That's OLD News! (#15) - Theresa Harris & Co-Stars

This month's installment of "That's OLD News!" contains historic news articles on our Star of the Month, Theresa Harris and fellow performers of color who appeared in some of the same films as she.

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"81 Year-Old Gets Film Role"
St. Petersburg Times - Jul 7, 1954

That 81-year old was Nellie Conley, aka Madame Sul-Te-Wan--and the film the short article speaks of may have been Carmen Jones (1954). Madame Sul-Te-Wan made her screen debut in 1915 (at the age of 42). Over the span of about four decades, she appeared in over fifty movies--including the pre-code crime drama, Thunderbolt (1929) with Theresa Harris. This article above provides some additional must-read trivia about Madame Sul-Te-Wan!

*I believe that Madame Sul-Te-Wan might be the bellhop (or hat check girl?) in the beginning of the clip above.

"Blue Blowers on the Air"

The Afro American - April 9, 1927

Curtis Mosby and his popular jazz and blues band, the Blue Blowers accompanied singer/actors in numerous films through the late 1920s and early 1930s. They accompanied Theresa Harris as she sang "Daddy, Won't You Please Come Home" in Thunderbolt. As indicated in the article above, Curtis Mosby and his Blue Blowers "went on the air" in 1927--when the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) began broadcasting in new cities on the West Coast, the band was selected as their musical headliner.

"Flying - Rochester Learns to Pilot Plane"

The Afro American - Jul 6, 1940

In July of 1940, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson flew into New York from Detroit for an opening at a Paramount Theater. He also performed "My, My" at the opening, the song he sang with Theresa Harris in Buck Benny Rides Again (1940). 

*GIF set from Buck Benny Rides Again*

"New Million Dollar Film to Premiere"

The Afro American - Oct 29, 1938

Gang Smashers (starring Nina Mae McKinney) was written and produced by the legendary Ralph Cooper, and also distributed by the film company he'd co-founded, Million Dollar Productions. The year before, Ralph Cooper appeared in Gangsters on the Loose with Theresa Harris. He also wrote and produced the film.

"Universal Signs Carolyn Snowden"

The Afro American - Aug 14, 1926

Carolynne Snowden (posted by The Loudest Voice - Tumblr)

Unsung stage and screen performer, Carolynne Snowden (sometimes referred to as Carolyn or Caroline) signed a contract with Universal Pictures in 1926 (for The Marriage Clause). She appeared in movies for many of the other Hollywood studios, including The Green Pastures (1936), a film that, like Snowden, Theresa Harris played an Angel in.

Movie of the Week: King of Zombies (Review)

King of the Zombies (1941)

During World War II, a small plane off the south coast of America is low on fuel and blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal, they crash-land on an island. The passenger (John Archer), his manservant (Mantan Moreland), and the pilot (Dick Purcell) take refuge in a mansion owned by a doctor (Henry Victor). The easily-spooked manservant soon becomes convinced the mansion is haunted by zombies and ghosts. Exploring, the 3 find a voodoo ritual in the cellar, where the doctor is trying to acquire war intelligence by transferring personalities into his zombies. But the interruption causes the zombies to turn on their creator. [IMDb]

First off, this movie actually was somewhat entertaining (despite what you'll read from here on). As stated by a lot of people in comments and reviews, Mantan Moreland (as Jefferson "Jeff" Jackson) definitely overshadows his co-stars, but "surprisingly" his character is driven by racial stereotypes. 

Throuhgout the movie, he's understandably nervous about his surroundings, but of course, his nervousness is at a level so extreme that it makes him almost childlike (see: inferior). 

Mantan Moreland & his trademark expression (Screenshot from movie)

Early into the movie, I found myself turned off by the way in which Jeff was being treated. First off, his boss--"Mr. Bill" (John Archer)--leads him and the pilot ("Mac"--played by Dick Purcell) to a mansion that Jeff doesn't want to go anywhere near. When they get to the door, Mr. Bill tells Jeff to "Ring the doorbell."

 However, Jeff quickly says something along the lines of: "I'm not ringin' it, you the one who wants to go in there, you ring it!"

