That's OLD News! (#14)

Here's a little something different for this month's installment of "That's OLD News!".

1929 (Lupe Vélez in The Pittsburgh Press)

1935: (Nina Mae McKinney in The Afro American)

1946 (Theresa Harris in The Afro American)

1955 (Kim Winona in Spokane Daily Chronicle)

1957: (James Edwards in Reading Eagle)

Paul Winfield: Eloquent Sketcher - a post by HepClassic

Last week, guest blogger, HepClassic shared a touching post in honor of the late, great, and criminally unsung actor, Paul Winfield (who would have turned 76 on May 22nd). Here is an excerpt:

"Paul Winfield gave life to dramatic arguments for equality throughout his entire career, and whose performances put a human face to the many stories we deny and continue to deny today. His, like so many others, is an American story. He is a classic movie star in the truest sense, but since we deny these stories as equally important as the stories of James Stewart and Anthony Perkins, as we deny the stories of experience and the validity of them in our real life, one has to wonder when we can address these irrattional fears, include an “other” person’s narrative as important as someone who is not. The disregard, the suppression of facts, and the constant dismissal and degradation of Americans of color have to stop if we dare move this country forward, because “restoring” America to its previous self of social inequality will not do us any good. Behind every misconstrued stereotype and falsehood, lies a human face. Maybe it’s time we accept Paul Winfield for the star that he is, and for the American he was."

Wow! 

Click here to read HepClassic's post in its entirety.  

Happy Belated Birthday to the legendary Paul Winfield! 

From NNDb

Merle Oberon stands alone...

This weekend, I had the pleasure of watching April 2015's featured star, Merle Oberon, in The Dark Angel. Oberon received the 'Best Actress' nomination for her performance in this movie and eight decades later, she is still the only woman of Asian descent to be nominated in the category. I will get to that later.

Source

"Kitty Vane (Merle Oberon), Alan Trent (Fredric March), and Gerald Shannon (Herbert Marshall) have been inseparable friends since childhood. Kitty has always known she would marry one of them, but has waited until the beginning of World War I before finally choosing Alan. Gerald graciously gives them his blessing. Then, Gerald and Alan go to war. Angered over a misunderstanding involving Alan and Kitty, Gerald sends Alan on a dangerous mission that will change all their lives forever." [IMDb Summary]

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Overall Thoughts

1935's The Dark Angel is the second film adaptation of Guy Bolton's play of the same name (the first movie was released in 1925, the same year the play premiered on Broadway). I'd previously been unfamiliar with the play, but if it's anything like the 1935 movie (not altered too much for the screen), then I will say that The Dark Angel is one of the 20th century's most beautifully written works. The 1935 movie is the kind of movie that manages to be both familiar and refreshingly unique at the same time.

Guy Bolton, writer of The Dark Angel

It's a love story--we're familiar with that. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back, that kind of thing--but as is needed for all movies with familiar plots, there are complications thrown in to make it stand out--and this movie had all of that and more! It's very unfortunate that it wasn't nominated for Best Picture (or "Outstanding Production", rather).

The Dark Angel will make you chuckle--it will also frustrate you--and as any good romance/drama does, it will make you cry. The characters are written so beautifully: my favorite thing about them is that they were so in-sync with each other's emotions--they all knew when something was wrong with each other. They rarely expressed their feelings vocally and they rarely reacted vocally to each other's feelings, either. That my friend, is the stuff that makes screenwriting (and writers) great. 

Lillian Hellman, one of two screenwriters for The Dark Angel (1935). The other was Mordaunt Shairp.

It's also unfortunate that Fredric March didn't receive a Best Actor nomination (the 'Best Supporting' categories weren't awarded until a year later). He too, gave a fine performance. 

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Merle Oberon standing alone...

Source

Merle Oberon was the first person of Asian descent to be nominated for an Academy Award--and since her nomination in 1935/1936 (the awards ceremony was held in 1936), no other woman of Asian descent has been nominated for 'Best Actress in a Leading Role'. Eight decades. Eight years. 

