 J.C. Wade, EntertainmentJesse C. Wade was born and spent his childhood in Havanna, Florida, moving to
Akron at the age of nine in 1918. As a teenager, Wade’s dancing talent was noticed by
Olsen and Johnson of the Keith Theater Circuit. He was promptly signed to a contract, went
on the road for the next several years and became the first black person from Akron to
perform on Broadway.
"J.C." taught dance for the next few years before
returning to Akron during the Great Depression of the 1930s. His dance instruction studio
became popular among Akron’s black and white population.
During World War II, Wade went to work at Goodyear
Aircraft. He put together benefit performances to support the war effort. Unfortunately,
J.C. Wade died young (39) in 1949, but left the legacy of many successful performers on
stage and screen, including Joe Fitzhugh, Eileen Weinberger, Bill Parsons, Merry Delaney,
and Alvin Leslie. |
