Oscar Micheaux -- A Story of the Negro and the South -- April 28, 2024

Baltimore Afro-American, 18-April-1924

Baltimore's Roosevelt Theater, "Home of Great Pictures," ran this ad in the Baltimore Afro-American. Among the movies, we see that Oscar Micheaux's film Birthright, starring Evelyn Preen, will play on Thursday and Friday. Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. 

Springfield News-Sun, 11-April-1924

Micheaux's The Dungeon, which also starred Evelyn Preer, was playing at the Booker T Washington Theater in Springfield, Ohio, along with an early Our Gang Comedy which featured Sunshine Sammy Morrison, an African-American child actor. 

Richmond Planet, 26-April-1924

In Richmond, Virginia, the Rayo Theater "Where Everybody Goes" was running another Micheaux production, A Son of Satan. Lawrence Chenault was the star. Arthur L Boykin and His Reo-Tan Speedsters was "A Happy-Snappy-Jazzy Feast of Musical Comedy direct from 'Philly'."

The Greatest Negro Photoplay of All Times -- June 21, 2023

New York Daily News, 24-June-1948

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. 75 years ago this month, his last film, The Betrayal, premiered at a Broadway theater, the Mansfield. This was a first for any race film. The movie is probably lost.

New York Age, 26-June-1923

The Betrayal, based on Micheaux's novel The Wind From Nowhere, was his first film in eight years.

Oklahoma City Black Dispatch, 19-June-1948

This item, with a photo of Micheaux, appeared in several African-American owned newspapers.

Saint Louis Argus, 15-June-1923

Meanwhile, back in 1923, The Crimson Skull, a western/mystery race film, produced by the Norman Film Company was promoted by an ad with a photo of leading lady Anita Bush. Lawrence Chennault was the leading man and the film also featured real-life cowboy Bill Pickett. The film is probably lost. I hate to keep writing that. 

Retina is an interesting name for a theater. A skydome, also referred to as an airdome, was an outdoor movie theater. These were popular during hot seasons.

>Saint Louis Argus, 15-June-1923

"The picture contains the Thrills! Action! Punch! of a 32 reel serial boiled down to 6 smashing reels of Big Fights, Fast Action, Thrilling Love Scenes and an intriguing, baffling mystery which is not solved until the last reel."

Colorado Statesman, 09-June-1923

The Southern Film Company of Chicago said that it had signed Noble Sissle, who, with his partner Eubie Blake, composed the music and wrote the lyrics for Shuffle Along, a wildly popular review. I can't find any trace of this movie, so I suspect it may not have happened.

Charlotte Observer, 15-June-1923

I wonder if this article about the Southland Film Company was actually about the Southern Film Company. 

Raleigh News and Observer, 15-June-1923

Winston-Salem Journal, 16-June-1923

The R.J. Reynolds Realty Company was going to build a "New Colored Theater" in Raleigh.

The Greatest Dramatic Triumph of the Negro Race -- March 27, 2023

New York Age, 24-March-1923

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. 100 years ago this month, his film The Virgin of Seminole was showing for three nights at The New Douglas Theater in "Harlem's Largest and Finest Theater."

New York Age, 24-March-1923

Leading lady Shingzie Howard made a personal appearance. "... one of the best films ever produced by Negroes."

New York Age, 31-March-1923

Shingzie Howard made a good impression in her first movie role.

Annapolis Evening Capital, 27-March-1922

The Star Theater in Annapolis was showing another "Oscar Michelaux" movie, The Dungeon. 

Annapolis Evening Capital, 27-March-1922

Another bill at the Star featured "A Big Colored Production" called Shot in the Night. I assume this is the same movie as a 1922 production, called A Shot in the Night. I haven't found out who produced or directed it, but I will keep digging. 

Omaha New Era, 05-March-1923

Spitfire, on the other hand, was produced by Robert Livy for Reol Productions. It starred Lawrence Chenault. 

Oscar Micheaux -- The Virgin of Seminole -- February 25, 2023

Sioux City New Era, 02-February-1923

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. 100 years ago this month, his film The Virgin of Seminole was showing for two nights at the Diamond Theater in Sioux City, IA. It featured "An All Star Colored Cast." Most of his advertisements featured his name, but this one does not.

Film Daily, 27-February-1923

"'Deceit,' the first all-negro production..." The Film Daily writer did not know what he was writing about. At this point, Oscar Micheaux had produced, directed and distributed at least eight feature films. Other companies that had produced "all-negro" films included the Lincoln Motion Picture Company and Reol Productions. This was Evelyn Preer's first appearance in a movie.

      

Vicksburg Evening Post, 22-February-1923

Lawrence Chenault appeared in many pictures made by Oscar Micheaux, but The Schemers was a Reol Production. "A Splendid Cast of Colored Artists."

Film Daily, 26-February-1923

An Iowa state legislator introduced a bill to forbid segregation in movie theaters. I have to dig around to see if it passed.

