WEBVTT 1 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:14.080 You are groping down a dark alleyway in the French 2 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:18.280 Quarter of New Orleans, driven by terror, hounded by the 3 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:21.600 curse of the Populoi, a curse from which there is 4 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:23.640 no escape. 5 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:39.280 Escape produced by William N. Robeson and carefully contrived to 6 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:41.880 free you from the four walls of today for a 7 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:43.320 half hour of high adventure. 8 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:53.359 To today, we escape into two worlds, one of modern jazz, 9 00:00:53.479 --> 00:00:57.200 the other of primitive voodoo, and to a doomed man 10 00:00:57.240 --> 00:01:00.719 who brought them together, as William irashagend that in his 11 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:04.280 eerie story, Papa Benjamin. 12 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:37.120 All his Police Department Fourth Precinct, Sergeant Tolliver speaking, Yeah, yeah, 13 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:39.519 well pick him up on a drunk seventy two three? 14 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:45.439 Right, Yes, what can I do for you? 15 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:47.560 Are you in charge here? 16 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:48.840 Yeah? 17 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:53.519 Hey, aren't you Eddie Block the band leader? That's right, hey, Joe, 18 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:54.760 lookers here Eddie Block. 19 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:57.040 Well, never thought we'd get a visit from a big 20 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:59.959 celebrity like you, mister Block, and at four o'clock and them, 21 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:02.719 I suppose though, this is just a shock of evening 22 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:04.120 for a big shot orchestra lead. 23 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.159 It Hell, what can we do for you, mister Block? 24 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:12.080 I've just killed him man, you're kidding. I tell you, 25 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:12.840 I've just killed him. 26 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:15.800 Man, I guess you've been working too hard. Mister Blockie, 27 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:16.680 you imagining thing. 28 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:18.800 Hey, it's the gunen look at him. 29 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:23.479 Sit down, better, have a drink of water. You'll feel better. 30 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:24.759 No, no, no, I'm all right. 31 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:29.759 This gun has been used all right, smell. 32 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:37.520 Mm wasn't an accent, mister block No who to use 33 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:38.280 it on? Who was it? 34 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:44.080 I don't know his name. They call him Papa Benjamin sounds. 35 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:48.599 Like a white man. No, he was a Negro well 36 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:49.759 now in Orleans. 37 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:51.719 I no, no, there was nothing like that. 38 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:53.759 What was he doing to you? 39 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:59.639 He was killing me, killing Look at me. I used 40 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:01.639 to wait two hundred pounds, I'm down to one hundred 41 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:01.919 and two. 42 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:04.280 But how how was he killing you? 43 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:06.599 Would you believe in anything you can't see, can't here, 44 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:09.439 can't touch. I've been to the biggest doctors in the world. 45 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:12.319 They don't believe me. How can I expect you to. 46 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.680 We'll simply say I'm cracked and let it go with that. 47 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:18.560 I don't want to spend the rest of my life 48 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:19.879 in her silent Look. 49 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:23.240 Mister black you say he was a Negro named Papa bench. 50 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:27.840 Yes, yes, an old old man eighty maybe ninety, skin 51 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:32.000 and bones. He could hardly walk, and I shot him. 52 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:34.680 You sure you sure you killed him? 53 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:35.800 Yes? Of course? 54 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:41.199 Oh where I don't know exactly. And middle back alley 55 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:44.840 in the view Carrie near Congo Square. 56 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:47.319 Suppose you take us there? Can you do that? 57 00:03:48.039 --> 00:04:10.240 Then maybe we'll find out this is just a bad dream. 58 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:13.479 This is the alley to the right between the buildings. 59 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:14.479 Alright, let's go. 60 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:17.680 You pack sard, catch cold without it. 61 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:23.399 Don't go back there, honey by you cops. 62 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:26.079 A nice neighborhood. 63 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:30.720 This is it? 64 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:34.600 In that door and up the stairs. I'm on, no, no, 65 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:35.600 don't make me go. 66 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:36.120 Up there again. 67 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:39.279 Please, better comments to Block. You're showing a flash of light. 68 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:40.800 Somebody on the stairs. 69 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:47.279 He won't bother dead drunk and step over him. And 70 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:49.600 let's go. This net the most pleasant neighborhood to come calling. 