TACTICS USED BY EX-CITY COUNCILWOMAN LYNETTE McELHANEY TO BLACKBALL THE WEST OAKLAND STORIES POSITIVE FEELING MOVEMENT ORGANIZATION’S FILM
SHARING TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF WOS FILM HISTORY: PART 3 OF 4
Tactics used by Ex-City Councilwomen Lynette Gibson McElhaney to blackball the West Oakland Stories (WOS) film used white people who lived in West Oakland to invite me to their meetings at the 7th Street Café on 7th Street, Prescott School’s 150th year anniversary and with EI-LI at De Fremery Park Club building to show WOS film clips, and after I participated in the discussions, they would claim technical difficulties and would not show the film or show it improperly. Ms. Cook, Mrs. Lynette McElhaney’s key staff person, attended all these meetings.
I was offered money for the film by Ms. Cheryl Fabio who represented Mrs. McElhaney and witch I refused and a short time later Ms. Fabio produced a film about West Oakland’s history financed by the City of Oakland to counter my film West Oakland Stories 1940’s 50’s and 60’s history.
Mrs. McElhaney arranged a meeting at Rev. Bob Jackson’s church “Acts Full Gospel Church” between “OUR TV” owner’s, Mr. Leonard Stephens and Mr. Andre AlPorter and myself to convince me that they owned the WOS film footage I produced. This happened after I had presented evidence to Mrs. McElhaney and Ms. Cook in their office at city hall that they were operating as a business without a legitimate license. Mrs. McElhaney still represented/supported them in a court of law against me and they lost the case.
Mr. Leonard Stephens, and Rev. Bob Jackson had a business partnership set up to buy Mindseed Media Studio in East Oakland using my WOS film clips as bait to entice investors to invest in their projects. Mr. Alporter mistakenly emailed me the list of all the potential investors and I let the investors know about them trying to steal the WOS film from me and that killed that deal.
I made complaints to the Alameda County District Attorney’s office, The Secretary of State, the Oakland Police Department, and the Alameda County Recorder’s Office against Mr. Stephens and Mr. Alporter the owner of “OUR TV”.
I was letting all the Oakland elders who respected me enough to give of their time, money and stories for the WOS film so I refuse to let them down and I will do all I can to maintain our history chronicling our rich Oakland Black history. We don’t need any more people representing themselves as working for the benefit of the community and they are only FEEDING off the Black community.
Billy Moore, Husband to (Belva Davis the renowned Oakland/Bay Area TV personality) and they are West Oakland Elders, found me a film/computer expert, David Bellard, to work with me to re-engineer the fractured parts and pieces of the WOS film that was given to me by court order and still I have not received all of the film footage.
Ed Howard
Chief Executive Director
West Oakland Stories Positive Feeling Movement Org.
NOTE: Email from Andre Alporter 03-08-2014
Greetings,
I’m still in the process of purchasing the studio facility.
Need all the support we can gather for this business deal.
Take a look at our website and give me some feedback.
We have the business projects and proposals for the
film and television series. We need investors to close the purchase
while we are in pre-production of a couple of feature film projects.
SHARING TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF WOS FILM HISTORY:
PART 2 OF 4
You will understand the WEST OAKLAND STORIES FILM POSITIVE FEELING MOVEMENT FILM much better after you read the four-part (4) history https://youtu.be/ZMYVdIlYUhs
NOTIFYING THE AUTHORITES:
Attorney, Alameda County, Nancy E. O’Malley, District Attorney
Alameda County District Attorney’s Office
1225 Fallon Street, Suite 900
Oakland, CA 94612
Dear Ms. O’Malley,
October 01, 2013
I have found that Mr. Leonard Stephens owner of OUR TV station in OAKLAND is not licensed as a legitimate business registered neither in the County of Alameda nor in the State of California.
