Vintage black memorabilia holds a mirror to one of the darkest periods in American history and the aftermath of it. Vintage original photos, postcards, film scripts, books, advertising materials, pottery, sculptures, decorative art are some of the more common products included in this category of memorabilia, available globally in stores and online. Many people, including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Cosby are major collectors of black memorabilia. Wondering why anyone would want to buy memorabilia that seems to reflect pain? Read on to find out the reasons.
In addition to the stereotypical kitchy items generally associated with black memorabilia, there are some truly fine works of art and collections of historical achievement. Established in 1982, WalterFilm provides the finest selection of original star photos, movie scripts & rare books, lobby cards, vintage movie posters, vintage African Americana and Hollywood movie memorabilia along with materials from the theater and stage, stage, art, and social history. WalterFilm has a collection of vintage black memorabilia, particularly high-value items identified with black celebrities such as vintage original photographs of movie stars, musicians, athletes, politicians, and authors, as well as vintage original posters, lobby cards, film scripts, newspaper articles, rare books and advertising or marketing collectibles. Visit WalterFilm's website and see the extraordinary range and quality of the products offered. As experienced and knowledgeable Curators, they take great pride and pleasure in helping their clients discover the extraordinary range of material, regardless of whether they are purchasing a single object or developing a fabulous collection. About WalterFilm: WalterFilm provides the finest selection of original movie star photos, movie scripts & rare books, lobby cards, vintage movie posters and Hollywood movie memorabilia that focus on the glorious history of the European and Hollywood Motion Picture Business. Visit their website at https://www.walterfilm.com.
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The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay (LGBT) community against a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. They are widely considered to constitute the most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States. Wikipedia What followed in the 1970’s was a rising tide of LGBTQ performers that “came out” to express their unique take on music, theater and sexual (transgender) identity. Here are 10 of those performers and a brief look at what they contributed to the movement and to our culture. JAYNE COUNTYAs rock’s first openly transgender singer, Jayne Rogers (born June 13, 1947), better known by her stage name Jayne County, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and record producer whose career spans five decades. While dressed in female attire from the beginning of her career, County transitioned to female in 1979, becoming Jayne (as the above poster illustrates). She made her first performing appearances as Wayne County in Wayne County and The Electric Chairs. In 1969 she appeared in Jackie Curtis’ play Femme Fatale. County considered Curtis a major influence on her career and persona and County is widely considered an influence on David Bowie –– County’s Queenage Baby number was the prototype for Bowie’s Rebel Rebel. Even more notable was her play, World – Birth of A Nation, which was set in a hospital and dealt with male castration –– evoking both transgender surgery and her mixed feelings about men, both gay and straight. After seeing the play, Andy Warhol cast her in his play Pork. She went on to appear in the film The Blank Generation (1976). Back and forth between New York and London, she settled in Atlanta Georgia. In 2018, County debuted a retrospective show of visual art in the New York City gallery, Participant, Inc. County’s life and art is considered an inspirational influence on John Cameron Mitchell’s transgender rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. JACKIE CURTIS“Jackie Curtis is not a drag queen. Jackie is an artist. A pioneer without a frontier,” so said Andy Warhol. Andy was right. Jackie Cutis (1947-1987) was a true original. Long before he became one of the Pop master’s superstars. Curtis distinguished himself by appearing (alternately) as a James Dean-like male and a Jean Harlow-like female in Off-off Broadway plays of his own devise in which he and his friends appeared:
