Explore Black History

1947

A 16mm print of a film with the title Ebony Parade. It consists of a single reel of positive, black-and-white, 16mm acetate film with bilateral variable-area optical sound. The footage consists of a compilation of "Soundies," each beginning with an introduction by comedian Matan Moreland.
In the opening scene, Moreland appears on screen wearing a turban while sitting in front of a table that holds a crystal ball and a magazine. He looks directly into the camera and says, "Hello folks, this is Mantan Moreland your obedient servant bringing you the top movie entertainment of the year, from the Ebony Parade. Now I’ll tell you how I do this: I move my hand around the crystal ball just like this, wait a minute, I’ve got to look in here and see what’s going on.” He then holds up the magazine, which features dancer Mabel Lee on its front cover. As he speaks, Mabel Lee herself walks onstage and tells him that she will be doing the “Coalmine Boogie” with Pat Flowers and The Ebonettes. Matan Moreland then moves his hand over the crystal ball and repeats “Mable Lee, Pat Flowers and the Ebonettes” a few times. In the next scene, jazz pianist Pat Flowers can be seen playing a grand piano with a woman seated on top of it. The footage then quickly cuts to Mabel Lee and The Ebonnetes doing the "Coalmine Boogie."
The rest of the film continues with Matan Moreland periodically consulting his magazine and moving his hand over the crystal ball before introducing the next Soundie. Other acts in the film include Francine Everett, Dewey Brown and The Sepia Steppers performing “Toot That Trumpet,” Day Dawn and Dusk performing “Faust,” The Mills Brothers performing “Paper Doll," Vanita Smyth singing "They Raided the Joint,” Cab Calloway and His Orchestra performing “The Skunk Song,” The Jubalaires performing “Brother Bill,” and Ruby Hill performing “Put Your Arms Around Me Honey." In the final performance, Count Basie and His Orchestra performs “Air Mail Special” as couples do the boogie woogie on a dance floor.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Anonymous Gift in memory of Ernest (Ernie) R. Smith, Jazz Historian

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2015.275.39.1a

sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)

Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

acetate film

Duration (digital file): 00:27:22
Physical extent (film): 1100 ft

Title • Ebony Parade

nmaahc_2015.275.39.1a

NMAAHC

EBONY PARADE

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1940s

Day, Dawn, and Dusk • Everett, Francine • Smith, Ernie • Basie, Count • Brown, Dewey • Calloway, Cab • Dandridge, Dorothy • Hill, Ruby • The Jubalaires • Flowers, Pat • The Mills Brothers • Lee, Mable • Moreland, Mantan • Crouch, William Forest • Smythe, Vanita

United States • North and Central America

Conductors (Musicians) • Musical films • Race films • Dance • Motion pictures • Comedy • Entertainers • Instrumentalists (Musicians) • Jazz (Music) • Singers (Musicians)

Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

black-and-white films (visual works) • 16mm (photographic film size) • sound films

Unknown - Restrictions Possible