71 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:56.639 This is it? 72 00:04:57.959 --> 00:04:59.920 Yes, in that door? 73 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:08.680 Oh, come on, better call a commissioner. Mister Block wasn't 74 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:09.959 a kid, and this man stayed. 75 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.839 But why why? 76 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:29.079 Because he was killing me? 77 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:31.600 Commissioners, then it was self defense. 78 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:33.720 He never came near me once. I was the one 79 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:37.959 who went to him. I offered him three ten thousand 80 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:41.920 any of him out, and he refused. I offered him 81 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:43.439 my gun and asked him to shoot me with her 82 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:45.199 to get it over with quickly and not to drag 83 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:46.160 it out any longer. 84 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:49.000 Then when he said no, you shot it. 85 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:51.959 So you can lock me up. 86 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:54.160 Now, mister Block, do you think we want to hang 87 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:56.560 a murder rap on you one of the most popular 88 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.240 celebrities in the United States? 89 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:01.360 Use your head trying to find him out for you? 90 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:02.759 He was killing me. 91 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:06.279 Look an eighty old colored man who's so feeble they 92 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.759 can't even go upstairs by himself, who has to have 93 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:10.839 his food pull it up to him in a basket, 94 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:15.759 is killing who? A stumblebum his own age? No, mister 95 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:18.240 Eddie Block, the top band lead of America, who can 96 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:21.000 name his own price anyway, who has about everything a 97 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:25.759 man can want. Tell me just one thing, mister Block. 98 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:27.079 How was he killing you? 99 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:30.399 I thinking thought waves of death that reached me through 100 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:30.759 the air. 101 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.959 Now, mister Block, you surely don't. 102 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:34.319 You want to hush the whole thing up, don't you? 103 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:37.560 No, mister Block, No, but I'm going to get the 104 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:40.879 whole story, so you might as well start telling me 105 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:44.199 from the beginning, all right. 106 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:50.160 It began one night, about two years ago, we were 107 00:06:50.240 --> 00:07:03.639 playing at Maxim's on Charles Street. We were just another band, 108 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:09.759 small Dixie Land outfit. Then Heady blocking his chips, Judy Jarvis, 109 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:12.279 my wife did the vocals, but we weren't setting the 110 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:16.480 world on fire. Business was so bad, I know what 111 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:18.439 to expect. When I got a call from the manager 112 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:20.120 one night after closing time. 113 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:21.680 I'm in. 114 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:27.040 Ahi, Eddie, I thought we better have a little talk. 115 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:28.839 It's that bad. Huh. 116 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:31.279 Hey took in forty five hundred this week. 117 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:34.800 I see. And you can cancel my contract anytime it 118 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:37.879 falls under five thousand. I get it. 119 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:40.519 Eddithing can get the same liquor and sandwiches anywhere, but 120 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:42.720 they'll go where the band has something. Tonight there were 121 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:44.879 more waiters in the place than they were customers. Judy 122 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:45.800 didn't even get a hand. 123 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:46.920 It's not her fault. 124 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:50.920 It's not her fault. She's okay, But I'm asking you 125 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:51.480 what's wrong. 126 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:55.399 I don't know. I'm getting the latest arrangement sent to 127 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:59.519 me from New York. We sweat our heads bold or rehearsing. Well, 128 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:01.920 this is New Orleans, practically the cradle of jazz. You 129 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:02.639 got to give them. 130 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:03.279 Something new. 131 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:05.879 When away leave. 132 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.639 Well, finish the week up, see if you can do 133 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:12.399 something about it by Monday. Not I'll have to work, 134 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:16.560 say Louis to get Kruger's band. I'm sorry, Eddie. 