Directed by

Fraser, Harry L., American, 1889 - 1974

Written by

Hoerl, Arthur, American, 1891 - 1968

Subject of

Louis, Joe, American, 1914 - 1981

Harris, Edna Mae, American, 1910 - 1997

Moreland, Mantan, American, 1902 - 1973

Medium

16mm Film (a): acetate film;

16mm Film (b): acetate film

Dimensions

Duration: 65 Minutes

Length (Film Reel 1): 1300 Feet

Length (Film Reel 2): 1100 Feet

Type

motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place filmed

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America

Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America

New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1938

Caption

"Spirit of You" is a dramatic film based on the life of American heavyweight boxer Joe Louis. The lead character, Joe Thomas, is played by Joe Louis himself.

Description

2015.167.19.1ab: 16mm black and white films.

Jefferson Thomas, a black foundry worker, is seriously injured when a heavy castor falls on his legs. No longer able to support his family, Jefferson's young son, Joe, decides to leave school and take a job. Many years later, Joe, now grown, gives his family all his savings and leaves Birmingham to make something of himself. Joe hitchhikes to Detroit, where he gets a job as a dishwasher and meets Creighton "Crickie" Fitzgibbons. When Crickie and Joe lose their jobs, they find work at a storage and shipping company, but are soon fired from the job when a foreman hits Crickie and Joe knocks him out with one punch. Impressed with his fighting abilities, Crickie encourages Joe to enter the Golden Gloves boxing tournament, and he is soon billed in the newspapers as the 'Dark Destroyer'. After winning the finals, manager Frankie Walburn offers to handle him as a professional. Joe accepts after consulting with his mother Nora, who now lives in the city, and who tells him to be honest and fair. As Joe wins bouts, Flora Bailey, a nightclub singer at the Bluebird Cafe´, who is in cahoots with gambler Duke Emblin, takes an interest in him. Their involvement worries Frankie, whose concern that he is ignoring his training antagonizes Joe. When Mary and Joe's sister Eleanor, visit Flora, they implore her to help get Joe back on track, but because Duke is now betting against Joe, Flora encourages his nightlife and drinking. Joe is knocked out in a match, and as he prepares for the heavyweight championship bout against Jack Stanley, he confesses to Flora that he loves Mary. When Flora sees that he does not have his heart in the fight, she brings Mary, now a schoolteacher, to the ring, and her presence spurs Joe to defeat Stanley in a knockout. Afterwards, he and Mary are guests of honor at a banquet at which Flora sings"

Source: AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Accessed on August 12, 2016 (http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=2226)

Consists of: 16mm Flim (a).

Topic

African American

Boxing

Families

Race films

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman

Object number

2015.167.19.1ab

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Nieman Film Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Studio Films, Inc., American, 1951 - 1956

Produced by

Frye, Ben, American

Subject of

Lionel Hampton, American, 1908 - 2002

Adams, Faye, American, born 1923

Bailey, Bill, American, 1912 - 1978

Jeffries, Herb, American, 1913 - 2014

Milburn, Amos, American, 1927 - 1980

Vaughan, Sarah, American, 1924 - 1990

Basie, Count, American, 1904 - 1984

Big Turner, Joe, American, 1911 - 1985

The Delta Rhythm Boys, American, 1934 - 1987

Davis, Martha, American, 1917 - 1960

Little Buck, American

Cole, Nat King, American, 1919 - 1965

Moreland, Mantan, American, 1902 - 1973

Russell, Nipsey, American, 1918 - 2005

Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994

Brown, Ruth, American, 1928 - 2006

Owned by

Bowser, Pearl, American, born 1931

Medium

35mm Film (a): acetate film;

35mm Film (b): acetate film;

35mm Film (c): acetate film;

35mm Film (d): acetate film.

