West Oakland Stories Positive Feeling Movement Inc – Page 5

ED HOWARD’S LIFE STORY – PART 10A

THE RENOWN ED HOWARD’S PLACE NIGHTCLUB! 1970’s

(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.

ED HOWARD’S LIFE STORY – PART 9

OAKLAND BLACK NIGHT CLUB LIFE 1970s

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

ED HOWARD’S LIFE STORY PART (8)

PRODUCED CONGRESSMAN RON DELLUMS (R.I.P.) LIFE STORY FILM 1970.

My third venture in producing my own productions was to, write, direct, and produce the film I called the “Life Story of Congressman Ron Dellums” (R.I.P.).

I knew Ron from the time we were in elementary school. He and my brother, Ernest, were best friends and we all partied all over Oakland as young men. Also, Ron was working for us at Social Dynamics Consultant and Associates, Inc (SDI) when he declared he was running for the United States Congress. You could say we were his largest campaign contributors from Oakland.

After Ron Dellums became a Congressman from California all I did was to tell him I wanted to shoot a film about his life story coming from West Oakland and becoming a U.S. Congressman, all he said was “let me know when you are ready to start”.

I am giving you a feel for how we Black Elders worked together from our West Oakland childhood to adulthood

Friends, I hope you enjoyed the first seven posts in our series detailing the life of Oakland original pioneer, film maker, engineer, TV host, night club owner–just to name a few titles–Mr. Ed Howard.

Be sure check out the West Oakland Stories short historical film, as well as the brief documentary “Between Black & White” detailing the historical alliances between Greek & Black communities. Both videos are not to be missed! Among one another, let’s put the No Negative Speak movement into practice.

Apollo Papafrangou

In our eighth segment, Mr. Howard details his venture as a filmmaker in writing, directing, and producing a film about the life of congressman Ron Dellums.

Follow Ed Howard’s story! Click the link for episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, and 7: www.westoaklandstories.org

**Pic 1: Newspaper article showing Ed Howard at gala presenting his film Congressman Ron Dellums Life Story**

Pic 3: Ed Howard leaning on his ragtop Cadillac with Ron D. campaign poster on his door 1970

Pic 5: Ed Howard directing Ron Dellums Life Story film at DeFremery Park 1971

**Pic 6: Ed Howard directing Ron Dellums Life Story film at DeFremery Park 1971**

Pic 7: Ed Howard directing Ron Dellums Life Story film at DeFremery Park 1971

ED HOWARD LIFE STORY PART 7

ED HOWARD’S LIFE STORY PART (7)

ED HOWARD RESIGNS FROM KAISER ENGINEERS AND GOES INTO BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF

In the latter part of 1969, seeing an opportunity to broaden my positive influence and to help more communities across the United States, I resigned from Kaiser Engineers and joined my brother, Ernest, to become the Vice President for our company, Social Dynamics Consultants and Associates, Inc. (SDI).

Social Dynamics, Inc. provided technical training for grassroots’ residents in various neighborhood groups across the United States. Over time our business had offices in Berkeley, California; Washington, D.C.; and Kansas City, Kansas. Although the original emphasis was on the manpower services and the provision of training, technical assistance and evaluation services, SDI expanded its capability to include skills delivery in the fields of education, economic development, health, career development, and business management services.We maintained a complement of highly trained and skillful specialists in each of those fields, and their skills were augmented by a cadre of intermittent consultants who were available to meet special technical requirements when unusual needs arose.

Unfortunately, as government contracts became more difficult to come by, SDI eventually closed down and I was faced with deciding on what area I could next apply my passion helping others while doing something challenging. Some Of the Black Oakland Elders who worked for us at (SDI) before they became successful was R. I. P. Congressman/ Mayor Ron Dellums, R. I. P. Judge Henry Ramsey and Attorney John Burris.

While at SDI I had also ventured out and created Ed Howard Productions during the time I had produced Black Dignity TV show because I was exposed to the technical inter working of the TV station.

