During February 2021, Black History Month, we profile a potpourri of African-American women in the movie industry throughout its history.

Each tear since 1988, films have been inducted into the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress reflecting their cultural, historic and artistic importance.

Debbie Reynolds collected costumes from the film industry and advocated for preserving and exhibiting costumes from the Golden Age of Cinema for many decades.

Inventions – and, in many cases, associated patents – have been key to the maturation of the film industry. Women have contributed in this areas, just like they have contributed in every other area of the movie business.

The documentary Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story came out recently in 2020. It profiles the often invisible women who do daring and dangerous stunts in lieu of the actress they are standing in for – so-called stunt doubles.

The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize was established in 1994 and is given annually to “a man or woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the beauty of the world and to mankind’s enjoyment and understanding of life.”

The press surrounding the recent passing of Olivia de Havilland (age 104) constantly evokes the 1939 blockbuster Gone with the Wind (GWTW) for which she received a nomination for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

A quote good enough to repeat from last month’s newsletter is from Oscar-winner Viola Davis, “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.” In this newsletter, we profile women of color during the silent film era whose contributions to the movie industry were hard-earned and the obstacles that they encountered underappreciated. They took whatever opportunities … Read More

In the current environment, as the U.S. is confronting the issue of racism, we want to acknowledge the African-American women who were the firsts in receiving Oscar nods for acting.

During the Great Depression, a significant escape for many people was the movies. Shirley Temple danced and sang her way into hearts around the country.