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Maceo Bruce Sheffield
Maceo Bruce Sheffield (September 8, 1897 – August 20, 1959) was a police detective and an actor in American films. He worked in Los Angeles as a policeman before acting and assisting in the production of films with African American casts. He was also a stuntman and pilot. He portrayed a swindler in ''Lucky Ghost'' as Dr. Brutus Blake in the sequel to ''Mr. Washington Goes to Town''. He was the associate producer of both ''Lucky Ghost'' and ''Mr. Washington Goes to Town''. He was notorious for his work as a police officer with the Black press describing him as someone who beat people up and he and his partner producing a large number of arrests of African Americans. Protests in 1927 resulted from his shooting in the head of a suspect. He later owned a cafe and club. He was critical of the opportunities for African Americans in the film industry and referred to the exploited actors as "stooges". He was involved with the production company behind '' Harlem on the Prairie'', a groun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States. The publication has won more than 40 Pulitzer Prizes. It is owned by Patrick Soon-Shiong and published by the Times Mirror Company. The newspaper’s coverage emphasizes California and especially Southern California stories. In the 19th century, the paper developed a reputation for civic boosterism and opposition to labor unions, the latter of which led to the bombing of its headquarters in 1910. The paper's profile grew substantially in the 1960s under publisher Otis Chandler, who adopted a more national focus. In recent decades the paper's readership has declined, and it has been beset by a series of ownership changes, staff reductions, and other controversies. In January 2018, the paper's staff voted to unionize and final ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lucky Ghost
''Lucky Ghost'' is a 1942 American film directed by William Beaudine. The film is a sequel to the 1941 film ''Mr. Washington Goes to Town''. The film is also known as ''Lady Luck'' (new American title). Plot Washington Delaware Jones has never done much good for his town, and ultimately he is ordered by a judge to leave for good. In following the judge's order he brings his friend and collaborator Jefferson, and the two men go on a search for a new place to live. Both lack professional experience and start thinking about what kind of jobs they might get. Since they both agree on liking food, they decide on becoming food tasters. When they come to the first destination on the road, they pretend to be food inspectors and start stealing chickens from a farm, but the farmer shoots at them. They meet a man of some wealth named Brown, whose car has stopped alongside the road, and his friend Dawson. While Brown's chauffeur runs along to find gas, the four remaining men start throwing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harlem On The Prairie
''Harlem on the Prairie'' (1937) is a race movie, billed as the first " all-colored" Western musical. The movie reminded audiences that there were black cowboys and corrected a popular Hollywood image of an all-white Old West. It was produced by Associated Features, which was organized in 1937. The picture premiered at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles and was first shown in New York City at the Rialto Theatre on Broadway. The company had offices at 937 N. Sycamore Ave., Hollywood, California, and the officers of the company were Jed Buell, president; Bert Sternbach, vice president; and Sabin W. Carr, secretary-treasurer. ''Harlem on the Prairie'' was filmed on location at the Walker Ranch in Newhall, California, and the Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, California. President and chief producer Jed Buell spent less than $50,000 on this picture. Plot summary Doc Clayburn returns with his medicine show and young daughter Carolina to the country where 20 years before he had been ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Count Basie
William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. He led the group for almost 50 years, creating innovations like the use of two "split" tenor saxophones, emphasizing the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, using arrangers to broaden their sound, and others. Many musicians came to prominence under his direction, including the tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, the guitarist Freddie Green, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison, plunger trombonist Al Grey, and singers Jimmy Rushing, Helen Humes, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams. Biography Early life and education William Basie was born to Lillian and Harvey Lee Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey. His father worked as a coachman and caretaker for a wealthy judge. After automobiles replaced ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Adventures Of Tarzan
''The Adventures of Tarzan'' (1921) is a 15 chapter movie serial which features the third and final appearance of Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan. The serial was produced by Louis Weiss, written by Robert F. Hill and Lillian Valentine (partially based on the novels ''The Return of Tarzan'' and ''Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar'' by Edgar Rice Burroughs), and directed by Robert F. Hill and Scott Sidney. The first chapter was released on December 1, 1921. Plot The serial's prologue features Edgar Rice Burroughs himself. Tarzan rescues Jane from Arab slave traders after they become marooned in Africa. They return to the cabin where his parents lived before their deaths. Jane is captured by Queen La of Opar, taken to that hidden city, and is to be made a sacrifice. Tarzan rescues her and they escape. Nikolas Rokoff and William Cecil Clayton, the usurper to Tarzan's title of Lord Greystoke, learn that Jane has a map to the city (which contains fabulous riches in exotic jewels), ta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Double Deal (1939 Film)
''Double Deal'' is a 1939 American drama with an all-black cast (a genre at the time called "race films"), written by Arthur Hoerl, produced by George Randol, directed by Arthur Dreifuss and released on the independent states-rights market by Sack Amusement Enterprises and Astor Pictures Corp. Plot summary Two men, Tommy McCoy and Dude Markey, are in love with Nita, a beautiful nightclub singer/dancer. Markey robs a jewelry store and gives the haul to a local gangster. Later, he steals the jewelry from the gangster's safe and frames McCoy for the robbery in the hope that the gangster will kill him, thereby getting rid of his rival for the lovely Nita. Cast *Monte Hawley as Jim McCoy *Jeni Le Gon as Nita * Edward Thompson as Dude Markey *Florence O'Brien as Sally *Freddie Jackson as Tommy McCoy * Buck Woods *Maceo Bruce Sheffield as Murray Howard *Charles Hawkins *Jack Clisby *Tom Southern *Vernon McCalla *Charles Gordon as Lanny *Arthur Ray * F.E. Miller as Nightclub Comedian * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reform School (film)