Over the last few years, I've had to wonder: "Should people of color strive for Oscars and other "mainstream" awards?" "Should these awards really be an end-goal for filmmakers and performers of color?" There are two (and probably more) ways to look at this: 

First, it isn't wise to work for awards. If you love what you do, you typically won't care too much about the awards you do or don't receive. However, imagine what it's like to work in the same office for years and never be recognized for your work! Imagine how daunting it is when you constantly meet the criteria for an assignment (or an award) and you're constantly overlooked (see white actors being cast as Asian characters; see Ava DuVernay being snubbed for the 'Best Director' Oscar-nomination for Selma; see Fruitvale Station's star and director (Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler) being invited to "major" awards shows but receiving no nominations for said major awards). 

With all of that said, while it is important for us to recognize the Asian/Asian-American artists who don't make it in Hollywood--because they are also important and their work is still worthy--I think that it is just as important to recognize the ones who are there. As long as people of color live and work in Hollywood, there is absolutely no reason why the majority of them should still be fighting for elbow room. It's like owning a boardinghouse, taking rent from ten boarders, but only cooking dinner for five of them--and telling the other five have to go out every night and find their own meals.

Source

Eighty years later, Merle Oberon should not be the only actress of Asian descent to be nominated for the 'Best Actress' Oscar. Eighty years later, she should not still be the only Asian actress who obtained a role deemed Oscar-worthy.

Do you want to know what's even scarier? If the "secret" of Merle Oberon's background hadn't been revealed after her death, NO woman of (known) Asian descent will have been nominated for 'Best Actress' in the 87 years of the Academy Awards' existence.

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With all of that said, I do recommend that you all watch The Dark Angel (1935). Revel in Merle Oberon's talent and beauty.

The Dark Angel on Dailymotion

That's Old News! (#12)

Below are links to ten historic entertainment news articles:

• "Merle Oberon's Marriage Stranger Than Fiction"

St. Petersburg Times - July 29, 1945

Source

Famed columnist Louella Parsons didn't seem too enthusiastic about Merle Oberon's marriage to cinematographer and DP, Lucien Ballard. This union was Oberon's second marriage. Click the link above to read the article.

• "Hal Boyle Writes...Cantinflas Explains What Makes a Comedian" 

The Nevada Daily Mail - September 20, 1960

Cantinflas with Bing Crosby in Pepe (1960) - Source

Just as the article's title says, comedy legend, Cantinflas, explains to Hal Boyle what makes a good comedian. He also explains why he never took on a "serious role". 

• "You Can't Help Liking Ethel Waters, Her Hearty Laugh, Sparkling Eyes"

Ottawa Citizen - February 23, 1954

Accompanied photo in Ottawa Citizen

Radio and television editor for the Ottawa Citizen, Claude Hammerston, made a trip to Toronto just to interview the legendary Ethel Waters. He had a nice chat with her about her career, her opinion on television, her religion, and more. 

• "Howe Observes His 50th Year"

Toledo Blade - December 31, 1967

Source

James Wong Howe celebrated his 50th year as a Hollywood cinematographer while shooting The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1967) in Selma, Alabama. 

• "Eartha Kitt Casts Strange Spell On Stage"

Palm Beach Daily News - December 26, 1954

Even at the age of 26, Eartha Kitt had a confidence, frankness, and maturity that was well beyond her years. Click the link above to read her rags-to-riches story as originally told to the International News Service.

• "Sunshine Sammy: He Tells How He First Got Into the Movies"

The Afro American - February 4, 1933

Accompanied photo in The Afro American

Ernest "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison not only told The Afro American how he got his start in movies, but also how he got the nickname "Sunshine Sammy". He also talked about his love for the stage and what (at the time) kept him from returning to Hollywood. 

• "Theresa Harris on "Hollywood Hotel""

The Afro American - August 28, 1937

Source

Singer/actress Theresa Harris was a busy woman in 1937! Not only did she appear in four films released that year (one, Bargain with Bullets, aka Gangsters on the Loose is mentioned in the article), but one could also hear her voice in a radio adaptation of One Mile from Heaven. 