Outside of such Warhol films as Flesh (1968) and Women in Revolt (1972), Jackie’s most notable screen appearance was in Yugoslavia agant-gardist Dusan Makvejev’s W.R.: Mysteries of the Organism – a film about sex researcher Willhelm Reich, creator of the so-called Orgone Box. Makvejev felt Jackie presence in the film added a lot to his view of Reich’s sexual theories. DIVINEBorn Harris Glenn Milsted in 1945, this life-affirming, overweight transvestite was re-named Divine (after the hero/heroine of Jean Genet’s Our Lady of the Flowers ) by the writer-director John Waters, who discovered her right down the block from where he lived. Through his films Waters turned a lonely overweight kid from Baltimore into one of the biggest (in every sense of the word) of all underground movie stars. In Waters’ comedies, Pink Flamingoes, Female Trouble, Polyester and Hairspray, Divine redefined what it means to be a movie star. Waters called him The Most Beautiful Woman in The World and if you’ve seen Divine on stage of screen you’ll know why; for like his idol, Elizabeth Taylor, Divine was overwhelmingly sui generis. While beloved for his films, Divine was a prolific LGBTQ performer on stage and in nightclubs. This above poster memorializes one of them . In this particular show — Vice— Divine appeared with many of the members of the legendary San Francisco drag troupe, The Cockettes. Sadly, Divine (now a gay, transgender icon) died in 1988 of respiratory problems, days after the opening of his greatest acting success, Hairspray. Those lucky enough to see his club appearances also recall Divine for numbers like this -- CASSELBERRY & DUPREEMixing Reggae, Country and Gospel, Casselberry and Dupree are a dynamic lesbian duo who have performed with Harry Belafonte and Whoppi Goldberg, They appeared in the Oscar-nominated Art Is and the Oscar-winning The Times of Harvey Milk. The early 70s was a great time for Sapphic folk music, featured as it was at such venues as Lilith Fair. Jaqué Dupree and J. Casselberry offer a stellar example of it in: CASSELBERRYY AND DUPREE “TWO OF US” CHARLES PIERCECharles Piece 1926-1999 was what might be called a female impersonator (he called himself a Male Actress) who found favor with audiences both straight and gay with his knowing impressions of Bette Davis, Mae West, Tallulah Bankhead and Carol Channing, Such impersonations were quite traditional for a comic performer of this sort. But as can be seen and heard in this clip of his rendition of Katherine Hepburn, Pierce kept pace with the blossoming LGBTQ movement with many of his zingers evidencing a keen awareness of the difference the out and proud LGBTQ movement had made in a straight-dominated world. Headlining a production of Applause was a real tour de force for Piece as this musical version of All About Eve gave him leave to do Bette Davis (star of the original film) and Lauren Bacall (star of the musical remake) at the same time. JUDITH ANDERSONStage and screen star Judith Anderson (1897-1992.) best remembered by the general public for playing the sinister lesbian “Mrs. Danvers” in Hithcock’s Rebecca (1940) and “Ann Treadwell” the socialite who’s keeping Vincent Price’s “Shelby Carpenter” in Laura The latter was quite low-key in that the character was straight, whereas “Mrs. Danvers” was a full-force lesbian. Despite the obvious she was married twice. Her first husband was an English professor, Benjamin Harrison Lehmann. They were married in 1937 and divorced in 1939. Then, in 1946, she married theatrical producer Luther Greene. They divorced in 1951. Of these marriages Anderson said. “Neither experience was a jolly holiday.” While Sarah Bernhardt had famously performed Hamlet in the late 19th century, few actresses have ever tried it. Taking it on at an advanced age, as Anderson did, was quite novel. Doing it when she did, put Anderson in league with the avant-garde gender-benders of the early 70s like Jackie Curtis and Holly Woodlawn. CRAIG RUSSELLCraig Russell, born Russell Crag Easie in 1948 in Toronto Canada, this female impersonator carved out a considerable career for himself doing such stars as Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead and Mae West — having come to know the last-mentioned personally as he briefly worked as her secretary in Los Angeles. Many LGBTQ performers of this genre did impressions of these stars. But there was an edginess to Russell’s work clearly influenced by the rise of the gay rights movement. He toured widely, appearing in Las Vegas, Hollywood, San Francisco, Berlin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Sydney, to the delight of a variety of audiences. But he won a special place in the hearts of the gay ones, as shown in the 1977 comedy-drama Outrageous in which he plays a character largely based on himself. Interestingly, Russell — who always identified himself as gay — was bisexual. He fathered a daughter, Susan Allison, in 1973, and in 1982 married his closest female friend Lori Jenkins. The marriage lasted right through to the end of Russell’s life in 1990 when he died from AIDS complications. SYLVESTERSylvester James Jr. (1947-1988) was born in Los Angeles, but first came to public attention when he moved to San Francisco and joined the legendary gay hippie performance troupe The Cockettes. A genuinely original singing talent Sylvester showcased a high, shimmering falsetto and a variety of styles encompassing gospel, disco and cabaret. His look was utterly androgynous. While he sometimes appeared in “drag” he most often sported ensembles suitable to both genders. Wildly popular in San Francisco he performed solo shows at the city’s opera house. When he died from AIDS complications the entire city mourned, along with everyone else who came to know the man and his music. STEVEN GROSSMANSteve Grossman (1951-1991) a gay singer-songwriter of the early 1970s whose album Caravan Tonight (1974) is distinguished as being the first album dealing with openly gay subject matter released by a major record label, Mercury Records.
