Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 6, 1976, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press tuesday january 6, 1976 15 Williams welcomes his Fame As a the Washington Post Hollywood there s a moment in the movie lady sings the blues when Billy Bee Williams strolls grandly into a dimly lit nightclub. His Wavy hair and neatly trimmed moustache Glisten. His smile is easy and warm. He is immaculately dressed in a business suit and he has a coat draped Over his shoulders. It s a dramatic event in the film based on Billie holi Day s life one of those moments packed with sensual Power. The Impact of that instant was immediate. Women of All colors and Ages o o o h e d and Ahmed. Some even gasped. It was the birth of a sex Symbol. Since then the suave Williams has been dubbed the Black Clark Gable the most important Black Box office Star since Sidney Poitier. Now with the recent re lease of the popular Maho Gany which carries Over f r o m lady the Williams Eno Menon Diana Ross team his reputation is even bigger. Before 1972, when lady was released Williams had a modest reputation As a Capa ble stage or screen per former. He had portrayed football Star Gayle Sayers in the to production Brian s song and played in Broad Way productions of a taste of Honey and hallelujah baby. No w that he has Fame he can t walk the streets of any major City without being mobbed and he has to be wary of where he drives his Mercedes 450 be. Bodyguards have been posted outside the doors of his hotel room to head off besieging females. How does 38-year-old Billy Dee Williams feel about this mushrooming Fame i understand he says. Suddenly people Are wit Nessing something they never witnessed before. It s a phenomenon like something from out of left Field. I think it s great not Only for Black women but for White Williams six feet 177 pounds is sitting in the Liv ing room of his ranch style Home High in the Hollywood Hills. He s slouched on a sofa mulling Over his answer. Before continuing he stuffs a cigarette butt into an Ash Faay already filled with cigarettes. He s been Chain smoking All afternoon. I see this image making As an Opportunity to communicate with Blacks and Whites especially children. The Way 1 looked at Alan Ladd hum Lirey Bogart or those other great heroes on the screen when i was a kid i feel that if i m to be a catalyst i have to draw the at Tention of All but what does he do when women expect him to fulfil the romantic image i Deal with he says. "1 try not to let myself get involved Advance and the Winnipeg. Symphony Winnipeg convention Centre 3rd floor wednesday Jan. . The wonderful a Wor Idof of Gilbrt Subj a a la carte with the full orchestra and distinguished soloists in Vosi and musical selections from Pinafore gondoliers Jfe Mikado Yeoman Gaia Al pirates of Penza face and of driers conducted by Ruben seating English pub style All for Advance at door ticket Price includes cabaret seat and free admission to Casino. Mage service and special food available at estra Cost including bangers and Mash and Leacle tarts dots available at . Batons downtown and Polo parti Lombard Plata x and i. Of a. J j . The Bay downtown g in City. Senior citizens discount " s1.00 off any ticket purchased in Advance. Win win1 win a Casino of your favorite games plus Many prizes including a trip for 2 persons to Las vegas Nevada All expenses paid. Venus Massage parlor a love shop 801 Sargent 774-6641 open 12 noon to 1q- Sutherland hotel 785 main Street inc Long nightly la Frank staff sit. Aft exotic dancer Coco if unique is what you seek Call key girl out galls and studio sessions 280 Mainland St 772-2767 of cd floor 713 my Ltd St. It Sutherland. Pm. 942-7601 noon to 3 . 2nd floor pm. 772-2767 open 12 . 4 . I astounding direct from Las vegas Steveen the Impo Nifton takes you to the inner and outer reaches of your imagination with his hypnotic extravaganza appearing in the Winnipeg concert Hall Jan. 12 -14 16 8 . Jan. 17 pm Jan. 18 matinee tickets on Sale at All Ato and co outlets or at the door one hour before Showtime. Especially on the Road. Yeah i want to make women Happy but i want them to feel it when i m on the still it s a relatively new experience. I never thought about that sex Symbol thing until lady he says. All a sudden i realized there was something happening and i had to Check that he has a wife and children he tries to protect from the and romantic ambiguities of his Public life. He is protective to the Point o f discouraging reporters from taling with his wife t e r u k of or photographers from taking her picture. He s also said that at first Teruko did t understand All those women approaching him in hotel lobbies and on City streets but now she s reconciled to frenzied females. Billy Dee and Teruko each have children by former marriages his son Corey is and her daughter Miyako 14, by a marriage to musician Wayne Shorter. The couple also have year old daughter named Hanako. Their three bedroom Home is comfortable but not Lux urious even by Hollywood standards they paid for their House three years ago and now he says it would probably sell for the swimming Pool is Small and the furnishings Are a mishmash of styles. And with three children traipsing around constantly the House looks lived in. On a Wall in the living room hangs an Oil painting Williams did of Teruko. The features Are soft and the colors an array of pastels. On the Coffee table sits a Book of charcoal sketches. Of famous Mayers theatres James Caan Duvall the killer elite Umstad Rhui Donald run laut y 100 to six s tax Calitro. The cop. They both take their jobs . Burt Reynolds Cath crime Deneuve Donald of near 9 of Hunjui Horn mind Lelong at to Portage at Smith s43-od89 r v so Good thou if hoi instant Tel Al if Clyde Toronto Star themagnificenceofmo2art Carmen Ingmar Bergman s Imort Star 2 at 100-4130 f do Jackicich Odom one few Colony Cinema at 1.43 4oo Tyllo too nobody could dream him up ;