Zephyr Craddock's stepfather Shelby Nichols main page
WCFL, Chicago's Voice of Labor, 1926-78
by Nathan Godfried
Published 1997 University of Illinois Press
Chicago radio station WCFL was the first and longest surviving labor radio station in the nation, beginning in 1926 as a listener-supported station owned and operated by the Chicago Federation of Labor and lasting more than fifty years.
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Although African Ameriacan actors were virtually absent from WCFL comemdy shows, black singers and musicans figured prominently in station
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musical programs. Broadcast from the Savoy Ballroom,"centrally located in the heart of Chicago's exclusive colored settlement," featured two of Chicago's best orchetras. Shelby Nichols a "baritone of exceptional ability, appeared every Saturday afternoon in 1930 on WCFL's "Timely Topics" Show.
The Swing Mikado [Original, Musical, Operetta]
Performer: Shelby Nichols [Chorus]
Dates of Production: Mar 1, 1939 - May 20, 1939
New Yorker Theatre, (3/1/1939 - 4/29/1939)
44th Street Theatre, (5/1/1939 - 5/20/1939)
Total Performances: 86
Category: Musical, Operetta, Original, Broadway
Produced by Federal Theatre Project of The WPA
Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan; Based on "The Mikado" by W. S. Gilbert; Conceived by Harry Minturn; Swing orchestrations by Charles Levy; Swing arrangments by Gentry Warden; Vocal Director: Viola Hill; Lyrics by W. S. Gilbert; Book by W. S. Gilbert
Setting: A Coral Island in the Pacific.
Source: http://ibdb.com
Quinn Chapel Senior Choir
Presents
Shelby Nichols, Barso
with
Alyce Lavinia Martin, Accompany pianist
in
Concort
at
Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church
Friday Occtober 26, 1945
8:30 P.M.
Estelle Lutz Artists Bureau
presents
Shelby Nichols
Baritone
of Chicago Negro Opera Guild
John Martin at the Piano
Ryman Auditorium
Saturday Evening December 14 1946
Ticket: 60 cent advance 90 cent at door
Sponsored by Christians, Inc
GRAND OPERA
the
ALLIED OPERA GUILD
PREESENTS
'CAVALLERIA
RUSTICANA'
(Rusticcitivalty)
ALSO
MILDRED HAESSLER BALLET
At
Wendell Phillips Auditoriurn
39th th Street and Praire Avenue
Sunday June 29 1947
8:30 P.M.
Offices
Shelby NicholsPresident
John A. MartinVice President
Della Smiley HedsonExecutive Secretary
Zephyr M. MartinCorresponding Secretary
Zephyr Martin one of Temple Maidens
9 - Egyptian Ritual Scene