Worth A Second Look?

[luckyluckyme]

I know this photo has been discussed before, but I'm not sure if the write-up has been shared. If it has, please excuse the repeat.

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[gman]

I've only seen the photo...never the article....Not exactly one of my favorite looks for the group, I looked very quickly when I saw it, I thought that was his shadow on Mary's back. Now that I've seen the text I can SEE it is the cut out on the gown.

[marybrewster]

My eyes aren't as good as they used to be: are Cindy and Jean in the same color? I wonder if these were ever used onstage? The flowers give the group a Pointer Sisters feel.

[danman869]

NOW we know for sure that the man in this photo is not [[as has been theorized):

1) Eddie Kendricks
2) Frank Wilson

It's clothing designer Bernard "The Beautiful" Johnson!

And the article also references the outfits in this photo:
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[marybrewster]

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/01/arts/bernard-johnson-60-dancer-choreographer-and-designer.html

[marv2]

NOW we know for sure that the man in this photo is not [[as has been theorized):

1) Eddie Kendricks
2) Frank Wilson

It's clothing designer Bernard "The Beautiful" Johnson!

And the article also references the outfits in this photo:
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Which is strange too. I use to think it was Eddie Kendricks. He was touring with the Supremes at that time. I asked Jean Terrell and she said it was designer Stephen Burrows that's in that picture with them. Go figure.......

[bradsupremes]

It's very strange. Bernard Johnson's archives don't have the designs for those costumes. In fact, the only thing they have is a sketch he did for them in the 60s that was never created. Very odd.

[marv2]

It's very strange. Bernard Johnson's archives don't have the designs for those costumes. In fact, the only thing they have is a sketch he did for them in the 60s that was never created. Very odd.

Stranger still, Stephen Burrows mentions in his biography designing for the Supremes, yet the man in the picture looks nothing like him and exactly like Eddie Kendricks from this facial hair, shape and complexion. His clothing is the style that Eddie wore in the early 70s and he was very familiar with Mary Wilson. I have to give my vote to Eddie Kendricks being the guy in that pic!

[marv2]

I'm sorry, but that is Eddie Kendricks in that picture:

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[luckyluckyme]

https://sites.uci.edu/ucisca/2014/05/14/collection-processed-bernard-johnson-papers-ms-p053/

[luckyluckyme]

As Mr. Johnson was the fashion designer for the film "Willie Dynamite", it looks as if he is wearing one of his own creations at the photo-shoot with the Supremes, similar to designs that he made for some male participants in the movie.
And since the photo and write-up were originally published in Essence Magazine, I would think that the photographer and/or writer would know if Eddie Kendricks was the man in the picture and would have so identified him.

[marv2]

As Mr. Johnson was the fashion designer for the film "Willie Dynamite", it looks as if he is wearing one of his own creations at the photo-shoot with the Supremes, similar to designs that he made for some male participants in the movie.
And since the photo and write-up were originally published in Essence Magazine, I would think that the photographer and/or writer would know if Eddie Kendricks was the man in the picture and would have so identified him.

I'm still trying to figure out why Jean said that it is Stephen Burrows.

[khansperac]

He looks nothing like Eddie Kendricks.

[marv2]

He looks nothing like Eddie Kendricks.

That's funny because Eddie's son Paul says it does look like his dad!

[luckyluckyme]

That's funny because Eddie's son Paul says it does look like his dad!

And enough people said that Cindy Birdsong looks like Florence Ballard, so much so that she could be slipped into the Supremes' line-up at the Hollywood Bowl on April 29, 1967. Even though Cindy resembled/looked like Florence she wasn't Florence.

[luckyluckyme]

I'm sorry, but that is Eddie Kendricks in that picture:

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If it is Eddie with the Supremes... what happened to his beard?

