Created by
Studio Films, Inc., American, 1951 - 1956
Produced by
Frye, Ben, American
Subject of
Hampton, Lionel, 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, 1931 - 2023
Date
1955
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 72 Minutes
Length (Film): 1850 Feet
Length (Film): 1560 Feet
Length (Film): 1650 Feet
Length (Film): 1450 Feet
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
A 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. 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 (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 performers, 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 the 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.”
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
sound films
color films (visual works)
35mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Actors
Comedy
Entertainers
Film
Jazz (Music)
Musical films
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
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd578a039a6-746a-4ea9-9c44-f64988a206d8

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page