Reyno

COOLEY HIGH

(Television Pilot) 

WHAT’S HAPPENING!!

Ernest Thomas, Reyno, and Dorian Harwood

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING!! – Pilot (Show Originally Titled “Cooley High”) – Shoot Date: November 18, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
L-R: ERNEST THOMAS; REYNO; DORIAN HAREWOOD

 

The un-aired 1975 Cooley High television pilot is the exact bridge that connected the hit 1975 movie Cooley High to the beloved ABC sitcom What’s Happening!!.The Connection ExplainedFollowing the massive box office success of the 1975 independent film Cooley High,

ABC executives wanted to adapt the 1960s Chicago-set comedy-drama into a weekly television series.

The network filmed a pilot episode featuring an entirely new cast from the movie:

Ernest Thomas was cast as the lead character, “Preach” (originally played by Glynn Turman in the film).

Dorian Harewood was cast as his best friend, “Cochise” (originally played by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs).

Reyno was cast to play “Pooter” (originally played by Corin Rogers).

What Happened to the Pilot?

The pilot episode was ultimately shelved and never broadcast to the public because network test audiences found it to be too dark, raw, and dramatic. ABC president Fred Silverman loved the core energy but wanted a lighthearted, comedic sitcom instead of a heavy social commentary.


Dorian Harewood
Cochise 

Dacarla Kilpatrick

Ketty Lester


Maurice Marshall
Damon 


Dorothy Meyer 


Garrett Morris
Mr. Mason 


Reyno
Pooter 


Renn Woods

The Shift: His character was renamed “Roger ‘Raj’ Thomas”.

Dorian Harewood and Reyno were let go as the roles of Cochise and Pooter were erased, paving the way for the new characters Dwayne (Haywood Nelson) and Rerun (Fred Berry).

 

 

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING!! – Pilot (Show Originally Titled “Cooley High”) – Shoot Date: November 18, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
L-R: MAURICE MARSHALL; and REYNO

WHAT’S HAPPENING!! – Pilot (Show Originally Titled “Cooley High”) – Shoot Date: November 18, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
L-R: REYNO; ERNEST THOMAS,  DORIAN HAREWOOD,  DOROTHY MEYER,  MAURICE MARSHALL

WHAT’S HAPPENING!! – Pilot (Show Originally Titled “Cooley High”) – Shoot Date: November 18, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
L-R: REYNO,  ERNEST THOMAS,  DORIAN HAREWOOD,  DOROTHY MEYER

WHAT’S HAPPENING!! – Pilot (Show Originally Titled “Cooley High”) – Shoot Date: November 18, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
L-R: MAURICE MARSHALL, REYNO

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING!! – Pilot (Show Originally Titled “Cooley High”) – Shoot Date: November 18, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
L-R: REYNO,  ERNEST THOMAS,  DORIAN HAREWOOD

WHAT’S HAPPENING!! – Pilot (Show Originally Titled “Cooley High”) – Shoot Date: November 18, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
L-R: REYNO and ERNEST THOMAS

WHAT’S HAPPENING!! – Pilot (Show Originally Titled “Cooley High”) – Shoot Date: November 18, 1975. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
L-R: ERNEST THOMAS, REYNO, DORIAN HAREWOOD

REYNO CRAYTON *****

 

Watch Your Mouth

A groundbreaking, 1978 American comedy-drama television series produced by WNET that aired on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Reyno
Chicago Red
• 1978
The educational series was designed to help teenagers improve their language and communication skills. It focused on Mr. Raymond Geeter, a resourceful language skills teacher played by actor Joe Morton, who taught an ethnically diverse group of high schoolers in an inner-city school.
Joe Morton
Mr. Raymond GeeterG. Smokey Campbell
Melvin
Luis Figueroa
RaoulLoretta Green
GailLionel Pina
Carlos Alvarez
Joanna Glushak
BonnieRobert Lee Rush
BobbyGlen Harris
FranklinJody Price
MaryMary Alan Hokanson
Principal

Ginny Ortiz
Carmen

Phylicia Rashad

Robert Townsend
Prince Otoma

Adolph Caesar
Jeff Cremer

Ed Wheeler
Paul

Charles Brown
Thomas

Rita Fredricks
Irene Wilkes

Samuel Jackson
Billy Dee

Victor Thomas
Lavar Cremer

Ruby Dee
Mrs. Fullo

Novella Nelson
Mrs. King

Gretchen Wyler

Stephanie Mills
NadinePaul Roebling
Dean FoxBarbara Montgomery
Mrs. WilliamsAlfred Drake
SelfNorma Donaldson
Mrs. Littlejohn

Frances Foster

Howard Mann
Mr. Welsh

Sarah Dash

Alvin Lum
Sri Guami Muta

Jarett Smithwrick
Todd

Dianne Kirksey

Charles Pegues
Father

George Axler
Dean Sanders

Reyno
Chicago Red

Willie Henry Jr.
Maurice

David Harris

Roxanna Reece Gordy
Susie

William Rodriguez
Miguel

Jackie Brooks

Carol Sidney
Miss Gregory

Willard D. Reece
Willard

Fifi St. Lot

Mindy Rosario
Gina  (uncredited)

Craig P. Campbell
Jimmy  (uncredited)

 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED – @Iforcolor.org – Dale Shields 2023

 

           LINKS

IMDB Page

Historical dictionary of African American theater

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Derwent_Awards

http://www.villagevoice.com/obies/search/

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0153567.html

Black World/Negro Digest

The great American playwrights on the screen: a critical guide to film

http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=2782

http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=2666

http://www-catalog.cpl.org/CLENIX/AAJ-1521

http://wikien4.appspot.com/wiki/Karamu_House

http://www.coolcleveland.com/wiki/Newsletter/CollaborationSoarsWithCarolineOrChange

http://www.actorsequity.org/aboutequity/equityawards/derwent_award.asp

http://broadwayworld.com/shows/cast.php?showid=323294

http://www.worldcat.org/title/first-breeze-of-summer/oclc/46822876/editions?referer=di&editionsView=true

http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/belknap/ufplaybills5.htm

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783444/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm 

 

Cooley High (1975)
byu/King_Ron_Dennis inForgottenTV

 

 

© DALE RICARDO SHIELDS 2026

Pages:

iforcolor

ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia.

Here's a summary of his background and achievements:

Early Life and Family:
Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers.
He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King.
Education:
Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970.
Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University.

Career and Contributions
Theatre Professional:
Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films.
Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman.

Educator:
Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam.
Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988.
Artistic Activist and Historian:

Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook.
Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011.

Awards and Recognition:
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017.
Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation).
AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017.
Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017.
Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022.
ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor.
The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress.
Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.