Zocolo Interviewed Debbie Allen at Petersen Automotive Museum

On Monday night I attended an event sponsored by Zocolo Public Square at the Petersen Automotive Museum.  The event was an interview with Debbie Allen.  I have admired Debbie since the days of the television series "Fame."  In the '80's, my daughter and I would watch on weekly T.V. the trials and triumphs of the intercity arts high school students and faculty and enjoy the musical creativity and the wonderful dance.  Debbie played a teacher, Lydia Grant and created the dance.  She later choreographed ten Academy Awards Shows, two Emmy Awards, and a Gold Globe Awards.  I saw her two years ago in the production of "Twist" at the Pasadena Playhouse.  Her accomplishments are amazing and when she talks, you can see why.  She is smart, quick, creative and full of energy.

Currently, this 63 year old dynamo is running DADA, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in L.A. where 70% of the students are on scholarship.  She praised Wallis Annenberg for her generousity that helps to make that happen.  She is on her way to Australia this week for a production of "Freeze Frame" where she is taking some of her students to perform.

Debbie Allen is the the sister to Phylicia Rashad, the former Mrs. Huxtable on the Bill Cosby Show.  Phylicia is currently in a play at the Ahmanson Theater in L.A.  Her brother is a Jazz composer Tex Allen.

So where does all this creativity and brilliance come from?  She was born in Huston, Texas to orothodontist Andrew Arthur Allen Jr. and Vivian (Ayers) Allen, a poet, pianist, and museum art director.  She graduated from Howard University.  She wanted to be a ballet dancer, but not accepted as black girls were not accepted in the segregated South.  She lived with her mother in Mexico City for a while and learned that she was accepted and admired by the people there.  She said her mother made them believe that they could do anything.  "She still kicks my ass," at the age of 90.  Her mother was tough and exposed them to much of what life has to offer.

She talked about her determination to produce the movie "Amistad" because the story of the black slaves taking over the ship and returning to Africa was not known.  She talked how she got in for a 5 minute meeting with Steven Spielberg and after an hour and a half, he was determined to make the movie with her.  So the movie which was 19 years in the making is now in every college library in the country so people can know about this piece of American history.

Debbie's passion now is arts in the schools.  She said we need to strongly advocate for arts and music in the schools....they are proposing to drop all arts in the elementary schools in L.A.  She called on the creation of "Mommy Gangs" to take over the schools.  She said we have to protest and take over the I 10 Freeway.  Go to: adoptthearts.org to find out ways to help keep arts and music in the schools.  They have donated over 1000 refurbished and new instruments to L.A. schools.

The event gave me an opportunity to roam around the automotive museum and admire the beautiful cars on display.  I remembered fondly the 1959 Cadillac Convertible when it was new with those amazing fins.  I even rode in one with a friend....great memories and below is a picture of the fins of a red one. 

1939 Packard

1951 Ford Country Squire

Steve McQueen's Jag