Dimensions

Duration: 72 Minutes

Length (Film): 1850 Feet

Length (Film): 1560 Feet

Length (Film): 1650 Feet

Length (Film): 1450 Feet

Type

motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place depicted

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1955

Caption

"Rhythm and Blues Revue", is a 1955 feature film compiled by Studio Films, Inc. from previously recorded Snader Telescriptions featuring renowned African American jazz singers and musicians from the 1950s. Performers include Faye Adams, Bill Bailey, Ruth Brown, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Count Basie, Martha Davis, The Delta Rhythm Boys, Freddy and Flo, Lionel Hampton, Herb Jefferies, The Larks, Little Buck, Amos Milburn, Mantan Moreland, Nipsey Russell, Big Joe Turner, Sarah Vaughan and Willie Bryant.

Description

35mm black and white compilation film of a variety of short musical 'Soundie' films made for music-film jukeboxes, and television, by the Snader Telescription and Studio companies in the 1950s.

Consists of: Four 35mm Prints (a-d).

2012.79.1.105.1a-d: 35mm film. The film begins with a title sequence that announces each performer as a firework explodes behind their name. A credit roll then displays the below the line contributors. Next, an announcer introduces the emcee, Willie Bryant, during a shot of a theater audience. Bryant emerges from behind a curtain as the audience applauds. Before he can begin speaking, Bryant is interrupted by the comedian Freddie Lucas (Part of the Freddie & Flo comedy duo), who begs to be on the show. Later in the skit, Florence Hill (Flo) appears as a mind reading librarian. At the conclusion of the skit, Bryant announces the first performer, Lionel Hampton and his orchestra who perform “Jam Session.” After the conclusion of the song, the curtain closes and there are multiple shots of the audience cheering as Willie Bryant again appears to announce the next performer, Faye Adams who performs “Everyday” in front of the curtain. After the song ends there are multiple shots of the cheering audience and Bryant appears to announce the next performer, Bill Bailey. Bailey performs a tap dancing routine that includes dance moves from his teacher Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and concludes with a moonwalk. At the end of the performance, the curtain closes and there are multiple shots of the audience cheering as Willie Bryant appears to announce the next performer, Herb Jeffries who sings “In My Heart.” When the song ends, the curtain closes and there are multiple shots of the audience cheering as Freddie & Flo rush onto the stage to perform a comedy routine. After their routine there are multiple shots of the cheering audience and Bryant appears to announce the next performer, Amos Milburn, who sings “Bad Bad Whiskey” with backing from the Paul Williams Band. At the conclusion of the song, the curtain closes and then reopens so that Milburn can bow. Bryant appears to announce the next performers, The Larks, who sing “The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise.” At the end of the performance, the curtain closes and there are multiple shots of the audience cheering as Bryant brings Freddie & Flo back onto the stage for some comedic banter. Bryant then introduces Lionel Hampton who performs “Bongo Interlude.” Two unnamed women dance during the performance. The curtain closes and there are multiple shots of the audience cheering. When curtain opens, the stage is set up as a tobacconist and Leonard Reed is behind the counter listening to a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball game on the radio. Willie Bryant appears and the two men engage in a brief skit. Bryant then presents the next performer, Sarah Vaughan, who sings “Perdido.” The curtain closes and there are multiple shots of the audience cheering as Bryant returns to the stage. Nipsy Russell sneaks onto the stage behind Bryant and the two engage in comedic banter before Bryant presents the next performer, Count Basie who performs “Basie’s Conversation.” The curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the audience cheering, and Bryant introduces Big Joe Turner who sings “Shake Rattle And Roll.” The curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the audience cheering, and Bryant introduces the next performers, The Delta Rhythm Boys, who perform the spiritual “Dem Bones.” The curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the audience cheering, and Bryant introduces the next performers Martha Davis and her husband, Calvin Ponder, who perform “Just Goodbye.” The curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the audience cheering, and Bryant introduces the next performer, Little Buck, who performs a tap dance routine. The curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the audience cheering, and Bryant brings out Little Buck for more applause. Bryant then introduces the next performer, Nat King Cole, who sings “Calypso Blues.” The curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the audience cheering, and Nipsy Russell and Mantan Moreland come out for a comedy routine. Moreland leaves the stage and Russell continues on his own. Following Russell’s routine, Bryant introduces Cab Calloway who performs “Minnie The Moocher.” The curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the audience cheering, and Bryant brings out Ruth Brown for some stage banter before she performs “Teardrops From My Eyes” with backing by the Paul Williams Band. The curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the audience cheering, and Bryant introduces Count Basie for the film’s final performance, “One O’Clock Jump.”

