Oscar Micheaux -- The Greatest Negro Photoplay of All Times! -- August 30, 2024

Oklahoma City Black Dispatch, 06-August-1949

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. His last film, The Betrayal, premiered at a Broadway theater. This was a first for any race film. The movie is probably lost.

Note: "This is not a Chapter play, but due to its great length must be shown in three weekly installments!"

Saint Louis Argus, 24-August-1924

I couldn't find much about race films from 100 years ago this month, but I did see that Evelyn Preer, who appeared in many of Oscar Micheaux's movies, was touring in vaudeville with Edward Thompson (no relation), a fellow member of the Lafayette Players.

Oscar Micheaux Moves Fast -- July 30, 2024

Baltimore Afro-American, 07-July-1924

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. He not only produced films, but he roamed the country finding theaters willing to play them. 

Birmingham News, 15-July-1924

100 years ago this month, Micheaux's film Deceit was playing at Birmingham's Famous Theater. I do not know if the photo is Oscar Micheaux or an actor who appeared in the film. Evelyn Preer appeared in several race films. I know the photo is not her.

Atlanta Constitution, 29-July-1924

Meanwhile, Micheaux's Birthright, which also starred Evelyn Preer, was playing at Atlanta's Paramount, "The Home of Screen Classics." Note the section header "Amusement for Colored." 

Atlanta Constitution, 29-July-1924

"No advance in admission" means the theater was not charging extra for this show.

Atlanta Constitution, 25-July-1924

There were never enough race films produced to keep a theater like the Paramount ("For Colored Only") fully booked, so they also played mainstream films.

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'."

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. 

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."

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.