Explore Black History

ca. 1981

This 1981 documentary by Manny Pittson follows Cab Calloway around Harlem as he reminisces about the famous musicians and entertainers that passed through the neighborhood in the 1930s and 1940s. Calloway explains the significance of each artists and recounts a personal anecdote of his experiences with them. Clips from various performances appear throughout to highlight Calloway's words.
This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.

A documentary film with the title Minnie The Moocher and Many, Many More. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound.
The film follows Cab Calloway around Harlem as he reminisces about the famous musicians and entertainers that passed through the neighborhood in the 1930s and 1940s. Calloway explains the significance of each artist and recounts a personal anecdote of his experiences with them. Clips from various performances appear throughout the film.
The film begins with a clip of a dramatized performance of Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train." The clip is intercut with a head and shoulders interview with Cab Calloway explaining why Harlem became a mecca for black entertainers. The title credits then play over the musical clip. The film then cuts to Cab Calloway emerging from the subway at 145th St. and Lenox Ave. As Calloway walks around the neighborhood, his non-diegetic narration begins, and he talks about how the neighborhood remains largely unchanged from the time he lived there. Several historical photographs precede a shot of Calloway greeting passers-by who recognize him. This is followed by a film clip of Calloway and his band performing "Minnie the Moocher."
In the next shot, Calloway speaks directly to the viewer and invites them to join him on a historical trip through Harlem. Another clip from the "Minnie the Moocher" performance plays along with a title describing the importance of the song. Next, Calloway discusses how he got his start as an entertainer in Chicago. When he mentions Louis Armstrong a clip of Armstrong performing "Shine" in the film "Rhapsody in Black and Blue" plays. As the clip continues, Calloway explains how Armstrong gave him his big break. Calloway then describes his first arrival in Harlem and the energy the neighborhood possessed. An unidentified film clip featuring dancers and Mary Lou Williams on piano plays as Calloway speaks. At the conclusion of the clip, Calloway continues to describe Harlem and his own experiences when he first arrived.
He goes on to discuss rent parties and a clip from an unidentified film featuring a performance of "How Do!" by an unidentified singer. Next, Calloway introduces Fats Waller and a film clip of a performance of "The Joint is Jumping" plays. In the next section, Calloway mentions some of the wealthy and famous individuals that called Harlem home as historical photographs are shown. Contemporary clips of Calloway signing autographs on the street are also shown as Calloway narrates. This is followed by a section in which Calloway discusses various spots marked on E. Simms Campbell's Night-Club Map of Harlem. An unidentified film clip of dancers performing is intercut with the images from the map. This is followed by a sequence in which Calloway discusses the Cotton Club and points out its former location.
Calloway then transitions to speaking about Duke Ellington and a medley of Ellington songs and film clips play, including 'I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" and "Cotton Tail." As he thumbs through an unidentified book, Calloway talks about Dorothy Dandridge. A clip from "Easy Street" then plays. Calloway then recalls how he discovered Count Basie in Kansas City and offered him a position in his band. A clip of Basie performing "Air Mail Special" follows. As an aside, Calloway mentions that despite his musical talent, Basie was a poor bocce ball player and frequently lost to Calloway. Next, a clip of Fats Waller performing "Ain't Misbehavin'" is shown and Calloway recalls the last time the two met at a train station in Albuquerque, N.M. This is followed by a clip of Waller performing "Honeysuckle Rose."
The film transitions to a discussion of Bill Robinson by way of a clip from one of the "Jazz Frogs" animated shorts featuring Waller and Robinson together. Calloway talks about performing with Bojangles at the Cotton Club. Next, Calloway explains the concept of jive talk and its origins and shows off his jive talk dictionary. This section concludes with a clip of Calloway performing "We the Cats Shall Hep Ya."
This is followed by a clip of Nat King Cole performing "Firm Farm Sauce." Calloway then relays a story about helping Cole with his pronunciation. At the end of the story, a clip of Cole performing "I'm A Shy Guy" plays. Calloway then reminisces about Lena Horne before a clip of a performance of "Unlucky Woman." The next performer to be discussed is Billy Eckstine, who is introduced with a clip of "I Love the Rhythm in a Riff." Calloway then talks about his most famous outfits from the height of his career, which is followed by a clip of the Dorothy Dandridge song "A Zoot Suit." The film concludes with Calloway walking down the street as several young women ask for autographs and kiss him on the cheek.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

DC Public Library Film Collection

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2017.55.21.1a

sound films
color films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)

Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

polyester film

Duration: 47 Minutes
Length (Film): 1700 Feet

Title • Minnie The Moocher and Many, Many More

nmaahc_2017.55.21.1a

NMAAHC

MINNIE THE MOOCHER AND MANY, MANY MORE

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1980s • 1970s

Ellington, Duke • Robinson, Bill "Bojangles" • Basie, Count • Calloway, Cab • Cole, Nat King • Dandridge, Dorothy • Eckstine, William Clarence • Williams, Mary Lou • Horne, Lena • D.C. Public Library • Pittson, Manny • Armstrong, Louis • Waller, Fats • Campbell, Elmer Simms

New York City • Harlem • United States • Chicago • North and Central America • Illinois • Cook County

Nightlife • Actors and actresses • Tap dancing • Conductors (Musicians) • Fashion • Composers (Musicians) • Entertainers • Jazz (Music) • Singers (Musicians) • Urban life • Documentary films

Locale • Harlem • City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Chicago • County • Cook County • State • Illinois

color films (visual works) • 16mm (photographic film size) • sound films

Restrictions Likely