Lena Horne: Too hot for Durham to handle

“In Durham, North Carolina, the Morning Herald ran an ad for the [local premiere of the 1946 movie ‘Ziegfeld Follies’]. It listed [Lena] Horne among the players. Scores of black patrons bought tickets for the first showing — and saw a jagged splice where [her rendition of] ‘Love’ should have been.  Many of them complained angrily and asked for refunds. Within 24 hours, Horne’s name had vanished from ads. The Pittsburgh Courier tried to investigate, but no one would take responsibility.”

— From “Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne” (2009) by James Gavin