Lindsay-Johnson, Beverly, May 18, 2022

File — Box: 1, Folder: 4

This oral history of Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, conducted by Annabelle Smith on May 18, 2022, is part of the University of Maryland's Joseph "Tex" Gathings oral history recordings, an initiative begun in 2022 by Gathings' cousin Julie Nelson.

In this oral history, documentary film maker Beverly Lindsay-Johnson discusses the history and significance of Joseph "Tex" Gathings' contributions to radio and television in Washington, D.C. Lindsay-Johnson recounts... how and why she met Gathings in 1998 during her research on the Teenarama dance party television show he produced in the 1960s which began on WOOK radio and then moved to WOOK TV. She shared her impressions of his personality, and background information about his radio and television career. She also talks about Gathings' efforts to open the field of public broadcasting to minorities, specifically the Black community, and how he influenced others' careers in broadcasting. She discusses how the Milt Grant Show was a precursor to Teenarama as well as how integration unfolded in the context of these two dance shows. She shares stories about how Teenarama impacted minority community culture in Washington, D.C.

Dates

Creation: May 18, 2022

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to the public and must be used in the Special Collections reading room. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

This collection contains restricted material (interview with Charles Hall). Please check the series and folder listings for additional information.

Extent

2 Items (oral history transcript and audio recording) : MP3 Recording length: 50:49 (41.3 MB)

Language of Materials

English

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Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

Mrs. Johnson is a television documentary film producer. One of her documentaries is Dance Party: The Teenarama Story for which her research included interviews with Gathings. She also nominated Gathings for the 2007 Gold Circle award that he won. In realizing the brilliance of the Teenarama broadcast, she purchased the rights to the program. She has full knowledge of the show and of Gathings’ approach to broadcasting.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This interview was donated by Julie Nelson, Joseph "Tex" Gathings' cousin, to the University of Maryland on June 30, 2022. A release form was signed by Beverly Lindsay-Johnson and Annabelle Smith on May 17, 2022.