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George Wiltshire
George Wiltshire (also known as George Wilshire, born October 21, 1901 - died December 4, 1976) was an American character actor He appeared on stage, film, and television. He was perhaps best known for portraying Ed Smalls, the proprietor of famed Harlem nightclub Smalls Paradise, the 1945 film '' It Happened in Harlem''. Filmography *'' Keep Punching'' (1939) as Jack Hemingway *'' It Happened in Harlem'' (1945) as Ed Smalls *''Caldonia'' (1945) as George, a creditor *'' Midnight Menace'' (1946) *''Fight That Ghost'' (1946) as Lawyer Smith *'' Hi De Ho'' (1947) as Boss Mason *'' Killer Diller'' (1948) as Mortimer Dumdone *'' Junction 88'' (1948) as Rev. Juniper *'' A French Peep Show'' (1950) *'' Sweet Love, Bitter'' (1967) as George Wilshire TV series *''N.Y.P.D.'' (1968) as Mr Daggett (in "Which side are you on?") *'' Grady'' (mini series, 1975) as Elroy Pitt (in "Be it ever so humble") *''Sanford and Son ''Sanford and Son'' is an American sitcom television series that ran ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Character Actor
A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to be almost unrecognizable from part to part, and yet play many, many roles convincingly and memorably. .." The term, often contrasted with that of leading actor, is somewhat abstract and open to interpretation. In a literal sense, all actors can be considered character actors since they all play "characters", but the term more commonly refers to an actor who frequently plays a distinctive and important supporting role. Character actors are generally well-known and recognizable by the audience (by appearance if not by name), even if they play different types of roles in different movies. A character actor may play characters who are very different from the actor's off-screen real-life personality, while in another sense a character actor may ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smalls Paradise
Smalls Paradise (often called Small's Paradise and Smalls' Paradise, and not to be confused with Smalls Jazz Club), was a nightclub in Harlem, New York City. Located in the basement of 2294 Seventh Avenue at 134th Street, it opened in 1925 and was owned by Ed Smalls ''(né'' Edwin Alexander Smalls; 1882–1976). At the time of the Harlem Renaissance, Smalls Paradise was the only one of the well-known Harlem night clubs to be owned by an African-American and integrated. Other major Harlem night clubs admitted only white patrons unless the person was an African-American celebrity. The entertainment at Smalls Paradise was not limited to the stage; waiters danced the Charleston or roller-skated as they delivered orders to customers. Waiters were also known to vocalize during the club's floor shows. Unlike most of the Harlem clubs which closed between 3 and 4am, Smalls was open all night, offering a breakfast dance which featured a full floor show beginning at 6am. After 23 year ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
It Happened In Harlem
''It Happened in Harlem'' is an American musical comedy film directed by Bud Pollard and starring Chris Columbus, Phil Gomez, and Nicky O'Daniel. The film was partly shot at Smalls Paradise and released in 1945. The film includes performances by various musical acts including Dotty Rhodes and "Pitter-Patter" Pitts (Juanita Pitts). Rhodes was a dancer at the Cotton Club. Pitts was a female tap dancer who dressed and danced like a man. The 30-minute film relies on a thin plot to showcase various performers. Stills and advertising for the film survive. Plot A very popular singer is drawing large crowds to his Smalls Paradise performances when he receives his draft notice. Ed Smalls then begins the task of auditioning someone to replace him. A somewhat unknown young singer with a loyal following tries to audition for the job but is not considered. One of his very loyal fans goes to Smalls to convince the owner to give the young man a chance. Cast *Christopher Columbus * Phil G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keep Punching (1939 Film)
