Chicago’s vocal powerhouse Bethany Thomas stopped by The Paper Machete on 7/10/10, accompanied by the great Tony Focht on guitar.  Here is her chilling rendition of Irving Berlin’s “Suppertime” from the smash 1933 musical revue As Thousands Cheer.

As Christopher Piatt explained in his intro, As Thousands Cheer featured witty songs and sketches based on the big news stories of the time, with real headlines appearing above the stage before each number.  Audiences were shocked when, in the midst of a mostly comedic show, the headline suddenly appeared: “Unknown Negro Lynched by Frenzied Mob.” Ethel Waters then came onstage, sat down at a table and sang this song.

Recorded by Kyle Hamman. Photo by Jeremy Rill.

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