He died from AIDS leaving his Joni Mitchell-inflected songs, recorded much in the style of singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, opposed to the then-current glam Bowiesque fashion of openly gay artists. Among them, “Out” is a deeply moving coming-out song directed to his Father mother and brother. OUR GUEST AUTHOR DAVID EHRENSTEIN Born in 1947, David Ehrenstein has been a film critic and political commentator since 1965, writing for such publications as Film Culture, Film Quarterly, Cahiers du Cinema, and the Los Angeles Times. His books include Open Secret: Gay Hollywood 1928-2000, The Scorsese Picture: The Art and Life of Martin Scorsese and Cahiers du Cinema — Masters of Cinema: Roman Polanski . Blog is originally published at: https://www.walterfilm.com/10-lgbtq-performers-in-the-1970s/ It is republished with permission from the author. In the recent years, there has been a decline in the discrimination against the LGBTQ community, but it still lingers on and has a long way to go before being completely erased. While the community continues its fight for equal rights, human rights, not even special rights, LGBTQ memorabilia stands testimony to the fight for equality that has been raging on for many years now. In the process, LGBTQ memorabilia has been promoting pride in a big way and representing the fight for equality. The Store
The store or brand selling LGBTQ products is a supporter of the cause and an active champion of the rights of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer community. By selling LGTBQ merchandise and memorabilia, they advocate the movement and help in spreading awareness about the problems faced by the community. More often than not, the shops donate a part of their sale proceeds to non-profit LGBTQ support groups, thereby reinforcing their stand as an LGBTQ campaigner. The Goods A wide-range of LGBTQ memorabilia and merchandise is available globally in stores and online:
And many more. Established in 1982, WalterFilm provides the finest selection of original movie star photos, movie scripts & rare books, lobby cards, vintage movie posters and Hollywood movie memorabilia along with materials from the theater and stage, LGBTQ film, stage, art, and social history. For LGBTQ memorabilia, you can visit their LGBTQ Collection at WalterFilm.com and see the extraordinary range and quality of the LGBTQ material on offer. As experienced and knowledgeable Curators, they take great pride and pleasure in helping their clients discover the extraordinary range of material that comprises LGBTQ Social History and LGBTQ Memorabilia –– something they find beautiful, engaging or relates to who they are or what they care about. This is regardless of whether they are purchasing a single object or developing a fabulous collection. But you will be creating a platform that no one else can interfere with. But much, much more importantly, you will be spreading awareness, helping people who suffer from stigma and discrimination at the workplace. Think about giving your strength and courage to those who are bullied at school and in small villages. Your website will create power, and if you want to generate a full-time income from it, you certainly can, just like I do! About WalterFilm: WalterFilm provides the finest selection of original movie star photos, movie scripts & rare books, lobby cards, vintage movie posters and Hollywood movie memorabilia that focus on the glorious history of the European and Hollywood Motion Picture Business. Visit their website at https://www.walterfilm.com. BY BILL REED In the first half of the 20th Century these eight, great black jazz musicians, who helped to create one of America’s unique contributions to the musical canon, come alive in the wonderful posters, photographs and promotional pieces that are part of Walter Films’ collection of African Americana. Jazz, a music genre that originated in the African American community, is known for its soulfulness and complex musical variations. MILES DAVISBACKGROUND One of the greats in the pantheon of African Americana is Miles Davis (seen above). Davis picked up the trumpet at age 13. Before it was all over, he’d won just about every honor and glory a jazz musician can achieve, including six Grammys and numerous best-selling albums. The Grammy Hall of Fame inducted ten of his releases, including 1949’s Birth of the Cool, and, from a decade later, Kind of Blue. * The groundwork above and much more was