It’s unfortunate that I have to write this letter, more so, of my own in meeting con-artists in the likes of a Mr. Leonard Stephens and Mr. Andre Alporter technical assistant. Mr. Stephens presented himself as a legitimate business man, licensed to do business in the State of California and the County of Alameda, CA with his d.b.a OUR TV; 10700 MacArthur Blvd; Foothill Square #4E; Oakland, CA 94605; and Andre Alporter’s address: 9316 MacArthur Blvd #6; Oakland, CA.
Under this guise, Mr. Stephens persuaded me, in his con that his business would assist me in the development and broadcasting of a television production which I am producing, called the West Oakland Stories 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s Project (WOS). A contract was signed with Mr. Stephens as the executive of d.b.a, OUR TV (terminated by the Secretary of State of California).
There is a second party involved in this matter. It is Mr. Stephens’s video camera/editor production assistant, André Alporter, who coned me to believe that he no longer was working for OUR TV. To prove his point he removed all of his editing equipment from OUR TV facilities to his apartment and from April to August 2013, we completed the editing of West Oakland Stories Project in his apartment. Now, Mr. Stephens and Mr. Alporter are stating by email that OUR TV is the producer of the WOS and that they now own my project. Rip off.
Mr. Stephens, thus far has gotten away with his con of theft through deception.
Figuring his con to be white collar and given to lengthy and expensive litigation process, and the search for his whereabouts to serve him, he thinks he has a pretty full proof con game.
The businessmen, owners of Oakland’s “OUR TV” Station, Mr. Leonard Stephens and Mr. Andre They lost the court battle and still has not given all the tape/film footage/files up to this day. There is a Bench Warrant out for them but the police will not serve the warrant. They are a classic example of too many of our own business people’s negative attitude with our people.
Just describing the trials and tribulations that you go through producing something positive as the West Oakland Stories film, you win your case in the courts and the Slave System still does not carry out its law. It just keeps you spending your money. But you don’t let that stop you.
WHY DID WEST OAKLAND CITY COUNCILWOMAN LYNETTE MCELHANEY LOSE HER SEAT?
WEST OAKLAND STORIES FILM COURT VICTORY DETAILS
SHARING TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF WOS FILM HISTORY: PART 1 OF 4
VICTORY is ours. The West Oakland Stories of the 1940s, 50s and 60s film court battle is over. The judge awarded me all the rights to the film. Mr. André Alporter did not show at court and OUR TV Mr. Leonard Stephens and his representative from West Oakland City Councilwoman Lynette McElhaney’s office were caught in a big lie before the judge. They both testified that all of the raw footage of West Oakland Stories film had been downloaded in its totality and given to Ed Howard. (That’s a lie) See Computer expert /film /editor, Mr. David Ballard’s, testimony below.
Now I need to move on to complete the film and film trailer (Preview) for viewing. I personally know of four elders in the film who have passed on since the film started production in 2012. So much regret that they will not be able to see the film because of the unholy minds of Leonard Stephens and André Alporter.
You see how Mr. Leonard Stephens and Mr. André Alporter’s deceptive and false representations can get the establishment to work with them and the West Oakland Elders and West Oakland people can’t even get DeFremery Park building refurbished and painted. But the streets in the areas where the White people are moving into West Oakland are being upgraded. Soon after this statement was made City Councilwoman McElhaney found funds to refurbish DeFremery building. This is the same way the system treated us back in the day and we would not let them. This is why the West Oakland Stories film is so important for you our younger generations and everyone to see. The generations under us need to hear and see who we really are.
Share this letter with your friends and family to support this much needed stories of our West Oakland and Oakland history.
