Bill 4043

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       4043
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19970416
Primary Sponsor:                   Scott
All Sponsors:                      Scott, Breeland, J. Brown, T.
                                   Brown, Byrd, Canty, Cave, Clyburn,
                                   Cobb-Hunter, Gourdine, Govan, J.
                                   Hines, M. Hines, Howard, Inabinett,
                                   Kennedy, Lee, Lloyd, Mack, McMahand,
                                   Moody-Lawrence, Neal, Parks,
                                   Pinckney, F. Smith, Whipper,
                                   Allison, Altman, Askins, Bailey,
                                   Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Bauer,
                                   Baxley, Beck, Boan, Bowers,
                                   G. Brown, H. Brown, Campsen,
                                   Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Cooper,
                                   Cotty, Cromer, Dantzler, Davenport,
                                   Delleney, Easterday, Edge, Felder,
                                   Fleming, Gamble, Hamilton, Harrell,
                                   Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hawkins,
                                   Hinson, Hodges, Jennings, Jordan,
                                   Keegan, Kelley, Kinon, Kirsh,
                                   Klauber, Knotts, Koon, Lanford, Law,
                                   Leach, Limbaugh, Limehouse,
                                   Littlejohn, Loftis, Maddox, Martin,
                                   Mason, McCraw, McKay, McLeod,
                                   McMaster, Meacham, Miller, Mullen,
                                   Neilson, Phillips, Quinn, Rhoad,
                                   Rice, Riser, Robinson, Rodgers,
                                   Sandifer, Seithel, Sharpe, Sheheen,
                                   Simrill, D. Smith, J. Smith,
                                   R. Smith, Spearman, Stille,
                                   Stoddard, Stuart, Townsend, Tripp,
                                   Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, Webb,
                                   Whatley, Wilder, Wilkes, Wilkins,
                                   Witherspoon, Woodrum, Young and
                                   Young-Brickell 
Drafted Document Number:           pt\1186dw.97
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:      19970417
Subject:                           Ms. Eartha Kitt,
                                   Resolutions

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________
House   19970417  Received from Senate
Senate  19970417  Introduced, adopted, returned
                  with concurrence
House   19970416  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate

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.