135 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:19.079 But it's all right. It's okay you're not running a 136 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:33.000 charity bazaarre. But I didn't feel so cocky about it. 137 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.159 It looked like we were on the skids. The band 138 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:40.120 just didn't seem to have it, and I wasn't good 139 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:42.279 enough to figure out why and pull them out of it. 140 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:46.159 I was feeling pretty low when I went back to 141 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:50.720 the deserted bandstand to pick up some music. The place 142 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:53.279 was dark and empty except for a couple of scrub 143 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:57.200 women cleaning up. A dark nightclub can be an eerie 144 00:08:57.240 --> 00:09:01.600 place sometimes. I got that feeling just before I saw it. 145 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.919 I saw it lying there on the floor between the stands. 146 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:09.279 It was a severed chicken claw with a red ribbon 147 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:13.879 tight around it. I almost laughed out did that thing 148 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:16.799 get there? Then I picked it up and tossed it 149 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:19.120 out on the floor where a scrub woman were cleaning up. 150 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:23.799 He certainly wasn't expecting the reaction I got. He took 151 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:35.159 one look, they turned and ran out. I just recovered 152 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.519 from that surprise and was bending down to pick up 153 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:39.279 some music that had slipped to the floor when I 154 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:42.840 heard someone come in. I guess I was pretty well 155 00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:46.840 hidden from view anyway, he didn't see me. It was 156 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:50.240 Johnny Stats, my drummer, and he was acting funny. He 157 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:55.639 looking intently at the floor, searching for something. Suddenly he 158 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:58.320 spotted this chicken claw on the floor and grabbed it 159 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:00.919 up with a terrific sigh of relief, stuffed it into 160 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:09.399 his pocket and walked out. What I did then, I 161 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.639 did on a strange impulse, and it changed the whole 162 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:18.679 course of my life. I followed Johnny Stads. I suppose 163 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:20.519 I just meant to catch up with him and have 164 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:22.879 a cup of coffee with him somewhere and ask him 165 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:26.679 about the chicken cloth. But as I followed him farther 166 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:30.120 and farther down into the view carrie down the Congo Square, 167 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:33.960 it was a growing curiosity that kept me on his trail. 168 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:38.039 When he turned into that dark alleyway, I stopped and debated. 169 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:42.039 I felt like an eavesdropper, and yet something drew me 170 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:47.039 on and I walked up that dark alley. I passed 171 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.159 that one lighted window. 172 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:51.360 I told you before, don't go back there, honey. 173 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:54.879 But I went on throw a sort of tunnel into 174 00:10:54.919 --> 00:11:00.639 another alleyway, and then I stopped. Ahead of me, Johnny 175 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:03.519 Stad stood before a dark, dismal looking old wreck of 176 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:11.720 a building. Suddenly he whistled. A gigantic man appeared from 177 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:14.720 out of the shadows. Johnny had it in the chicken claw, 178 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:18.080 and he was motioned into the building. And then I 179 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:21.759 heard sounds coming from the upstairs of that building. A 180 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:26.559 throbbing drum, a wailing, an unearthly sound, and yet wonderful, 181 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:32.840 an exotic, fascinating rhythm. This was music, something new, something sensational, 182 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:35.679 something that would set New Orleans on its ear and 183 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:38.159 put Eddie Block in the big time. I had to 184 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.320 get in there and hear it. I was mighty busy 185 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:44.480 for the next five minutes. I ran back down the alley, 186 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:47.320 overturning five or six garbage cans before I found what 187 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:50.639 I needed. Then back to that lighted window in the 188 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:53.840 alley and a five spot in exchange for a red ribbon. 189 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:58.000 Then I was back at the dark building, walking up 190 00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:59.279 to that menacing shadow. 191 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:09.120 Right up, let me see your face. 192 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:11.840 Okay, okay, easy with that knife, My. 193 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:15.600 Ribs are tender. Your face not been here before. 194 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.879 My friend Johnny stats up there. 195 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:20.919 He'll tell you, missus, Johnny, old friend. Yes, you'll come. 196 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:25.039 Here this chicken claw tell me to come, Papa Benjamin 197 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.679 send you there. 198 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:28.840 Certainly you'll make me late. Papa Benjamin wouldn't like that. 199 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:32.759 Alright, go along here. First thing you know, all know 200 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.960 or is got me come round. 201 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:37.399 I groped up the stairs, half expecting to feel his 202 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:41.919 knife in my back, but I got to the top safely. Cautiously, 203 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:43.120 I opened the door. 204 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:43.960 And slip. 205 00:12:46.440 --> 00:13:00.679 Conto conto. The room was full of people. They were 206 00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:03.000 in such a state of frenzy I wasn't even noticed. 