• "Nicholas Brothers: 50 Years of Footwork"

Schenectady Gazette - June 20, 1987

Source

Click the link above to take a short journey through Fayard and Harold Nicholas' 50-year career in show business.

• "New York to Call Anna Chang In Spring"

The Gridley Herald - November 19, 1924

Anna Chang pictured with Cary Grant in Singapore Sue (1932) (Source)

The Gridley Herald reported that the "Chinese Songbird of San Francisco", Anna Chang would be joining Irving Berlin's Music Box revue in Spring of 1925! Get all of the details in the link above.

• "Spencer Williams Back to Hollywood"

Washington Afro-American - January 24, 1950

Source

After spending ten years in Texas making independent pictures, Spencer Williams made his return to Hollywood in 1950. It's possible that he was returning to prepare for his new role in the Amos 'n' Andy TV series. Click the link above to view the small news story!

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I hope you found this installment of "That's Old News!" to be very informative! :)

Star of the Month: Ruby Dee - Blacklisted

Did you know that Ruby Dee (along with her husband, Ossie Davis) was blacklisted during the infamous McCarthy Era "red scare"?

Ruby Dee in 1991 (Wikimedia Commons)

Dee and Davis were strongly opposed to Senator Joseph McCarthy's "communist witch hunt" (1) and of course, they were fervent Civil Rights activists who spoke out against racism and discrimination. As a result, they were trailed by FBI agents and lost work (2). 

Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis with their children (CCDS)

What one may consider a "pitfall", others may consider a valley in the mountains. Neither Ruby nor Ossie ceased their work as activists and vocal opponents of injustice. 


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1. NPR 
2. The Washington Post

Separate Cinema: The First 100 Years of Black Poster Art

Here is a book to look out for!

From ACC Distribution

"This magnificent volume is a celebration of the first 100 years of black film poster art. A visual feast, these images recount the diverse and historic journey of the black film industry from the earliest days of Hollywood to present day. Accompanied by insightful accompanying text, a foreword by black history authority and renowned academic, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and an afterword by Hollywood director, Spike Lee."

Read more Separate Cinema: The First 100 Years of Black Poster Art and its author by clicking here. The coffee table book will be available this Fall.

Sharing some research!

Last night, I got lost in record-searching (through familysearch.org). I was desperately searching for more information on singer/actress, Ida James and along the way, started looking for records on other classic entertainers and even some of my family members.

I will be sharing some interesting finds on POC in Classic Film's Twitter & Facebook accounts throughout the week!

So far, I've shared a record showing that Ralph Cooper (the MC and originator of the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night) and his wife, Lillian, may have lived in a boardinghouse with Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and his wife, Mamie, at one point (Link). I say "may", because I'm not 100% certain if the Ralph Cooper in that record is the Ralph Cooper I think it is (but it's very, very likely). 

"Like" the Facebook page and follow on Twitter to stay updated! I will be using the hashtag #AigeFinds

Educating Ourselves and Others

Updated! 
June 2, 2014

We (I) see it in tweets and posts all the time. I've even touched on it on POC in Classic Film a bit myself. "Why do black people (girls specifically) know Marilyn Monroe, but not Dorothy Dandridge/Lena Horne?"

Lena Horne (from Quite Continental)

I, for one, think such statements are exaggerated and blown out of proportion--I say this from personal observation. I could actually be wrong, but that isn't the purpose of this post. Let's say that such a statement is true. What exactly are we doing about it? I discussed this another a blog and made a statement like this:

"We get upset that black girls don't know anything about Dorothy Dandridge or Lena Horne or Eartha Kitt, but instead of teaching them--we tell them that they hate themselves and that something is wrong with them. 

Say someone who has grown up in the city visits a family member who lives on a farm. They don't know how to milk a cow--because they haven't been exposed to cow milking. Will the farm-dwelling relative teach them how to milk a cow? Or will they chastise them and do nothing else about it?"

Those weren't my exact words, but that's just about the gist of it. Basically, we're chastising girls and boys (a lot of women and men, too) for their lack of knowledge about our classic stars of color, but we (the people who know some things) are doing little to nothing to change things for them. You can't know or love something or someone that you haven't been exposed to. That's what "learning" is all about. It's time for us all to do a little less chastising and a lot more teaching. 