Motion Picture News, 13-January-1923

This is one that I missed last month. This clever guy who managed the Moss chain of theaters in New York City had the clever idea of cashing in on all the publicity about the Ku Klux Klan by advertising that "The K.K.K. is coming to B.S. Moss' Broadway Theater, week commencing Mon. Dec. 18th."  I am at a loss for words. 

A Classic Photodrama You Will Long Remember -- November 20, 2022

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 30-November-1922

This ad for The Schemers, a Reol Production, is one of the more elaborate designs that I have seen for a race film. That's a pretty girl, but I don't know she was. I wonder if she was Edna Morton. "You will be proud to see what strides have been made by the colored artists who enact the principal roles in this picture."

Twin City Daily Sentinel, 16-November-1922

On 15-April-1922, the Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, dedicated a monument, “Lifting the Veil of Ignorance,” to its first principal, educator Booker T Washington. Reol Productions made "A Tuskegee Pilgrimage," a short documentary about the ceremonies.

Topeka Daily Capital, 26-November-1921

Spitfire was another Reol production. It starred Edna Morton and Lawrence Chenault. "Go-Get-'Em-Hutch" was a mainstream movie serial. 

Vicksburg Evening Post, 22-November-1922

The Crimson Skull was a western directed by Richard E Norman. The all African-American cast starred Lawrence Chenault and Anna Bush. The run at Vicksburg's Princess Theater featured a personal appearance by Steve Reynolds, who many will remember as the hero's one-legged friend and mechanic in The Flying Ace, a later Norman production, and the only one which is known to survive. Why Men Forget was a mainstream film starring Evelyn Brent. 

Vicksburg Evening Post, 24-November-1922

"6 Reel Western with Plenty of Action." Fightin' Devil was a mainstream western directed by and starring Robert McKenzie. 

Vicksburg Evening Post, 22-November-1922

"Race Talent Score Triumph."

Dallas Express, 25-November-1921

I have mentioned before that I greatly admire John Harris, owner and manager of the Grand Central Theater in Dallas, who had a policy of showing race films. Unfortunately, there were not enough race films in distribution to allow him to show only race films. This week he showed Erich von Stroheim's popular Foolish Wives.

Daily Ardmoreite, 30-November-1922

Springfield Ohio was soon to have its first movie theater for African-American audiences. 

Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 18-November-1922

I could not find any references to race film pioneer Oscar Micheaux's movies, but here is a review of his latest novel. I can't tell if the tone is sincere or snarky. I think it is sincere, but it could be read as snarky.

A Tuskegee Pilgrimage -- October 25, 2022

Dallas Express, 21-October-1922

I have mentioned before that I greatly admire John Harris, owner and manager of the Grand Central Theater in Dallas, who had a policy of showing race films. On 15-April-1922, the Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, dedicated a monument, “Lifting the Veil of Ignorance,” to its first principal, educator Booker T Washington. Reol Productions made a short documentary about the ceremonies.

Dallas Express, 28-October-1922

Reol Productions also made The Burden of Race, a feature-length feature film.

Birmingham Reporter, 07-October-1922

This issue of the Birmingham Reporter contained several small ads for the soon-to-open Famous Theater. 

Birmingham Reporter, 07-October-1922

The Champion and Frolic Theaters in Birmingham advertised themselves as the "Best in the South for Colored People." 

Annapolis Evening Capital, 27-October-1922

The Star Theater, "The only up-to-date colored theater in Annapolis, was showing The Crimson Skull, directed by Richard E Norman. The all African-American cast starred Lawrence Chenault and "Anna Bush, the Colored Cowboy Girl." Kid Canfield was a reformed gambler who appeared in two movies and in vaudeville. 

Topeka State Journal, 21-October-1922

On the stage, Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones was successfully touring the country. Star Charles S Gilpin became popular. "Please Don't Mistake This For a Movie." 

Topeka State Journal, 21-October-1922

Gilpin died in 1930 and Paul Robeson played the lead in a 1933 talkie.

Edna Morton, Famous Colored Film Actress -- September 30, 2022

Dallas Express, 02-September-1922

I have mentioned before that I greatly admire John Harris, owner and manager of the Grand Central Theater in Dallas, who had a policy of showing race films. Spitfire was a Reol production. It starred Edna Morton and Lawrence Chenault.

Dallas Express, 30-September-1922

This article about "Famous Film Beauty" Edna Morton's visit to Columbus, Ohio mentions some Reol Productions that I have never heard of. 

Moving Picture World, 16-September-1922

One enterprising Texas distributor "arranged for a tie-up with the local Klan" to promote One Clear Call. 

Moving Picture World, 23-September-1922

This item reports the burning of "The negro picture theater at Arkadelphia," but does not say which Arkadelphia, Arkansas or Alabama. I dug around newspapers and could not find a mention of such a fire.

Moving Picture World, 30-September-1922

Meanwhile in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Olla James, a woman of color, sued the Hippodrome Theater. "She says in the suit that she was admitted to the theater but was denied full and equal enjoyment of accommodations, advantages and facilities because she is of African descent."