LG014 Interviews: Louise Weaver Smothers; Reverend John Thurston; Ed Sullivan (LG014Goreau_Side1)

LG014Goreau_Side1

Goreau, Laurraine

Weaver, Louise Overall, approximately 1915-1990
Sullivan, Ed
Thurston, John

1972-11-17; 1972-11-19

2014-03-24
2014-03-24

Side 1: Interview with Louise Weaver Smothers at Oxford House, Chicago, Illinois on 1972-11-17. Interview with Rev. John Thurston. Side 2: Interview with Louise Weaver continued from Side 1. Interview with Ed Sullivan on 1972-11-19, conducted by telephone. Abstract for Smothers and Thurston: [00:00–06:39] On LG014Goreau_Side 1, Louise Weaver Smothers at Oxford House in Chicago, Illinois, describes Mahalia Jackson's performances before white congregations. [06:41 - 18:05] In the next interview, Reverend John Thurston laughs about who was the better prayer, himself or his father, according to Mahalia and her aunt - 06:59. Thurston continues to discuss seeing Jackson in Germany while she was ill - 07:45. He was present for her second marriage, giving her away - 09:44, and he continues to speak about his personal discussions with Jackson about remarriage. Goreau and Thurston discuss problems between Jackson and Minters Galloway. [18:05 - 34:41] Continued interview with Louise Weaver Smothers. She discusses Jackson's Christian values and whether or not she believed Jackson had ESP ability or heard the voice of God - 22:30. [00:00 - 12:10] On LG014Goreau_Side2, continued interview with Louise Weaver Smothers. Smothers talks about how Jackson brought together people of all races through her concerts. She describes Jackson's attendance at the Emancipation Memorial in 1962 in Washington DC - 5:12. Jackson gave a concert for Native Americans, which Smothers describes with wonder - 5:30. [12:10 - 31:44] Interview with Ed Sullivan, conducted by telephone. Prompted by questions from Goreau, Sullivan describes Mahalia Jackson's first performance and his impressions of her. Sullivan talks about the racial tensions of the time then their deep friendship and his admiration of her - 14:10. Jackson had been on Sullivan's show more than once and gave charity concerts for him. He compares her to Paul Robeson, Ethel Waters, and Ella Fitzgerald - 27:14. Goreau reveals the title of the book for the first time - 29:10.

31 min., 54 sec.

sound recording

Audio

interviews

Hogan Archive of New Orleans Music and New Orleans Jazz, Tulane University Special Collections

Laurraine Goreau collection, HJA-059

https://archives.tulane.edu/

Galloway, Minters S.
Weaver, Louise Overall, approximately 1915-1990
Sullivan, Ed
Thurston, John
Jackson, Mahalia, 1911-1972

Extrasensory perception
Christianity
Race relations

Germany
Washington (D.C.)

Nineteen sixties

Tulane University Digital Library

eng

LG014_01.mp3

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This recording was digitized in 2014 by George Blood, LP.

LG014 Interviews: Louise Weaver Smothers; Reverend John Thurston; Ed Sullivan, Laurraine Goreau collection, HJA-059, Tulane University Special Collections, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.

specialcollections@tulane.edu