Jailhouse Blues

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Jailhouse Blues (1929) is a short, black and white musical film with a run time of only 7 minutes [1] . It was released on June 19, 1929 by Columbia Pictures. The film was filmed in English in Camden, New Jersey [2] and directed by Basil Smith [3] . The film features Mamie Smith, the star. She was a major figure in early blues and a top star in Black Vaudeville [4] . Additionally, she was a recording artist with Okeh Records, but shortly after Jailhouse Blues was made her contract with Okeh had ended (1931).

Contents

Currently, the actual film sits at the Library of Congress, where it has been for a while [5] . For a while, the soundtrack disc was no where to be found. There was one point where a disc was located but then it was accidentally destroyed in shipping. However, in 2009, an intact disc was discovered in Australia and was preserved in March of 2011. Two short clips from Jailhouse Blues were shown on a 1961 DuPont Show of the Week broadcast, and this has served as the source of the widely circulated clips and audio from the film since.

Synopsis

Mamie's significant other (man) is in jail, and she misses him. She pleads for his release through her singing and songs. Since the film is only 7 minutes and contains 2 songs, the narrative is entirely centered around this emotional begging by singing.

Cast

Film Soundtrack

Two songs were prerecorded by Victor Records for the film's soundtrack:

"(Lord, this house is goin' to get raided, yes, sir!)

Thirty days in jail, with my back turned to the wall, to the wall

Thirty days in jail, with my back turned to the wall

Look here, mister jail keeper, put another gal in my stall

I don't mind being in jail, but I got to stay there so long, so long

I don't mind being in jail, but I got to stay there so long, so long

Well, every friend I had is done shook hands and gone

You better stop your man from ticklin' me under my chin, under my chin

You better stop your man from ticklin' me under my chin

'Cause if he keeps on ticklin', I'm sure gonna take him on in

Good morning blues, blues how do you do, how do you do?

Good morning blues, blues how do you do?

Well, I just come here to have a few words with you"

References

  1. ↑ Jailhouse Blues (1929) . Retrieved November 19, 2025– via letterboxd.com.
  2. ↑ Jailhouse Blues, Columbia Pictures, June 19, 1929, retrieved November 19, 2025
  3. ↑ "JAILHOUSE BLUES". Library of Congress.
  4. ↑ Moore, Vicci (February 15, 2018). "Mamie Smith: Queen Of The Blues - The Blues Room" . Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ Balliett, Whitney (April 15, 2002). Collected Works: A Journal of Jazz 1954-2001. Macmillan. ISBN   9780312270087 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ New Orlean Jazz-Pub (August 30, 2017). MAMIE SMITH - Jail House Blues - LIVE! 1929 . Retrieved November 19, 2025– via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Bessie Smith – Jail-House Blues , retrieved November 19, 2025


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