207 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:05.759 I slipped into a corner and slid down by the wall, 208 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:11.919 sitting on the floor. It was a sight I'll never forget. Wild, fantastic, hideous, revolting. 209 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.480 Fascinating in the center of the room was an incredibly 210 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:19.399 old man, naked to the waist, wearing a hideous mask 211 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:24.720 and holding a live chicken. There was wild gestures, weird incantations, 212 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:27.840 frantic dancing and shouting and rolling of eyes, and there 213 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:32.919 was blood, and always there was the chat. Nobody noticed me. 214 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.799 After a moment, I took a piece of copy paper 215 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:38.080 out of my pocket and began putting down the notes. 216 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:42.600 It was wonderful, fantastic and wonderful. In ten minutes, I 217 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:46.120 had it, and I'd seen enough enough for a lifetime 218 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:49.000 of light backs. I began to feel sick and I 219 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:52.320 wanted to get out. I started to stand up. Suddenly 220 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:56.519 the room and dead strange joys here his boning arm 221 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:58.799 stretched out straight from the shoulder, pointing at me like 222 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:00.639 an arrow, and I was blood on it. 223 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:05.279 What you do here, I, Papa Loy, I know this man? 224 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.320 Let me find out. 225 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:09.360 No one moved. There was no sound in the room 226 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:12.200 as Johnny's stats came over and squatted beside me. You're 227 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:14.480 in terrible trouble, Addie. I don't know if I can 228 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.279 get you out of it. What is this status? And 229 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.000 what are you doing here? 230 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.720 There's no time to talk now. You've got to do 231 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:20.039 something quicker. You'll be a dead man. 232 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:23.399 Why I'm in the very heart of New Orleans. They wouldn't. 233 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.840 Dear listen, you've seen enough tonight. You know better, Eddie, 234 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:29.200 is only one way what join become one of us. 235 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:31.320 It's the only way, Eddie. I can't save you. 236 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.799 And you'd better hurry up. Unless you do, you'll never 237 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:37.360 get out of here alive. You know what this is, 238 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:39.919 don't you. This is voodoo. 239 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.240 Okay, sure, I'll join up. 240 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.799 Why not? Await a minute, Eddie. 241 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:45.960 There's a lot more to it than you think. 242 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.039 Unless you're serious that it'd be better to get cut 243 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:49.840 to pieces right now. 244 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:50.440 I don't worry. 245 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:58.399 I'm serious, all right, Papa Loi. His spirit wishes to 246 00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:59.559 join our spirits. 247 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:03.320 The old man burned some feathers while the others watch silently. 248 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:07.000 Then he nodded, came out all right. 249 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:09.120 He reads them the spirits of Willy. 250 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:14.879 There were other things, ritual ceremonies, another sacrifice. Then half 251 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:17.799 of the channing started again. They brought me the sacrificial bull. 252 00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:21.080 I didn't have to be told what was in it. 253 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:24.679 I started to draw back. Drink any drink it, I'll 254 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:33.480 tell you on the spot. Late next morning, the band 255 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:37.960 assembled at Maximus for a rehearsal. When Johnny Stats got there, 256 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.919 he found another drummer sitting in his place. Naturally, he 257 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:41.399 came to me. 258 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.799 And what's all this about, Eddie. 259 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.320 I don't want any voodoo lover in my band, That's 260 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:49.000 all Stats. Here's a check for two weeks, Sally, So 261 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:52.600 you're crossing Amaya brother. I wouldn't want to be in 262 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:54.720 your shoes for all the gold and fort knocks. Hell? 263 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:57.080 Have you mean that bad dream last night? And I 264 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.360 haven't told anybody, and I won't I be laughed at. 265 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.639 I'm only remembering what I can use of it. The 266 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:05.200 jungle is just trees to me, the Congoa River and 267 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:07.519 nighttime just time for electric lights. 268 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.679 With this new number you're going to rehearse this morning. 