Produced by
CBS Broadcasting, Inc., American, founded 1927
Directed by
Farrar, Anthony
Subject of
de Paris, Wilbur, American, 1900 - 1973
The Townsmen
Macandrew, James, Scottish American, ca. 1907 - 1988
Owned by
Smith, Ernie, American, ca. 1925 - 2004
Date
1961
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration (digital file): 00:25:46
Physical extent (film): 990 ft
Description
A release print of Camera Three: The Jazz of Wilbur de Paris. It consists of a single reel of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film with bilateral variable-area optical sound. The footage opens with the silhouette of Wilbur de Paris' band performing. The host announces, "This is Jim Macandrew. Today, the first of a Camera Three summer series of three widely divergent musical programs. Preparing themselves just now are Wilbur de Paris and his New Orleans jazz band." Macandrew then launches into a brief description of de Paris' musical career and his band's tour of Africa.
The band begins to play immediately after Macandrew's introduction. The first track they perform is "Mardi Gras Rag." Their second performance is "The Blues in G" and the Townsmen quartet sings alongside the band. In the next performance, the band plays the tune to Shelton Brooks’ "Walkin' the Dog," while the quartet sings and two pairs of dancers perform in front of the band. Wilbur de Paris prefaces the subsequent performance, "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," by stating that "…from time to time there has been some objections of doing a number of this type but we feel that we are just as reverent as anyone who has been brought up in the church…" The performance includes both the band and the singing quartet but not the dancers. In the next performance, the band plays "The Charleston," while the dancers do the accompanying "Charleston" dance.
At the end of "The Charleston," James Macandrew enters the stage and says "…This has been the first of three Camera Three programs devoted to varied aspects of music. Two weeks from today, we will present Miss Nina Simone, who, as singer and pianist, has made a striking impression on the world of jazz for the past few seasons…" The band then performs a final number, "Bouquets.” The closing credits roll. The instrumentalists credited are Hayes J. Alvis (bass), Garvin P. Bushnell (clarinet), Adolphus A. Cheatham (trumpet), Sidney de Paris (trumpet), Wilbert Kirk (drums), John W. Smith, Jr. (banjo), and Ellerton O. White (piano). The Townsmen are credited as Carroll Buchannan, John Jay Miles, John W. Morrison, and Eugene Thamon, while the dancers are credited as Lynne Gibson, Leon Jones Albert. D. Minns, and Lorraine Montenegro.
Place filmed
New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Portfolio/Series
Camera Three
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Dance
Film
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Jazz (Music)
Singers (Musicians)
Television
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Anonymous Gift in memory of Ernest (Ernie) R. Smith, Jazz Historian
Object number
2015.275.41.1a
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a6ec1de2-dad0-456e-ad6a-4c401a42f6d2

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