Mr. David Ballard’s Expert testimony:
“Today in court Sept. 25, 2014, I was asked by the judge if I had seen the WOS film footage on the flash card that the defendant, Mr. Leonard Stephens, and West Oakland City Council Woman Lynette McElhaney’s key staff person, Ms. Cook, had brought with them. My answer was NO I had not seen the footage on that card. I did inform the judge that I had seen some footage that was not the raw footage, due to the fact that it contained time codes on top of the footage and that would not be considered “broadcast quality”, due to the time codes over the footage. I continued to state that would not be considered the raw footage again because of the time codes over the footage. I then stated to the judge my experience in the computer field, over 30 years’ experience working at Apple and various other companies. About 10 years’ experience editing movies. I then asked the judge if I could ask a question to Ms. Cook and Mr. Leonard Stephens, he granted my request. My question was what is the memory size of the flash card the defendant held in his hand? The defendant answered that it was a 64 gigabyte flash card. I then stated that was impossible for a 64 gigabyte flash card to hold 6 hours of raw footage, because 6 hours of raw footage would require a great deal more space. In most cases it could take close to a terabyte of drive space for hours of raw footage.”
The above statement was the big lie before a judge, but they have been making many lies regarding the filming of the WOS.
One of the larger questions is why is the West Oakland City Council Woman Lynette McElhaney supporting these crooks and not supporting the West Oakland Elders such as myself and other elders. My bloodline in West Oakland and Oakland runs deep, very deep, sisters, brothers, my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren – not to mention uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, friends, etc. Almost all of the Elders in the WOS film bloodline is like mine or greater.
West Oakland do you know who you really are? When you see this film you will find out. https://youtu.be/ZMYVdIlYUhs
West Oakland Stories Positive Feeling Movement Org.
WHO’S WHO SNAPSHOTS OF ED HOWARD’S NIGHTCLUB CROWD…
Black Oakland you might see your grandfather/mother or just family or friends in this true positive Black History of Oakland.
Thank for journeying with us from episode 1 to episode 10 of our series highlighting the vivid lifetime milestones of Oakland original pioneer, Mr. Ed Howard.
As many of you know from our first post, earlier this year I reached out to Mr. Howard
while researching my current novel-in-progress, a story partly taking place in the early days of West Oakland.
As expected, I was treated to great, positive anecdotes from the life of a West Oakland original! What I didn’t expect was a budding new friendship across generation gaps. Myself, as a 1980-born Greek-American, and Mr. Howard, as an elder Black man, have bonded over our Oakland roots and love of the Town.
Stay tuned as we pick up in 2021 with more of Mr. Howard’s powerful story.”
Apollo Papafrangou
Check out episodes 1-10A: www.westoaklandstories.org
Let’s put the Positive Speak Movement into action… “No Negative Speak” with each other.
WHO’S WHO SNAPSHOTS OF ED HOWARD’S NIGHTCLUB CROWD…
Black Oakland you might see your grandfather/mother or just family or friends in this true positive Black History of Oakland.
Thank for journeying with us from episode 1 to episode 10 of our series highlighting the vivid lifetime milestones of Oakland original pioneer, Mr. Ed Howard.
As many of you know from our first post, earlier this year I reached out to Mr. Howard
while researching my current novel-in-progress, a story partly taking place in the early days of West Oakland.
As expected, I was treated to great, positive anecdotes from the life of a West Oakland original! What I didn’t expect was a budding new friendship across generation gaps. Myself, as a 1980-born Greek-American, and Mr. Howard, as an elder Black man, have bonded over our Oakland roots and love of the Town.
Stay tuned as we pick up in 2021 with more of Mr. Howard’s powerful story.”
Apollo Papafrangou
Let’s put the Positive Speak Movement into action… “No Negative Speak” with each other. West Oakland Stories Positive Feeling Movement Inc – No Negative Speak with Each Other (Website link) https://westoaklandstories.org/
(Before you look at the pictures “READ” the newspaper article written about EHP) By Allen Wiltshire the newspaper writer.
By Allen Wiltshire
“ED HOWARD’S PLACE (EHP) is not your ordinary nightclub ….. and thanks for that! Ed Howard’s Place, located at 3614 Foothill Blvd., Oakland, offers much more than top quality entertainment to Bay Area nightlifers. EHP is the plushest nightclub in Oakland and the Bay Area, and even more importantly, it brings the finest and friendliest Service (service emphasized by a capital “S”) ever offered to anyone, anywhere.
