“Improving The Community One Project At A Time”
PO Box 117 - Alderson W Va. 24910
AMS News.8.17.16
© Alderson Main Street 2016
Alderson's Tribute To Bricktop
On
Sunday
August
28
at
7pm
Alderson
will
celebrate
the
122nd
Birthday
of
Ada
Beatrice
Queen
Victoria
Louise
Virginia
Smith
a.k.a.
Bricktop.
Singer,
dancer
and
Paris
night
club
owner
of
the
1920s
and
30s,
Bricktop
was
born
in
Alderson,
WV.
She
was
called
Bricktop
because
of
her
auburn
hair
and
a
face
full
of
freckles.
After
the
death
of
her
father
the
family
moved
to
Chicago.
That
is
where
Ada
discovered
her
talent
for
entertaining
and hosting.
When
she
moved
to
Paris
in
the
early
1920s
she
decided
to
open
her
own
club
called
Chez
Bricktop.
Cole
Porter
was
a
fan
and
after
hearing
Bricktop
talk
about
a
lynching,
wrote
a
song
for
her
based
on
a
comment
she
made
(this
song
will
be
performed
by
Suzanna
Robinson-Kenga).
Ada
used
to
say
that
the
success
of
a
night was based on the number of Kings in attendance. The most was 5 not counting the Prince of Wales.
Ada
"Bricktop"
Smith
was
always
proud
of
her
West
Virginia
heritage.
She
would
tell
interviewers
that
she
was born in "West, by God, Virginia".
Come
to
Alderson
and
celebrate
Bricktop
with
the
Robinson-Kenga
Trio;
plus
a
surprise
guest.
Sit
on
the
Memorial
Bridge
overlooking
the
Greenbrier
River,
listen
to
wonderful
jazz,
dance
and
watch
the
sunset
over
the mountains. Bring a chair and your friends.
This
concert
is
free
and
sponsored
by
the
Town
of
Alderson,
Alderson
Main
Street
and
Greenbrier
County
Commission Arts & Recreation.
(Click on photos for larger view)
