Harry A. Gant Explained

Harry Arthur Gant (February 11, 1881 - July 26, 1967)^[1] was a cinematographer and film director whose work includes African American films. He directed for the Lincoln Motion Picture Company. He was the only white person at the film company.^[2]

He joined the African American film company after meeting Noble Johnson on a Universal Pictures set.^[3] Gant worked at the film company while also continuing to work for a major studio. He was also a stockholder in the fledgling film company.^[4] UCLA has a photograph of Gant and Johnson.^[5]

Filmography

• Behind the Lines (1916), cinematographer
• The Secret of the Swamp (1916), cinematographer
• The Realization of a Negro's Ambition (1916), director
• The Trooper of Troop K (1916), director
• A Man's Duty (1919)
• By Right of Birth (1921), director

Notes and References

1. Book: I Saw Them Ride Away:Memoirs of Harry Arthur Grant. 9781441402349. July 21, 2020. Gant. Harry Arthur. 22 September 2009.
2. Book: Redefining Black Film. Mark A.. Reid. Reviewer Mark A.. Reid. February 23, 1993. University of California Press. 9780520079021. Google Books.
3. Book: Garcia, Desirée J.. The Migration of Musical Film: From Ethnic Margins to American Mainstream. August 1, 2014. Rutgers University Press. 9780813574271. Google Books.
4. Web site: Brothers Became Film Pioneers. September 13, 1998. Los Angeles Times.
5. Web site: Noble Johnson and Harry Gant [photograph] | UCLA]. dl.library.ucla.edu.