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  • topic: "Dance"
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  • Basin Street Revue

    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, American, 1915 - 2002
    Owned by
    Bowser, Pearl, American, born 1931
    Date
    1956
    Medium
    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
    Title
    35mm motion picture film of Basin Street Revue
    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. It consists of four 35mm prints (a-d).
    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.
    Place depicted
    Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
    Collection title
    Pearl Bowser Collection
    Classification
    Media Arts-Film and Video
    Type
    motion pictures (information artifacts)
    35mm (photographic film size)
    Topic
    Actors
    Comedy
    Dance
    Entertainers
    Film
    Jazz (Music)
    Musical films
    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.
    Usage
    Usage conditions apply
    GUID
    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd508a4bd22-4c0f-431a-af26-b4abb821ba11
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