Raising a toast to the memory of Ranny Williams

This year marks the 110th birthday anniversary of Jamaican cultural icon, Randolph Samuel Williams, more popularly known as Ranny Williams, or simply, Maas Ran. This morning at 9 o’clock, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange and other distinguished guests will gather to lay floral tributes at his shrine at the National Heroes Park in commemoration of the anniversary of his birth.

BEYOND COMPARE

An actor beyond compare, and whose partnership with Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett was legendary, Ranny Williams left behind a rich legacy to the theatre world. His performances at the annual National Pantomime are the stuff of which legends are made. His last pantomime was in 1979 with The Hon All Purpus and the Dancing Princess, where he alternated in the lead role of King Wanluv with Hugh Moss-Solomon. The Ranny Williams Centre on Hope Road is named in his honour.

According to his bio on ltmpantomime.com, Randolph Williams was born in Colon, Panama, on October 26, 1912. He came to Jamaica at the age of six with his mother. He lived in Kingston for a while and the rest of his childhood was spent in Williamsfield, St Catherine. He attended Tutorial College, Calabar High and Kingston Technical High schools.

A dramatist and a comedian, he first started his acting career as a child reciting poetry at church, lodge halls and schoolrooms. He achieved professional status in 1930, when he was invited by Marcus Garvey to become a member of the vaudeville group at Edelweiss Park, located at 67 Slipe Road in Kingston, and to organise entertainment for the thousands of people who attended meetings there. Several productions at the Park have been listed as having been originated by Ranny Williams.

Maas Ran and Lee Gordon became a formidable duo known as “Amos and Andy”, and together went on to appear in the second LTM Pantomime Babes in the Wood. Ranny and Lee provided a great deal of comic relief in the topicalities or “knockabout” sections which facilitate scene changing in the pantomime. But Ranny Williams really came into his own when he began playing Brer Anancy which started when Louise Bennett and Noel Vaz created Anancy and Busha Bluebeard. He performed in over 29 pantomimes , wrote two ( Jamaica Way and Quashie Lady), adapted R obinson Crusoe and is listed as co-writer for Queenie’s Daughter and Bredda Buck.

Maas Ran was the host of the Ranny Williams Show on television which premiered in 1963. His films include A High Wind in Jamaica, Oh Dad, Poor Dad, White Souls, Jamaica No Problems, Tropical Isles, Zacc Experience and The Marijuana Affair. Along with Lee Gordon, he had a series of shows on ZQI, Jamaica’s first radio station which began operating at the beginning of World War II. He shared the spotlight in the radio revue Morgie and Putus with Alma Hylton (Mock Yen). At the same time he had another radio show called Hello, You Out There, and he developed the Lou and Ranny Show for the opening of JBC Radio in 1959.

His outstanding achievement in the field of entertainment and drama earned for his several awards: The Jamaica Certificate and Badge of Honour in the Queen’s, New Year honours list (1968); the Institute of Jamaica Silver Musgrave Medal (1968); Commander of the Order of Distinction (CD) for outstanding Services in the field of Entertainment (1976); and the Centenary Medal (1979).

Although Maas Ran accomplished much in his lifetime, his greatest accomplishment was of the love for the people of Jamaica whom he served outside of entertainment. He was a social worker, JAMAL worker, founder of the Ranny Williams Youth Club and a regular on The Nugget for the Needy Show.

Maas Ran died on August 11, 1980.

On the 25th anniversary of his passing the LTM held a tribute to his memory and on the occasion of his 100th birthday, a commemorative poster exhibition and tribute concert was held on the grounds of the Little Theatre. Friends and family once again raised a toast to the memory of Ranny Williams and his contribution to Jamaican theatre.