laid down when, in 1944, he relocated to New York City. He soon became part of the wellspring of the new jazz sound, known as be-bop. His contemporaries included the likes of bandleader Billy Eckstine, alto sax giant Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Before long, Davis became well-known enough to start up his own small music group. It included name musicians, like Sonny Rollins and Art Blakey. Its descriptive title . . . “The New Sounds.” ON THE WAY UPIn rapid order came two record contracts. The first was with the noteworthy Prestige outfit, followed by a mainstream affiliation with none other than one of THE big three record labels, Columbia. THE “IG TIME There are far too many highpoints to address here; however, two of which cry out are the album Kind of Blue (1959), which became the most significant selling jazz album of its day, and the Miles Davis- [arranger] Gil Evans big band trilogy: Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess and Sketches of Spain. One of his major European engagements included a period of early ‘50s residency in France where he was awarded the rubbed shoulders with the likes of Jean Cocteau, and conducted an affair with singer Juliette Greco. FINAL DAYS Davis’ later years were filled with many health issues resulting in the musician’s death at the relatively young age of 65. Inasmuch as this WalterFilm photo of Davis does not seem to appear in other known jazz collections, it should be regarded as rare. SARAH VAUGHANTWO LEGS UP No doubt about it. The numbers one and two female jazz vocalists in the golden age of the art form were Ella, Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Three-quarters of a century later, that still — more or less — holds true. Along the way, there were many memorable recordings, and the winning of countless awards, including four Grammys. Though Sarah came along a decade-or-so later after Ella, like “First Lady of Song” Fitzgerald, she got a head start by winning the historic talent contest at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. One of her very earliest sides, “Lover Man,“ (1945) found her backed by Charlie “Bird” Parker (also in this WalterFilm collection) and Dizzy Gillespie. Several decades later, France’s Michel Legrand made a recording with Vaughan. He remarked of her, “She sings from the stars.” Not long after completing her final recording in 1990, “Sassy,” as Vaughan was lovingly nick-named, passed away. DUKE ELLINGTONThere is little question that Duke Ellington was the most famous, respected, charming, talented, elegant figures of the jazz musician and “beyond category” a definition oft-used to describe him. The elegance of this WalterFilm poster gives some sense of how much admiration his label, Victor, accorded him. The Master had been primarily with that label from 1924 onward, with stops along the way at Columbia, Capitol, and Bethlehem records. Flash forward to the end of his life (in 1974), and Ellington had created music for just about every form of show business, including theatre and film. The Duke once claimed that the only reason he kept his band together was so that he could hear what his imaginary musical notes on paper sounded like in real-time. A hang-up for which we, his listeners, are eternally grateful. This retail store advertisement (above) does not appear to have been recycled into any other Victor placement, i.e. catalogs, record jackets, etc., which would make it doubly rare. NANCY WILSONRIGHT OUT OF THE STARTING GATE Born in Ohio, jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson, after much performance time on the road, arrived in New York City in 1960. She soon signed with Capitol Records. Right off, she had the good fortune to record with the label’s stars Cannonball Adderley and George Shearing. Both recordings were hits. It probably helped in marketing Wilson that she was exceptionally attractive. Wilson would have a successful career with Capitol, lasting from that start in ‘60 to 1971. She would also have success on TV–with her own show, in nightclubs, jazz festivals, etc. Her honors were many, including multiple Grammys and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. She continued to perform and record with other labels until 2011. It was then that she remarked: “I’m not going to be doing it anymore, and what better place to end it than where I started, in Ohio” –– her last professional engagement. She died in 2018. CHARLES MINGUSVERSATILITY