It Happened in Harlem
| It Happened in Harlem | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Bud Pollard |
Production company | |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
It Happened in Harlem is an American musical comedy film directed by Bud Pollard[2] and starring Chris Columbus, Phil Gomez, and Nicky O'Daniel.[1] The film was partly shot at Smalls Paradise and released in 1945.
The film includes performances by various musical acts including Dotty Rhodes and "Pitter-Patter" Pitts (Juanita Pitts). Rhodes was a dancer at the Cotton Club.[3] Pitts was a female tap dancer who dressed and danced like a man.[4]
The 30-minute film relies on a thin plot to showcase various performers.[5] Stills and advertising for the film survive.[6]
Plot[edit]
A very popular singer is drawing large crowds to his Smalls Paradise performances when he receives his draft notice. Ed Smalls then begins the task of auditioning someone to replace him. A somewhat unknown young singer with a loyal following tries to audition for the job but is not considered. One of his very loyal fans goes to Smalls to convince the owner to give the young man a chance.[1]
Cast[edit]
- Christopher Columbus
- Phil Gomez as Frankie, the soda jerk
- Nicky O'Daniel as Little Miss Brown
- Juanita 'Pitter-Patter' Pitts as "Pitter-Patter" Pitts
- Dotty Rhodes as self
- Slick and Slack as self
- Milton Woods as Billy Bond
- George Wiltshire as Ed Smalls of Smalls Paradise
- The Paradise Chorus
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Richards, Larry (1 January 1998). African American Films Through 1959: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Filmography. McFarland. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-7864-0307-3.
- ^ "It Happened in Harlem". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 29 October 2021. [dead link]
- ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (December 8, 1985). "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company – via Google Books.
- ^ "'Tap in Time' salutes dance legends". 22 February 2013.
- ^ Pitts, Michael R. (April 19, 2019). Astor Pictures: A Filmography and History of the Reissue King, 1933-1965. McFarland. ISBN 9781476636283 – via Google Books.
- ^ "It Happened in Harlem (1945)".
External links[edit]
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