As a follow up to an earlier post from last year when it was discovered that Edwin had a close relationship with a gentleman named Roscoe Miller, new photos surfaced from an earlier time period with Edwin, Roscoe and Roscoe’s partner Aloise Wade. These photos were taken in Omaha, Nebraska. The photos clearly show Edwin at a much earlier age which confirms the existence of a long standing friendship between Edwin, Roscoe and the greater family.
According to the story from Naomi, “When Aunt Patsy, who is 95, concentrates on the photos with Edwin and her parents, Aunt Patsy recognizes the trees and the surroundings to be the property of her grandfather, Wesley H. Wade, in Omaha, Nebraska. She also said her grandmother, Bertha Wade, is seen in the background of some of the same photos. Therefore, Aunt Patsy suspects the photos had to be prior to 1922. That means the photos had to be taken sometime around 1920 when Roscoe was 28 years old, Aloise was 21, and Edwin was 37 years old.
Because Omaha is described as “a vibrant entertainment culture …echoing the Harlem Renaissance” in Historical Omaha, Nebraska Newspaper Archives, it is highly suspected that Edwin may have lived there at some point in his life. There were “moving picture show” companies like the Lincoln Theatre making “race films” and casting black people and people of color as performers. Roscoe and Edwin most likely met in Omaha during this thriving period of entertainment with performers like Duke Ellington, Louie Armstrong, and Maceo Pinkard. In fact, Roscoe sang as a Tenor in Maceo Pinkard’s Orchestra according to a newspaper article in the Omaha World Herald dated September 10, 1916. Roscoe was very actively tied to the entertainment industry as well as a “singing waiter” at the Brandeis. Somehow, Roscoe and Edwin’s paths met, and they formed a bond.
Aunt Patsy confirmed that the reason the Miller family ended up living in Los Angeles was because of the famous movie director, screenwriter, producer, Edwin Carewe. Roscoe moved to Los Angeles around 1921 leaving his wife, Aloise, living in Omaha with her father for another year. Eventually joined Roscoe and they had five children. She has fond memories of her childhood with “Mr.
Carewe” visiting and clearly remembers hearing her mother, uncle, and Roscoe say, “What would Carewe say…” quite often.”
This has been a wonderful discovery of an important relationship Edwin shared with Roscoe. A story that was unknown to us until recently. Thank you Naomi for sharing.
Photos courtesy of Naomi Miller McCoy.
