Greater Morristown tennis pros to host ‘Althea & Arthur’ screening at MPAC, Sept. 25

'Althea & Arthur' will be screened at Morristown's Mayo Performing Arts Center on Sept. 25, 2019.
0

 

They triumphed on the court, in a society that did not welcome them.

Tennis champions Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe rank among the greatest sports figures of the 20th century.

Tennis great Arthur Ashe with top-ranked pros Kyle Copeland-Muse, left, and Leslie Allen. Photo courtesy of Leslie Allen.
Tennis great Arthur Ashe with top-ranked pros Kyle Copeland-Muse, left, and Leslie Allen. Photo courtesy of Leslie Allen.

Their success in a game that had been as white as the togs worn at Wimbledon inspired a generation of African American athletes, including former Women’s Tennis Association pros Leslie Allen and Kyle Copeland-Muse.

Allen, now a Morristown resident, and Copeland-Muse, of Morris Township, will share their memories of Gibson and Ashe at a free screening of the documentary Althea & Arthur on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center.

The retired players appear in the film, which premiered during Black History Month on the CBS Sports Network.  A panel discussion will follow the 7 pm screening in MPAC’s Starlight Room. Although the event is free, seating is limited and reservations are suggested.

The great Althea Gibson, center, with Leslie Allen, to her right, and other aspiring players at the Sportsmen's Tennis Center in Boston, circa 1980. Photo courtesy of Leslie Allen.
The great Althea Gibson, center, with Leslie Allen, to her right, and other aspiring players at the Sportsmen’s Tennis Center in Boston, circa 1980. Photo courtesy of Leslie Allen.

In an interview with Morristown Green, Allen recalled Gibson as a fierce competitor in every endeavor she attempted.

“There’s so much to learn from her: Humble beginnings, a high school dropout, winning and defending titles, and a singer!” said Allen, now a realtor and life coach for athletes. “And then she did it again in golf. Who does that?”

Ashe was great model off the court, recounted Copeland-Muse, now an interior designer.

“Every time you talked to Arthur, it was never about tennis. He talked about religion, travel, apartheid….HIV was just another thing for him to study. To me, he was just an extraordinary person, an amazing human being,” she said, telling Morristown Green that Ashe’s memoir, Days of Grace, should be required reading in high schools.

Read their full interviews here.

If you’ve read this far… you clearly value your local news. Now we need your help to keep producing the local coverage you depend on! More people are reading Morristown Green than ever. But costs keep rising. Reporting the news takes time, money and hard work. We do it because we, like you, believe an informed citizenry is vital to a healthy community.

So please, CONTRIBUTE to MG or become a monthly SUBSCRIBER. ADVERTISE on Morristown Green. LIKE us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter, and SIGN UP for our newsletter.

LEAVE A REPLY