''Reform School'' is an American film produced by Million Dollar Productions in 1939, starring Louise Beavers. The film was directed by Leo C. Popkin. In 1944 the film was re-released as ''Prison Bait''. Beavers plays as Mother Barton, a probation officer of a large city that believes in a plan for an "honor system" at a reform school. When the previous superintendent of the school is ousted, she becomes superintendent and has to address a brutal guard, the previous superintendent's "henchmen", and teens at the school. Reginald Fenderson played a supporting role as "Freddie Gordon", one of the boys at the school. The film debuted a group called the "Harlem Tuff Kids", which included Eugene Jackson playing as "Pete", DeForrest Covan as "Bill", Eddie Lynn as "Joe" and Bob Simmons as "Johnny". The Harlem Tuff Kids also appeared in the 1942 film ''Take My Life''. The executive producer of the film was Harry M. Popkin. The writers were Jos. O'Donnell and Hazel Jamieson. Posters fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gang War (1940 Film)
''Gang War'' is an American film released in 1940. It features an African American cast and was directed by Leo C. Popkin. It was produced by Million Dollar Productions. The film is about the rivalry between two gangs. In 1998, the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) television channel screened the film as part of a month-long showing of race films. Cast * Ralph Cooper as Bob "Killer" Meade *Gladys Snyder as Mazie "Sugar" Walford * Reggie Fenderson as Danny * Lawrence Criner as Lew Baron *Monte Hawley Monte Hawley (? - November 30, 1950) was an American actor from Chicago, Illinois. Biography He began his entertainment career as one of the original Lafayette Players. He studied under Richard B. Harrison and, after moving to New York City, acte ... as Bill *Jesse Brooks *Johnny Thomas *Maceo Sheffield ( Maceo Bruce Sheffield) *Charles Hawkins *Robert Johnson *Henry Roberts *Harold Garrison References {{Reflist 1940 films Films directed by Leo C. Popkin African-American films Ameri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Up Jumped The Devil
''Up Jumped the Devil'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Mantan Moreland. Plot Washington and Jefferson are two criminals who are just released from prison. They look for jobs to avoid being arrested for vagrancy. When reading an ad in the paper they find out that Mrs. Brown, a wealthy woman, looks for a butler and a maid. Jefferson decides to apply for the job as butler, while he convinces Washington to dress up as a woman in order to get the job as maid. As they work in her mansion they stumble upon Bad News Johnson, a crook they knew from their prison days and who eventually recognizes them. He tries to make them come along and trick Mrs. Brown. Cast * Mantan Moreland as Washington. * Maceo Bruce Sheffield as Bad News Johnson * Shelton Brooks as Jefferson * Laurence Criner Laurence Criner (19 July 1898 - 8 March 1965) born John Laurence Criner, occasionally credited as J. Lawrence Criner, was an actor in the United States. An Afri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Professor Creeps
''Professor Creeps'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Mantan Moreland. Cast * Mantan Moreland as Washington * F. E. Miller as Jefferson * Arthur Ray as Professor Whackingham Creeps * Florence O'Brien as Daffodil Dixon * Maceo Bruce Sheffield as Shylock the Landlord * John Lester Johnson as Keeper * Marguerite Whitten as Mrs. Green * Shelton Brooks Shelton Brooks (May 4, 1886September 6, 1975) was a Canadian-born African American composer of popular music and jazz. He was known for his ragtime and vaudeville style, and wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century. ... as Jackson * Jessie Cryer as Mr. Green References External links * 1942 films 1942 comedy films American comedy films American black-and-white films Films directed by William Beaudine Race films Toddy Pictures Company films 1940s American films {{1940s-comedy-film-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Look-Out Sister
''Look-Out Sister'' is a 1949 film featuring Louis Jordan. Directed by Bud Pollard, it is a satirical, Western-themed musical and "horse opera". The film was produced by Astor Pictures. John E. Gordon wrote the story. The film remains in existence and is available online. Jordan performs numerous songs in the film. The plot features Louis Jordan as a burnt out musician who heads to a sanitorium to recover and the dreams of going out west to a dude ranch. A poster for the film advertises it as including 11 great song hits and features the tagline "when he's not singin' he's shootin, when he's not shootin" he's lovin'. Louise Franklin plays a featured role in the film. The film was directed by Bud Pollard and Louis Jordan. Excerpts from this film and his others, Beware (1946) and Reet, Petite and Gone (1947), as well as soundies were released as ''Louis Jordan: films and soundies The Jazz Society of Chicago and Chicago Film Society scheduled a showing of the film in 2019 calling i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1897 Births
Events January–March * January 2 – The International Alpha Omicron Pi sorority is founded, in New York City. * January 4 – A British force is ambushed by Chief Ologbosere, son-in-law of the ruler. This leads to a punitive expedition against Benin. * January 7 – A cyclone destroys Darwin, Australia. * January 8 – Lady Flora Shaw, future wife of Governor General Lord Lugard, officially proposes the name "Nigeria" in a newspaper contest, to be given to the British Niger Coast Protectorate. * January 22 – In this date's issue of the journal ''Engineering'', the word ''computer'' is first used to refer to a mechanical calculation device. * January 23 – Elva Zona Heaster is found dead in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The resulting murder trial of her husband is perhaps the only capital case in United States history, where spectral evidence helps secure a conviction. * January 31 – The Czechoslovak Trade Union Association is f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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