Wonder Theater of the World -- May 23, 2022

Dallas Express, 27-May-1922

I greatly admire John Harris, owner and manager of the Grand Central Theater in Dallas, who had a policy of showing race films. I have never heard of For His Mother's Sake, which starred ex-heavyweight champion Jack Johnson. Oscar Micheaux wrote, directed and produced The Dungeon in 1922. My Baby was produced in Dallas by the Benroy Motion Picture Corporation. So far, I have found nothing about the movie or its stars William Lee and Annie Valley. The co-feature was a mainstream western starring Frank Mayo.

Dallas Express, 06-May-1922

The Benroy Motion Picture Corporation of Dallas was looking for investors.

Dallas Express, 06-May-1922

The Benroy Motion Picture Corporation of Dallas also opened a free dramatic arts school to look for new talent. 

Kansas City Kansan, 14-May-1922

A group of students at Western University in Kansas City, Kansas, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) were watching The Lure of a Woman, produced by the Afro-American Film Exhibitors Company, when the film in the projection booth caught fire. No one was killed or injured. Western University closed its doors in 1942.

Washington Evening Star, 14-May-1922

The Burden of Race was a made by Reol Productions in 1921.

Moving Picture World, 20-May-1922

On the other hand, I was happy to see that Kansas banned a KKK recruiting film. 

Moving Picture World, 27-May-1922

And then there is this odd situation. Noble Johnson, one of the founders of the Lincoln Motion Picture Company, is listed as the producer. He is also credited with writing the movie. But this is a non-race film.

Movie Serials -- The Leap That Will Startle the World -- April 29, 2022

Moving Picture World, 08-April-1922

Charles Hutchison wrote, directed, acted and performed stunts in many Pathé serials (Pathéserials). "At a speed of 50 miles per hour he jumps his motorcycle from a ferryslip to the ferryboat yards away." This reminds me of an old San Francisco story whose punchline was "Yumpin' yimeny, what a yump."

Moving Picture World, 22-April-1922

Moving Picture World, 29-April-1922

Looks exciting.

Moving Picture World, 01-April-1922

"Polo's First Independent Serial!" Eddie Polo was a popular serial star. He started out as a trapeze artist in a circus. He appeared in many serials in the US and then went to Germany, where he starred in action films. He later worked as a makeup artist.

Moving Picture World, 01-April-1922

This serial must have a good-sized costume budget.

Moving Picture World, 08-April-1922

Moving Picture Weekly, 01-April-1922

Harry Myers, who had recently starred in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, played the lead in Universal's serial adaption of The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Noble Johnson played Man Friday.

Moving Picture Weekly, 08-April-1922

Note that the cast included Spottiswoode Aitken. I have always liked his name. 

Moving Picture Weekly, 15-April-1922

Moving Picture World, 29-April-1922

Universal's Perils of the Yukon starred Big Bill Desmond. 

Movie Serials -- Zip-Zing-Wow -- February 28, 2022

Motion Picture News, 25-February-1921

Charles Hutchison wrote, directed, acted and performed stunts in many Pathé serials (Pathéserials). He was especially good at motorcycle stunts. "The Thrill-a-Minute Stunt King."

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1922

Eddie Polo was a popular serial star. He started out as a trapeze artist in a circus. He appeared in many serials in the US and then went to Germany, where he starred in action films. He later worked as a makeup artist.

Motion Picture News, 04-February-1922

"Pulse-Quickening Posters That Will Pack Your Playhouse."

Motion Picture News, 11-February-1922

Motion Picture News, 18-February-1922

Motion Picture News, 04-February-1922

Harry Myers, who had recently starred in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Played the lead in Universal's serial adaption of The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Noble Johnson played Man Friday. 

Motion Picture News, 11-February-1922

Moving Picture Weekly, 11-February-1922

Big Colored Picture! -- January 29, 2022

Dallas Express, 28-January-1922

I admire John Harris, owner and manager of the Grand Central Theater in Dallas. His ads were always interesting and always featured a photo of himself. I like to see a man who was proud of his work. In this ad, he mentioned that he was bringing By Right of Birth back by popular demand. We saw an ad for the previous showing in September:
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2021/09/race-films-in-dallas-september-30-2021.html

The Lincoln Motion Picture Company, founded in Omaha in 1916 by brothers Noble and George Johnson, is often called the first company to make "race films," independent production with all- or almost-all-African American casts. In 1918, the company moved to Los Angeles, where it remained until it folded in 1922. The Johnsons left the company in about 1920. By Right of Birth, starring Clarence Brooks, was the company's fifth and last production. Actor Clarence Brooks went on to appear in many race films and some mainstream films during his career.

Dallas Express, 14-January-1922

This program consisted of movies not produced by African Americans, but one short comedy, "The Custard Nine," featured black performers. It was based on a story by a white guy, Harris Dickson.

Dallas Express, 28-January-1922

The Dallas Express was African-American owned. 

Evening Capital and Maryland Gazette, 21-January-1922

The bill at the Star Theater in Annapolis included a vaudeville program and a 1916 Biograph comedy, "A Natural Born Gambler." It starred Bahamian-American comedian Bert Williams. Williams appeared in vaudeville and the Ziegfeld Follies. He died tragically young in 1922.

The ad promised a real race film, The Sport of the Gods, based on the novel by poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar. Robert Levy, a Jewish immigrant from Britain, made it through his company, Reol Productions. 

Evening Capital and Maryland Gazette, 23-January-1922

This ad is hard to read, but I thought it was worth including. 

Lincoln Motion Picture Company -- August 31, 2021

Omaha Monitor, 04-August-1921

The Lincoln Motion Picture Company, founded in Omaha in 1916 by brothers Noble and George Johnson, is often called the first company to make "race films," independent production with all- or almost-all-African American casts. In 1918, the company moved to Los Angeles, where it remained until it folded in 1922. The Johnsons left the company in about 1920. By Right of Birth, starring Clarence Brooks, was the company's fifth and last production. Actor Clarence Brooks went on to appear in many race films and some mainstream films during his career.

Omaha Monitor, 04-August-1921

Chicago Whip, 27-August-1921

The Lincoln Motion Picture Company produced A Man's Duty in 1919.