When I was shown the TV station’s Master Control room with all its monitors and cameras it was easy for me to understand the technology because when I was hired at Kaiser Engineers I was placed in the elite engineering group called “Instrumentations”. Our group was responsible for designing the Master Control Rooms for Industrial Processing Plants all over the world. My first production using TV cameras, monitors and all the wiring to connect everything was not an easy task. Also, to find the equipment and Black people with capabilities in this infant technology was not easy.

My first production completely produced with my money was a Talent show at Berkeley Community Theater. I can say I probably was an independent Black Oakland and Bay Area pioneer in creating a Black video crew videotaping my own production outside of a TV station back in 1970.

Friends, I hope you enjoyed the first six posts our series detailing the life of Oakland original pioneer, film maker, engineer, TV host, night club owner–just to name a few titles–Mr. Ed Howard. Be sure check out the West Oakland Stories short historical film, as well as the brief documentary “Between Black & White” detailing the historical alliances between Greek & Black communities. Both videos are not to be missed! Among one another, let’s put the No Negative Speak movement into practice. In the first half of our seventh segment, Mr. Howard reminisces about his adventures as a rising entrepreneur with his company Social Dynamics Consultants and Associates, Inc.

Apollo Papafrangou

Here are a few photographs of my technical crew at work videotaping the talent show.

Photo 1: Talent show at the Berkeley Community Theater in 1972

Photos 2-5: Scenes from Ed Howard’s Production.

Photo 6: Mr. Ed Howard, present day. An Oakland original.STAY TUNED:

ED HOWARD PRODUCTIONS COMPANY CONTINUES IN THE COMING 8TH SEGMENT.

EHP Produced and directed the filming of Congressman Ron Dellums Life Story 1970 -71.

EHP Produced the videotaping of Oakland Black Night Club Life 1971-72.

Follow Ed Howard’s story! Click the link for episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A & 6B and 7: www.westoaklandstories.org

ED HOWARD LIFE STORY: PART 6B

ED HOWARD LIFE STORY PART 6B

ED HOWARD’S LIFE STORY

WHY DID OAKLAND NOT BURN BACK IN THE 1960’S SINCE THE MEDIA PLAYED US UP TO BE THE MOST MILITANT CITY IN AMERICA.

I know now why I made such a vital impact with the Kaiser Industries Advisory Board members because at the time they had no real connection to the Black community.

Kaisers Engineers promoted me from the Configuration Engineering Designer Draftsman and gave me a title of Assistant to the Vice President of Kaiser Engineers; and an office next to his; and my own secretary – I was still in my 20’s.

I was the brainchild of the things I made happen At Kaiser (listed below) through my position listed above working with the Kaiser Volunteers who donated their time and skills to local Black business projects.

In the listings below, every time you see the word DIGNITY it’s the same as saying the Afro American Association.

• I Designed the Configuration Engineering Drafting Training program, interviewed each trainee and was their teacher for two years (two different classes); and placed them in Kaiser Engineers and Kaiser Industries Engineering design departments after they completed the program.

• Summer Hiring Program: Placed high school students in office training positions each summer.

• Dignity Inc.: The economic arm of the Afro-American Association and that arm were Attorney Don Warden and I.

• I was the Producer of the Black Dignity TV Show on KGO-TV in San Francisco California

• Dignity Enterprises

• Dignity Sewing Company

• Dignity Mobile Car Wash

• Nairobi Consultant and Associates (Black professionals and businessmen supporters)

• Dignity Press (I personally signed for a loan of $50, 000 from Bank of America for the printing facility, equipment and production stock for this business start-up).

• Dignity Wooden containers pallets and other related products. (I redesigned the first pallet).

The activities above were widely known in Black Oakland.

READ THE KAISER HOME OFFICE NEWSLETTER FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS

Many people in the media at that time speculated that Oakland would burn – not one match was ever scratched. Black Oakland was too busy taking advantage of the opportunities being opened up to us.

Friends, I hope you enjoyed the first six posts our series detailing the life of Oakland original pioneer, film maker, engineer, TV producer, and night club owner–just to name a few titles–Mr. Ed Howard.

In the second half of our sixth segment, a two-part story especially timely given the current civil rights movement in our streets, Mr. Howard in his own words memories from his role in Oakland’s political movements of the 1960’s.

