Harlem Hotshots Explained

Harlem Hotshots is an American short film from 1940 produced by Sack Amusements.^[1] The 20 minute film is a musical.^{[2] [3]} One poster for the film includes a skyline of buildings and street sign for Lenox Avenue and 125th Street.^[4] The film was reissued in 1986 as part of Jazz Classics, No. 110; Harlem Harmonies Volume 1, 1940–1945.^[5]

Performances

The film includes Leon Gross and his Orchestra playing "The Swingeroo Stomp", "Dear Old Southland", and "I Found a New Baby", as well as Cora Harris singing "Heaven Help That Heart of Mine". "Dance of the Bellhops" is performed by Stringbean Jackson and the Red Lily Chorus.^{[6] [7]}

Cast

• Cora Harris and her orchestra
• Lena Horne
• Stingbean Jackson
• Leon Gross (also known as Archibald) and his orchestra^{[8] [9]}
• The Red Lilly Chorus
• Teddy Wilson and his orchestra

Later influences

A 1953 film of the same name compiles the work of rhythm & blues and jazz musicians including Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, and Bill Bailey. It runs 50 minutes.^[10]

Harlem Hotshots was also the name of a jazz group fronted by Freddie Webster.^{[11] [12]}

See also

• Dirty Gertie from Harlem, U.S.A.

Further reading

• Book: Horak . Jan-Christopher . Barbara . Lupack . Early Race Filmmaking in America . 2016 . Routledge . 978-1-315-69275-3 . 1st . https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315692753-19/preserving-race-films-jan-christopher-horak . Preserving Race Films . 10.4324/9781315692753 . en.
• Book: Jones . George William . Black Cinema Treasures: Lost and Found . 1991 . University of North Texas . 978-0-929398-26-6 . 152 . en.
• Limbacher . James L. . Blacks On Film . Journal of Popular Film . 1 October 1975 . 4 . 4 . 358–378 . 10.1080/00472719.1975.10661788 . subscription . 12 November 2021 . 0047-2719 . en.

Notes and References

1. Book: Webb, Graham . Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926–1959 . July 13, 2020 . McFarland . 9781476681184 . Google Books . en.
2. Book: Cyr, Helen W. . A Filmography of the Third World: An Annotated List of 16mm Films, Volume 1 . Scarecrow Press . 1976 . 978-0-8108-0940-6 . Metuchen, NJ . 144.
3. Web site: Harlem Hot Shots . 2021-11-13 . Library of Congress.
4. Web site: ACADEMY COLLECTIONS | details . collections.new.oscars.org.
5. Book: Clear, Rebecca D. . Jazz on Film and Video in the Library of Congress . November 14, 1993 . DIANE Publishing . 9780788114366 . Google Books . en.
6. Book: Webb, Graham . Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926–1959 . July 13, 2020 . McFarland . 9781476681184 . Google Books . en.
7. Book: Clear, Rebecca D. . Jazz on Film and Video in the Library of Congress . November 14, 1993 . DIANE Publishing . 9780788114366 . Google Books . en.
8. Book: Clear, Rebecca D. . Jazz on Film and Video in the Library of Congress . Diane Publishing . 1993 . 978-0-7881-1436-6 . 68 . en.
9. Book: Stratemann, Klaus . Negro Bands on Film: Big bands, 1928–1950 . Verlag Uhle & Kleimann . 1981 . 978-3-922657-18-7 . Lübbecke, Germany . 123 . en.
10. Book: Ogle, Patrick . Facets African-American video guide . 1994 . Facets Multimedia, Inc. / Academy Chicago Publishers . 978-0-89733-402-0 . 197 . en.
11. News: January 1950 . Ebony . 28 . Johnson Publishing Company . 2021-11-08 . en.
12. Cooper . B. Lee . I Want a Bowlegged Woman: The Greatest Hits, 1945–1955 . Popular Music and Society . 15 April 2019 . 45 . 3 . 2–3 . 10.1080/03007766.2019.1598749 . 194641264 . 0300-7766 . en.