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. 

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.

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."