Topic

African American

Actors

Comedy

Entertainers

Film

Jazz (Music)

Musicians

Rhythm and blues (Music)

Tap dancing

Variety shows (Television)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

Object number

2012.79.1.105.1a-d

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Pearl Bowser Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Directed by

Kahn, Richard C., American, 1897 - 1960

Written by

Kahn, Richard C., American, 1897 - 1960

Subject of

Jeffries, Herb, American, 1913 - 2014

Brooks, Clarence, American, 1896 - 1969

Moreland, Mantan, American, 1902 - 1973

Williams, Spencer, American, 1893-1969

Medium

16mm Film (a): acetate film;

16mm Film (b): acetate film

Dimensions

Duration: 66 Minutes

Length (Film Reel 1): 600 Feet

Length (Film Reel 2): 1600 Feet

Type

motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place depicted

Wyoming, United States, North and Central America

Place filmed

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1938

Caption

When a cowboy is wrongfully accused of murder, he assumes the identity of a Harlem gangster; to whom he bears a striking resemblance.

Description

2015.167.21.1ab: 16mm black and white films.

Framed for his boss' murder by the victim's unfaithful wife, Bob Blake (A.K.A. 'The Singing Cowboy') escapes to New York. In Harlem he meets his look-alike, a gangster named Deacon. When Deacon is killed by a rival gang, Bob, disguised as the dead gangster, returns to his home town to clear his name.

Source:

WorldCat. Accessed on August 12, 2016 (https://www.worldcat.org/title/two-gun-man-from-harlem/oclc/32249820&referer=brief_results)

Topic

African American

American West

Race films

Urban life

Violence

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Randall and Sam Nieman

Object number

2015.167.21.1ab

Restrictions & Rights

Unknown - Restrictions Possible

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Nieman Film Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Created by

Studio Films, Inc., American, 1951 - 1956

Directed by

Kohn, Joseph

Produced by

Frye, Ben

Subject of

Apollo Theater, founded 1934

Reed, Leonard, American, 1907 - 2004

Bryant, Willie, American, 1908 - 1964

Vaughan, Sarah, American, 1924 - 1990

Lionel Hampton, American, 1908 - 2002

Adams, Faye, American, born 1923

Jeffries, Herb, American, 1913 - 2014

Calloway, Cab, American, 1907 - 1994

The Clovers, American, founded 1946

Davis, Martha, American, 1917 - 1960

Frank Foster, American, 1928 - 2011

Moreland, Mantan, American, 1902 - 1973

Russell, Nipsey, American, 1918 - 2005

Milburn, Amos, American, 1927 - 1980

Coles & Atkins, American, 1940 - 1959

Williams, Paul Hucklebuck, American, 1915 - 2002

Owned by

Bowser, Pearl, American, born 1931

Medium

35mm Film (a): acetate film;

35mm Film (b): acetate film;

35mm Film (c): acetate film;

35mm Film (d): acetate film

Dimensions

Duration: 61 minutes

Length (Film) - Reel 1: 1520 Feet

Length (Film) - Reel 2: 1320 Feet

Length (Film) - Reel 3: 1290 Feet

Length (Film) - Reel 4: 1370 Feet

Type

motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place depicted

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date

1956

Caption

"Basin Street Revue is a 1956 feature film compiled by Studio Films, Inc. from previously recorded Snader Telescriptions featuring renowned African American jazz singers and musicians from the 1950s. Performers include Willie Bryant, Sarah Vaughan, Lionel Hampton, Paul Williams, Jimmy Brown, Amos Milbur, Faye Adams, Coles and Atkins, Herb Jefferies, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, The Clovers, Nat King Cole, Martha Davis, Frank Foster, Mantan Moreland, Nipsey Russell, and Marie Bryant.