Below is a list of some material that I believe could aid in the education of those around us--and ourselves.

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Books

Black Americans of Achievement

(Series of books for Children, Teens, and Young Adults)


Vintage Black Glamour Book

Heroes, Lovers, & Others: The Story of Latinos in Hollywood

Works of Donald Bogle

Chinese in Hollywood

Chicanos and Film: Representation and Resistance


Hollywood Asian: Philip Ahn and the Politics of Cross-Ethnic Performance


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Images of America

We don't have to limit our learning and teaching to famous people, either! I highly recommend that people visit their local bookstores (Barnes and Noble is probably the best) or Arcadia Publishing's website to check out books from their "Images of America" series:

"Discover hometown history and help your loved ones remember their past in books filled with vintage photographs and images. From the sports lover to the rail enthusiast, from adored amusement parks to alma maters, you'll find a unique gift for everyone."

As the description above states, you can find books filled with vintage photographs of and for just about everything. Your local Barnes and Noble may carry books specific to your area (for example, I'm from Richmond, Virginia, and my family owns two books with vintage photos of African-Americans from the city and a nearby county). Not only can you purchase city-specific books, but you can also purchase ethnicity-specific ones. Chinese in Hollywood is a part of that series, by the way.

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Lee and Low Books

"LEE & LOW BOOKS - An independent children's book publisher focusing on diversity. It is the company's mission to meet the need for stories that all children can identify with and enjoy."

 I have to give a special "shout-out" to a blogging acquaintance and co-moderator of mine, Ms. M, for bringing this book publisher to my attention! Lee and Low publishes books that, as the description says, promotes diverse reading, particularly for children of color. These books can be used for your child's private collection, for homeschooling, public/private school, and wherever else your child learns. Lew and Low also provides free reading resources for teachers.

Here are just a few books published under Lee and Low:

Baby Flo: Florence Mills Lights Up the Stage

Paul Robeson

Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story

Rent Party Jazz

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A Mighty Girl

"The world's largest collection of books, toys and movies for smart, confident, and courageous girls."

Another shoutout to Ms. M! Here are just a few books available with A Mighty Girl:


Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson

Jazz Age Josephine

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Video

Segment on African-American vaudevillians in the PBS documentary, Vaudeville
(YouTube - Part I, Part II)

Jazz (by Ken Burns) 
(PBS Link)

Small Steps - Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood 
(Amazon Link)

(Warning: A photo of a man burned alive is shown for a few seconds in this documentary. I haven't watched it in awhile, but if memory serves me correctly, the image appears when the documentary transitions from WWII era Hollywood and into the 1950s. The pan over the photo, and onto the actual image of the man is very slow--it gives you enough time to realize something graphic is about to appear)

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I'll continue adding on to the list as time goes by and I would be extremely appreciative of your suggestions!

Again, a little less chastising and a little more teaching, please. :)

Let's start a movement, shall we?

Celebrating the Oscars (Continued) - MASS APPRECIATION POST

This past Oscar weekend, I made some posts in honor of some legendary nominees/winners of color on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. Below is a continuation on the collection of those posts!

[Part I]

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Part II

From Wikipedia

Takashi Matsuyama (aka So Matsuyama) and H. Motsumoto were the first Asians to be nominated for Best Art Direction (Black and White) when they were nominated for their work on the Akira Kurosawa film, Rashōmon(1950). They were actually nominated for the 25th Academy Awards, held in March of 1953. 

I was unable to find any information on Mr. Motsumoto, but it appears that Rashōmon may have been the only film he worked on. 

Takashi Matsuyama was born on September 22, 1908 in Kobe, Japan. According to IMDb, he worked as production designer on about 42 films and as art director on about 38. He was working as production designer on both RASHŌMON and SEVEN SAMURAI (1954), a film that would garner him his second Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction (Black and White) in 1957.