Then, once in the mansion, its owner, Dr. Sangre (played by Henry Victor) automatically assumes that Jeff is Bill and Mac's servant (of course) and sends him to the servants' quarters (the kitchen) to sleep--and another "of course", there is no objection to this. But hey, this really isn't anything to be shocked about.

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As stated before, this movie was ridden with racial stereotypes and misconceptions about certain aspects of Black culture, but I still found it somewhat entertaining (mostly thanks to Mantan Moreland) and not completely unbearable. I enjoyed seeing actress Marguerite Whitten on the screen for the first time and of course, seeing the unsung legend, Madame Sul-Te-Wan was a treat as well. Madame played a voodoo priestess in this movie--a role that wasn't new to her, but as she always, she played it very well. 

Madame Sul-Te-Wan

(Photo Source)

Also, this was one of the very few roles she was actually credited for.

I'm usually able to watch stereotyped-filled movies through many lenses (particularly a (future) filmmaker's lens) without feeling bogged down, but this time, I could barely do it. Maybe I've had my "fill" of it (in both Film and society) and simply couldn't put myself into the necessary mind frame. Either way, I wouldn't dissuade anyone from watching this movie, especially if you're interested in seeing the talents of some unsung black performers--Mantan Moreland, Marguerite Whitten, Madame Sul-Te-Wan, etc.

Click the link below to check it out!

LINK

(This link will take you to The King of Zombies on Youtube)

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ALSO...

Click here to check out a post from February that includes a brief summary of Madame Sul-Te-Wan's career and achievements!


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All of the images in this post are for informational purposes only. If the rightful owner of any of these images wishes to have them remove, please contact me, and I will do so immediately.

Signers of Contracts: Bert, Madame, Ernie, & Nina

There's a lot of conflicting information about who was the first African-American to sign a Hollywood contract, who was the first to sign a long-term contract, etc.--but based on my own little research, I've come to the conclusion that the following people were more than likely the true first "signers" of certain Hollywood contracts.

In 1915, the Biograph Company gave entertainer Bert Williams the power to produce, write, direct, and star in two films for them--A Natural Born Gambler (1916) and Fish (1916). 

I couldn't find information specifically stating that Williams had signed any contract with Biograph, but nonetheless, Williams being granted that kind of power in early twentieth-century Hollywood is a distinguishing feat alone. 

I feel certain that some paperwork had to have been been made out between Mr. Williams and Biograph.


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Born Nellie Crawford in Louisville, Kentucky, Madame Sul-Te-Wan is recognized as the first African-American performer to sign a contract in Hollywood and be a featured performer (meaning, she actually had some dialogue) as well. 

Her first role was as a hotel cook in the 1915 short The Cause of It All. Her second (and most acknowledged) role was as "Dr. Cameron's Taunter" in the controversial D.W. Griffith film, The Birth of a Nation. 

Madame Sul-Te-Wan worked in over 50 Hollywood films.

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When Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison signed with comedy producer Hal Roach in 1919, he became the first African-American to sign a long-term contract in Hollywood--and get this: He was only six years old. 

"Sunshine Sammy" would become most popular as one of the original Our Gang kids and as the only black member of the East Side Kids.

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After rave reviews for her debut in 1929's Hallelujah!, Nina Mae McKinney signed a five-year contract with MGM, making her the first African-American woman to sign a long-term contract in Hollywood.

Sadly, like a lot of black actresses of the time, even a long-term contract couldn't secure the roles that Nina Mae wanted. She would find sweeter success in parts of Europe as a cabaret entertainer. 

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A Natural Born Gambler (1916)

Starring Bert Williams

(Warning: Offensive racial stereotypes and use of blackface)

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Madame Sul-Te-Wan as "Tituba" in Maid of Salem (1937)

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The Dippy Dentist (1920)

Starring Snub Pollard and "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison

(Go to 2:28 to see "Sunshine Sammy")

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Pie, Pie Blackbird (1932)

(Musical Short)

Starring Nina Mae McKinney, 

Eubie Blake & His Orchestra, & The Nicholas Brothers

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