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.