H*4043 Session 112 (1997-1998)
H*4043 Concurrent Resolution, By Scott, Allison, Altman, Askins, Bailey,
Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Bauer, J.M. Baxley, Beck, Boan, Bowers, Breeland,
G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Brown, T. Brown, A.W. Byrd, Campsen, Canty, Carnell,
Cato, Cave, Chellis, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cooper, Cotty, J.L.M. Cromer,
Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, J.G. Felder, Fleming, Gamble,
Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hawkins,
J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, J.H. Hodges, Howard, Inabinett, Jennings,
B.L. Jordan, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, M.H. Kinon, Kirsh, Klauber, Knotts, Koon,
Lanford, Law, Leach, Lee, L.H. Limbaugh, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis,
Mack, Maddox, Martin, Mason, McCraw, McKay, W. McLeod, McMahand, J.D. McMaster,
Meacham, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, V.T. Mullen, J.H. Neal, Neilson, Parks,
Phillips, Pinckney, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Riser, Robinson, Rodgers, Sandifer,
Seithel, Sharpe, Sheheen, Simrill, D. Smith, F. Smith, J. Smith, R. Smith,
Spearman, Stille, E.C. Stoddard, Stuart, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Vaughn,
Walker, Webb, Whatley, Whipper, Wilder, Wilkes, Wilkins, Witherspoon, Woodrum,
W.J. Young and Young-Brickell
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO ONE OF THE PALMETTO STATE'S
FINEST, EARTHA KITT, A WORLD-RENOWNED VOCALIST AND ENTERTAINER AND TO WELCOME
HOME OUR FEATURED GUEST ON THE OCCASION OF HER PERFORMANCE IN THE THEATRICAL
PRODUCTION "SOULS-THE CALAH" ON APRIL 18, 1997, IN COLUMBIA AT THE TOWNSHIP
AUDITORIUM.
04/16/97 House Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-63
04/17/97 Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-10
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO EXPRESS THE APPRECIATION OF THE MEMBERS OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA TO ONE OF THE PALMETTO STATE'S FINEST,
EARTHA KITT, A WORLD-RENOWNED VOCALIST AND
ENTERTAINER AND TO WELCOME HOME OUR FEATURED
GUEST ON THE OCCASION OF HER PERFORMANCE IN THE
THEATRICAL PRODUCTION "SOULS - THE CALAH" ON
APRIL 18, 1997, IN COLUMBIA AT THE TOWNSHIP
AUDITORIUM.
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly are proud to have an
opportunity to acknowledge the triumphant return of Eartha Kitt to
South Carolina after more than a thirty-year absence; and
Whereas, Ms. Kitt is nothing less than a household name, with an
enduring career that has spanned theater, film cabaret, television, and
the recording industry; and
Whereas, Eartha Kitt was born on a cotton plantation in North, South
Carolina, and at the age of eight, she was sent to live with her aunt in
Harlem; and
Whereas, it was in New York that her distinct individuality and flair
for show business manifested itself; and
Whereas, Ms. Kitt began her career as a dancer and vocalist with the
Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe; while in Paris, Ms. Kitt left the
Dunham Troupe and began her cabaret career; and
Whereas, Orson Welles dubbed her "the most exciting woman in the
world" and signed her to star with him as Helen of Troy in his
acclaimed stage production of "Dr. Faust" in Paris; and
Whereas, upon returning to America she was cast in "New Faces of
1952"; her outstanding performance of "Monotonous", "Santa
Baby", and "C'est Si Bon" stopped the show for a year on Broadway,
which was followed by a national tour and a Twentieth Century Fox
film;
her additional theatrical performances included "Shinbone Alley",
"The Skin of Our Teeth", "The Owl and The Pussycat", and "Mrs.
Patterson", which she received a Tony Award nomination; and her
film appearances included: "The Mark of the Hawk" (opposite
Sidney Poitier), "St. Louis Blues", and "Anna Lucasta", (opposite
Sammy Davis, Jr.) for which she received an Academy Award
nomination; and
Whereas, in addition to film, Ms. Kitt branched out into the medium
of television work including: the omnibus presentation of "Salome";
guest appearances on "Mission Impossible", "I Spy" (for which she
received an Emmy Award nomination), and "Batman" as the original
Catwoman; and she has performed concert tours in over one hundred
countries worldwide in ten different languages; and
Whereas, it is entirely fitting that these many extraordinary
accomplishments lead to a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of
Fame; and
Whereas, Ms. Kitt's career came to a sudden about face in January
1968, while attending a White House luncheon she famously
denounced the Vietnam War in front of Lady Bird Johnson, a remark
that led to a blacklisting which kept her from performing in America
for six-years, consequently for many years she was forced to work
abroad where her status remained undiminished; and
Whereas, in 1974, Eartha Kitt overcame adversity by returning to the
United States for a performance at New York's Carnegie Hall; she
was invited to the White House in 1978 by President Carter; and in
1978, she received her second Tony Award nomination for her
starring role in "Timbuktu"; and
Whereas, the nineties brought new career challenges -- in 1992,
Paramount Pictures' hit comedy "Boomerang" with Eddie Murphy
reintroduced Eartha Kitt to a new generation; her latest
critically-acclaimed album, "Back in Business", netted her a second
Grammy nomination; and she has penned three autobiographies; and
Whereas, Eartha Kitt currently lives in Westchester, New York, and
still electrifies audiences with her one-of-a-kind persona; and
Whereas, over the years, Eartha Kitt has stood up for causes long
before they were deemed chic: AIDS research, the environment, civil
rights, and homelessness. "Nobody knows the feeling of rejection
more than I do," the sixty-nine year old grandmother says. "When
something is to me very important, then it's important enough for me
to stand up." I say, "If you don't rock a boat, how can anything be
moved?"
Whereas, it is only natural that Eartha Kitt's long-awaited return to
South Carolina is marked by all proceeds from her starring role in
"Souls - The Calah" (a story deeply rooted in the African-American
and South Carolina folklore) will be used to establish the Eartha Kitt
Performing Arts Dance Scholarship; and
Whereas, it is appropriate that the members of the General Assembly
pause in their deliberations to recognize the distinguished career and
contributions of the legendary icon, Eartha Kitt, and to encourage
her to return home more often. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate
concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina, by this resolution, express appreciation to one of the
Palmetto State's finest, Earth Kitt, a world-renowned vocalist and
entertainer and to welcome home our featured guest on the occasion
of her performance in the theatrical production "Souls - The Calah"
on April 18, 1997, in Columbia at the Township Auditorium.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to
Ms. Eartha Kitt.
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