Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

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Good morning Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host. I have a wonderful guest who is a community icon Miss Anna Bailey, which I'll properly introduce shortly, I got a few statements to make in regards to our overall program. And today. You know, this is Veterans Affairs. As I mentioned, Veterans Affairs plus will be more on the plus side today. Certainly want to express appreciation to all the fathers out there. I don't know how I did the last couple of shows with and I failed to mention Father's Day. How could you do that you'd be done. Anyway, I certainly want to express appreciation to all the fathers and the mothers who acted as fathers and in the lives of many of our young children. Also, of course, we have Juneteenth and let me say this they Jason always does the what he called it a disclaimer for us who have these radio shows because, you know, I just want to express my my disappointment that believe it or not that people say oh, wow, Juneteenth, it's a national holiday. Well, there are some people that will be off tomorrow there'll be when not tomorrow, but earlier this week, that sad having big celebrations that don't even care about Juneteenth, and any any of us who are actually celebrating it. So that's that's just my disappointment. Also, I failed to mention that this is Black Music Month. So all those musicians with a placing right, direct you name it, just want to express appreciation to them. Also, on the condolences side, James Lawson Jr. This gentleman was a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, he just passed away and he was in his mid 90s. But from what I understand, I really didn't know him. Well. phenomenal guy. And again, one of the confidants of Dr. Martin Luther King, so just wanted to, to make mention of that. We have a number of birthdays this month, a number of them in fact, I had to hit my daughter, April and say, Hey, who's whose birthday is this month? Alicia fountain. That's Ernest, his daughter, William Jr. This my brother in law. And little bird, my oldest brother's son. Brian rollin. That's earnest son. Of course, I already mentioned. I think I did. I did mention them last week with as little David his birthday. And also Fernan. We call him Ray Ray. That's our, our son. So just wanted to express Happy Birthday to all those folks and hope that they continue to enjoy all that life has to offer. On a downside I want to talk about very quickly. Well, Miss booth, who just recently passed away, and Miss Anna, would you help me with her first name? Do you recall her first name, but Miss Diane booth just recently passed away. So her services will be coming up soon. And as far as this past week, again, a disappointment in that it's the ninth year since the folks were killed in the Charleston church. You know, when I listen to a show, because I'm what's called a Nubian, I listened to a show every Monday called office hours with Dr. Greg Carr. And one of his guests talked about, you know, how, how humble folks are many people to black, white, you name it. When we pray, we generally pray with our eyes closed. And I think that in the future we'll be playing. If I'm in church, I'm gonna be playing with my eyes open because when your eyes are closed, that's how this guy was able to do the harm that he did to nine people. And that's it's unforgiving and I think it gave him a life sentence but I just wanted to acknowledge that that it's a 90 year since that that occurred. And one other thing real quickly before I get this Anna on the line is the bumps. The bump stock, I cannot believe that the Supreme board would turn this thing over, I just find it very, very disturbing that when you pull the trigger on that particular instrument, a weapon a gun can shoot up to 500, between 500 800 rounds, who needs that that's a, that's a military type action that you would need in a war zone, not in the community. So very disappointing. Hopefully, our congressional people will do something about that in the near future. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I am so very pleased to introduce a community icon. She has done so much work in this community. And I'll let her explain how she got to Las Vegas, but I do know that she has been a tremendous business person, along with her, her husband, the late Dr. We meet Bob Bailey, Bob was a phenomenal man in our community. And I no doubt in my mind that I know Miss Anna, you miss him. So Miss Anna Bailey.

Unknown Speaker 5:59
Hi, how you doing, David?

Unknown Speaker 6:01
I'm doing well. And I am so pleased I finally corralled you get you on my show? Because I think you have so much to tell our community. And again, this is tell us a little bit about tell us a little bit about you. Where are you from? And when did you arrive in Las Vegas?

Unknown Speaker 6:18
Well, I'm from Brooklyn, New York. And I came out here in 1955. To work at the Moulin Rouge Clarence Robinson was the producer. And he had about 20 of us girls to come out. And that was very exciting, because Pearl Bailey always told us about Las Vegas, if you're going to be in showbiz, that's where you have to be. So we're on that plane. And then we got here, that must have been about 20 photographers out there. And we were just so thrilled. And then the car was going in and we thought we were going on this trip. We thought that's where the Rouge was. It was getting darker and darker. But then we came to the Moulin Rouge on Bonanza, and we were just so impressed at how beautiful it was, and how happy and excited we work, because we're just young girls coming out here during that time. Right,

Unknown Speaker 7:10
right. Now, one thing you miss, I thought you were from New York. But where were you born in Brooklyn, New York. Were you born in

Unknown Speaker 7:19
Savannah, Georgia, of

Unknown Speaker 7:20
Savannah, Georgia and moved to Brooklyn as a as a very small child.

