COLOUR ACTOR SUED

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1937, Page 9

COLOUR ACTOR SUED

CLAIM FOR VOICE TRAINING

LONDON, October 25.

A coloured film actor and broadcast-

er, Wilfred Robert Adams, of Adelaide Road, Hampstead, formerly an all-in wrestler known as “Black Eagle,” was sued at West London county-court yesterday for £35 5/6, fees for singing lessons. The plaintiff was John Collinson, of Cliveden Place, Eaton 'Square, S.W., described as a tenor and a teacher of singing.

Adams counter-claimed for £l2 10/which he alleged he had lent to Collinson.

Mr. Collinson had said at a previous hearing that as a licensed casting agent he was looking for a coloured actor to take part in a film, “The Medicine Man,” to be produced by White Eagle Pictures Ltd. Mr. Paul Robeson wanted £7OO a week and it was impossible to engage him. Adams would have played the part for £lOO a week. Eventually, Collinson said, he heard Adams sing and expressed the view that his voice was not sufficiently trained and he agreed to give him lessons at 10/6 each. Adams had 91 lessons and paid only £l2 10/-. Giving evidence yesterday, Adams said that had he known that Collinson was not an official of White Eagle Pictures he would have had nothing to do with him. Collinson told him 'that his voice had the “good throaty negroid quality” that he required. When he asked Collinson if he wanted him to take singing lessons in return for getting the part, Collinson replied indignantly: “It is absurd. What you are saying is that I am blackmailing you.” It was understood, he said, that when he had been paid for his part in the film he would make Collinson a substantial present. Mr. W. A. L. Raeburn, for Collinson: Did you promise to pay for the lessons on one occasion and break down and weep?—l never promised. I said it was absurd when he asked for money and that I was holding to the arrangement about a substantial present. If I find a man taking that attitude I would be more inclined to punch his head than break down and weep.

Eric Bloom, of Haymarket, S.W., stated that he was Adams’s manager and had been a stage manager under Sir Nigel Playfair. ’Collinson distinctly gave him the impression that he was casting director of White Eagle Pictures because he said: “I am casting this picture.” Judge Hargreaves gave judgment to Adams on both claims, with costs.