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.