T4701

Black Heritage

Oscar Micheaux

Author, Film Director and Independent Producer

Collins Cover Announcement 

Oscar Micheaux

This gifted African-American was an author and film director. He is regarded as the first Black feature filmmaker and the most prominent producer of race-relations movies. One of eleven children of former slaves, he was born on January 2, 1884. Oscar was very industrious and as a boy in Kansas shined shoes and worked as a porter at the local railroad station. As a young man he successfully homesteaded a farm in South Dakota. It was during that time of his life that he developed an interest in writing and authored many short stories.

The new and emerging motion picture industry intrigued him as a way to tell his stories. Micheaux founded his own movie production company and in 1919 became the first African-American to make a film. He wrote, directed, and produced the silent movie "The Homesteader. " It starred pioneering Black actress Evelyn Preer and was based on his novel of the same name.

He then went on to use life experiences in his film "The Exile. " It was his first feature film with sound and had a story-line of the lead character leaving -Chicag_o to operate a ranch in South Dakota. In 1924, his film "Body and Soul" introduced the public to Paul Robeson. Given the times and social restricttions, the accomplishments of Micheaux in publishing and movie making are extraordinary He was the first African American to produce a film shown in white movie theaters, and his work won widespread acclaim.

During his illustrious career, he wrote, produced, and directed forty-four feature length films between 1919 and 1948. He also wrote seven novels, one of which was a national best seller. My individually hand painted cachets show this prominent and gifted innovator as he directs one of his movies. I'm pleased to offer my tribute to pioneering filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. 

Collins 414701 — $14.00.