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From Rotten Tomatoes

The producers of the 1966 film, Hawaii, needed a Polynesian woman for the role of " Queen Malama Kanakoa, the Alii Nui of Hawaii". Therefore, they hired native Tahitian, Jocelyne LaGarde for the role. Ms. LaGarde received rave reviews for her performance and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 1967. She didn't take home the Oscar, but she did win a Golden Globe. This would be Ms. LaGarde's only film role. 

Fun Fact: Jocelyne LaGarde was only fluent in Tahitian and French and learned her (English) lines phonetically.

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From Talk2SV

In a career spanning over five decades, Diahann Carroll has been the recipient of numerous award nominations and wins. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in Claudine (1974). 

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From Wikipedia

Gabriel Figueroa--one of the most influential and talented cinematographers in Cinema History--received his first (and only) Oscar nomination in 1965 for his work in the 1964 film, The Night of the Iguana.

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Actress, poet, playwright, and author Beah Richards' acting career took off a little later than most, but her first significant role in 1955 (as an 84-year old grandmother in the Off-Broadway show, Take a Giant Step) would lead to numerous unforgettable roles on the stage and screen afterward. 

Beah Richards was the recipient of many awards and nominations. Her only Oscar nomination (Best Supporting Actress) came in 1968 for her work as "Mary Prentice" in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (1967).

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From DVDTalk

Albert Nozaki was an art director who worked a numerous films (most for Paramount Pictures). In 1957, he was nominated (with four others) for Best Art Direction (Color) on the 1956 epic, The Ten Commandments. 

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Rita Moreno's Best Supporting Actress win in 1962 for her work in West Side Story (1961) made her the first Latina actress to win an Academy Award.

Ms. Moreno is also one of only eleven (*now twelve) artists to win EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) in competitive categories.


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Watch legendary actor, filmmaker, author, humanitarian, and diplomat, Sidney Poitier receive the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 36th Academy Awards (held in 1964).

Mr. Poitier was the first black performer nominated in the category (for his role in the 1958 film, The Defiant Ones) and of course, was the first to win for Lilies of the Field (1963). Mr. Poitier would also receive an Honorary Oscar in 2001.


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Photo from Wikipedia

Anthony Quinn was the first Mexican actor to win an Academy Award and the first Latin(o/a) performer to win two Oscars in the same category.

His first win (and nomination) was for his work in the 1952 film, Vivia Zapata! His second win (and nomination) came for his work in Lust for Life (1956). Both wins were for Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1958 for Wild is the Wind (1957) and in 1965 for Alexis Zorbas (1964). 


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From Wikipedia

With a career spanning over six decades, Ruby Dee has been the recipient of countless awards and award nominations. She received her first Oscar nomination (Best Supporting Actress) in 2008 for her work in American Gangster (2007). 


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From Wikipedia

Katy Jurado was the first Latina actress nominated for an Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress) for her work in Broken Lace (1954).


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From Wikipedia

Akira Kurosawa, one of the most influential filmmakers of all-time, was nominated for countless awards throughout his five decade career. Among his many honors are three Academy Awards (one competitive, the other two Honorary) and three Academy Award nominations (Best Foreign Language Film in 1971 and 1975 and Best Director in 1985).


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The late, great Ravi Shankar was nominated for his only Oscar--Best Music, Original Score--with George Fenton for their music heard in the 1982 biographical film, Gandhi. Above is the movie's theme song, titled "Discovery of India".


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From Eureka Video

Costumer designer Tadaoto Kainosho received the 1956 Best Costume Design (Black and White) Academy Award nomination for his work in Ugetsu monogatari (1953). Along with being a costume designer, Mr. Kainosho was also and actor and a historical researcher/consultant. 


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LA Times Obituary for Hugh A. Robertson 


Late director and editor, Hugh A. Robertson (d. 1988) was the first (and to this day, only) black person to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing (1969 - Midnight Cowboy).


