The Negro "Lon Chaney" -- February 26, 2025

Saint Louis Argus, 13-February-1925

Smiling Hate, with an "ALL-STAR COLORED CAST," is a movie I have never heard of. I have never heard of actor HOWARD AUGUSTA, "The Famous Colored Artist." I can't find an entry for the movie in the IMDB. 

Saint Louis Argus, 20-February-1925

I was interested to see Howard Augusta called '"The Negro 'Lon Chaney'."

Baltimore Afro-American, 14-February-1925

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. Body and Soul was the first Micheaux movie that I saw, and for a long time the only one. Paul Robeson made an impressive debut, playing two brothers. Micheaux called the film "the biggest picture he has ever produced."

Baltimore Afro-American, 07-February-1925

This item says African Americans were internalizing messages of inferiority from mainstream movies. It commends Micheaux "who has expended money and contributed his wonderful talents with no recompense" and asks people to support him.

Oscar Micheaux -- Newest File Like Rhinelander Case -- January 28, 2025

Baltimore Afro-American, 24-January-1925

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. This ad says that Baltimore's Regent Theater will show his The House Behind the Cedars, which was based on a novel by Charles W Chestnutt. The House Behind the Cedars deals with issues of passing and miscegenation. Micheaux remade it as a talkie under the title The Veiled Aristocrats.

The article mentions that the story shares some points with the contemporary case of Leonard Rhinelander v Alice Rhinelander. Leonard Rhinelander, who was a member of a wealthy family, and Alice Jones, who came from working-class roots, fell in love. Despite the opposition of both families, they married as soon as they were old enough. They tried to keep the marriage secret, but reporters, interested by the angle of class differences, dug into Alice's background. They found that her father was of mixed race. Leonard, faced with disinheritance, tried to have the marriage dissolved because he said he did not know that Alice was of mixed race. Alice eventually won a settlement which included a lifetime monthly stipend.

Baltimore Afro-American, 31-January-1925

Sadly, the show did not go on because Micheaux's people did not get advertising materials to the theater in time.

They Are Subtly Teaching Us That They Are Superior -- May 30, 2024

Baltimore Afro-American, 02-May-1924

The author of this article hopes that Oscar Micheaux will succeed so that "we may have more colored films." The author says that white-made films "are subtly teaching us that they are superior." "The influence of the devilishly conceived 'Birth of a Nation' will not soon be counteracted." 

I like the 3-D effect in this ad for Micheaux's Symbold of the Unconquered. 

Kentucky Post, 24-May-1924

This may be the first reference I have seen to The Flaming Circle, a western directed by William H Grimes and Leo C Popkin. I don't know anything about William H Grimes but Leo C Popkin directed other race films like The Duke is Tops and later directed the original version of D.O.A. 

The lines are out of order, but the item states that "This is said to be the first film drama ever produced with an all-colored cast." We know that is not true. 

I will keep digging for information about Monarch Productions.

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'."

For Colored Only -- March 29, 2024

Atlanta Constitution, 11-March-1924

Atlanta's Paramount Theater "(For colored only)" was showing a William S Hart movie. 

Baltimore Sun, 16-March-1924

In January, we saw that Reol Productions, makers of race films, had been taken over by Progress Pictures. Emil Offerman, who had been head of Reol, was suing former employer Robertson-Cole over breach of contract. 

Motion Picture News, 15-March-1924

I was interested to see that African-Americans in Topeka, Kansas  protested DW Griffith's hateful epic The Birth of a Nation. I was shocked to see that they boycotted a local African American-owned newspaper which ran an advertisement for the showing. I haven't found the ad yet.

From the Pen of the Mighty Micheaux -- February 28, 2024

Omaha New Era, 08-February-1924

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. 100 years ago this month, his film Within Our Gates was going to play at the New Diamond Theater in Omaha. 

Omaha New Era, 08-February-1924

"Race's Greatest Screen Star/Evelyn Preer."

Saint Louis Argus, 29-February-1924

The "Versatile Miss Evelyn Preer" would soon appear in person at the Booker Washington Theater in Saint Louis with "Those Wonderful Lafayette Players."

Film Daily, 25-February-1924

The Lafayette Theater in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, "catering to a colored clientele," was destroyed by fire. 

Stole Tickets; Gets Two Years -- January 27, 2024

New York Age, 19-January-1924

Oscar Micheaux's film Birthright was based on the novel by Thomas Sigismund Stribling. It played at Harlem's Lafayette Theater. The film is probably lost. 

Roanoke Times, 31-January-1924

This guy got two years for "housebreaking and stealing tickets from the colored theater..." Another article said he was caught when he tried to use one of the tickets.

