Tribute to TV star from Rock Island might spawn African-American museum

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By David Burke | Thursday, July 10, 2008 |

Rock Island native Tim Moore’s performance as Kingfish on television’s "The Amos ’n’ Andy Show" made him known throughout the country. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

What is beginning as a tribute to a Rock Island native who found success in TV could — organizers hope — lead to the formation of the Quad-Cities African-American Museum.

Museum organizers are scheduling a tribute to Tim Moore on Wednesday at the Rock Island Public Library. Moore was a comedian and entertainer whose most recognized work was playing Kingfish in the 1951-53 TV series “The Amos ‘n’ Andy Show.”

But he was also a successful entertainer in vaudeville and on Broadway, starred in the 1947 movie comedy “Boy, What a Girl!” and was a writer for W.C. Fields.

“We really want to highlight that he was a much more well-rounded entertainer than (Kingfish),” said Shellie Moore Guy of Rock Island, a cultural storyteller and great-niece of Moore’s. “Bigger than ‘Amos ’n’ Andy’ is that he cut his teeth here in Rock Island.”

Moore, one of 13 children, was born in Rock Island in 1887 and died in Los Angeles in 1958. His showbiz career began as a youngster, singing and dancing for nickels and dimes. At age 12, he and partner Romeo Washburn left Rock Island to appear in the vaudeville act Cora Miskel and Her Gold Dust Twins.

After other careers that included working as a carnival performer, a Hawaiian tour guide and a professional boxer, he returned to entertaining, eventually appearing several times on Ed Sullivan’s TV variety show. He was cast as Kingfish in the “Amos ‘n’ Andy” series, a spinoff of the radio show of the same title. (The radio show, with all African-American characters, was voiced by white performers.) Pressure from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People forced the cancellation of the TV series in 1953.

“It was stereotypical,” Guy said. “That show really collided with the black power movement and pride.”

Local museum organizers said they got the idea for a Moore tribute after hearing that one of the performer’s grandsons, a historian at Ellis Island in New York City, was preparing a biography. The grandson, Barry Moreno, who will attend the event Wednesday, is now on the board of directors for the Quad-Cities African-American Museum.

“The first person we would have as an attraction would be Tim Moore,” said Vince Thomas of Rock Island.

The open house Wednesday will include showings of “Amos ‘n’ Andy” episodes, a collection of photos and newspaper clippings about Moore, and a poem written and performed by Guy.

“We’re hoping, when we have this day of recognition, that some other people will bring additional information about Tim Moore,” Thomas said.

Organizers also hope that interest blossoms into learning more about the community’s black pioneers, some of whom were stationed on Arsenal Island during the Civil War and others who worked for John Deere in the company’s early days.

After the Moore exhibit, the group plans to begin applying for nonprofit status and raising money with the hope of one day finding a physical home in which to display its history of the Quad-Cities.

Jay McGowan of Rock Island said it is important not only for blacks but also for those of other backgrounds.

“All cultures should know the contributions of all cultures in America,” McGowan said. “If you look in the Quad-Cities, you have a German-American Heritage (Center), which is great. There’s a strong Jewish culture that you can learn about at the Tri-City Jewish Center. Where can you walk in in the Quad-Cities and learn about the African-American culture? You can’t.”

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Tribute to Tim Moore

Where: Community room of the Rock Island Public Library, 401 19th St.

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday

Sponsor: The Quad-Cities African-American Museum

Cost: Free.