Taking a stroll through the club and staying awhile, you are certain to enjoy the type of nightclub you’ve often imagined and heard others brag about, but never thought possible to exist in Oakland; but exist EHP does, and how!
“From the jump” (or “from the get,” if you prefer), EHP customers find the atmosphere most enjoyable as they are greeted at the door by one of the club’s highly polished brothers, brother Mack. Brother Mack, with his patented smile and smoothing voice informs you at the door, of the club’s happening for the evening and coming events. t the same time you are being greeted, your ears are fixed on the good sounds of some of the finest local and national talent anywhere, coming from within.
Pick any night and you might catch such acts as the “Whispers” (also known nationally); Super Snaps Band; Non-stop LTD; EHP’s very own Equal Rights Band; the Emulations and other fine local groups (discriminately selected with service, high-talent, and showmanship towards EHP’s customers being the “must”). Besides these fine groups giving you an outstanding evening, EHP offers more – talented sets to accompany the band’s act, opening or break-time. Acts such as the Brown Sugar Dancers, Leroy Goodenough, the hep, (not hip), Mentalist-Psychic, Comedian Mel Pacheco and his ventriloquist partner Ken Karter with Rocky the dummy (or did I reverse that?); and we must not leave out emcee-comedians Buddy Lowe, Allen Wiltshire, and Mark Smith.
The Sounds of Oakland, :the 11-Piece Band under director John Tanner and featuring comedian Finny Mo. vocalists Wanda Ingram, Lee Sain, and John Wilson) can be heard every Sunday evening. Tim White’s (Mister T) discotechque machine and happy hour services exists for you- the customer, Fridays from 4-8 p.m.
I did mention national stars, so how about the Ballards; Whispers; Motown’s next super-star, G.C. Cameron (of the motion-picture film Cooley High) appearing at EHP Aug. 21-23; Edwin Hawking-Aug. 28-30; Gloria Lynn, Slappy White, and many others including athletes, politicians, your neighbors and most importantly – you!
Excuse me! Can you ever forgive me? Here I’ve boasted of the fine Service Ed Howard’s Place brings to you and yet I’ve left you standing at the entrance with our doorman (not that he’s a bad fellow but the sights are inside) – come on in and take a look at EHP while being seated by Peggy McMillaim, head hostess or one of the club’s beautiful and always smiling hostesses. Perhaps (and it’s not uncommon at EHP) one of the managers, either Bob White or Otis Armstrong, will personally escort you to a perfect location and rap awhile with you and your party. In fact, I’ve seen Bob and Otis in action serving the customer to the “max”. Ed Howard can be seen rapping with you the customer, letting you know that the most important person at EHP is you.
The beautiful part about brothers Ed, Bob and Otis is that they not only take the time to be with EHP customers, they run the club like it is meant to be – complete Service in a business-like manner.
Ed Howard’s Place is very soulful but does not carry the typical image of a black owned club. A small, dark hole in the wall, filled with smoke (of all kinds), run-down restrooms, fast women and rough men, poor service and poor business practices, etc. (You know the image). EHP is quite the OPPOSITE: you can count on being in the plushest nightclub in the Bay Area; know you’ll receive outstanding Service, enjoy top-notch entertainment; feel safe to use a clean restroom; realize you are a V.I.P. at EHP; little to no smoked-fill section (and when smoke exists you can be certain it stems from cigarettes). In short, EHP is run in the same business-like manner as the Playboy clubs, Circle Star, the Grove, Vegas Clubs, etc. and I venture to say the Service is even greater and the entertainment equal.
Well now you’re inside EHP, so what sites awe you? Anyone of EHP’s four sections holds its own against any club in the area. You can enjoy yourself in a mellow, easy atmosphere while relaxing in the Kakuri Lounge or “get-down” in the Kianga showroom, check-out the happenings from the balcony, or enjoy the sliding-glass Kivu V.1.P. Lounge, with private bar, hostess, tables and an overview of the showroom. From floor to ceilings, wall-to-wall, (with unique wall decorations) EHP is beautifully designed and laid out for high discriminating soulful taste.
