1950s Famous Faces
For Walter Film’s holiday blog we would like to take you on a nostalgic trip back to the 1950s and to a time that was not quite as challenging as it is today. The personalities merchandised in doll form reflected the major movements and changes in all fields of entertainment during that decade.
While we may view the 1950s as a simpler time, the world of entertainment was full of drama; whether it be famous Broadway shows, the birth of Rock n’ Roll, beloved characters and stor…
Sidney Poitier – African American Landmark Actor & Director
In 1963 Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role creating the character of Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field.
His 40+ year career as an Oscar-winning star and film director broke down barriers for actors of color, becoming a Hollywood leading man at a time before black Americans were even granted full civil rights. He also opened doors for black directors after stepping behind the camera to direct &nbs…
Four Early 20th Century LGBTQ Notables
The four gifted LGBTQ individuals featured in this month’s blog made significant contributions in their respective fields during the first half of the 20th Century.
Dorothy Arzner, a Lesbian, was, from 1927 until her retirement from feature film directing in 1943, the only female feature film director working in Hollywood for the better part of her career.
Julian Eltinge, an American stage and film actor and female impersonator was a star in vaudevill…
The Saint Collection
Created for Manhattan’s famous gay disco, The Saint, this stunning poster archive consists of 33 extraordinary pieces and date from 1982 through 2004. The super club (as it was originally designated) opened September 30, 1980 and closed April 30, 1988. However, its spirit, the music and, of course, the dancing and everything that went with it, continues on as The Saint At Large.
These pop-up events included the infamous Black and White Parties and annual Halloween and New Year’s Eve fant…
Dorothy Dandridge – Hollywood’s First African-American Sex Symbol
Dorothy Jean Dandridge (November 9, 1922 – September 8, 1965) was an American film and theatre actress, singer, and dancer. She is one of the earliest black movie stars and the first woman of color to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, which was for her performance in Carmen Jones (1954).
