Images courtesy of the Pasadena Museum of History

Members of Pasadena’s Duncan family that spans seven generations and almost 100 years of residing here will discuss their family history and provide a retrospective look at life in Pasadena from decades past at a new five part panel series hosted by the Sierra Madre Playhouse as it gears up to premiere its new play “Bee-Luther-Hatchee”.

The play — a story that delves into the topic of cultural appropriation and family storytelling — is the perfect backdrop for the Duncan special guests who have a rich history in Pasadena as one of the city’s most steadfast African American families.

“The event is inspired by the story that’s central to the play ‘Bee-Luther-Hatchee.’ It’s an African-American memoir,” said Diane Siegel, Curator of Special Programs for Sierra Madre Playhouse.

“The Duncan family is a local example of a family who has told their story in several different ways. Family history is something we can all say is our story and in a way it’s our responsibility to tell those stories,” Siegel said.

The Duncan family was featured in a 2009 exhibit mounted by the Pasadena Museum of History called “Family Stories: Sharing a Community’s Legacy” that shared the personal, multi-generational stories of six families, each representing one of the major ethnic groups with deep historical roots in Pasadena.

Photographs, documents, artifacts, and recordings from the Duncan, Gertmenian, Kawai, Lowe, Mejia, and Stevenson families helped the Museum shed light on the experiences of Pasadena’s African-American, Armenian-American, Japanese-American, Chinese-American, Latino, and Euro-American communities, according to the Hometown Pasadena website.

Duncan family members have been Pasadena residents since 1923 and continue to play a leading role in Pasadena and neighboring communities with each new generation.

“We have seven generation of Duncans in Pasadena to this day,” said John David Duncan, entrepreneur and one of 13 Duncan siblings.

Patriarch James Alfred Ernest Duncan was born in Nassau, Bahamas, in 1891. As a British sailor, he met his Riverside-born future wife, Corabell LaMar, while on leave in San Pedro, California. He traded seafaring for family life and eventually settled in Pasadena. James and Corabell were recorded to be the first African-American family active in St. Andrew’s Catholic Church (the City’s first Roman Catholic parish), where all 13 of their children were baptized.

“We’ve done—I think—some admirable things as individuals and as a family,” said Duncan.

The second generation went on to become bankers, businessmen, career military men, educators, a pioneering firefighter, and a dancer who broke the television color line.

Notable Duncan accomplishments include Wilfred “Bill” Duncan who became Pasadena’s first African-American firefighter in 1952. A different career path was taken by brother Arthur Duncan who would go on to become a famous dancer who performed on the Lawrence Welk Show for over 18 years (1964-1982) and has film credits that include “Tap with Sammy Davis, Jr and Gregory Hines”, “Prescription Murder with Dick Van Dyke” and a starring role in “Tap Heat.”

There is currently a film being made that profiles the Duncan family history.

“I think [the discussion] will give people a chance to ask questions, hear the stories and hopefully inspire them to write down their own family history because I think we all forget to do that. If you don’t actively do that, then the stories are lost forever,” said Siegel, who explained that the Sierra Madre Playhouse is presenting these panels in the community to provide a broader stage for discussion of issues raised in Gibbons’ play.

“These issues reach beyond the theater and by holding these panels we hope to provide room for discussion that perhaps can lead to dialogue,” Siegel added.

“Family History Night with Sierra Madre Playhouse” is Friday at 6 p.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore in Hastings Ranch located at 3729 E. Foothill Blvd.

Attendees will be able to watch a scene and meet actors and creative team members from “Bee-Luther-Hatchee” and hear stories from Duncan family members.

For event information visit http://www.vromansbookstore.com/event/family-history-night-sierra-madre-playhouse
For information about “Bee-Luther-Hatchee” visit http://sierramadreplayhouse.org.