Pas de Deux!

Thinking back to The Naked Cowboy episode (July 16, 17 below - www.joenoland.blogspot.com), I can’t help but reflect on another Salvation Army historical occurrence in Times Square, NYC, involving Captain Rheba Crawford, dubbed “The Angel of Broadway.” Winston in Red Hot and Righteous writes, “After receiving the appointment, she set out to “revive the moribund Broadway corps…Her Sunday evening open-airs, held on the steps of the Gaiety Theatre, attracted 1,000 listeners each week…Crawford developed a new image for the lassie which ultimately did not pass muster with the Army’s top officers, but was an understandable outcome of the Army’s pas de deux with popular culture.” She eventually resigned when Army leadership tried to silence her.”

Crawford’s appearance on the scene came later on in the American TSA evolutionary process. This after things began to settle down, propelling it into a more civilized era, with leadership now focused on protecting its fought for, died for, hard-earned, positive public image.

Winston continues, “Like it or not, it was this “pas de deux (In step, sync) with popular culture” that propelled the Army forward into the media spotlight; the Broadway and Hollywood production of Guys and Dolls being the most notable. Crawford’s brief tenure with the Army inspired the film, 'The Angel of Broadway' and a host of other plays and films that followed during this period.” Result: Today in America, TSA has a brand image that most corporations would die for.

There wasn’t a “Naked Cowboy” or “Guys and Dolls” in Jesus time (Angel outside the empty tomb, yes), but His message was pas de deux with popular culture. He eventually died a criminal’s death – the religious hierarchy’s futile attempt at silencing Him.

JN