Ed Howard’s Place is truly the place for the people. Words cannot, and will not, describe the good vibes you’ll receive on your first visit to EHP, and the visits that are certain to follow. Quickly you will realize that Ed Howard’s Place not only offers East Bay nightlifers a variety of top-notch entertainment, without having to travel the hassling distance and headaches of San Francisco (toll, gas, parking, “don’t-give-a-damn” drivers, ragged streets, one-dimensional, high cost entertainment, etc). but brother Howard (along with Bob and Otis) is bent on giving service to all and a breaking in new upcoming local talent via use of the stage in front of a live and ready audience.
Remember: The Jackson-Five’s, Marvin Gaye’s, Flip Wilson’s and allstars began somewhere. Here talented new performers at EHP. Why knows, one day you might say: “I heard them first at Ed Howard’s Place”.
Enjoy the vivid article above depicting the adventure of three West Oakland childhood friends, and McClymonds high school graduates, who opened and operated a first-class night club (EHP) in East Oakland back in the 1970’s.
In the year’s last episode profiling the dynamic life of Oakland pioneer Mr. Ed Howard, we have a special treat for you, an exclusive, three-part glance into the renown Ed Howard’s Place Nightclub! More photos coming soon.
Follow Ed Howard’s story! Click the link for episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7, 8, and 9. www.westoaklandstories.org. More to come in 2021.
Be sure to check out the West Oakland Stories historical film, as well as the brief documentary “Between Black & White” detailing the historical alliances between Greek & Black communities.
Among one another, let’s put the No Negative Speak movement into practice.
– Apollo Papafrangou
West Oakland Stories Positive Feeling Movement Inc – “No Negative Speak” with each other.
After producing the Ron Dellums Life Story, I decided that I would produce and film the Black Oakland Night Club life. My concept was to show Black Oakland’s Night life just being our natural selves. I always knew how proud and confident we were in Oakland. So, I knew if the general public could see us in our natural environment, they would be able to feel it also.
I advertised to the public that Ed Howard Productions would be videotaping at the Showcase and Mancuso Night Clubs; and after we’ve completed editing the video you could “come see yourself”. At this time very few Black people were being shown on TV acting like themselves.
After I completed this very successful production Hollywood came to Oakland, and not a year later filmed “THE MACK” movie. They used the same night club I used, the same MC “Jay Payton”, the same Ward Brothers, Frank and Ted Ward’s custom Cadillac and the same entertainers. Some people say Hollywood stole the idea from me so if you know any lawyers who have expertise in copyright infringement, have them get in touch with me.
I think my Ed Howard productions business influenced me in creating Ed Howard’s Place Night Club. Next is Part-10 of my life story. You will be taken back to Ed Howard’s Place Night Club; read attached newspaper article it explains everything.
See how three guys from West Oakland who were friends from elementary school and graduated from McClymonds high school operated a first-class night club business (EHP) in East Oakland.
Follow Ed Howard’s story! Click the link for episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7, 8. and 9. www.westoaklandstories.org
WEST OAKLAND STORIES POSITIVE FEELING MOVEMENT INC – “NO NEGATIVE SPEAK” WITH EACH OTHER.
1. Picture of Ed Howard name on Marque of Showcase Night club and Frank Ward in Red suit.
2. Newspaper clip of Ed Howard being interviewed in front of Showcase Night Club 1972
3. Picture of Ted Ward custom Cadillac filmed at my 1972 Premier before it was in “THE MAC” film in 1993 also my 1972 Black and White Ragtop Cadillac on other side of Ted Ward car.
4. Picture of Frank Ward in red hat at Showcase Night Club
5. Picture of Mr. Jay Payton Master MC at Showcase Night Club
6. Picture of EH and Charlie Walker at Mancuso Night Club during filming
7. Pictures of my technical crew at Showcase and Mancuso Night Club