Description

35mm black and white compilation film of a variety of short musical 'Soundie' films made for music-film jukeboxes, and television, by the Snader Telescription and Studio companies in the 1950s.

Consists of: Four 35mm Prints (a-d)

2012.79.1.85.1a-d: 35mm film. The film begins with a title sequence that announces each performer as a firework explodes behind their name. This is followed by a shot of a theater marquee with the title Basin Street Revue. A credit roll then displays the below the line contributors. Next, an announcer introduces the emcee, Willie Bryant, during a shot of a theater audience. Bryant emerges from behind a curtain as the audience applauds. As Bryant begins to speak, Nipsy Russell walks across the stage and interrupts Bryant with a joke about his mother in law. Bryant then begins his introduction of the show’s proceedings; he refers to the show as the “Harlem Variety Revue.” Bryant then introduces the first performer, Lionel Hampton and his orchestra. The curtain parts and Hampton and his orchestra perform “Ding Dong Baby.” An unknown woman joins Hampton on the stage as he sings, but does not sing herself; he gives her a kiss on the cheek before she exits. After the conclusion of the song, the curtain closes and there are multiple shots of the audience cheering as Willie Bryant again appears to announce the next performer, Sarah Vaughan, who performs “You’re Not The Kind.” The song concludes, the curtain closes, and there are multiple shots of the cheering audience as Bryant emerges to introduce the next performers, Jimmy Brown, the saxophonist from the Apollo Theater’s house band, the Paul Williams Band. Bryant and Brown engage in some stage banter before the performance of “My Love Is True.” The song concludes, the curtain closes, and there are multiple shots of the cheering audience as Bryant emerges to introduce the next performer, Martha Davis, who performs “We Just Couldn’t Say Goodbye.” Bryant mentions that Davis is performing with her spouse, bassist, Calvin Ponder. There are multiple insert shots of the audience during the performance. The song concludes, the curtain closes, and there are multiple shots of the cheering audience as Nipsy Russell and Mantan Moreland enter the stage. They perform a short comedy routine together before Bryant introduces the next performer, Amos Milburn. He performs “Bewildered.” The song concludes, the curtain closes, and Bryant has the curtain reopened so Milburn can take a bow. The curtain again closes and Bryant invites Faye Adams onto the stage. The engage in some brief stage banter before she performs “Somebody, Somewhere” in front of the curtain. Jimmy Brown emerges from behind the curtain to perform a solo. The song concludes, there are multiple shots of the cheering audience, and Bryant introduces the next performers, The Clovers, who perform “Lovey Dovey.” The song concludes, the curtain closes, and there are multiple shots of the cheering audience as Bryant emerges to introduce Sarah Vaughan for a performance of “These Things I Offer You (For A Lifetime).” The song concludes, the curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the cheering audience, and Bryant introduces Coles & Atkins. The duo sing and them perform a tap dance routine. Their performance concludes, they bow and Bryant introduces Herb Jeffries by way of a brief skit. Jeffries performs “A Woman Is A Worrisome Thing” from the balcony of a fire escape. The song concludes, the curtain closes, there are multiple shots of the cheering audience, and Bryant introduces Cab Calloway, who performs “Calloway Boogie.” Calloway dances with an unknown female dancer. A “The End” title card appears as the song and the film conclude.

Topic

African American

Actors

Comedy

Dance

Entertainers

Film

Jazz (Music)

Variety shows (Television)

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

Object number

2012.79.1.85.1a-d

Restrictions & Rights

© Studio Films, Inc. Permission required for use.

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Collection title

Pearl Bowser Collection

Classification

Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture