The Museum of Afro-American History

The Museum of Afro-American History

46 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108

617-725-0022 -

Contact: Tracy Gibbs 617-725-0022 ext. 21 or

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Exhibit
Soul Cinema: Black Films and Black Stars (1919-1963)

New Exhibit
April 18 through June 3, 2006

BOSTON, MA – The Museum of Afro-American History presents, Soul Cinema: Black Films and Black Stars (1919-1963)a new traveling exhibit running from April 18, 2006 through June 3, 2006. Celebrating the creative and tenacious spirit of black filmmakers and stars of the early 20th century when over 500 African American films are made, this provocative exhibit encompasses a wide range of fascinating and unique vintage posters. They highlight the beginnings of the film industry and the participation of African Americans on the silver screen as actors and behind the scenes as writers, directors and producers.

During the early 1900’s African American production companies employed all-black casts, crews and artists, and created films that covered every genre; from westerns to romance, action-adventures to comedy, and from musicals to horror films. These pioneers of the American film industry provide the foundation for today’s successful black filmmakers and stars.

The Museum is proud to present these posters not just as art, but a reflection of the artistic, inventive and powerful presence of the impact of African Americans in all aspects of American film. Reflected in these movies are the cultural, political and social realities of the times, the economics of the industry, and the American appetite for this powerful new cultural medium. This new traveling exhibit is created from the archives of Separate Cinema whose primary mission is to share with present and future generations the rich cultural legacy of the black experience in film.

The Museum of Afro-American History is located at 46 Joy Street on Boston’s historic Beacon Hill. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Admission is free. Call Tracy Gibbs 617-725-0022 ext. 21

Historic Overview:
In 1888, the first projector of moving pictures is invented by Thomas Edison with the help of William Dixon, his African American lab assistant. Suddenly, unedited moving pictures, entitled Actualities are the first films. By 1910, William Foster becomes the first black director. His independent short film or short, Pullman Porter has an all-African American cast, is created for black audiences and financed by Henry Abbott Sengstacke of the Chicago Defender, a black newspaper. Thus, race films are born and defined.

African American actors explode onto the silver screen bringing their many talents to the movie industry and American audiences respond. Many African American Hollywood stars receive their start in race films; Mantan Moreland stars in more than twenty. Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge and Paul Robeson each begin their feature film careers with all-black casts. Paul Robeson’s first appearance is in Oscar Micheaux’s 1924 silent film, Body and Soul. Many stars pursue parallel careers, supporting black filmmakers and continuing to act in race films. However, while Hollywood productions are more lucrative and reach a larger audience, the call for black actors is limited. Many Hollywood studios often relegate black actors to playing comic and servant roles that lack substance and credibility. The Hollywood studio system makes it difficult for black actors to turn down these roles and expect to continue to be offered work. Despite these challenges, many actors bring dignity to their parts, turning in stellar performances. As America emerges from Reconstruction after the Civil War, minstrel shows, vaudeville and musical theatre are popular forms of entertainment. The images of African Americans in these live-performances are transferred to film. There is no more powerful or infamous example of this than D. W. Griffiths’ 1915 film, The Birth of a Nation. African Americans respond immediately by producing films that provide honest depictions of African Americans in all walks of life.
The race film is a cinematic genre that develops in the United States from 1915 to 1955, expressly for black audiences and featuring all-black casts. During the first half of the 20 century, over 500 race films are made by both black and white movie production companies. By the 1920’s, over 30 percent of the film companies and movie houses producing and showing these movies are black-owned; the greatest percentage ever for blacks in film. By the mid-1930’s, only 1% of the film companies producing black films are owned by African Americans.

During World War II, the United States government produces several all-black cast films, in part to recruit black soldiers. Due to the scarcity of materials determined to be necessary for the war effort, film stock is rationed and given solely to Hollywood studios. In addition, as the industry develops and expands, film production becomes more competitive and costly. First, sound increases the expense and, finally, color films make it impossible for most black and independent filmmakers to compete with Hollywood studios. The only African American company to survive is that of Oscar Micheaux.

This exhibit provides examples of the posters from more than forty years of films by and about African Americans. Explore the depiction of African Americans in the new age of film.

Photos and interviews available upon request.

Free

Museum Galleries, 46 Joy Street, Beacon Hill, Hours Monday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

All events take place at 46 Joy Street, Boston. Validated parking available at the Cambridge Street Garage (under Holiday Inn Express). Take the Red line or the Green line to Park Street