The Duke Takes the Stage

Duke Ellington's unparalleled musical talent catapulted him to the sets of Hollywood again in 1930. Ellington played himself in the comedy feature film Check and Double Check. He acted in 8 films between 1929 and 1959.

Louise Beavers

(1902-1962)

Louise Beavers began acting in the early 1920's as an extra before eventually earning more notable roles. She performed in the silent film, Uncle Toms Cabin (1927) but gained more notoriety as films developed with technology. Beavers acted in well over 150 films between 1920 and 1950. Unfortunately she was often confined to portraying the "mammy" stereotype.

The Power of Film

This year Alice Baker received an especially memorable gift for her 102nd birthday. During the Harlem Renaissance, Baker was a chorus dancer but she had never seen her self perform on film until now. The first feature film with sound was releasing in 1927. She was instantly reminded of her passion for dancing. "[It's] making me wish I could get up out of this bed and do it all over again," she said.

Ethel Walters

Ethel Walters was a multitalented artist during and after the Harlem Renaissance. She began her career as a singer but eventually transitioned to acting. This video is a clip from 1929 film "On With The Show". Walters sings "Birmingham Bertha" solo in her eloquent feather hat. This was the first movie with sound filmed in color; however, only black and white copies still exist.

How Film Preserved Augusta Savage's Art

Augusta Savage was born on February 29, 1892 and died on March 26, 1962 she was an African American sculptor during the Harlem Renaissance. During this time many African Americans artwork was being destroyed if it was not sold; but because of video at this we can see many works of hers that we don't physically have anymore. During this video you can watch Augusta actually working on her famous sculptors. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koMXHaPlLEs#t=21

Paul Roberson

Paul Robenson was born in April, 1898 and died in January,1976 he was one of the most influential African Americans actors. This is a video of him singing Ol'Man River from the move Show Boat, Ol'Man River is a song about how America is not free for everyone he sings about slavery and the un fair punishments that African Americans received. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh9WayN7R-sPaul Robenson (born April 9th, 1898 died January 23, 1976) this is a video of him singing Ol' Man River from the movie Show Boat.

Bessie Smith Film Appearance

Bessie Smith was an American blues singer she was nicknamed The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the mod popular female blues singer of the 1920s. Bessie Smith appeared in St. Louis Blues her only know film appearance also it is one of the first talkies ever made. This is the complete film co-starring Jimmy Mordecai as her on screen boyfriend.

Pinterest Board About the Film in the Harlem Renaissance

This is a link to a Pinterest Board that has links to different videos and images about film in the Harlem Renaissance. There are links to a list of influential actors along with their most famous movies that they were in.

https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=harlem%20renaissance%20film&term_meta%5B%5D=harlem%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=renaissance%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=film%7Ctyped

The Lincoln Motion Picture Company

In 1915 Actor Noble Johnson and his brother George founded the Lincoln Motion Picture Company with the same intentions similar to foster: to make African-American films, by African-Americans, staring African-Americans. A movement was taking place in American history in the early 1900's of blacks longing to take representation of themselves back into their own hands.

William D. Foster

William Foster was born in 1884 and died in 1940, he was a pioneering African-American film producer who was an influential figure in the Black film industry in the early 20th century. He is known as the first African-American director and founded the first African American film company: Foster Photo play company in 1910. Foster wanted to bring a positive image back to African-Americans in film. The Foster Photoplay company produced four films but was most known for its production of "The Railroad Porter" (1912)

The Railroad Porter (1912)

The Railroad Porter was a short comedy about a railroad porter who leaves to go on his run one day. While he is gone his wife invites a waiter home for dinner. The porter returns home to find this man sitting at his table and eating his food. Mad and insulted, the porter gets his pistol and chases the man out of his house. The waiter goes and gets his gun, comes back, and chases the porter. Fortunately, both are terrible shots and no one gets hurt. The film's style has often been compared to that of the Keystone Kops comedies of the same period.

Racial Stereotypes In Film

Racial stereotypes in film developed during the early 19th century. Before the first african-American Film company was founded Whites used stereotypes to deface African-Americans. one of the most commonly known stereotypes was "Blackface". Blackface involved white actors covering their faces completely with a black make-up. The actors drew on red lips to make the face even more over the top. This technique emphasized the racial stereotypes that existed and was most prominent starting in the mid-19th century. Minstrel shows showcased blackface actors at the expense of the African-American community. The shows made blacks look bad and impersonated them by making them look like imbeciles, using stereotypical characters such as the mammy, a large female who watched over the white children and Sambo, a young male who works on the plantation. William D. Foster tried to break down these stereotypes. Entering an industry that had never had much positive African-American influence before, he ignited a spark in the African-American community for decades to come.

Spencer Williams: Actor and Filmmaker of the Harlem Renaissance

Spencer Williams was a film director and actor of the Harlem Renaissance; and best know for his role of Andy in Amos n' Andy. He entered the film industry in the early 1930's . He would produce inexpensive films that consisted of an all African American cast specifically for theatres that were segregated; for African american patrons only.

Spencer Williams was born on July 14, 1893 in Vidalia, Louisiana. He then moved to New York City as a teenager to study comedy under vaudeville comedian Bert Williams. He attended the University of Minnesota but didn't finish his degree due to military service in World War 1


Source: http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/116904/Spencer-Williams
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/williams-spencer-1893-1969

This is film Two Gun Man from Harlem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XqwG7mrwpo

Zora Neale Hurston: Filmmaker and Anthropologist of the Harlem Renaissance

Zora Neale Hurston was a filmmaker and anthropologist of the Harlem Renaissnace. She refuted the elitist renaissance and wanted to portray the life of your normal everyday African American person. So she created these films created in order to show the world that all people including African Americans people live normal lives.

Swing: A Film by Oscar Micheaux

Swing is a film that was released in 1938, directed and produced by Oscar Micheaux.

https://youtu.be/kjrd2C3f6Y0