Unknown Speaker 7:24
Yeah, I think I was like three months. So I think everybody was migrating out of the stuffing and coming to New York. And I'm so glad because that was the My mother was very smart. And for her to bring us there because we were just excited to you know, he was always really young. You know, the whole family's excited about coming to Brooklyn.

Unknown Speaker 7:47
And from Brooklyn. So you stay there. You were an adult. I grew up there with the school and all of that in Brooklyn.

Unknown Speaker 7:54
Yes. New York Vocational High School, vocational high. I don't know if that school is still there. Now. I know what's on Harker mystery. So

Unknown Speaker 8:04
I do remember that. So what did you study vocational high school.

Unknown Speaker 8:09
Just a regular, you know, just a regular reading, writing arithmetic. That was really just about it. The Basics. Okay. And then the basics. Yes. And then we went off to junior high school, and then high school East New York vocational, like I said earlier on Herkimer. Street, and they gave we had a good education there. It really helped us in the future with our, you know, a lot of times we had to speak in front of an audience. If I hadn't have had that schooling in Brooklyn, I never would have been able to do it.

Unknown Speaker 8:40
Wow. So now as far as dancing, when did that come into, to your career thought as as a profession.

Unknown Speaker 8:52
I was at Barry Bruce dancing school, on 120/5 Street, and Eighth Avenue. And that's where I got all my training. And my mother used to give me 10 cents for the subway. And I would leave Brooklyn and go all the way to Harlem, to be there. And I did it from 13 till I was about 15. And then the girls at the Apollo went on strike. So we were I was just at the right place at the right time for the dancing school that go into the Apollo. And that was like our American Radio City musical. We were just so excited. And that was my introduction to show Britain's, and once I hit that stage with comedians and tap dancers, and I never did look back from there, I was hooked.

Unknown Speaker 9:40
Right? So after all of that, and you stayed in dance, starting out between 13 and 15 You went to a particular dance school, and then you got an opportunity to do a performance with with a group or individually.

Unknown Speaker 9:56
Oh with a group. Oh, I wasn't that prepared. But, but the but I did have a little bit the Mary Bruce dancing. And that really helped me a lot because we learned how to swing and to jazz. And we did a lot of tap dancing. And we really did some acrobats to these exciting times.

Unknown Speaker 10:18
It was called a Mary Bruce, the Mary, Bruce

Unknown Speaker 10:21
B, R U C. E, Mary Bruce. And I think she was really, really known on Halloween because I think he did a lot with adding a lot of the entertainment into the Polo. And he has Apollo was like our palace to perform. Because no matter how big a star was Pearl, Bailey, brother Bill barely, no matter how big it was, everybody had to hit the Apollo when you're on tour.

Unknown Speaker 10:47
So I know that you and Brother Bob were married for a long time and, and actually get right into

Unknown Speaker 10:56
him. I ran into him in Cincinnati that I would run into, to in Connecticut and so many places. And, and and we, we just couldn't escape from each other. We were definitely to be together. And we were married. I think we're, we're about we're both we're 24 we both were the same age. And we stayed married till about, I think 55 years until he passed and you know, I still miss them. Well,

Unknown Speaker 11:26
I bet Yeah, Bob was a phenomenal man and well known throughout this community. And he did so much work. I know when they had Ned Coe. I think it was him and him and Ernest, and what's his name was involved in there, Reverend Reverend Marian Bennett, that was on the netcode was the nonprofit side. And then ultimately, they started new ventures Capital Development Company, which ultimately became the chairman of the board, or was the president and CEO. And Bob really pushed us to do things that are helping folks.

Unknown Speaker 12:02
Yeah, because he loved the community. You know, David, and he really just love the he loves Las Vegas. Just we came here. He said, Yes, this is it. And I couldn't understand it, because I'm from New York. And it sounds like a small town to me, you know, but he was right and, and he couldn't get involved with the community fast enough. He was up in Reno. He was everywhere. And he was really a community type guy. He really was. And he wished the best of this town. I wish he could see it now. How it's how it's grown and how it's going to get bigger and better. I tell my my grandkids that they're going to be living in a great city, because this place this place is really on the verge of regrowing, get very big. You can't go anywhere in the world that they don't know Las Vegas.

