Related Research Articles
The minstrel show, also called minstrelsy, was an American form of theater developed in the early 19th century. The shows were performed by mostly white actors wearing blackface makeup for the purpose of comically portraying racial stereotypes of African Americans. There were also some African-American performers and black-only minstrel groups that formed and toured. Minstrel shows stereotyped blacks as dimwitted, lazy, buffoonish, cowardly, superstitious, and happy-go-lucky. Each show consisted of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music performances that depicted people specifically of African descent.
Career Opportunities is a 1991 American romantic comedy film starring Frank Whaley in his first lead role and co-starring Jennifer Connelly. It was written and co-produced by John Hughes and directed by Bryan Gordon. In the film, Whaley plays Jim Dodge, a persuasive but irresponsible young man who lands a job as an overnight janitor at a local Target store. One evening after hours, he finds himself alone with the affluent but mistreated Josie McClellan (Connelly).
Nina Mae McKinney was an American actress who worked internationally during the 1930s and in the postwar period in theatre, film and television, after beginning her career on Broadway and in Hollywood. Dubbed "The Black Garbo" in Europe because of her striking beauty, McKinney was both one of the first African-American film stars in the United States and one of the first African-Americans to appear on British television.
Hallelujah is a 1929 American pre-Code Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical directed by King Vidor, and starring Daniel L. Haynes and Nina Mae McKinney.
Sanders of the River is a 1935 British film directed by the Hungarian-British director, Zoltán Korda, based on the stories of Edgar Wallace. It is set in Colonial Nigeria. The lead Nigerian characters were played by African Americans Paul Robeson and Nina Mae McKinney. The film proved a significant commercial and critical success, giving Korda the first of his four nominations for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival.
Pie, Pie Blackbird is a 1932 Vitaphone pre-Code short comedy film released by Warner Bros. on June 4, 1932, starring African American performers Nina Mae McKinney, the Nicholas Brothers, Eubie Blake, and Noble Sissle.
Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure is a low budget 1951 British comedy film, the penultimate in the long running Old Mother Riley series starring Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane. It features an early appearance by future Carry On regular Peter Butterworth.
Variety in Sepia is a television Variety special that was filmed live on 7 October 1947 at the RadiOlympia Theatre, Alexandra Palace, London, and was aired on BBC TV.
Stephen Bourne is a British writer, film and social historian specialising in Black heritage and gay culture.
On Velvet is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by Widgey R. Newman and starring Wally Patch, Joe Hayman and Vi Kaley. It is a musical revue and was distributed by the American company Columbia Pictures.
Belle Davis was an American choreographer, dancer and singer who became famous in the UK before World War I. She was in a group called the "Octoroons" in America and moved to Britain in 1902 where she toured accompanied by young African American boys. She has been said to be the first black woman to make a recording.
Straight to Heaven is an American film released in 1939. It was produced by Million Dollar Productions. It was advertised as having an all colored cast. Arthur A. Leonard directed. Sack Amusement Enterprises was the distributor.
Neva Mary Peoples was a singer and dancer who appeared in several films in the United States. She performed as a singer, dancer, and chorus girl.
Gang Smashers, also released as Gun Moll, is an American film released in 1938. It features an African American cast. Leo C. Popkin directed the Million Dollar Productions film from a screenplay by Ralph Cooper. The University of South Carolina libraries have an 8-page pressbook for the film. Nina Mae McKinney stars in the film a thriller about the Harlem underworld and racketeering.
Mantan Messes Up is a film produced in 1946 in the United States. It stars Mantan Moreland. Sam Newfield directed. The film was produced by Lucky Star Production Company. It was advertised as having an "All Colored Cast". The Museum of the Moving Image has a still from the film.
Scott and Whaley were an African American comedy duo who played in British music halls from 1909, settled in England, and remained popular for over thirty years. They were Harry Clifford Scott and Edward Peter Whaley. They were the first black performers to take the leading roles in a British film, and usually performed in character as Pussyfoot and Cuthbert.
The Kentucky Minstrels was a popular series of BBC radio programmes broadcast regularly in Britain between 1933 and 1950.
Isaac Flower Hatch, known as Ike "Yowsah" Hatch, was an American singer, pianist, and club owner, based for most of his life in Britain.
The Black Network is an American short musical film released in 1936 that was directed by Roy Mack and released through Vitaphone. It is extant.
Josie Woods was a Black British dancer, choreographer and activist.
References
- ↑ Wood p.82
- ↑ Stephen Bourne, Black in the British Frame: The Black Experience in British Film and Television, Bloomsbury, 2005, pp.2-4, ISBN 0826478980
- ↑ "BBC's Kentucky Minstrels", Notable Kentucky African Americans Database. Retrieved 29 March 2021
- ↑ Bourne, Stephen (23 August 2008). "Josie Woods: Tap-dancing star of music hall". Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
