With a Cast of Colored Artists -- February 26, 2022

Wichita Eagle, 26-February-1922

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

Arkansas Democrat, 12-February-1921

The Black Thunderbolt starred ex-heavyweight champion Jack Johnson. I assume that the name of the theater was supposed to be "The Plaza."

Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer, 20-February-1922

Meanwhile, Jack Johnson was also touring the country with "His Vaudeville Jubilee."

Dallas Express, 28-February-1922

We have seen that John Harris, owner and manager of the Grand Central Theater in Dallas, had a policy of showing race films, but there was a paucity of product. On this bill, all the movies were mainstream productions.

California Eagle, 25-February-1922

Clarence Brooks, who appeared in many race films, was an officer in the Lincoln Motion Picture Company. He went east to do company business, and was happy to get home.

Dallas Express, 04-February-1922

A group of white people formed the Constellation Film Company to make race films. I can't find anything in the IMDB, but I will keep looking.

Perth Amboy Evening News, 17-February-1922

Shuffle Along was not a movie, but a 1921 musical revue that influenced Broadway shows for many years. Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle composed the music and wrote the lyrics. Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles wrote the comic scenes. 

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. 

Race Films in Dallas -- September 30, 2021

Dallas Express, 17-September-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. 

The High School Theater in Dallas operated in the Teens and Twenties. It was apparently not a theater in a high school.

Dallas Express, 17-September-1921

This ad for the Grand Central Theater in Dallas, which was also going to show By Right of Birth, quotes the "Sole Owner and Manager," John Harris, as saying that he was going to show The Call of His People, by race film maker Reol Productions, which released about twenty movies in 1921-1922. "I also wish to state at this time that I have a number of Colored pictures booked and shall try to get as many as possible." 

The movie played two nights at each theater. Both probably showed the same print.

Billboard Magazine, 03-September-1921

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.