Film Daily, 02-January-1924

Reol Productions made several features and documentaries. 

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 30-November-1922

A Reol production.

A Knockout Drama in Five Reels -- Something Different -- December 28, 2023

Pittsburgh Courier, 22-December-1923

The Lincoln Theater in Pittsburgh offered His Great Chance, a race film directed by Ben Strasser. I have not been able to learn much about Strasser, or about His Great Chance. Among the "All-Star Colored Cast" was Tim Moore, a comedian who played the Kingfish in the Amos and Andy television show. 

The Pittsburgh Courier was a widely read African American-owned newspaper. 

Pittsburgh Courier, 22-December-1923

"A thrilly riot of fun..." This item implies that this was the first race film to show in Pittsburgh since Oscar Micheaux's The Homesteader, which was made in 1919. 

Saint Louis Argus, 14-December-1923

The Criterion Theater in St Louis played Oscar Micheaux's The Virgin of the Seminole, which was sometimes billed as The Virgin of Seminole. This was star Shingzie Howard's first movie.

Two Gun Louis Jordan -- November 25, 2023

Detroit Tribune, 13-November-1948

Louis Jordan, not the French guy, is one of my favorite singers. Look-Out Sister was a western set on a modern-day dude ranch. Bud Pollard directed; he directed several race films. 

Detroit Tribune, 13-November-1948

Louis Jordan and the Three Stooges on the same bill. I would have been there.

Detroit Tribune, 13-November-1948

Terra Haute Tribune, 23-November-1948

Go Down Death was a successful 1944 race film with a religious theme. Spencer Williams directed and starred. 

Terra Haute Tribune, 21-November-1948

Go Down Death took its title from a poem by James Weldon Johnson. The Organ Committee of the Second Baptist Church of Terra Haute sponsored the showings to raise money. The congregation is still active. I wonder if they still have the same organ. http://www.secondbaptistterrehaute.org/

I couldn't find anything useful about race films in November 1923. 

Oscar Micheaux Presents His Latest Masterplay -- October 25 2023

Saint Louis Argus, 12-October-1923

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. 100 years ago this month, his film The Virgin of the Seminole was going to play showing for two nights at the at the Comet Theater in Saint Louis. This was star Shingzie Howard's first movie. I like the name of the Retina Theater. 

Saint Louis Argus, 19-October-1923

Unfortunately, because of "a Misshipment of the Micheaux Film Company of Chicago," The Virgin of the Seminole had to be rescheduled to November.

Edna Morton -- September 22, 2023

New York Age, 22-September-1923

I couldn't find any posts about race films 100 years ago this month, in September, 1923. Here we have an ad for a stage revue which featured Edna Morton, who had appeared in Reol productions. The Lafayette Theatre in Harlem hosted many African-American artists. 

Cool! Always Cool! -- August 22, 2023

Lubbock Avalanche, 03-August-1948

Bills at the Chief Theater in Lubbock, Texas appear to have combined burlesque and movies. O'Voutie O'Rooney starred Slim Gaillard and an "All Colored Cast." I notice that one of the dancers in the burlesque portion of the program was Asian. I guess that didn't mess with the color bar. 

Enid Daily Eagle, 03-August-1948

I find this ad confusing. It says "Kilroy was Here/All Colored Cast." Kilroy was Here appears to have been a mainstream picture starring Jackie Coogan and Jackie Cooper. 

Birmingham News, 05-August-1948

The B'Ham, Birmingham's "Largest and Best Negro Theater," was showing only mainstream movies on this bill. Note the emphases on "Cool! Always Cool!"

Munster Times, 12-August-1948

Louis Jordan, not the French guy, is one of my favorite musicians.

I couldn't find anything useful about race films in August 1923. That may be because many theaters shut down during the hottest months. 

Written, Acted and Produced by Colored People -- July 20, 2023

Saint Louis Argus, 27-July-1923

Deceit was Evelyn Preer's first starring role. "The Most Beautiful Colored Actress on the screen." This was director Oscar Micheaux's tenth film. Notice that the theater advertised it was the "Coolest Place on Market Street/Ice Cold Water Running Always." Saint Louis gets hot during the summer. 

 

Pittsburgh Courier, 10-July-1948

25 years later, Micheaux's last movie, The Betrayal, was receiving bad reviews. JA Rogers used his column in the Pittsburgh Courier, and African American-owned newspaper, to defend the picture. Roger said it was better and truer-to-life than Gentleman's Agreement, a successful Hollywood movie. 

Film Daily, 05-July-1923

Back in 1923, a rumor that Kansas censors might life the ban on DW Griffith's famously racist Birth of a Nation led to protests from exhibitors. "Fear of racial differences is the reason for the ban."

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.