269 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:12.000 I said I'd remember what I can. You listen, Eddy, that. 270 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:14.879 Chat is sacred secret. It was secret edy, don't do it. 271 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:18.200 Look, here's a couple of c notes hand to these 272 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:20.399 that ought to pay my dues up from now to doomsday. 273 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.759 And I don't want to receipt. And if they try 274 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:24.799 putting poison to my orange juice, they'll end up on 275 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.200 a chain. 276 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:26.200 It's not that easier. 277 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:32.000 You're one of us now, Oh, get out, okay, goodbye 278 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:50.759 dead Man. Graham, the manager of the club changed his 279 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:53.399 mind about canceling our contract when he heard us rehearse 280 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:57.399 the chant. Instead, he spent five g's in publicity, and 281 00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:00.840 Saturday night was set for the big unveiling. Seemed like 282 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:03.600 all New Orleans, tried to jam at the Maxims came 283 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:08.000 to hear the Voodoo Champ the real thing. Just before 284 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:09.680 we were ready to hit it, Judy came. 285 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:12.839 Up to me, Eddie, listen, let's not do it. 286 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.599 What do you mean, maybe not do it? Well, this 287 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.599 is it. This is our ticket to the big time. 288 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:18.799 It'll be a sensation, I know, but I. 289 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:21.920 Got a funny feeling, Eddie. And look I found this 290 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.680 in the addressing room door just a little while ago. 291 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.920 It sounds like a warning. Somebody doesn't want you to 292 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.599 play that number. 293 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.039 He said. 294 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:31.440 You can summon the spirits, but can you dismiss them again? 295 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:34.799 Think well, hm, oh, forget it. 296 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.240 Baby. 297 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:39.039 Stats is trying to scare me because I fired him. 298 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.279 Come on, let's go. 299 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:40.559 There. 300 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:44.440 Takes a great pleasure in bringing you a historic moment 301 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:47.480 in musical history. You're about to hear for the first 302 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:52.000 time anywhere, the Voodoo chat the aj Oe ceremonial rhythm. 303 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:54.240 No one but the initiated has ever hurt before. 304 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:57.920 This is the real thing, Lady gentleman, an accurate transcription, 305 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:02.599 got a notice been changed. H So now any Block 306 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:06.200 and his chips present for the first time anywhere, the 307 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:07.519 Goodoo chaps. 308 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:13.720 It was a sensation and they went crazy at the 309 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:16.759 screamed for more. But we were playing a kag once 310 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:21.039 a night. That'd pack him in. After it was over, 311 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:23.440 I went back to our dressing room. Judy got there 312 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:28.240 before me. She was reading a newspaper somebody had brought in. Ed, baby, 313 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:31.519 you were wonderful. We wound him. We're in the money now, yeah, Eddie, 314 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:34.960 But boy, boy, am I tired. I feel more tired 315 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:37.799 than I've ever felt in my life. Nervous train, I guess, huh, 316 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:41.240 let them you're in the paper. Who cares about the paper? 317 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:45.480 Now, Eddie? It's Johnny's steps. He's dead. He drowned himself, 318 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.599 and let push a train this. 319 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:55.119 Afternoon, this afternoon. But then that note. It wasn't Johnny. 320 00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:57.680 Oh Eddie, look, you can't blame yourself. 321 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:01.519 Oh no, no, no, no, of course not. But I 322 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.759 think I know WHO'DU blame. 323 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:07.079 What do you mean nothing, nothing, Eddie? Wouldn't you lie 324 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.799 down and rest for a few minutes? You look worn out? 325 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.039 Yes? 326 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:11.599 I am right, I feel dead. 327 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:13.559 Here. Let me take off your coat. 328 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.759 Oh be careful, what's me? 329 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:18.880 I don't know a funny thing? But I was waving 330 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:21.319 the batana, and in the chat I felt something, a 331 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:24.359 sharp pain in my back, like a pin of something stucky. 332 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:27.119 I don't feel anything there now. Maybe it's slipped down. 333 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:27.599 I don't know. 334 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:31.880 Couldn't have been much there. Now, you just lie down, 335 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.279 you'll feel better in a few minutes. 