Basin Street Revue

This priceless compilation of one-of-a-kind live performances features such musical greats as Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughan, Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams, Martha Davis, Amos Milburn, Faye Adams, The Clovers, Herb Jeffries, and Cab Calloway. These performances originally aired on television as short films made by Snader Telescriptions (who later produced Liberace and Korla Pandit's TV shows.) Studio Films then compiled these early "music videos" into three feature-length films for theaters. (The other two features were titled Rhythm and Blues Revue and Rock 'n' Roll Revue.) New interconnecting sequences were shot with master of ceremonies Willie Bryant, as well as comedy bits with Nipsey Russell and Mantan Moreland. This created the illusion the film was documenting one continuous 'Basin Street Revue' (in reality, the musical performances were shot at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, not New Orleans.) Basin Street Revue is an invaluable source for some of the best live footage of these legendary performers in existence.

PLUS: The Negro in Entertainment (1949): This documentary sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes purports to show the best in black entertainment, "chosen by a National Board of Selection." With legends like Ethel Waters, Una Mae Carlisle, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Fats Waller all appearing, it's hard to fault their choices! A member of the National Board of Selection is quick to point out "that many of these stars are Chesterfield smokers."