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BIRD OF THE IRON FEATHER , the nation’s first continuing television drama about a black family, has been running since Jan. 19th. Produced by WTTW Channel 11, the series con cerns the family of Jonah T. Rhodes, a black policeman from the Chicago ghetto who is killed during a racial uprising. The series was made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation, which is now running out, and at this time it appears that no further funds are available. The title is from an 1847 speech by Frederick Douglass in which he talks about the ‘‘sons and daughters of Africa in the United States,’ saying ‘“‘They have been a bird for the hunter’s gun, but a bird of iron feathers, unable to fly to freedom.”’ Based on an original story by Richard Durham, 6059 Harper, the drama is told explores his evolution as a b lack man and the reper cussions of his death on his family. The Rhodes household also includes Jonah’s wife Jean; Jonah’s father, Maceo Rhodes, Sr.; a piano player from Alabama _ (Curley Ellison, 4740 Drexel); his two younger brothers; his sister ; his grandmother; his mother-in-law; his aunt and uncle (Katie and Robert Brown, 1125 E. Hyde Park Blvd.); his cousin; and his uncle Funky Frank. The Herald wishes to salute this program and to familiarize the community with the cast members from this area. We hope that funds are found to continue this worth while project. RICHARD DURHAM through the diary taken from the locker of the dead man, Jonah T. Rhodes. The story Katie and Robert Brown, 1125 E. Hyde Park Blvd., play Jonah’s deaf mute aunt and uncle (and are deaf mutes in real life) and are shown with their nephew, Maceo, Jr., played by Nel Tinner. During BIRD OF THE IRON FEATHER’s episode ‘One of the Worst Days of My Life,’’ seen Monday on Channel 11, detective Rhodes (Ber nard Ward) disagrees with the shoot first-inquire later tactics of Officer Pierson, played by Don Stroup, 1421 E. 53rd, after he wounds Mike Furth in a burglary attempt. Betty Spann, 4858 Drexel Blvd., assistant to the production manager Clarence McIntosh (right), who is also executive producer of BIRD OF THE IRON FEATHER. Friday evening at 9:30 p.m. the last of the 21 episodes made from the Ford Foundation grant will be shown for the first time. Curley Ellison, 4740 Drexel Blvd., who potrays Jonah’s father in BIRD OF THE IRON FEATHER, plants a loving kiss on his mother, Sara, played by Louise Dumetz.
Newspaper Details
Chicago Hyde Park Herald
Chicago, Illinois, US
Wed, Mar 04, 1970
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Jane M.
USA 13 Feb 2026
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