Unknown Speaker 12:53
I agree. 100%. And I can tell you that many, many years ago. My wife Marsha was on the show that paid I think it was on chairs. Yeah, I

Unknown Speaker 13:04
know. He's done. I know. He was on three, eight and 13. Right, right.

Unknown Speaker 13:08
Yeah, Bob was one of the early blacks to be, you know, actually on TV. I know

Unknown Speaker 13:14
it and it was like a lot of pages. We couldn't go David when we came here that shocked us too. But we're in every But Bob and his shows was in everybody's living room. Because he would have all the stars because he knew most of the entertainers that came here from the AC new room in New York. So when he was out here, naturally, they were looked bob up. So those are the good old days.

Unknown Speaker 13:38
You know, and you mentioned children and grandchildren. How many children? You know, I know. Of course, yes. But I want to I want you to share that with

Unknown Speaker 13:46
Johnny, Johnny Bailey and he's attorney. And I have Kimberly Bailey and she's on on television. Oh, well, I don't know. I have to just get myself together here. And and I have five grandchildren, five grandchildren.

Unknown Speaker 14:05
Now. I know John is got a big firm and doing quite well. He's a well known. I'm so

Unknown Speaker 14:13
proud of both of my kids. They went off to school. And they came and they came back and they they love Vegas the way I do. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker 14:22
I remember when we had the West Side art gallery. We used to be called the Nubian convince a cultural community. We start doing business a West Side Art Gallery bookstore. And I mean when John when John came back from from law school, ba ba put him on us because we were we were myself and Orlando Hogan Benny Scott, we did not be Scott Binney. caselle We were a little bit behind on written and Johnny came in and kind of, you know, he didn't refer us up too bad, but he just let us know. Y'all gotta get this written, caught up. And he came. But we love John and John has done great work. And so it's

Unknown Speaker 14:58
so proud of The kids I really am. They're grown adults now. You know, I gotta stop calling them the children. And I'm really extremely proud of them. But they weren't the town the town certainly was good for them.

Unknown Speaker 15:13
Ya know, Kim is doing phenomenal work would would have been I know she had a business micro business enterprise show and she helped a lot of businesses to get going, you know, get established started.

Unknown Speaker 15:26
That's right. And a lot they learned from their father to good spot was so into business if that everybody should have their own business and not to have to work for anybody if they don't have to and, and work hard to do the best you can. And they learned a lot from Bob's business attitude. Absolutely.

Unknown Speaker 15:45
They did. And a lot of us do, because Bob was always pushing us. He pushed new ventures, in fact, have we listened to to Bob and Erin is me and Lopez. And you know, Jeff, I don't know if you remember Jeff Walker, he just recently passed away. And Jeff was one of our board members with me and Jeff and Lopez say I had I had two children in college. I'm like, Man, I want my dividends, man. They said we got to say something. That's my This is Bob and Aaron. We need to save for a rainy day. It is raining right now I got to college. But

Unknown Speaker 16:22
you know, we had people that you know, they had a little experience that kind of help and guide and it kept you going on the right track. Oh, yeah. And I'm proud of what you're doing to David. I mean, you're doing a good job on the radio. Well, I

Unknown Speaker 16:37
thank you. And, you know, I've been wanting to community activist types, all of my adult life and I learned so much from Bob. And speaking of children, I know if I remember correctly. Johnny went to school up in, in the Sacramento area.

Unknown Speaker 16:51
I think. I think he was up in Colorado, Colorado. Okay. Yeah. Colorado, it was so surprising because there's not many of us, you know, up there in the college. Right. So he did a good job there. But he met some friends that was and that's how they kind of got him to come up there. And that was a good experience he had. And

Unknown Speaker 17:10
then I know Kim, Kimberly went to Spelman, didn't she?

Unknown Speaker 17:13
I guess she did. And she's still very close to her. Spelman friends who sometime they come here to visit her. And she goes there to once a year when they all get together. Homecoming, that's it homecoming, I'm glad it came to me. And you never miss it. And, and she has great memories because you know, Bob went to Morehouse right? That's correct. So he was just so thrilled by her going going to Spelman. So it's a great experience, but I'm just proud when I feel they see. April, this show grown and so sophisticated. I'm proud of all the young adults.

Unknown Speaker 17:54
Oh, yes, absolutely. Now, again, you were a dancer. And dancing brought you to to Las Vegas, but you also was a business woman. Listening out it's a little bit about your business.

