Lost Riders of the Segregated Cinema

They were the trailblazers of their day—a visionary group of actors, writers, directors, producers and businessmen whose stage was the old Negro Cinema. Born of both necessity and opportunity, the “segregated cinema” created by these entertainment pioneers operated for four decades,  bringing to movie houses an array of  films predominantly made by and for African Americans. From 1916-50, the Negro Cinema turned out over 500 pictures, including mysteries, comedies, musicals, seri