[blackguy69]

My eyes aren't as good as they used to be: are Cindy and Jean in the same color? I wonder if these were ever used onstage? The flowers give the group a Pointer Sisters feel.
Mary’s dress is lighter than Cindy and Jean’s dresses

[bradsupremes]

The guy in the photo is not Eddie Kendricks nor Stephen Burrows. It’s Bernard Johnson.

Stephen Burrows designed the short white fringe dresses worn at the Central Park concert and later with Lynda on the Flip Wilson Show doing “Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love.”

[luckyluckyme]

https://books.google.com/books?id=DOZS0LFCFOkC&pg=RA1-PA38&lpg=RA1-PA38&dq=stephen+burrows+the+supremes&source=bl&ots=K_zBgeBdg5&sig=ACfU3U20eM3sh1ZLjMzAlBQKW2scAQxXkQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjm85mRi_jgAhWNPN8KHf9AD6Q4ChDoATAGegQIB BAB#v=onepage&q=stephen%20burrows%20the%20supremes&f=false

[sup_fan]

ok - the guy could be peter pan for all we know lol. what i find strange is that other than this 1 shoot in the shorts and this 1 pic in the peach gowns, nothing. Did the girls EVER wear this clothing again? from a timing perspective this seems to be 71. Cindy is quite thin here, as she was around this time. And the girls recently had Stephen do those white fringe mini dresses [[sexy as all hell!!!) It's commendable that they're using black designers. wonder why they didn't do more for the girls? why they didn't wear them more, etc

[marv2]

The guy in the photo is not Eddie Kendricks nor Stephen Burrows. It’s Bernard Johnson.

Stephen Burrows designed the short white fringe dresses worn at the Central Park concert and later with Lynda on the Flip Wilson Show doing “Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love.”
Can you find a picture of Bernard Johnson for comparison?

[marv2]

If it is Eddie with the Supremes... what happened to his beard?

He didn't always wear a beard/goatee:

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[PeaceNHarmony]

The styling on both Sup's pics is ... grotesque.

[lucky2012]

The styling on both Sup's pics is ... grotesque.
Lol. Not grotesque but, actually, I had to take a second look at both photos, because they decidedly did not look like The Supremes! At first glance, I would have thought First Choice and Emotions. I guess I'm just used to seeing The Supremes in a more glamorous or sophisticated light.

The guy may or may not be Eddie Kendricks. I'd have to see a picture of Bernard Johnson [[or Stephen Burrows).

[luckyluckyme]

He didn't always wear a beard/goatee:

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But at the time of the Essence photoshoot, he was. Posting a TCB photo is like comparing apples & oranges.

[luckyluckyme]

Lol. Not grotesque but, actually, I had to take a second look at both photos, because they decidedly did not look like The Supremes! At first glance, I would have thought First Choice and Emotions. I guess I'm just used to seeing The Supremes in a more glamorous or sophisticated light.

The guy may or may not be Eddie Kendricks. I'd have to see a picture of Bernard Johnson [[or Stephen Burrows).

Later photos of Stephen Burrows are easily accessible. The only photo of Bernard Johnson I've seen was from an earlier time in his career.

[luckyluckyme]

15249Stephen Burrows

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[luckyluckyme]

At a younger age:

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[luckyluckyme]

Stephen Burrows From 1973:

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[luckyluckyme]

Not much help, but this photo is of Bernard Johnson from 1957:

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/le-danseur-noir-new-yorkais-bernard-johnson-saute-lors-dune-news-photo/558667741

[marv2]

Luckyluckyme, I would need to see pics of both Stephen Burrows and Bernard Johnson with facial hair. I do know that Eddie Kendricks was touring with the Supremes as their opening act at the time of the photo. Jean Terrell says that is Stephen Burrows in the pic. I still say it is Eddie.

[bradsupremes]

Luckyluckyme, I would need to see pics of both Stephen Burrows and Bernard Johnson with facial hair. I do know that Eddie Kendricks was touring with the Supremes as their opening act at the time of the photo. Jean Terrell says that is Stephen Burrows in the pic. I still say it is Eddie.