Unknown Speaker 18:08
Okay, I guess I guess enjoyed it so much. We opened up Sugar Hill. And I think we've stayed open for about 30 years, and we employed a lot of people and then everybody that was in the entertainment world, they would hang out of that place. So we would have Bill Cosby and Sammy Davis and I could go on and on. With different people that work with then I work with a lot when I worked at the Flamingo. And I worked with the dudes with Larry Steel's as smart affairs. So I was very lucky. It seemed it connected with all the friends that I knew from the east.

Unknown Speaker 18:44
So what were your positions when you worked at the hotels? Because I didn't realize you worked at a hotel.

Unknown Speaker 18:50
I was a dancer. Oh, okay. Yeah, I danced at the Flamingo night dance that they must have time with Pearl Bailey. He was here for about 10 years. And every time he was there, I was with him. Okay, then I worked through the dunes with Larry steel. I'm a real big producer from Chicago.

Unknown Speaker 19:07
I'm a real WM, like, what? What were your positions at the hotels? Dancer?

Unknown Speaker 19:14
No, I was no big. Corporate. Right. Right. Right. But it was always fun. And when you're young, you just have a lot of friends and you get to be like family. Right? Right. When the show close, you know, sometimes we cry because we've been together, maybe three to four to five months. And, but it was a good it was a good time during that period. So those are different chapters that you have in your life. Right, right. And it's been remember we got it all from being in Las Vegas to have the opportunity. I don't think it could have happened anyplace else. But Las Vegas, and here it is 40 or 50 or 60 years later. Still yet

Unknown Speaker 20:00
I though, absolutely we appreciate you so much. Now. Yes, most recently you was you were in a dance recital or a performance or whatever Follies.

Unknown Speaker 20:09
Yes, it was follies and we went in. Oh, I could never forget get the Motown we're in. No.

Unknown Speaker 20:18
Yeah. Kimberly explained it yesterday. You were up there. And Ally auntie, Miss Anna.

Unknown Speaker 20:25
Yeah. Okay, that's correct. We're in the theater there. And that was a good day. And it was the follies. And I think I was only sister in the show. But it was really fun. And they are thinking about getting back together again. And they want to come to the strip, but I think they're working on it. So we'll see what happens. And I'll let you know Dave Is it is it materialized? A lot of talk now, you know, they'll talk for about a year before anything happened.

Unknown Speaker 20:50
We'll just keep us posted. Because we'll certainly give you and the others an opportunity to come on the show and just kind of tell us

Unknown Speaker 20:56
there was some nice a great guys. You know, Bubba Knight was in it with Gladys Knight, stepbrother, and DJ sky. She was. I think she's like a blues singer. Clint Holmes. You heard of Clint? Oh, yes, absolutely. Oh, it's a first class show. So I think it's needed now on the script. So I'll see what happens. And I'll let you know of the material.

Unknown Speaker 21:19
So what do you think about your thoughts about Las Vegas today? I know you've kind of touched on some of the things that but a little bit more in depth. And you mentioned the possibility of you guys doing something on the strip as far as dance is concerned.

Unknown Speaker 21:36
Yeah, that's what they're, they're kind of working on it. But you know, showbusiness is, you know, you might have to wait three months, or six months or a year before it's something materialized. But there's a lot of players, but I think you couldn't be in a better place to live, it's the weather. And you can afford to live here. You think you can purchase a home here where it's almost impossible in New York or, or California. And there's a lot of opportunities. And I like the locals here, all the nationalities of all the locals, they all gotta work together. And they never forget you. And whenever you go out, I mean, you get a hello or, or buddy has been here 20 or 30 or 40 years, you know,

Unknown Speaker 22:21
once again, Las Vegas, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. And I have Miss Anna Bailey, a longtime loss vegan, and really an icon her and her husband, Dr. William H. Bob Bailey did so much to promote, promote, I should say promote business and involvement of community. Go ahead, Miss Anne. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker 22:44
he was a hard worker, he really was. And, and, you know, the governor made him the Equal Rights Committee. And we really needed it so badly. And when we came here, there was a lot of places that we still couldn't buy in any homes. And maybe that's all history now. Any part of the town and he did a lot to get us housing and, and better jobs. And, and he had a wonderful job on the Equal Rights Committee. He did a great job on that. And I think it's changed the climate of how it was when we first came here. And that's what made it even a better city. Now. I wish he could have hung around a little bit longer.

Unknown Speaker 23:24
You know, I forgot about he was chair the Equal Rights Commission for

Unknown Speaker 23:31
government grants. Boy, yeah. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 23:33
You know, and unbeknownst to a lot of folks, Bob was a Republican, but he was a Republican who got things done. He had no, he wasn't just sitting there. Because yeah, the ear of folks, he actually got that things accomplished. And, and we will continue to, to appreciate him for what the work that he did. And one thing I do know, Miss Anna, you was there to keep him propped up, I can tell you that I tell people all the time. If it wasn't for Marsha, the things that I what things that I've accomplished in my life would not have occurred, you got to have a strong woman, that that will put you in check.

