That's Old News! (#10)

There's no video this time around, but this month's collection of articles are inspired by our featured star for the month of November, Mr. Lawrence Chenault. All of the articles below are on performers who appeared in race movies.

(Links to articles are attached to their respective titles)

************

"Chenault Stricken By Loss of Friend" 

The Afro American - Sept. 8, 1928

This previously shared article on Lawrence Chenault reports the details on the actor's sudden collapse after a stage performance. Mr. Chenault, who'd recently lost a good friend, ventriloquist Johnnie Woods, was ordered to rest for a year.

************

Arnold's 'Dope' From the T.O.B.A. Circuit

Subheading: "Stars Leave for Chicago"

(by B.W.F. Arnold, Director of Publicity - T.O.B.A.)

The Afro American - Apr. 25, 1925

Evelyn Preer and Edward Thompson in The Melancholy Dame (1929) [posted by ~Kicha~ on ipernity]

Lafayette Players and real-life couple, Edward Thompson and Evelyn Preer, received praise for their work on the theatre circuit in this 1925 Afro American article!

************

"Tondaleyo Plans Legit Comeback"

The Afro American - Apr. 12, 1947

PHOTO OF TONDALEYO ON FLICKR

Dancer/actress Tondaleyo had been out of the spotlight for months before this article in The Afro American was published.

************

"Lucia Moses is the Beautiful Star in "Scar of Shame""

The Afro American - Apr. 6, 1929

Lucia Lynn Moses in The Scar of Shame (1927)

Lucia Lynn Moses received rave reviews in Europe for her performance in The Scar of Shame. It appears that the Prince of Wales was quite taken with her beauty, as well.

************

Riding the Airwaves 

with Edgar A. Thompson (BCL)

Subheading: "Stepin Fetchit"

The Milwaukee Journal - Mar. 31, 1938 

Stepin Fetchit in 1959 (from Wikimedia Commons)

Still a "star" of Hollywood at the time that this article was published, The Milwaukee Journal reported that the controversial actor would be appearing at a neighborhood playhouse with a band and an all-black revue. 

************

I hope you found this month's edition of That's Old News! to be quite informative! See you next month! :)

************

The images used in this post are being used for informational purposes only. If the rightful owner(s) of any of these images wishes to have them removed, please contact me, and I will do so.

--Adrienne

The Versatility and Importance of Lawrence Chenault

Our 'Star of the Month' as the mischievous "Yellow-Curley Hinds" in Body and Soul (1925) 

So far, I've seen our Star of the Month play a self-hating and white-passing black man in The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920), a kind and influential man of the upper class in The Scar of Shame (1927), and a "pipsqueaky" criminal in Body and Soul (1925). One black man playing more than one (or two) kinds of characters in 1920s/1930s film was a rarity. 

One may say that colorism plays a part in this--as light-skinned black actors tended to fill the majority of a race movie's cast--especially as the protagonists. 

For this (and also because he was mostly an actor of the stage), we must thank Oscar Micheaux (and others) for casting this man in numerous movies. We must also thank the groups of people who, in more recent years, began uncovering the previously "lost" race films. Without these people, we would not know the greatness that was Mr. Lawrence Chenault.


************

Lawrence Chenault as "Jefferson Driscoll" in The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920)

Like many race film performers, Lawrence Chenault was given the opportunity to play something other than a servant or a down-and-out bluesman/woman; and as expressed before, not only was he able to play "something" other than the roles usually given to black actors (in Hollywood)--he was able to play many things other than the usual: the aforementioned white-passing man (who managed a hotel), the criminal, the upper class citizen--and the unmentioned (and unseen since the 1920s) role as a cowhand in The Crimson Skull (1922). 

With only three films seen so far, I've come to hate a Lawrence Chenault character (Symbol), love one (Scar), and find humor in another (Body and Soul). What's even more amazing about his performances is that while he was able to portray such different characters, he still managed to bring his own signature style and dignity to each one--much like what Denzel Washington has done over the last two or three decades. To put it in a clearer perspective, let's say that The Symbol of the Unconquered was Chenault's Training Day, The Scar of Shame his Antwone Fisher, and Body and Soul his Malcolm X (Part 1). 


************

Lawrence Chenault is a man and a performer--whose praise is long overdue. For the reasons mentioned above (and more), I've wanted to pay tribute to him for a long time. I'm still searching for more information on his personal life and more on his career. Unfortunately, my search has ended with few results, but I don't think it's impossible to uncover that information--and I am a firm believer in the power of the internet (and books, of course). 

