THE NEGRO IN ENTERTAINMENT

Year Published: 1950s

Description: This black & white educational film is about the African Americans in Entertainment and this was made in 1950 by Chesterfield Cigarettes. Opening titles: Liggett & Myers, makers of Chesterfield present: The Negro in Entertainment (:08-:35). Shots of Frederick Patterson, president Tuskegee Institute, Rev. Marshal Shepherd, Recorder of Deeds in Philadelphia, PA., William J. Trent, Jr., executive director of the United Negro College Fund, Willard S. Townsend, International President of the United Transport Service Employees, C.C. Spaulding, President of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Claude Barnett, director of the Associated Negro Press (:36-1:05). Claude Barnett introduces the Negro in Entertainment. He then introduces Bill Nunn, managing editor of the Pittsburgh Carrier, and Etta Moten, an actress. The 'Father of the Blues' William Christopher Handy aka W.C. Handy is shown laughing and playing a piano. Stills of: Williams & Walker, Florence Mills, The Mills Brothers, Jazz Singer Ella Fitzgerald, and Ethel Waters. Ethel Waters sings. Sugar Chile Robinson, is an American jazz pianist and singer who became famous as a child prodigy, plays a piano (1:06-3:35). Una Mae Carlisle plays a piano and sings. Duke Ellington plays piano and sings. Louie Armstrong plays a trumpet. Bill Robinson tap dances. Fatts Waller aka Thomas Wright sings and plays piano - he was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer, and comedic entertainer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano (3:36-5:25). Claude Barnett chats with Bill Nunn. Etta Moten nods approval. They exchange cigarettes. Stills of: Marian Anderson a singer, Dorothy Maynor a soprano, Pearl Primus the dancer, Janet Collins a ballet dancer. Janet Collins does a ballet. Todd Duncan plays a piano. Cleveland Ohio's Kings Choir. Opera singer Camilla Williams sings (5:26-8:23). Lawrence Winters, baritone opera singer sings. Claude Barnett, Bill Nunn, and Etta Moten wrap up the film. Chesterfield Cigarettes. (8:24-10:55). End credits (10:56-11:03).

Complete Record: This black & white educational film is about the African Americans in Entertainment and this was made in 1950 by Chesterfield Cigarettes. Opening titles: Liggett & Myers, makers of Chesterfield present: The Negro in Entertainment (:08-:35). Shots of Frederick Patterson, president Tuskegee Institute, Rev. Marshal Shepherd, Recorder of Deeds in Philadelphia, PA., William J. Trent, Jr., executive director of the United Negro College Fund, Willard S. Townsend, International President of the United Transport Service Employees, C.C. Spaulding, President of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Claude Barnett, director of the Associated Negro Press (:36-1:05). Claude Barnett introduces the Negro in Entertainment. He then introduces Bill Nunn, managing editor of the Pittsburgh Carrier, and Etta Moten, an actress. The 'Father of the Blues' William Christopher Handy aka W.C. Handy is shown laughing and playing a piano. Stills of: Williams & Walker, Florence Mills, The Mills Brothers, Jazz Singer Ella Fitzgerald, and Ethel Waters. Ethel Waters sings. Sugar Chile Robinson, is an American jazz pianist and singer who became famous as a child prodigy, plays a piano (1:06-3:35). Una Mae Carlisle plays a piano and sings. Duke Ellington plays piano and sings. Louie Armstrong plays a trumpet. Bill Robinson tap dances. Fatts Waller aka Thomas Wright sings and plays piano - he was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer, and comedic entertainer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano (3:36-5:25). Claude Barnett chats with Bill Nunn. Etta Moten nods approval. They exchange cigarettes. Stills of: Marian Anderson a singer, Dorothy Maynor a soprano, Pearl Primus the dancer, Janet Collins a ballet dancer. Janet Collins does a ballet. Todd Duncan plays a piano. Cleveland Ohio's Kings Choir. Opera singer Camilla Williams sings (5:26-8:23). Lawrence Winters, baritone opera singer sings. Claude Barnett, Bill Nunn, and Etta Moten wrap up the film. Chesterfield Cigarettes. (8:24-10:55). End credits (10:56-11:03).