Something that was widely reported in the Black press at the time of this films release was the fact that popular singer Billy Eckstine was told by the MGM brass not to look directly at Ms. Williams when he performed his number in the film. I was told this by a number of people who remembered it causing something of a sensation at the time in the Black community. This is one of the very few times that Mr. Eckstine was to appear on film at all, much less in a major Hollywood film. It just points up the irony the many black performers faced when appearing in film made by the Hollywood major studios. Mr Eckstine was never again to my knowledge appear in a major film, although he appeared a great deal on television. An interesting side note, his wife June was to have a major supporting role in "Band of Angels" about three years later.
Review of Skirts Ahoy!