I can confirm it is not Stephen Burrows. The photos are pretty evident. Stephen had a lighter skin complexion.

The man in the photo is Bernard Johnson. Why else would they talk about him and the Supremes in the article? Of course they are going to have a photo of the subjects to match what's being discussed in the article. It's not Eddie Kendricks or else it would be mentioned in the article that it was him. Can you imagine an article on Eddie Kendricks with a photo of him surround by the Supremes and nowhere in the article does it mention that it's the Supremes with him? Believe me, it's Bernard Johnson in the photo.

[marv2]

I can confirm it is not Stephen Burrows. The photos are pretty evident. Stephen had a lighter skin complexion.

The man in the photo is Bernard Johnson. Why else would they talk about him and the Supremes in the article? Of course they are going to have a photo of the subjects to match what's being discussed in the article. It's not Eddie Kendricks or else it would be mentioned in the article that it was him. Can you imagine an article on Eddie Kendricks with a photo of him surround by the Supremes and nowhere in the article does it mention that it's the Supremes with him? Believe me, it's Bernard Johnson in the photo.

Magazines do make mistakes. I think that was from Essence Magazine and during it's first or second year of publication. The designer of the dresses the Supremes are wearing in the photo may have been Bernard Johnson, but that is Eddie Kendricks kissing Mary Wilson's back!

[lakeside]

https://soulfuldetroit.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15244&d=1552187627

Dear God....did they actually perform in these Beverly Hillbilly outfits? This is about
as un-Supreme as it gets. They really did jazz things up a bit by giving Jean blue
straps on those clodhoppers.

[marv2]

I also meant to mention to check out the hairline for Bernard Johnson and then Eddie Kendricks. Now unless Bernard could grow younger from 1971 to 1973, there is no way
I'll believe he is in that pic with the girls.

[bradsupremes]

Magazines do make mistakes. I think that was from Essence Magazine and during it's first or second year of publication. The designer of the dresses the Supremes are wearing in the photo may have been Bernard Johnson, but that is Eddie Kendricks kissing Mary Wilson's back!

Marv, I've done the research on the gowns and their designers. It's Bernard Johnson.

[khansperac]

The article is about him and designing for the Supremes. That’s why there is a picture of him with the group. Why would there be a picture of anyone else? Please make it make sense.

[TomatoTom123]

If you read the first two sentences on the magazine page, it literally says that the man in the picture is Bernard Johnson.

Those incomparable Motown misses. Superfine, supercharged, supra-stars... here getting the "max" of attention, and a little putting on, from talented show-biz designer Bernard Johnson.

I mean, If he actually designed the dresses that The Supremes are wearing in the picture, I feel like it would make sense for him to be with them in the picture...

[TomatoTom123]

Also, great pictures!!!! :)

[sup_fan]

I can confirm it is not Stephen Burrows. The photos are pretty evident. Stephen had a lighter skin complexion.

The man in the photo is Bernard Johnson. Why else would they talk about him and the Supremes in the article? Of course they are going to have a photo of the subjects to match what's being discussed in the article. It's not Eddie Kendricks or else it would be mentioned in the article that it was him. Can you imagine an article on Eddie Kendricks with a photo of him surround by the Supremes and nowhere in the article does it mention that it's the Supremes with him? Believe me, it's Bernard Johnson in the photo.