PERSONIFIED It was a long row to hoe for this master musician, from the ‘40s L.A. Central Avenue Swing-to-Bop crossover scene. Eventually, however, he could be found starring at the likes of major Japan concert halls. In 1971, he even recorded an album while performing there. TRACKS RECORD Mingus had first recorded in the early 1940s. The overall sound was much like swing stars of that era, such as Benny Goodman. However, a Mingus 78 rpm disc from just a few years finds this player/composer/arranger thoroughly ensconced in the bubbling bop cauldron. Later in his career, Mingus could be found versatile enough to be performing with players from any era. An example: an early Sixties trio of Mingus, vibist Red Norvo and guitarist Tal Farlow. WAY TOO SOON Although Mingus died at 56, his name remains high on the list of jazz greats. Two major documentaries attest to this. MUSICAL INTEGRATION In addition to his significant seven-decades-long career as a jazz musician, bandleader, vibes player, African-American Lionel Hampton (1908-2002) is also remembered for another undertaking. In 1936 he helped Benny Goodman tear down the walls between white and black musicians in “live” performances. Years later, Hampton observed: “The Benny Goodman Quartet made it possible for Jackie Robinson to get into major league baseball. This was such an important development that we just cannot fluff it off or forget about it.” This re-formatted groundbreaking Goodman Quartet would end up playing at the likes of the Waldorf-Astoria. Of interest is the number of awards Hampton received along the way, including the National Medal of Arts and several Honorary Doctorates. Somewhat ironically, Hampton’s big band ended up lasting even longer than Goodman’s. It has the distinction of giving jazz vocal stars Betty Carter and Little Jimmy Scott their first big. CHARLIE PARKERFAST FORWARD Starting in the mid-Thirties, alto saxophonist Carlie Parker found himself inspired by the swing era likes of Ellington and Basie. But not for long. It would not be stressing things too much in calling this Kansas City, Missourian, “the man who invented modern jazz.” Parker has received numerous forms of tribute, including documentaries, biographies, and stage productions, with one of the most well-regarded being the big screen docudrama, Clint Eastwood’s Bird. As noted in the description of the press kit herein for director Clint Eastwood’s daring work, the film “remains one of the few classic movies about jazz.” Sadly, Parker dies at the implausibly early age of 34. One can only wonder how he would have developed artistically if he had been given more time. Parker is a prime example of The Good Die Young. COUNT BASIEON THE T.O.B.A * Starting in show business, pianist Count Basie worked as a back-up player on the historic black vaudeville circuit, the Theater Owners Booking Association *. Eventually, these musical meanderings landed him in Kansas City, Missouri. It was there, in 1935, that he founded his first big band, which would endure for the next half-century. Basie didn’t leave his Jersey home (and place of birth) entirely behind; he would become widely known as “The Kid from Red Bank.” It stuck with him for the rest of his life. However, a few of the noteworthy Basie instrumentalists and singers who gained early-on professional experience include Lester Young and Freddie Green, and songsters, Joe Williams and Jimmy Rushing. The Count was especially popular with Jewish comedians, namely Jerry Lewis (Cinderfella) and Mel Brooks (Blazing Saddles). WALTER FILM’S AFRICAN AMERICANA COLLECTIONWalterFilm.com offers a range of African-American Cultural History that celebrates the achievements of black actors, black artists, black musicians, black athletes, black politicians, and other members of this country’s African-American Community. To see the extensive vintage original collection click on this link; African-American Collectibles and Black Memorabilia,