''Keep Punching'' is a 1939 film about boxing. Its primary character is Henry Armstrong (born ''Henry Jackson''). Unlike most films of the era, its cast was composed entirely of African Americans. The film includes Whitey's Lindy Hoppers (Lindy Hop) performing the much imitated Big Apple Routine. A film clip of the dance scene was also released as the short “Jittering Jitterbugs” in 1943 showing the Big Apple routine choreographed by Frankie Manning and the a Jitterbug dance competition that followed in the film. Plot Golden gloves champion Henry Jackson turns professional and gets scheduled into a tough match. Days before the match, he finds an old school friend of his, Frank Harrison, unaware that Frank is betting heavily on his loss. Frank sets Henry up with beautiful Jerry Jordan, who is instructed to get him drunk and impede him in any way possible, due to Frank blackmailing her. On the day of the fight she slips him a sleeping drug. Cast It was directed by Joh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Caldonia (film)
''Caldonia'' is a two reel American musical short film directed by William Forest Crouch and released by Astor Pictures in 1945. The film stars musician Louis Jordan and was produced by his manager Berle Adams. The film includes four songs performed by Jordan and his band: "Caldonia", "Honey Child", "Tillie" and "Buzz Me", which were also released individually by the Soundies Distributing Corporation of America. In 2008, a poster for the film was included on a U.S. postage stamp in a set of five celebrating Vintage Black Cinema. Synopsis Louis Jordan and his band are on the way to Hollywood to make a film, but producer Richard Huey (Felix Paradise) and Jordan's girlfriend Caldonia (Nicky O'Daniel) convince him to remain in Harlem, promising that he'll will have a great movie career. The shoot gets foreclosed and Jordan loses his Hollywood contract as well as his girlfriend. Production The film was financed by Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) and cost "approximately $3,0 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Midnight Menace (1946 Film)
''Midnight Menace'' is a short American musical film released in 1946. It was produced by All-American News and Al Sack. Josh Binney directed. The plot involves a Voodoo practitioner making dead bodies appear around Lollypop Jones. The film features songs by Fats Waller and Andy Razaf. An alternative description of the plot says the film is about a Voodoo practitioner hypnotizing a man's wife and using her in his stage show. The film was advertised as having an "All Colored Cast". Jones also starred in ''Chicago After Dark'' and ''Lucky Gamblers''. Cast * Sybil Lewis *Lollypop Jones *George Wiltshire * James Dunsmore * Harold Coke * Leon Poke * Amos Austin * Alma Jones *Jimmy Walker James John Walker (June 19, 1881November 18, 1946), known colloquially as Beau James, was mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932. A flamboyant politician, he was a liberal Democrat and part of the powerful Tammany Hall machine. He was forced t ... * Black Diamond Dollies Songs *"Don't Sell My ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fight That Ghost
''Fight That Ghost'' is a 1946 feature horror comedy film. It is considered one of the earliest horror films with an all Black cast. It was directed by Sam Newfield. It was a Toddy Pictures Company release. Bill Dillard portrayed Jim Brown in the film. The film includes the songs "Take me" by Porter Grainger as well as "Hard Luck Blues" and "A Brown Skin Gal is the Best Gal After All" by John Murray. It was one of several films Newfield directed for Toddy including ''Harlem on the Prairie'', ''Mantan Messes Up'', and '' House-Rent Party''. Photo stills for the film exist. Cast * Pigmeat "Alamo" Markham as Pigmeat arkham* John "Rastus" Murray as Shorty *Percy Verwayne as Moneybags Jim * David Bethea as Mr. Cook * Alberta Pryne as Sweet Sue *Bill Dillard William Dillard (July 20, 1911 – January 16, 1995) was an American jazz trumpeter, actor, and singer. Background Dillard was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and played in bands led by Jelly Roll Morton, Benny Carter, L ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hi-De-Ho (1947 Film)
''Hi De Ho'' (also known as ''Hi-De-Ho'') is a 1947 American musical race film directed by Josh Binney. Distributed by All American Entertainment, the film stars an all African American cast, led by Cab Calloway. It first showed at the Squire Theatre in New York, and would be shown in the more than 500 African-American theaters in the US. Plot Cab Calloway, an up and coming jazz musician is putting together a band, he was looking forward to making it big as the bandleader. His girlfriend Minnie, was upset that Cab has retained the services of a female band manager to help him promote his band and get his first big break. His band manager gets him a chance to audition his jazz octet before the local owner of the new club, which he then signs the big band for its opening. Minnie becomes suspicious and jealous that Nettie, as Cab's new female band manager, is doing good things for Cab and is winning points with him. When Cab auditions with his octet, the new club owner is impres ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Killer Diller (1948 Film)