336 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:36.079 You've been working too hard, Eddie. You should relax now 337 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:39.839 and maybe take a few days off. Hey, Eddie, look here, 338 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.880 where'd this come from. 339 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:48.279 It's a little doll that was lying on the dressing table. Why, Eddie, 340 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.759 it looks just like you. 341 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.079 Let me sing. 342 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:56.279 Now, that's funny. Look there in the back, there's a 343 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.720 little pin sticking in the bag. 344 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:12.640 Yes, that's right where I felt the pain that started. 345 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:16.039 Next day, I had a backache. Later there was a 346 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:19.480 numbness that spread to my shoulders, arms, and legs. I 347 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:23.720 felt tired all the time, listless dead. I began to 348 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:27.680 lose weight. I couldn't get Johnny's statz out of my mind. 349 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:31.039 He'd introduced me to them, vouched for me, and he'd 350 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:37.599 committed suicide. He knew he hadn't waited. I decided to 351 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:43.119 get out of New Orleans. I went to New York 352 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:45.279 playing the chat. Of course, I had to it was 353 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:49.319 my biggest asset now, but nothing changed. I was losing 354 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.960 weight from a husky two hundred down to one hundred 355 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:55.440 and sixty, and I couldn't sleep. Maybe if I put 356 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:59.319 a notion between I took an offer in London, toured 357 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:03.119 the Connolly Away a year. I was an international hit, now, 358 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:06.359 the biggest attraction in music, but I was down to 359 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:10.480 one hundred and ten, dying on my feet. The doctors 360 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:13.519 couldn't figure it out. Reynolds in London told. 361 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:17.079 Me, you're as normal, mister Block, as anyone I ever examined. 362 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.960 You're so well balanced if you haven't even got that 363 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:23.799 extra little touch of imagination most actors and musicians have. 364 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:30.519 I guess that's true, doctor, I'm just mediocre, And yet 365 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:43.720 you might say my success is killing me. And so 366 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:46.839 after two years I finally realized it was no use. 367 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:52.319 I came back back to New Orleans, back to the 368 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:57.440 dark alleyway down near Congo's Square. I could just barely 369 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:00.519 drag myself along, but I had to see Papa Benjamin. 370 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:06.319 I slowly climbed the stairs up to that lowesome door 371 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:12.799 and went in. There he was Papa Benjamin, staring at 372 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.680 me from the bed as if he'd been expecting me, 373 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:25.160 take that curse off me, give me my life back. 374 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.720 I'll do anything anything you say. 375 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:32.720 What has been done cannot be undone. Do you think 376 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:38.440 the spirits of earth, air, fire, water? No, what forgiveness 377 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.119 means in. 378 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:43.319 A set for me? Then you brought it about. Here's money. 379 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:45.200 I'll give you twice as much all I hearn, all 380 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.160 I ever hope to earn. 381 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:50.759 You have fouled the obia death has been on you 382 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:55.000 from that night, all over the world and in the 383 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:58.960 air above. You have marked the spirits with a chant 384 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.480 that summons them. 385 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:03.079 And please, here's a gun. Kill me now and be 386 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:06.440 done with it. I can't stand anymore. All you have 387 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:08.160 to do is shoot. I'll write a note sign and 388 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.240 say I did it myself. 389 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:17.240 Will come but different, slow, oh slow. 390 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:19.079 No no no, I can't stand that. I won't. 391 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:19.559 I won't. 392 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:27.359 Maybe if I kill you, maybe then the spell will 393 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:29.880 be broken. No, no, that's it, kill you. 394 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:52.119 No, no, and that's all, Commissioner. 395 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:55.599 Then I came here the police station. 396 00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:01.279 You know the rest. Well, all right, mister Black. You 397 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:05.920 don't believe me, yes, I believe you. Not about the curse. 398 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:09.440 Of course, that was your own mind. They planted the 399 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:13.680 suggestion in your mind. You did the rest, but it's 400 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:17.640 plain that you killed in self defense. Crazy kind of 401 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:20.519