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Merle Oberon

In Part One of "Celebrating the Oscars", I shared an episode of What's My Line? that featured Oscar-nominated actress, Merle Oberon (I'd also shared it on Facebook). On Twitter, I posted an episode of the E! series, Mysteries and Scandals that featured the late actress. Here is the link below:


Mysteries and Scandals: Merle Oberon (Youtube)



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Congratulations to all of the Academy Awards winners for the year of 2014--including all of the cast, crew, and creators of 12 Years a Slave (special congrats to Steve McQueen, John Ridley, and Lupita Nyong'o), Alfonso Cuarón (Best Director), and new EGOT recipient, Robert Lopez, (Best Original Song).

Celebrating the Oscars...

I will be celebrating Oscar nominees and winners of color over the weekend with videos and photos from Oscar nights and other rare and/or interesting media featuring the stars.

Hattie McDaniel with her Oscar (Essence)

This will be taking place ONLY on the Facebook page (tab up top), my Twitter--I'm not telling if you don't already know :)--and on the Tumblr. However, I will have all videos, photos, and links from the weekend included in a mass post on Monday. Posting will "officially" begin tonight.

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Also, I am still working on that St. Louis Blues review (which will also include a reflection). 

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Have a great weekend, everyone! East Coasters and Mid-Westerners, be careful in this new gust of hell sent cold.

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Already Shared Posts

(For some reason I was thinking yesterday was Friday and had begun sharing posts. My brain was probably doing all kinds of cartwheels because Scandal was returning, but anywho...)

When Merle Oberon was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in Dark Waters (1935), she became the first Asian nominated for an Academy Award. This nomination also made her the first--and to this day, only--Asian woman nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Above is an episode of What's My Line? from October 17, 1954. Ms. Oberon is the mystery guest and her segment begins at 18:09.

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James "Jimmy" Stewart presents the Academy Awards for 'Best Cinematography'

At the 36th Academy Awards ceremony (held in 1964), James Wong Howe won his second Oscar for Best Cinematography (in Black and White) for Hud (1963). Mr. Howe became the first Asian nominated for Best Cinematography when he was nominated for his work in Algiers (1938). He won a total of two Oscars (the other for the 1955 film, The Rose Tattoo) and was nominated for a whopping ten throughout his career--making him (still) the most nominated person of Asian descent in Oscar history.

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Actresses Hattie Noel and Hattie McDaniel auditioned for the roles of 'Mammy' in Gone With the Wind (1939). Of course, Hattie McDaniel would win the role and go on to become the first black actor to win an Academy Award.

Above are the auditions and screen tests for GWTW. McDaniel's and Noel's tests (with a few Scarlett O'Hara contenders) begin at 5:23.

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José Ferrer was the first Latin(o/a) to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting when he was nominated for his role in Joan of Arc (1948). His lead role in Cyrano de Bergerac got him a second Oscar-nomination and his first and only win. 

Cyrano de Bergerac (1950) is now in the public domain and you can watch the full movie above.

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Legendary singer/actress Ethel Waters was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as "Pinky's Granny" in Pinky (1949). Pinky is currently available for viewing on Youtube (video above). I've also scheduled the movie for viewing and reviewing this summer.

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Joe Franklin Interviews Sessue Hayakawa 1957

Actor and filmmaker Sessue Hayakawa became the first Asian nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1957 film, The Bridge Over River Kwai. Above is the link to a short clip of Mr. Hayakawa being interviewed on The Joe Franklin Show.

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Here is the first part of a 1999 interview with the late, great Oscar-nominated actress, Juanita Moore. Ms. Moore was nominated for her defining role as "Annie Johnson" in Imitation of Life (1959). 

Did anyone notice that the first three black women nominated for Best Supporting Actress were all nominated exactly ten years apart?

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Dorothy Dandridge's Oscar-nomination for her work in Carmen Jones (1954) made her the first black performer (male or female) to be nominated for Leading Role. Above is a clip of Ms. Dandridge presenting the award for Best Film Editing at the 27th Academy Awards ceremony (held in 1955). 

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James Baskett receives his Honorary Oscar statuette (A Certain Cinema)

James Baskett was awarded with an Honorary Academy Award in 1948 for his characterization of "Uncle Remus" in the controversial Disney film, Song of the South (1946). He accepts his Oscar from Ingrid Bergman in the photo above. Beside them stands that Academy president, Jean Hersholt. 

[Part II]