St. Paul Recorder

Gregory Comedian-In-Residence Bid From Chicago Hotel
Chicago (ANP)-Dick Gregory, whose unusual talent for telling racial jokes skyrocketed him to fame, is reported to be weighing an unusual offer from one of Chicago's leading hotels.
The Associated Negro Press learned that Gregory has been offered the job of comedian-in-residence at the downtown Sherman House (formerly the Sherman Hotel).
In that capacity, Gregory would be booked for 20 weeks per year to act as entertainment director in the Sherman's new College Inn Fountain Room. He would also book all other talent for the room.
It is believed to be the first time a Negro entertainer has ever been offered such a post.
The offer came, ANP learned as a result of Gregory's tremendous popularity. It also came less than two years after Gregory started his meteoric rise to fame at Chicago's Playboy Club, where he was formerly a "fill-in" entertainer.
Gregory's success follows the traditional storybook pattern. Although a college graduate (of Southern, Ill., university), he had a hard time getting started. He had to work as a car hop and part-time comedian in various local night clubs, before he was discovered.