The Duke Is Tops Covan, Willie performer Holmes, "Rubberneck" performer Film 1938-07-15 William L. Nolte, director Musical with an all-black cast starring Ralph Cooper (Duke Davis) who has invested all of his life savings to win back his sweetheart, Ethel (Lena Horne in her screen debut) in a road show over the old T.O.B.A. black vaudeville circuit in which they have both been performers since childhood. He joins the Doc Dorando medicine show and with him as the spoiler for the quack elixir sold by Dorando, it is successful. He becomes Doc's partner with an elaborate trailer and a company of entertainers, including Willie Covan, the Basin Street Boys, The Cats and the Fiddle, "Rubberneck" Holmes, and Joe Stevenson. Willie Covan billed as Specialty Tap Dancer, along with Rubberneck Holmes. Performing Arts Encyclopedia http://www.loc.gov/performingarts Internet Movie Database: Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/ (). Tap Dance America http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/tda/tda-home.html Willie Covan (biography) loc.music.tdabio.62 tda IHAS 151216 loc.music.tda.1487