Brad - as you've worked with the gowns and done some research, any info on why they seemed to bounce around to much in the 70s? i realize that as budgets got tighter they might not have been able to afford Bob Mackie or Mike Travis. but with these other designers it seems like they'd do 1 dress and that was it. who did the floral gowns the MJL used in LA for that Grove appearance with the Tempts? or the yellow wool ones that now have the sleeves removed?

i also find it interesting that fans and the public felt the Sups weren't as relevant in the 70s or keeping up with trends. But they did try out a variety of less Vegas/glam looks:

these blue overalls - as few fans here thought they were the Emotions!
the red satin haltertops with blue hot pants - worn on Flip
the chiffon Kate Smith gowns
the floral Grove gowns
the red hexagon Touch gowns
the black pants and coats and lavender sequin tops from Touch
the white Central Park mini dresses
the deep purple MJL gowns from Lean On me from flip

[BayouMotownMan]

Magazines do make mistakes. I think that was from Essence Magazine and during it's first or second year of publication. The designer of the dresses the Supremes are wearing in the photo may have been Bernard Johnson, but that is Eddie Kendricks kissing Mary Wilson's back!

Wrong as usual Marv it is Johnson. Johnson has only a vague resemblance to Kendricks but was significantly shorter than Kendricks. He is seated in that photo because Jean towered over him. In other outtakes from the denim hot pants photo session he is seen dancing with the ladies and it is clearly not Eddie Kendricks in those shots. Also these shots are from early 1971 when Kendricks was finishing up his stint with the Temptations. Kendricks didn't open for the Supremes until early 1972.

[bradsupremes]

Brad - as you've worked with the gowns and done some research, any info on why they seemed to bounce around to much in the 70s? i realize that as budgets got tighter they might not have been able to afford Bob Mackie or Mike Travis. but with these other designers it seems like they'd do 1 dress and that was it. who did the floral gowns the MJL used in LA for that Grove appearance with the Tempts? or the yellow wool ones that now have the sleeves removed?

i also find it interesting that fans and the public felt the Sups weren't as relevant in the 70s or keeping up with trends. But they did try out a variety of less Vegas/glam looks:

these blue overalls - as few fans here thought they were the Emotions!
the red satin haltertops with blue hot pants - worn on Flip
the chiffon Kate Smith gowns
the floral Grove gowns
the red hexagon Touch gowns
the black pants and coats and lavender sequin tops from Touch
the white Central Park mini dresses
the deep purple MJL gowns from Lean On me from flip

Bob Mackie only worked with them on GIT and that was due to the insistence of NBC. Michael Travis was originally been tapped to do the designs for the special, but NBC told George Schlatter they wanted Mackie so Travis was bumped out of GIT. Travis told me “I was all set to do that special. I can tell you...My designs were better.”

They worked with Travis up to 1971. I actually have many design sketches of gowns he did for the group that never got made. I don’t know exactly why they stopped using him. I had briefly interviewed him the autumn before his death. We had intended to do a bigger interview, but sadly he died before we got to do that. That question was one I intended to ask him. Mary can’t remember why either. I had assumed his work with Liberace began to ramp up, but I doubt that’s the full reason. I don’t believe there was any falling out. The Supremes possibly wanted to try someone new.

After Travis, they started using Michael Nicola. He did several designs for them between 1971-1972 including those yellow wool dresses with the rhinestones and sleeves. They’re actually very beautiful in person. Simple yet elegant. He also did the white bugle beaded gowns with the beaded fringe sleeves and the tropical floral gowns with the feather coats. He did many other gowns too. They also used several different people between 1970 and 1973 like Stephen Burrows [[short white fringe “Central Park” gowns) and Bernard Johnson before they found Pat Campano and used him for most of their post-1973 gowns. They briefly used George Faison in 1976. I believe he did the black & rhinestone tuxedos and the infamous “Hair Folly” three-in-one gown.

[BayouMotownMan]

Brad, to my memory, The ladies stopped using Travis because he was simply too expensive and in 1971 the groups fortunes started on an irreversible downturn. That was the year Mary finally had an accounting and ordered Gordy to turn over her monies to her which was nowhere near what she thought she had. So they started using cheaper designers and, if you noticed, started using the old Diana Ross gowns again. They stayed with Campano the longest after this, but when he visited them in Vegas he was upset to see them wearing costumes he had not designed, so that finished that off. This was near the time the group disbanded.

