Season’s Greetings from Jacksonville, Florida! I’m spending a week in North Florida to spend some family time this Christmas season. I hadn’t planned on posting during my vacation, but I learned something new that I just had to share here on FlixChatter.
Photo taken by Ruth Maramis
My hubby and I went to Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens the day after Christmas. I stumbled upon an exhibition of Jacksonville’s Norman Studios: Movie Posters from the Permanent Collection.
Apparently Florida was the go-to place for movie execs before Hollywood took over the film scene. Thanks to its warm weather, sunny skies, great location, affordable labor, and varied landscapes, Florida really stood out as a leader in the early film industry during the first half of the 20th century. Location-wise, Jacksonville felt like a smart pick for the capital.
The golden age didn’t last long though. By 1920, Hollywood had taken over as the top spot for filmmaking in the country. This move to the west gave Richard Norman, a silent film director from the First Coast, the chance to buy the struggling Eagle Studios complex in Arlington that same year. Over the next eight years, Norman cranked out at least eight feature films and made a name for himself by creating movies with Black casts aimed at Black audiences. Those films include The Green Eyed Monster, The Bull Dogger, Regeneration, The Flying Ace, and Black Gold.
I was surprised to see the posters featured at the exhibition featuring all Black cast (or colored-cast as they say back then). Norman managed to create low-budget films that were both slick and fun, showcasing a predominantly black cast. While most films in the early filmmaking years feature black actors as extras, Norman’s movies cast them in roles like cowboys, pilots, and businesspeople, spanning genres like action, romance, and mystery. Per Norman Studios official Website, here’s what Norman’s own son, retired Air Force Captain Richard Norman III said about his father’s legacy:
“My father was disheartened about the state of race relations at the time, both in real life and in the movies… he saw an untapped market. So, he set out to help give the black community a stronger place on film, behind the cameras and in the theatres.”
One of Norman Studio’s stars was Bill Pickett (1870-1932) who played a key role in opening doors for black rodeo stars, film actors, and stunt performers. He made history as America’s first black cowboy movie star and was considered the top rodeo star of his time. He’s recognized for coming up with bulldogging, a technique that’s now widely known as steer wrestling in rodeos.
I used to watch Laurel & Hardy silent comedy movies as a kid, so imagine my excitement when I learned that Oliver Hardy got his start in Jacksonville. His debut silent film, Outwitting Daddy, was made there in 1913 before he teamed up with Stan Laurel. Hardy and Laurel kicked off their careers as a comedy duo in 1927 and they entertained audiences until the early 1950s.
Stan Laurel + Oliver Hardy
The Norman Studio is Jacksonville’s only surviving silent film studio complex. The five-building complex stands on Old Arlington area and has been transformed into Jacksonville Silent Film Museum. It’s open to the public on the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 AM-3 PM. Alas, they’re closed during the holidays and won’t open again until mid January, but hopefully one day I can visit the next time I’m in town!
Still, I couldn’t help but pay the historic building a visit. So my hubby drove to 6337 Arlington Road so I could snap a few photos of the building. There’s a plaque by the entrance door that says the place has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Interesting that on the back of the building, there’s a door on the second floor that doesn’t lead anywhere, maybe there’s an explanation during the tour.
Building photos taken by Ruth Maramis
Check out this video courtesy of Norman Studios Silent Film Museum
Hope you enjoy this bit of film history! Have you seen any of Norman Studios’ silent films?
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OK, that would be a reason to go to Jacksonville other than to see an AEW event (if the company gets better as I’ve become disenchanted with their creative).
Yeah, I definitely will try to visit Jacksonville again and time it with the museum’s schedule. I’d love to tour the museum; this is just so fascinating!
Thanks for sharing your discovery, Ruth. Have a wonderful time in Florida and happy new year!
Would love to find out why that second floor door to nowhere is there! Great film-making find, very interesting ☺️
Hey Becky!! Sorry I thought I replied to your comment already. Yeah maybe one day we cam find out together about that upstairs door when we visit the museum 😉
Thank you!! Florida was great, nice place to escape the cold, ahah. Happy new year to you too!
I had no clue about Norman Studios, this is a good example of African American’s history being bury by the dominant folks here in the States. But good to know about the studio and how it tried to make black actors becoming well known even when the rules were against non white people at the time.
Hope you’re having a fun time in the warm weather. I’ve never been to Jacksonville, the only city I visit often in Florida is Miami.
Yeah you might be right there Ted, sounds like it might have been erased from history books or conveniently forgotten. It’s too bad really, as it’s so fascinating. I applaud Norman for casting all-black actors for his films. I hope one day I could tour the studio!
Fascinating!
I did not know this tad of film history, although I do know of Bill Pickett and loved Laurel and Hardy when I was a kid. Another thing we have in common.
What a fab post to have in your collection!
Thank you, Ruth!
(any murals down there?)
Hey Resa! I am so glad I stumbled upon this at the Cummer Museum! It’s fun learning about Norman Studios and Bill Picket. Oh cool that you love Laurel & Hardy as well, somehow I though both of them were European, ahah.
YES there were a few murals I saw as we drove by but I couldn’t take pics as my cousin was driving. If I did I’d be sure to share them with you!!
The Cummer Museum sounds like a fab place to visit.
Hey, don’t you have a mural of Bob Dylan in your city? (would love to shoot that)
BTW – I bumped into this article in the Hollywood Reporter about Dylan die-hard original fans being upset about the movie. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/a-complete-unknown-bob-dylan-fact-checkers-1236095666/
Yes we do have a huge and gorgeous Bob Dylan mural in Minneapolis, I even mention that on my review of A Complete Unknown 😉
Here’s an article that has a photo of the mural and other cool murals in Minneapolis https://mndaily.com/271813/arts-entertainment/a-biking-tour-of-minneapolis-mural-scene/ You gotta come visit and you can stay with me!!
Lol… I know about the Dylan mural from your post. I’m not envious….. much.
Going to check your link!
I saw it! I knew who the artist is the second I laid eyes on it. It Is stunning!!!!
Oh wow!! You even knew the artist, that is so cool! Yeah, the colors are amazing and when you saw it as you walk by, it’ll stop you in your tracks!
Yes, I have seen this artists work before, and have featured his work on my blog before!
xx
Awesome!! You truly are the Grafitti artist aficionado!!
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