Dreamy Kid - A Play: Zara Cully Brown

I love seeing the different articles talking about Zara Cully Brown. Every article and every new information I come across helps build and develop the story of my Great Aunt. I only knew her for the first part of my life, as she passed away when I was 10 years old. She was, I believe one of my mother's favorite Aunties. Zara is well known for the Jefferson's but I am finding it fulfilling to see how her career developed over time as she didn't make it big in Hollywood until she was a senior. It is a testament to me that it is never too late to live your dreams.

Los Angeles Sentinel
June 6, 1957
Page B10

FIRST NIGHTERS gather back stage to congratulate cast of "Dreamy Kid," now on stage at Hollywood Center theatre.  Shown left to right: Clarence Muse, Hari Rhodes, who played title role, Isabelle Colley played his girl friend, Bill Walker, Pauline Myers who was Ceely Ann and Helen Highes holding hand of Zara Cully Brown, who played the Dreamy Kid's grandmother.  Play was directed by James Edwards.

Sentinel Photo by Cliff Hall 

I had heard of Clarence Muse, so I decided to Google him. I also met one of his descendants online doing research a few years ago.

Wikipedia:  Clarence Muse (October 14, 1889 – October 13, 1979) was an actor, screenwriter, director, composer, and lawyer. He was inducted in the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1973. Muse was the first African American to "star" in a film. He acted for more than sixty years, and appeared in more than 150 movies.

Ex-Schoolteacher Set To Play in Sugar Hill

Zara Cully Brown was a school teacher in Jacksonville, Florida.  She was an Elocutionist.  Her training began in Worcester, MA and once she married James M. Brown, she took her skills with her to Florida where her sister Hannah Cully who married Elvin Brown "Unkie", the brother of James Brown.

I remember my mother mentioning Aunt Zara getting a part in Sugar Hill.  I was five years old at the time.  I posted the letter on a previous post that Zara sent to my mother regarding the movie that she was contemplating about accepting. You can go to the link here>>>> A letter from Zara Cully Brown to My Mother Regarding: Sugar Hill

New York Amsterdam News
October 20, 1973
Pg D6

[transcribed]

Ex-Schoolteacher Set To Play in Sugar Hill

"Sugar Hill," a drama filled with voodoo and crime, is being filmed in Houston, Texas with Zara Cully playing the role of an aged voodoo priestess, Mama Maitress.

A former school teacher in Jacksonville, Fla., now a busy actress, Zara Cully, has played in "The Liberation of L.B. Jones," "A Hall of Mirror," "The Great White Hope," and "Brother John."

The Drama which is being directed by Paul Maslansky and produced by Elliot Schick is expected to be released by the American International in February, 1974.

The cast includes Marki Bey, Robert Quarry, Don Pedro Colley, Richard Lawson And Betty Anne Rees. 

Madame Zara Cully Brown: A Dramatic Reader

Zara Cully Brown
Photo in Private Family Collection

My Great Aunt Zara Cully Brown, who was born January 26, 1892 in Worcester, Massachusetts enjoyed performing at a very young age.  Her whole family was also very talented.  Zara's sister Agnes Cully Peters (my grandmother) and my mother Betty Mae Peters moved to Los Angeles so that Aunt Zara could pursue her career in acting.  At the time, Zara was living in my grandmother's apartment in New York with her husbands brother "Unkie" who also moved with to Los Angeles.

Over time I have found mentions of Zara and will be posting these over time to get a full picture of some of the activities that she was a participant in.  

Los Angeles Sentinel
May 28, 1953
Page A4

[Transcribed]

Neighborhood Guild Presents Musical Treat

The Progressive Guild presented the Neighborhood Church orchestra in an evening of music May 24, in the church sanctuary, 47th place and San Pedro

Artists featured on the program included "Madame Zara Cully Brown," dramatic reader formerly of Jacksonville, Fla; Milton R. hall, flutist; Dr. H. Hamilton Williams, at the piano and Mrs. Minnette Finnis, soloist.

The orchestra played renditions of their own arrangements. 

Harlem to New York: Zara Cully Brown - A Letter to my Mom

Zara Cully Brown, [my great-aunt] was a boarder in the same New York Apartment with her sister Agnes Cully Peters,  for a number of years between 1935-1940's.  My mother was quite young at the time, and I had not known that Aunt Zara ever lived in New York with my grandmother.  This discovery of their living arrangements was documented in the 1940's Census.

Aunt Zara had been living between Duval, Florida where she taught drama and was a elocutionist and New York.  She traveled to various states of the U.S. performing, speaking and doing readings.  Zara was not fully recognized as a talented & skilled actress until she landed the role of Olivia in "The Jeffersons."

Zara eventually moved to Los Angeles in the late 1950's taking my grandmother Agnes, her brother in-law "Unkie" Brown, and my mom.

I found this letter written to my mother regarding the movie role Zara took in "Sugar Hill" as the Voodoo high priestess..

Letter written to My mother Betty Mae Peters Porter

And here again, I have to take note that My brother and I were thought of indirectly.

" Kiss the children for me and excuse all errors."

Aunt Zara

I wanted to see what the home looked like that Aunt Zara lived in at the time this letter was written.  I do not remember this home, only the high-rise apartment she resided in a few years before her death in 1978.

What an adorable home.  Wonder if she chose this home as it seems similar to the homes Zara resided in Worcester, MA.