WITHIN OUR GATES - 1919
"I have always tried to make my photoplays present the truth, to lay before the race a cross-section of its own life, to view the colored heart from close range.
It is only by presenting those portions of the race portrayed in my pictures, in the light and background of their true state, that we can raise our people to greater heights."
Oscar Micheaux, January 24, 1925.
Oscar Micheaux (October 2, 1893 – March 25, 1951)
Pioneering African American author and is widely recognized as being the first African-American filmmaker (although he was predated by the shortlived Lincoln Motion Picture Company).
The Lincoln Motion Picture Company
One
of the early black production companies. It was formed by Noble
Johnson, who made his debut in a Lubin western in 1914 playing an
Indian Chief, and his brother George Johnson, who was a postal
employee. Noble Johnson was president of the company, Clarence
Brooks (actor) was secretary, Dudley A. Brooks was assistant
secretary and Dr. James T. Smith was treasurer.
They
produced a few films but found a very small market. They were
mostly booked in special locations at churches and schools and
the few "Colored Only" theaters.
In
1920, Noble Johnson gave up his position as president when he
became a contract actor at Universal Pictures and James Smith
assumed the company presidency.
Lincoln
productions was forced to accepted an offer for financial backing
by a white investor, P. H. Updike. George Johnson supervised the
marketing and promotion of what would become Lincoln's most
ambitious project.
In
October 1920, Lincoln began production on their film By Right of
Birth. The script was written by Dora Mitchell based on a story
by George Johnson. Booker T. Washington was also seen in a cameo
role.
Through
some creative marketing, they were able to sell out a 2 day
premier. The affair was a success, but there was just simply not
enough support to keep them going.
The Lincoln Motion Picture Company closed their doors in 1921,
the company did not produce WITHIN OUR GATES.
WITHIN OUR GATES, must rate as one of the most edited and censored films of all time, its not a warm and happy film. not the sort of film I 'enjoy' at all, but its 'superb'.
Superb for being very well made, and very honest and truthful.
How this webpage came into being ... A friend of mine and fellow member of The International Midi Society was looking round the ruins of a demolished 'colored people' cinema in her hometown, when she found a notebook of musical scores.
The notebook contained the notation of the background music to this page, with the handwritten comment, "Within Our Gates" intro score by Betty Drew - Aug 1920...
N.Y.
AMSTERDAM NEWS
SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1951
Oscar
Micheaux, Producer, Dies
By S. W. Garlington
The first man to produce a full-length, eight-reel, all-Negro movie, and the first Negro to write and publish a best-selling novel--with a circulation of over 55,000, is dead. He was 67 year old Oscar Micheaux, one of Harlem's most distinguished citizens, who died Easter Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina, after a short illness in that city.
While on a tour of the South during the latter part of March, he became ill in Charlotte, and was hospitalized, but subsequently succumbed. His body was sent to Great Bend, Kansas, last week for burial. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Alice Micheaux. They lived at 48 Morningside Drive, and only last month celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
Pioneered in Movies
Born in Metropolis, Illinois, on January 2, 1884, he claimed two adopted homes--Great Bend and Harlem. He came to this city about a quarter of a century ago, and immediately started up the ladder of an interesting and varied career. Long before his death, he had made distinctive progress as an author, playwright, movie producer, book publisher, and lecturer.
In 1918, Micheaux produced, "Homesteader," the first full-length all-Negro movie. During this phase of his life, he was founder and president of the Micheaux Film Corp., and was credited with producing 44 of the 82 all-Negro pictures made. Micheaux's last movie, "The Betrayal," based on one of his best selling novels, "The Winds From Nowhere," was released last year. It was one of his most ambitious cinema attempts, and had a Broadway premiere at the Mansfield Theatre, but failed to win public acclaim. Later this movie was shown in local second and third-run houses.
Writes Best-Sellers
About three years ago, Micheaux told this writer why he wrote his own books and why he published them. He said:
"I'm tired of reading about the Negro in an inferior position in society. I want to see them in dignified roles...Also, I want to see the white man and the white woman as the villians...I want to see the Negro pictured in books just like he lives...
"But," he added, "if you write that way, the white book publishers won't publish your scripts...so I formed my own book publishing firm and write my own books, and Negroes like them, too, because three of them are best sellers."
The late playwright meant just what he said. I remember him telling me how disgusted he was with "Strange Fruit," which he thought was anti-Negro. As a result, in 1948, he wrote and published, "The Masquerade", which was supposed to be an answer to "Strange Fruit," or the opposite picture presented in "Strange Fruit."
Published Own Books
The biggest single success of Micheaux, was "The Case of Mrs. Wingate," which he published himself, distributed himself, promoted himself with lectures and tours, and which sold over 55,000 copies.
No other book self-published has equaled, "Wingate." It was published by his own firm, The Book Supply Company located at his home address on Morningside Avenue.
"Wingate" was published in 1945, but his first book success was in 1943 with his novel "Wind From Nowhere." Later books--all novels--by the author-publisher were "The Story of Dorothy Stanfield," and "Masquerade."
Lived Comfortably
The late Mr. Oscar Micheaux lived comfortably at all times, and employed several people in his book firm. He made "lots of money" with the novel "Wingate," but lost all or most of it with his ill-fated adventure in 1950, of trying to produce "The Betrayal" movie.
Even though the literary critics were never kind to Micheaux' writing efforts, he was nevertheless a successful author. "Wingate" sold over 53,000 copies; "Wind" about 30,000; "Stanfield" around 25,000; and "Masquerade" a little less than 15,000. If a book sells over 25,000, it is called a best seller, and considered a success. Judged by that standard, even if the late Mr. Micheaux had to publish his own books, distribute them, and promote them himself, he was nevertheless a successful author, and also a successful businessman.
Added Information
Before coming to Harlem, Micheaux was educated in the public schools of Metropolis, Illinois, served as a Pullman porter, and was a farmer and rancher in South Dakota, and started publication adventures in the Midwest without startling success.
