- Title: USA: EARTHA KITT PERFORMS IN LOS ANGELES
- Date: 19th December 1995
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (OCTOBER 10, 1996) (RTV) SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) KITT SAYS NOW SHE'S BEING CAST AS AN ECCENTRIC, EVIL, OLDER LADY, AND SHE LOVES THAT
- Embargoed: 3rd January 1996 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA8GPKYJSZ9XSUYFKBWELU6HVUI
- Story Text: Erst-while sex symbol Eartha Kitt explained her enduring popularity despite a predilection for the controversial.
The original material girl, now in her late sixties, was in Los Angeles performing her intimate nightclub act which includes songs from her latest release "Back in Business".
In addition to a resurgence in her singing career, the old-style multimedia artist has earned a new generation of fans for her continuing work in television and film, including her vampish turn as "Cat Woman" in the 1960's television series "Batman." Born on a cotton plantation in South Carolina, she learned early to overcome adversity. After being given away by her mother, she was sent to live with an aunt in Harlem at the age of eight.
It was in New York where she first experienced fame, as a dancer with the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe. While performing in Europe she was spotted by a nightclub owner who signed her for her first cabaret performance.
Leaving the troupe for a solo asinging act led to a meeting with an early admirer, Orson Welles, who signed her to star with him as Helen of Troy in his stage production of "Dr. Faust".
Upon her return to America she was cast in the Broadway production "New Faces of 1952". Broadway stardom, best-selling records and television and movie roles followed; appearances in all of the performing arts on every continent assured her of universal fame.
Kitt's career came to a sudden halt in January of 1968. While attending a White House luncheon hosted by then First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, she spoke out against the Vietnam War.
Distortions of the incident by the Administration created a public backlash and she became blacklisted by much of the U.S.
entertainment community. For many years, she was forced to work abroad where her status remained undiminished.
It was not until several years later that a CIA dossier containing a multitude of innuendo and lies was uncovered, revealing the baseless nature of the governmental attacks against her.
With her patriotism restored she returned to American audiences in an acclaimed 1974 Carnegie Hall concert. In 1978 she was invited to the White House by President Jimmy Carter.
Kitt is one of only a handful of performers to be nominated for the Tony Award (twice), the Emmy Award, and the Grammy. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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