Unknown Speaker 24:16
Your partners, that's right work together, you know, when you see that things are not going quite right this way, then then you can kind of pull your code a little bit and that's vice versa with with, with with both sides. And we have to help each other and continue to love each other. Look out for each other take care of each other, you know,

Unknown Speaker 24:34
absolutely. And I know you guys did that. You guys were a fine example to two folks like me and Marsha. There's others that I could call out. Orlando and Elaine Hogan. I mean, these are the folks that are good people here. Yes. And these are folks that we watch you guys and all of us now are in our 50 years or 50 years plus of marriage. And again, you guys kind of set the tone set them model for us. So, don't think you didn't we weren't watching y'all because

Unknown Speaker 25:05
I didn't realize that. Oh, they you know, they were I guess proud. They say we were Jay Z. And Beyonce looked at us when we came here, but we had no idea, right? We're just walked down the street, and people were waved through a little wave back. And, and we never did never did think that people thought that highly of us, you know, but it made us feel appreciative and grateful. And, and like I said, there's some great people black and white in this town. No

Unknown Speaker 25:36
doubt about it. Definitely. And you mentioned how will we have done in terms of media and, and people coming to Vegas? I know, you know, I served under the mayor Oscar Goodman, as fire chief, and I can tell you, a nobody gonna convince me that that man didn't do a phenomenal job in terms of the publicity that he got for us. As a result of him being mayor. And I used to mess with him. I say, I know, Miss Carolyn approves of him, she'll girls on your show. He said absolutely.

Unknown Speaker 26:13
Like that couple to I really do. It. I like I like it. I suppose I like his wife, you know, I'd be what? It had to be just speak some one time and an affair. And he said, Well, what did you do to get up to? Like I said, you just did, you know, oh, golly. You know, tell the truth. Stand up, take care of yourself, get your rest. And just to help each other, you know, but I guess I love that couple. I really do. Remember some of the things that that I talked about during that time, but I guess I might be a little excited right now

Unknown Speaker 26:52
I understand. Well, you've done a great you've done a great job at your age Miss Anna to be able to be focused and, and answer the questions and have, you've been a great interviewer. And I can tell you that mere Oscar Goodman, he, he kept his hands on me in terms of ensuring that the union couldn't just run me off. When I left, I left on the court, because he always told me, you know, you continue to be the stand up guy that you are and, and I'm in your corner. And I appreciate. I appreciate him so much. But Miss Anna, as

Unknown Speaker 27:29
you can see, he appreciates you so much. You know, it's good to me. And they're just a lovely couple. And they makes me feel so happy that they respect us. They tried to help us and things like that, because it was very hostile Truthfully, when we first came here, you know, but was friends like that. That's what I said, everybody here we all pitch in and we help each other and that's how the town has grown to do how it is now. Just enjoy talking get so much. And I was so glad to I haven't seen much in a long time. I was so glad to see April. And y'all just keep on keepin on now. You're on the right track. I'm so proud of you.

Unknown Speaker 28:11
We appreciate it very much. In fact, one of my goals is to get one if not both of those goodness on the show. I know she's terming out and I certainly want to. I've tried to get her a couple of times, but you know, doing COVID Everything kind of bogged down. And I never really made a contact with Dave Riggleman, the communications director but i She'll do that because they

Unknown Speaker 28:33
write on it, I think is important because they think highly of you. They really do

Unknown Speaker 28:38
yes and I think is important for our community hear from her from you know, from veterans audience and wished it was still growing, you know, the veterans affairs show we're still growing our audience, but I always try to give them something with some flavor and you brought plenty of it to the table

Unknown Speaker 28:58
you know, I'm not a radio too much. You know, I'm kind of retired now instead of living in it, I'm just this is just such a wonderful opportunity for me. And I just respect you and your your wife so much. So just keep on keepin on. And I'm right behind your back. And yeah, pushing you up. We

Unknown Speaker 29:17
appreciate it very much. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on any 1.5 Jazz and more. I'm looking over at my engineer, my producer, director and West has given me the thumbs up that we're about out of time. So Miss Anna Bailey, we appreciate you so much and we will always have respect and love for you. With Dr. Bob will will you meet Bailey and your children, Johnny and Kimberly. Alright. I love you all just people. All right, take care. Bye now. Bye bye

Transcribed by https://otter.ai