Explore Black History

1970

Organized in 1967, the Black Stuntmen’s Association was formed to break racial barriers behind the scenes in Hollywood, in both film and television production. Through their collective efforts, and with the support of prominent African American actors such as Bill Cosby, the BSA challenged the conventional practice of “paint-downs,” in which white stuntmen wearing dark makeup stood in for black actors. In addition to promoting the hiring of African American stunt workers, the BSA advocated for safer working conditions, equal compensation, and professional training for stunt people of all races and genders. Together with the Coalition of Black Stuntmen and Women, formed in 1973, the BSA has been honored by the NAACP and the U.S. Congress for leading the fight against discrimination in the film and television industry.
Actor, stunt man and stunt coordinator Len Glascow was an original member of the Black Stuntmen’s Association as well as the historian and spokesman for the “Buffalo Soldiers,” an informal group of athletes, actors, and non-professional actors that trained as horsemen and soldiers to portray the historical United States Army regiments in television and film. Conceived by actor-stuntman Bryan King in 1965, the Buffalo Soldiers became an obvious recruiting platform when BSA co-founder Eddie Smith began seeking Black stuntmen two years later. The group would later formalize as “The 10th Cavalry ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ Inc.” and perform in parades, state fairs, and horse shows, as well as television programs like The High Chaparral.

A color photograph of Len Glascow being dragged along the ground by a rope. He is lying on his back as he's being pulled by a rope secured around his shoulders. He wears a denim shirt, striped uniform pants, boots, and gloves. The ground is dusty and bare and the shadow of another person's head is just visible in the lower right corner.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Lenton W. Glascow

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2013.73.5

chromogenic color prints

No Known Copyright Restrictions
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dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

H x W (Image): 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (19.1 x 24.1 cm)
H x W (Sheet): 8 x 10 1/8 in. (20.3 x 25.7 cm)

Object Name • Photograph of stuntman Len Glascow being dragged on the ground

nmaahc_2013.73.5

NMAAHC

PHOTOGRAPH OF STUNTMAN LEN GLASCOW BEING DRAGGED ON THE GROUND

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1970s

Glascow, Lenton W. • Black Stuntmen's Association

United States • Los Angeles County • North and Central America • California • Burbank

Photography • Actors and actresses • Labor unions • Professional organizations • Hollywood (Film) • Motion pictures

City • Burbank • County • Los Angeles County • State • California • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Los Angeles

Images

Limited Use