publisher of Ebony, was clearly excited Thursday night as she welcomed 650 guests to the star-studded gala “Ebony Presents Hollywood in Harlem.” The magazine’s second annual pre-Oscar fete honored the accomplishments of African Americans in the filmmaking and media communities. The 2006 salute singled out screen legend Cicely Tyson, actress Kimberly Elise, director John Singleton and entertainment manager Dolores Robinson as the evening’s special honorees — the focus of what was called “A Radiant Renaissance.” The evening also honored the South African film, “Tsotsi,” considered by many as a front-runner for the best foreign film Oscar on Sunday.
“This is especially important as we mark the 60th anniversary of Ebony this year — carrying on my father’s commitment to spotlight the positive achievements of African Americans and focus on the many positive stories that exist in our community — in the areas of business, civil rights, the arts and yes, Hollywood . . . a world we have covered and covered well for many, many decades,” said Johnson Rice — looking out over the crowd filling the Charlie Chaplin Stage at the Jim Henson Studios, located in the heart of Hollywood, only blocks from the Kodak Theatre, site of Sunday’s 78th Academy Awards.
Johnson Rice’s father and company founder John H. Johnson, who died last year, was clearly foremost in her thoughts as she expressed pride in his accomplishments Thursday, noting his groundbreaking contributions to the world of communications, “changing forever the way Americans, both black and white, view African Americans in all aspects of our society.”
Along with the honorees, the gala attracted some of the biggest names from the world of entertainment including Quincy Jones, Ludacris, music producing mogul Jimmy Jam, Samuel L. Jackson and his wife, LaTanya Richardson, Magic Johnson’s wife, Cookie, TV star CCH Pounder, Holly Robinson Peete, “The Young & the Restless” star Victoria Rowell, Debbie Morgan, Jasmine Guy and former NBA star-turned L.A. radio talk show host John Salley.
Honoree Tyson looked every bit the elegant diva, strolling into the party wearing a close-fitting black turban and swathed in chinchilla stoles. But the legendary actress seemed more excited about meeting 101-year-old Emma Jackson of Los Angeles. Tyson got very emotional as she told the crowd about a friend of Jackson’s phoning Tyson’s assistant a few days ago to say “the only thing she would like to do before she leaves this Earthly place was to meet me,” said Tyson, literally choking up as she recounted the story.
As for Ebony, Tyson spoke fondly of the late John H. Johnson — “a man who was the first to notice me, write about me . . . pay me major attention. . . . If it wasn’t for Ebony, I might not be here tonight — nor would a lot of other people walking up and down this red carpet,” Tyson said. The award-winning actress also told how Johnson gave her the opportunity not only to appear as the subject of Ebony stories, but also to write about entertainment phenomena in the black community — including an early piece on the film “Cry, Freedom.”
During the evening — from the red carpet arrivals to the scene inside the Charlie Chaplin Stage (re-created to look like a palm-tree lined version of the old Copacabana nightclub) — the Sun-Times caught up with a number of the stars present:
*Not surprisingly, Ludacris was “really keeping all my fingers — and my toes — crossed,” hoping “Crash,” in which he co-stars, takes home the best picture Oscar on Sunday night. “This film is so important to me . . . so important to everyone . . . one of the best things I’ve ever done. . . . I am so proud of that work and am so proud of everyone connected to it.”
*Kimberly Elise pointed to one of the many giant Ebony covers decorating the walls of the party, saying, “I have that cover of Miss Tyson framed in my house. . . . She always has been an inspiration for me and for all actresses of color for the groundbreaking work she did and continues to do.”
*Samuel L. Jackson, dressed in white from his ever-present Kangol beret down to his shoes, said “I can’t wait to come to Chicago!” He’s planning a June trip to catch his wife, LaTanya Richardson, starring in “The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove” at the Goodman Theatre. “God willing, I’ll be there opening night!”
“You better be!” quipped Richardson with a wink.
*Freda Payne laughed when asked if people still request “Band of Gold” — her signature hit. “Can you believe it? That came out in 1970 . . . and even though I do so much else . . . I do a whole Ella Fitzgerald show . . . no matter what, no matter where, people always insist that I close my shows with ‘Band of Gold.’”
Did she know it was going to be a hit right off the bat? “Honey, like so many songs, you’re often surprised by the ones which become hits. . . . But I never argue with the public!” As for the site of the party, Payne joked that everyone “is talking about this first being Charlie Chaplin’s studio . . . then Jim Henson’s . . . I remember when Herb Alpert recorded here back in the ’60s.”
*Honoree Singleton, the director and Chicago native, remembers growing up with Ebony and reading its former youth-oriented publication, Ebony Jr. “This is a wonderful night . . . I love parties, and I love the Oscars, but this is so special for our community. Singleton exhorted the crowd — “especially those in positions of power to use it well — not to use it to distort history. That would be unfair to the following generations. It is so important that we recount our history — all history — honestly.”