[marv2]

If you read the first two sentences on the magazine page, it literally says that the man in the picture is Bernard Johnson.

Those incomparable Motown misses. Superfine, supercharged, supra-stars... here getting the "max" of attention, and a little putting on, from talented show-biz designer Bernard Johnson.

I mean, If he actually designed the dresses that The Supremes are wearing in the picture, I feel like it would make sense for him to be with them in the picture...


They can say what they want. That darker skinned, older man in the picture looks nothing like Bernard Johnson from the pic of him in 1973 here. They don't even have the same hairline at all. Someone gave Essence that picture and printed without verifying who the guy in the pic actually was. Jean said that it was Stephen Burrows. I still say he looks more like Eddie Kendricks than the other two guys. He dresses how Eddie [[and Temptations) dressed in the late 60s, early 70s. The fact that he was touring with the Supremes at that time just makes me believe it is him all the more!

[BayouMotownMan]

Fighting mental health must be so exhausting

[bradsupremes]

Brad, to my memory, The ladies stopped using Travis because he was simply too expensive and in 1971 the groups fortunes started on an irreversible downturn. That was the year Mary finally had an accounting and ordered Gordy to turn over her monies to her which was nowhere near what she thought she had. So they started using cheaper designers and, if you noticed, started using the old Diana Ross gowns again. They stayed with Campano the longest after this, but when he visited them in Vegas he was upset to see them wearing costumes he had not designed, so that finished that off. This was near the time the group disbanded.

Thanks for the info. I knew about the Campano incident in Vegas. When I asked Mary about why they stopped working with Travis, she said she couldn’t remember exactly, but did say it wasn’t anything personal. Mary did visit him shortly before his passing and she mentioned how nice it was to reminisce with him. I know when I spoke to him he was very proud of his work for the group and spoke highly of all the ladies.

[sup_fan]

Wow! Would love to know what his design approach would have been for GIT. I love the gowns used for the show but the set design and colors were hideous. The gowns faded away into the sea of mustard and brown that they used and completely diminished their impact.

I do like that they used so many designers and had a variety of looks. The Scherrie dresses were for the most part pretty and elegant but not really suited for disco. Having some massive chiffon ball gown doesn’t compliment the intricate disco dance moves of their choreography

[bradsupremes]

Wow! Would love to know what his design approach would have been for GIT. I love the gowns used for the show but the set design and colors were hideous. The gowns faded away into the sea of mustard and brown that they used and completely diminished their impact.

I do like that they used so many designers and had a variety of looks. The Scherrie dresses were for the most part pretty and elegant but not really suited for disco. Having some massive chiffon ball gown doesn’t compliment the intricate disco dance moves of their choreography

There's several sketches for DMC that were never made and I've wondered if they were intended for GIT, but if he wasn't included in the special then most likely those sketches were intended for the group's regular stage wear.

The original sketch for the TCB green swirl gowns originally had sleeves and a color palette of green, yellow, light blue, dark blue, and purple.

I know the girls liked some of those chiffon gowns because they could ball them up in a trunk and then when it came to perform, they could take them out, unball them and they'd bounce back with no wrinkles.

[lakeside]

Does anyone know who did these gowns?
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/68/cb/f4/68cbf4515863b34bcdc29122c28772a6.jpg

[sup_fan]

When scherrie joined almost all of the gowns were done by Pat Campona. I don’t know if he did any prior to scherrie. But almost everything except I think the rhinestone tuxes [[your my driving wheel on udo 77) and the uni-dress they wore in the disastrous Caesar show in 76

[sup_fan]

There's several sketches for DMC that were never made and I've wondered if they were intended for GIT, but if he wasn't included in the special then most likely those sketches were intended for the group's regular stage wear.

The original sketch for the TCB green swirl gowns originally had sleeves and a color palette of green, yellow, light blue, dark blue, and purple.

I know the girls liked some of those chiffon gowns because they could ball them up in a trunk and then when it came to perform, they could take them out, unball them and they'd bounce back with no wrinkles.