Chenault as a grieving "Ralph Hathaway" in The Scar of Shame (1927)

In the mean time, let us shine a light on the name Lawrence Chenault--for it has been in the dark for far too long.


************

Previous Posts

November Star of the Month announcement

Appreciation Post

The images used in this post are screenshots from their respective films. They are being used for informational purposes only. If the rightful owner(s) of any of these images wishes to have them removed, please contact me, and I will do so immediately. 

-- Adrienne

Star of the Month: Lawrence Chenault - Appreciation Post

The first post dedicated in honor of November 2014's 'Star of the Month', Mr. Lawrence Chenault! 

*Full Credits List (IMDb)*

Below is a list of links to films featuring the unsung screen and stage performer:

The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920) 

In this film, Lawrence Chenault plays "Jefferson Driscoll", a white-passing hotel manager with a hatred for the Black race.

Fan trailer for The Crimson Skull (1922)

Lawrence Chenault played the role of "Bob Calem", a cowhand who wears a skeleton costume to scare a gang of outlaws who have begun to wreak havoc on the range.

Body and Soul (1925)

Lawrence Chenault played "Yello-Curley' Hinds--the Phony Reverend's Former Jailmate". 

The Scar of Shame (1927)

Lawrence Chenault played the role of "Ralph Hathaway", an affluent man and potential father-in-law to one of the lead characters. 

Ten Minutes to Live (1932) 

Lawrence Chenault played the role of "Gary Martin". 

Star of the Month (November 2014): Lawrence Chenault

This month, People of Color in Classic Film will pay tribute to Lawrence Chenault, an unsung performer of the stage and screen.

Screenshot of a scowling Lawrence Chenault as "Jefferson Driscoll" 
in The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920)

Posts

"Appreciation Post"

"The Versatility and Importance of Lawrence Chenault"

That's Old News! (#6)

I hope you find interest in this month's featured articles!

************

"My pappy was a crap-shootin' fool," he mimics himself with disdain. "That don't rub me too good today."

Matthew "Stymie" Beard--one of the original "little rascals".

Matthew "Stymie" Beard didn't care too much for his dialogue in the Our Gang series. In fact, he'd grown to actually hate the shorts. Read his interview with the Associated Press--included in a February 1973 issue of St. Petersburg Times. [Click here]

************

"One by one they came and said there was no crabmeat, there was no steak, there was no wine," she said. "Then the waiters wouldn't even come near us. It was just silence."

Josephine Baker in her famous banana skirt

International superstar, Josephine Baker spoke to the Associated Press about her horrendous experience in The Stork Club in New York. You can read about the infamous incident in The Milwaukee Journal. [Click here]

************

"Shortly after concluding a performance Friday night at the Alhambra Theatre in this city, Lawrence Chenault, for the past score of years, one of the most popular dramatic stars, fell to the floor in a state of complete collapse."

Lawrence Chenault with Iris D. Hall in The Symbol of the Unconquered (1920) (POCCF Screenshot)

An emotional Lawrence Chenault collapsed while performing one night. According to The Afro-American, the actor had just lost his longtime friend, a ventriloquist named Johnnie Woods. Click here to read the 1928 article.

************

"Miss Dunham and her vastly talented troupe have really concocted an undefinable and enormously gratifying melange. From the hot lands of the Caribbean, the gifted dancer-choreographer-singer-director has garnered native rhythms of many years and locales and has placed them on the stage to be sung, danced, and mimed."

Katherine Dunham in 1956

Donald Steinfirst praised a 1948 dance revue choreographed and directed by Katherine Dunham, and performed by her and her dance company. Read the review in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by clicking here.

************

"Alvin Childress...just call him 'Amos'

Thought he'd be a doctor...college proved turning point."

Alvin Childress as "Amos" (of Amos 'n' Andy) in 1951

The Afro-American dedicated a biographical column to actor, Alvin Childress, a star in one of television's most popular shows in the early 1950s, Amos 'n' Andy. Click here to read it.

************

"Albert Einstein Theorizes With Actress Eartha Kitt"

Eartha Kitt as "Catwoman" in the Batman television series

Blossoming starlet Eartha Kitt discussed everything from reincarnation to the state of theatre with Professor Albert Einstein in his Princeton, New Jersey home. Read all about the hour long talk in this Palm Beach Daily News article here.

************

Again, I hope you find these article links to be interesting and informative! :) 

************

Unless noted otherwise, the images in this post were obtained from Wikipedia. They are being used for informational purposes only. If the rightful owner(s) of any of these images wishes to have them removed, please contact me, and I will do so immediately.

--Adrienne