''Killer Diller'' is a 1948 American musical comedy race film directed by Josh Binney and released by All American. Academic and comedienne Eddie Tafoya wrote that "''Killer Diller'' is really more concerned with showcasing black talent appearing at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater than it is with providing audiences with a satisfying story." The movie features The Clark Brothers (tap dancers), Nat King Cole, Moms Mabley, Dusty Fletcher, Butterfly McQueen, the Andy Kirk Orchestra and the Four Congaroos (dancing the Lindy Hop). René J. Hall was the film’s arranger. Plot Dusty Fletcher plays a comic, tap dancer and bad magician. While practicing his routine for that evening's variety show, he accidentally vanishes Lola, the girlfriend of the show's manager, Baltimore Dumdone. She was wearing a thousand-dollar string of pearls and it seems most likely that criminality is afoot. Dusty's slapstick antics take up a large portion of the film's first act, with some Keystone Cops- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Junction 88
''Junction 88'' is a 1948 American musical film, telling the story of an aspiring songwriter. It was directed by George P. Quigley. The film is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture collection. The 16 mm film captured on acetate runs 50 minutes. J. Augustus Smith and Herbert Junior wrote the songs. Cast * Bob Howard * Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham * Noble Sissel *Wyatt Clark as Buster *Marie Cooke a Lolly *Gus Smith as Pop *Abbie Mitchell as Mom * Artie Belle McGinty as Mrs. Jenkins *George Wiltshire as Reverend Juniper *Herbert Junior as Onnie *Alonso Bosan as ( Alonzo Bozan) as Charlie *Maude Simmons as Lady *Al Young as Old Man *Augustus Smith Jr. As Chinka Pin References {{Reflist Further readingAFI catalog entry External linksFull filmat Youtube.com YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A French Peep Show
''Burlesque in Harlem'' (also released as Rock & Roll Burlesque and A French Peep Show) is a 1949 revue film directed by William D. Alexander that features a cast of singers, dancers and comedians who were prominent on the so-called Chitlin' Circuit of vaudeville theaters and nightclubs that exclusively presented African American talent. The plotless film is hosted by Dick Barrow, who sings "Juice Head Baby", and the main headliner is the comedian Pigmeat Markham, who performs a sketch called ''The Love Making Bureau''. Other performers in the cast include the dancer Gertrude "Baby" Banks, the singers Jo Jo Adams and Hucklebuck Jones, the striptease contortionist Tarza Young, and the tap dance duo Slip and Slide.Weldon, Michael J. “The Psychotronic Video Guide.”1996, St. Martin’s Press. Plot Barrow, the master of ceremonies, invites the audience to a special "bronze burlesque", consisting of a series of performances from strip-tease dancers, burlesque singers, and the cl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sweet Love, Bitter (film)
''Sweet Love, Bitter'' is a 1967 film based on the novel ''Night Song'' by John Alfred Williams. The story is inspired by the life of jazz musician Charlie Parker. American jazz pianist Mal Waldron recorded a Sweet Love, Bitter (album), soundtrack album for the film. Plot The film opens with Richie "Eagle" Stokes (Dick Gregory) found dead in his bed before showing the journey of how he got there. He is a jazz musician, jaded by how society treats him and seeks to numb himself with drugs, liquor and women. He crosses paths with David Hillary (Don Murray (actor), Don Murray), a white male and former professor, when they both find themselves at a pawn shop. Hillary is distraught by the loss of his wife in a car accident, convinced that he is the cause of her death. They bond over drinks only to be found by Keel Robinson (Robert Hooks), Stokes' friend and former reverend. Robinson offers to provide Hillary with a room in exchange for working at the coffee shop he owns. Robinson and Hi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