OUR GUEST AUTHOR BILL REED Bill Reed is a journalist and writer whose articles on show business, the arts, and popular music have appeared in a wide variety of publications, including Rolling Stone, the San Francisco Examiner, International Documentary, and Japan’s Swing Journal. Among his books are: Hot from Harlem: Profiles in Classic African-American Entertainment, Brains as Well as Feet, Early Plastic: A Memoir, and Shared Air: My Six-Decade Interface With Celebrity. He as also worked as a video jack-of-all-trades for the Criterion Collection, and produced many jazz recordings for SSJ Records, Japan. More: https//musicians.allaboutjazz.com/billreed Blog is originally published at: https://www.walterfilm.com/8-great-black-jazz-musicians/ It is republished with permission from the author. RARE & VALUABLE BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, AUTOGRAPHS, GRAPHICS, PHOTOGRAPHS, PRINT EPHEMERA & MUCH MORE From March 5-8, 2020, Walter Reuben Inc. can be found in Booth D20 at the 60th Anniversary New York International Antiquarian Book Fair located, as always, in the legendary Park Avenue Armory, Manhattan at 643 Park Avenue (between 66th and 67th Street). Our focus is on the glorious history of the European and Hollywood motion picture business as well as African American cultural history, black memorabilia and LGBTQ social history. As a result, we will be featuring the finest selection of vintage original movie posters, movie star photos, lobby cards, movie scripts & rare books, Hollywood movie memorabilia, African Americana and LGBTQ cultural history. Here is a sampling of the areas that Walter Reuben represents: LGBTQ CULTURAL HISTORYSince the Stonewall Riot in June of 1969, there has been a growing interest in LGBTQ social history, so, in 2011 – forty-two years after Stonewall – Walter Reuben Inc. made its first sale to a major institutional library of relevant items of LGBTQ cultural history. The sales continued to be made to an ever growing number of institutions and now Walter Reuben Inc. is an essential resource for material related to LGBTQ Cultural History and Memorabilia. Vintage original photograph of Freddy Mercury in the Queen Photo Collection and a remarkable vintage original silkscreen poster for rock’s first openly transgender singer, Jayne Rogers, better known by her stage name Jayne County. She was an American singer, songwriter, actress and record producer whose career has spanned five decades. Under the name Wayne County, she was the vocalist of influential proto-punk band Wayne County & the Electric Chairs. AFRICAN AMERICANAWalter Film.com offers a range of vintage African-American Collectibles or Black Memorabilia that celebrate the achievements of actors, artists, musicians, athletes, politicians, and other members of the black community. Vintage African Americana (vintage original star photographs, posters, lobby cards, film scripts, newspaper articles, rare books and advertising or marketing collectibles) identified with all types of black celebrities is highly valued by collectors. Vintage original poster for a one-woman show that Ethel Waters premiered on Broadway on Sept. 22, 1953. She subsequently toured the show, hence this poster from a one night appearance in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The vintage original poster for the play, “Porgy,” by Dorothy and Dubois Heyward, presented by the Theatre Guild in 1927. It was the source for the world famous opera “Porgy & Bess,” music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin and book by Dubois Heyward. FILM POSTERSOne of the finest vintage original poster by the legendary artist Al Hirschfeld for “Swiss Miss“ starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, This 1938 MGM “musical superfeature” combined operetta and comedy to tell the story of two mousetrap salesmen who hoped to strike it rich in Switzerland. A vintage original three-sheet poster for the 1968 Warner Brothers’ classic action-crime thriller, “Bullitt,” directed by Peter Yates with an iconic performance by Steve McQueen. It is the finest and rarest of the posters created for this critically acclaimed, box office hit. FILM SCRIPTSA heavily revised final shooting script of Columbia Pictures’ 1992 film, “A League Of Their Own,” directed by Penny Marshall. This vintage original screenplay also travels with a black leather-covered baseball, signed in gold ink by Tom Hanks, Madonna (above), Gena Davis, Penny Marshall, Rosie O’Donnell, Robin Knight, Tracy Reiner, Janet Jones Gretzky, Pepper Pairie (one of the original league players) and Neezer Tarleton. Peter Lawford’s revised shooting script for Warner Brothers’ 2001 critical and box office hit, “Ocean’s Eleven.” The film starred almost the entire Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Lawford (who bought the rights to the story in 1958, and was involved in putting the film together). THE PARK AVENUE ARMORY |
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