Those trying to get an education on Classic Black Filmmakers + Black Classic Films, let me help you out w/ a start w/ one of the few. #SpencerWilliams. Actor, Writer, Dir., Producer and household name for me growing up b/c, we not only had to know, we didn't know others didn't.

Oh, while you're learning (don't be surprised if this becomes a thread over time) … #JohnBubblesSublett of Bubbles & Buck, performed the #ZiegfeldFollies 1931 + the 1st Black artists to perform Radio City Music Hall. Feat. in my NEWSFLASH: https://bit.ly/2z5voJ9 

#CabinInTheSky

And FYI, outside of being from my home city and state, Louisville, KY (always took pride in that) to prep for his tap number in SWING TIME (1936) (I know. I know.), Fred Astaire took tap lessons from #JohnBubblesSublett as it's also said Fred took lessons from John in the 1920s.

“the first of its kind to be produced by a young woman of our race.” One of several Classic Black Female Dir/Filmmakers … #TressieSouders *credited* as being the first Black woman director in 1922 by the Black press for A WOMAN'S ERROR (1922) … Homework: https://wfpp.columbia.edu/essay/african-american-women-in-the-silent-film-industry/

“I was Lightnin’ by day, but I put on serious black theater by night.”

Born across from the Cotton Club, 1910, #NickStewart ("Lightnin'" on TVs AMOS 'N' ANDY) + wife Edna founded Ebony Showcase Theatre in LA, hosting a Variety Show on KTTV, 1953.

Credit: http://www.ebonyshowcase.org 

“Kansas City is claiming the honor of having the 1st colored woman film producer in the United States…” —Norfolk Journal & Guide, by Yvonne Welbon

#MariaPWilliams (1866-1932) Prod, acted + distributed her film THE FLAMES OF WRATH(1923).

Your homework: https://wfpp.columbia.edu/pioneer/maria-p-williams/

#MariaPWilliams also started the Western Film Producing Company & Booking Exchange (run by her + her husband). "The company allowed for them to have control over the distribution of films, in a predominantly white industry." —
@NMAAHC

More homework (+): https://wfpp.columbia.edu/essay/african-american-women-in-the-silent-film-industry/

Post her often, but for the new crowd… Another "one of the 1st," "earliest known" alum, in this case 1st... #EttaMoten. Pre-Coders will know her from 1933's "Gold Diggers" + "Rio," the 1st Black stage/screen star to perform @ the White House + achieved/accomplished SO MUCH MORE!

There's a lot of info on #EttaMoten if interested, living til 102! Knowing I was alive while she was here always brings a smile to my face.

Homework:
• https://emilytaylorcenter.ku.edu/sites/emilytaylorcenter.ku.edu/files/barnett-article.pdf
• https://humanitiestexas.org/programs/tx-originals/list/etta-moten-barnett
• https://latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-05-me-barnett5-story.html
• https://biography.jrank.org/pages/2947/Barnett-Etta-Moten.html
• https://blackpast.org/african-american-history/moten-etta-1901-2004/

“I have a God-given talent for making people beautiful.”

Dandridge, La Baker, Kitt, Ruby Dee, Diahann, Mae West + Dierich? Dressed by trained musician + Couturier #ZeldaWynnValdes. Opening a boutique "Zelda Wynn" on B'way, 1948, later "Chez Zelda" 50s, adjacent to Carnegie Hall.

#ZeldaWynnValdes taught designing classes to Harlem youth, co-founding the Harlem Youth Orch. mid 60s. President of the NY "National Association of Fashion & Accessories Designers" '49, elevating Black women designers, addressing discrimination + racial diversity in the industry.

“It took no great effort to bring it out. She just had it. Whatever you wanted, whatever you visualized, she could do it.” -King Vidor

Tho trying to highlight Black Classic Filmmakers + contributors not as well known, I don't want those as #NinaMaeMcKinney lost in the shuffle.

Do ... we ... need to ... *reteach* this lesson from my (multiple) posts past? Addition to “Darling of Café Society,” '39. Playing Chopin, Bach, Rachmaninoff. Discovered piano at 3. Playing by ear. THE #HAZELSCOTT SHOW credited 1st Black TV prog, '50.