Hoping in Mary’s book she included some of the sketches and proposed gowns. And that there’s some real info about the history of the gowns. Not just pics of the most common ones that we can already see in other books and online

[TomatoTom123]

They can say what they want. That darker skinned, older man in the picture looks nothing like Bernard Johnson from the pic of him in 1973 here. They don't even have the same hairline at all. Someone gave Essence that picture and printed without verifying who the guy in the pic actually was. Jean said that it was Stephen Burrows. I still say he looks more like Eddie Kendricks than the other two guys. He dresses how Eddie [[and Temptations) dressed in the late 60s, early 70s. The fact that he was touring with the Supremes at that time just makes me believe it is him all the more!

Marv, if you are referring to this picture

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this is of Stephen Burrows, NOT Bernard Johnson.

It is clear to me that Bernard Johnson is the man in the pic with The Supremes. They are wearing the dresses that he designed, and the pic is in an article about him designing dresses for them. He just happens to look like Eddie Kendricks. :)

[bradsupremes]

Hoping in Mary’s book she included some of the sketches and proposed gowns. And that there’s some real info about the history of the gowns. Not just pics of the most common ones that we can already see in other books and online

There will be a few sketches, but certainly not all of them. The sketches of gowns that weren’t created are not included. I would have liked to have them all used including the Bob Mackie sketches and a Bernard Johnson sketch that never got made, but I don’t have the final say because I wasn’t the author nor the publisher.

[sup_fan]

of the unused sketches, where there some really great ones? or some really wild ones? lol some that got close to being made but something happened?

[bradsupremes]

I don't know how close they got to being made, but all the sketches were pretty great. Three were pretty stunning. There were two sketches that were somewhat different in style than what they were used to wearing, but they're cool to see. The odd thing is that several of the gowns were suppose to be three different colors for each girl, but you can see at the bottom he scratched it out and made them all the same color.

[sup_fan]

were most of these Diana era or later? seems line in the 70s they did a bit more with unique features/colors/etc for each girl. Actually i think mostly in the Scherrie era:

I can't think of any Flo era outfits that had differences for each girl

The first i can think of for DRATS was the Fats Waller medley outfits, although i believe those were owned by the production company. not the girls

DRATS
*TCB red/pink/orange pantsuits
*black and white ink-spot gowns - Diana had a huge b&w marabou feather wrap in the productions stills from the TCB Funny Girl medley. did the girls have one or just her?
*silver batwing pantsuits - D green and M/C blue
*orange and yellow pantsuits from Hollywood palace
*silver and bronze gowns from HP
*Bob Hope show mini dresses

Jean outfits
*pink Glen Campbell pantsuits - although all girls had all the pieces, sometimes only Jean would wear the patchwork vest
*the blue shorts jumper outfit from this thread has some minor differences for each girl
*the pink gowns in this thread are each a different shade
*hibiscus gowns from S&C with MJL - jeans feathers and top is lavender while others are pink
*Chiffon kate Smith gowns - one color for each

Scherrie
*red fringe gowns from S&C - different bodices for each
*green chiffon and sequin - different bodices for each
*bronze and white sequins - mary in white, cindy bronze and scherrie in both
*dream sequence outfits
*velvet outfits from Sammy & Co - one is black, one deep bronze and one dark purple
*black and sequin Jesus robes - the sleeves differ for each
*white/yellow/orange chiffon - originally only mary was sleeveless and each girl had a different color
*red billowy outfits - lol not sure what to call these. there's a brief clip of MSS in these red outfits doing You R Heart Of me on Merv. they're not the same red outfits from when they were on Soul Train or used in the photo shoot for HE. not sure if these are their own or what
*brown striped gowns - worn on Come into my life on ST. the stripes differ with Mary's more blue, Scherrie's more oranges [[i think) and susaye's more red/pinks
*caftans w beaded colors - each a slightly different shade