Apollo Papafrangou

Follow Ed Howard’s story! Click the link for episodes 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5: www.westoaklandstories.org

https://westoaklandstories.org/…

West Oakland Stories Positive Feeling Movement Inc – “No Negative Speak” with each other…

STAY TUNED : Ed Howard resigns from Kaiser and goes into business for himself in the coming 7th segment.

Pic 1: Ed Howard Producer of Black Dignity TV show

Pic 2: Kaiser Newsletter Description of projects EH was the mastermind under the name of Dignity Inc.

Pic 3: Ed Howard present day

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ED HOWARD LIFE STORY PART 6A

ED HOWARD – WEST OAKLAND STORIES (PART 6A)

ED HOWARD’S LIFE STORY

WHY DID OAKLAND NOT BURN BACK IN THE 1960’S SINCE THE MEDIA PLAYED US UP TO BE THE MOST MILITANT CITY IN AMERICA?

My Oakland Kaiser Engineers stories will take a book to explain, but I will attempt to summarize it the best way I can here.

I literally convinced Kaiser Engineers and Kaiser Industries to open up its hiring practice for white collar jobs to Black people in great numbers and that ended the old way of only having a token Negro in the office.

Kaiser was one of the most powerful businesses in Oakland at that time, so when the other Oakland companies saw Kaiser open up its business to Black people, they did the same.

Three years at Lockheed I grew tired of commuting to Sunnyvale, California so I got an interview with Kaiser Engineers and was hired. I resigned from Lockheed.

After being hired by Kaiser Engineers, I asked if I could go back to my high school (McClymonds) and talk to the students because I was an example for them to see what can be achieved coming from West Oakland. The first class I visited was Mr. Ben Tapscott’s Mechanical Drawing class, he turned out to be the first Black coach in the Oakland Unified School system. I believe Mr. Tapscott was just beginning his teaching career in Oakland.

Kaiser Management, to my surprise, really praised me after I visited a few schools; they began to question me about the Black community. The most consistent question was “What do Black people want?”, and my answer was always “jobs and money”.

I was invited to come to a meeting in Walnut Creek at an exclusive country club to meet the top executives of Kaiser Industries – they just looked at me, no conversation. The next week I was offered a position to be a member of the Kaiser Industries Advisory Board.

You must remember in this time period (1963-1969) Medgar Evers, John Kennedy, Malcom X, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. had been assassinated; and the Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland.

I am a West Oakland street person and I already had a neighborhood jacket of always being in the streets. Also, I was a key member of the Afro-American Association, which was the main group in Black Oakland before the Black Panther Party. AAA was responsible for Black Oakland changing from using the term “Negro” to “Black” or “African American” and we also created the Black Handshake; and in general, we were responsible for getting the study of Black Culture message out to Black Oakland.

To be continued: Part 6B

Follow Ed Howard’s story! Click the link for episodes 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5: www.westoaklandstories.org

Pic 1: Ed Howard giving instruction in the Kaiser Engineers Design room. 1963-64.

Pic 2: 1966 Letter from Oakland’s Roosevelt Junior High School welcoming Ed Howard as guest speaker.

Pic 3: WOSPSM “Black handshake” logo.

Pic 4: Ed Howard present day.

Friends, I hope you enjoyed the first five posts in our series detailing the life of Oakland original pioneer, film maker, engineer, TV host, night club owner–just to name a few titles–Mr. Ed Howard.

Be sure to check out the West Oakland Stories short historical film, as well as the brief documentary “Between Black & White” detailing the historical alliances between Greek & Black communities. Both videos are not to be missed! Among one another, let’s put the No Negative Speak movement into practice.

In our sixth segment, a two-part story especially timely given the current civil rights movement in our streets, Mr. Howard in his own words shares memories from his role in Oakland’s political movements of the 1960’s.

Follow Ed Howard’s story! Click the link for episodes 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5: www.westoaklandstories.org

Apollo Papafrangou

West Oakland Stories Positive Feeling Movement Inc – No Negative Speak With each other.

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