: https://www.press.umich.edu/3298770/hazel_scott

Classically-trained pianist + music teacher, her mom, Alma Long Scott, "the single biggest influence in my life,”  #HazelScott once joined her mom's All-Woman Orch on piano + trumpet.

Hazel staged a 3day strike against apron costumes Black actresses were to wear for THE HEAT'S ON

Not "new" to Classic Fans, but couldn't do this thread justice w/o ... Inspired by Thomas Edison's THE KISS(1896), vaudevillians #GertieBrown + #SaintSuttle star in SOMETHING GOOD-NEGRO(1898) "thought to be the earliest on-screen kiss ft'ing Black actors." https://vimeo.com/305144396 

Those unfamiliar w/ Gertrude "Gertie" Brown from SOMETHING GOOD-NEGRO KISS (1898), in addition to being a vaudevillian, she was married to #TimMoore (most known for telly's AMOS 'N' ANDY "Kingfish") til her death, 1932. The 2 performed together in an act from US to New Zealand.

Let's re-intro a Bandleader/Vocalist I've posted times prior ... Pioneer #AnnaMaeWinburn
Rising to fame in the '30s, Anna lead the 1st integrated All-Female Band in the '40s, "International Sweethearts Of Rhythm" (formed in 1939 @ Piney Wooks Country Life School in Mississippi).

Born Jennie Louise Van Der Zee (sister of #JamesVanDerZee), #MadameEToussaintWelcome was one of the 1st Black "Women Filmmaker from the #SilentFilm industry," also working as a team w/ hubs #ErnestToussaintWelcome, creating their own art school, photo studio + film organization!

"Between 1917 & 1918 The Toussaint Pictorial Company published A Pictorial History of the Negro in the Great War... they were to become legendary as “Harlem’s Hellfighters.”)."

#MadameEToussaintWelcome + hubs #ErnestToussaintWelcome dir'd/pro'd a 12-Pt doc on WWI Black Soldiers.

An education … Acted by #HildaSimms on-stage, #PhilipYordan's ANNA LUCASTA, adapted to screen '49 w/ #PauletteGoddard (intended for #SusanHayward), returned to an All-Black cast on-screen in '58 after #IsabelleCooley, Katie in the film, would play the title role on-stage, '53.

#EarthaKitt would play the title role of the 1958 film adapt to #PhilipYordan's (1936) 1944 play inspired by #EugeneONeill's ANNA CHRISTIE, in and as ANNA LUCASTA. The 1944-46 Broadway All-Black cast starring #HildaSimms(R) also included Canada Lee, and Alvin and Alice Childress.

Actress #HildaSimms (THE JOE LOUIS STORY, BLACK WIDOW, blacklisted in the '50s) had her own NY WOV radio program, "Ladies Day." She'd promote the play she'd act in as the title character 'Anna Lucasta' (R) from Harlem to B'way, the 1st time the play was done w/ an All-Black cast!

Credited as Hollywood's 1st All-Black gangster film aimed @ Black audiences (not to exclude #OscarMicheaux's HARLEM AFTER MIDNIGHT (1934) + in a modern setting, DARK MANHATTAN (1937), starring #RalphCooper, who also played multi role as (uncredited) Dir | Producer | Screenwriter.

To resume your education, picking up w/ #RalphCooper for those unaware outside STORMY WEATHER('43). Often nicknamed "The Dark Gable," dancer, bandleader, singer, filmer, choreographer, actor, Cooper established the soon famous "Wednesday Amateur Night" @ the Apollo Theater, 1934.

For a further #RalphCooper lesson... Cooper choreographed Shirley Temple's POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL ('36), wrote DARK MANHATTAN + GANGSTERS ON THE LOOSE both '37, GANG SMASHERS + THE DUKE IS TOPS both '38 & his Amateur Night in Harlem radio shows were broadcast live from the Apollo.

If you saw JAMMIN' THE BLUES ('44) on @TCM hearing “1 of the world’s greatest dancers” as dubbed by #DukeEllington, sing, #MarieBryant, she made her professional debut @ 15 w/ #LouisArmstrong + ran her own Marie Bryant Dance Studios in the '70s: https://twitter.com/DominiqueRevue/status/1176538305762140162?s=19 #JazzInFilm