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Clarence Muse

April 25, 2024

Clarence Muse (October 14, 1889 – October 13, 1979) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, singer, and composer. He was the first African American to appear in a starring role in a film, 1929's Hearts in Dixie. He acted for 50 years, and appeared in more than 150 films. He was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1973.

Clarence Muse
Muse in 1978
Born(1889-10-14)October 14, 1889
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedOctober 13, 1979(1979-10-13) (aged 89)
Perris, California, U.S.
EducationDickinson College
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • director
  • singer
  • composer
Years active1921–1979
Spouses
  • Willabelie
    (m. 19??; div. 19??)
Irene Ena
​
(m. 1952)​
Children3

Life and career edit

 
Polly Ann Young, Bela Lugosi, and Clarence Muse in Invisible Ghost (1941)

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Alexander and Mary Muse,[1] he studied at Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for one year in 1908. He left because he believed he could not make a living in law as an African American. He later received an honorary doctorate of laws from Dickinson School of Law in 1978.

By the 1920s Muse was acting in New York during the Harlem Renaissance with two Harlem theatres, Lincoln Players and Lafayette Players.[2] While with the Lafayette Players, Muse worked under the management of producer Robert Levy on productions that helped black actors to gain prominence and respect. In regards to the Lafayette Theatre's staging of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Muse said the play was relevant to black actors and audiences "because, in a way, it was every black man's story. Black men too have been split creatures inhabiting one body.".[3]

Muse moved to Chicago for a while, and then moved to Hollywood. He performed in Hearts in Dixie (1929), the first all-black movie. For the next fifty years, he worked regularly in minor and major roles. Muse appeared as an opera singer, minstrel show performer, vaudeville and Broadway actor; he also wrote songs, plays, and sketches. In 1943, he became the first African-American Broadway director with Run Little Chillun.[4]

Muse was also the co-writer of several notable songs. In 1931, with Leon René and Otis René, Muse wrote "When It's Sleepy Time Down South", also known as "Sleepy Time Down South". The song was sung by Nina Mae McKinney in the movie Safe in Hell (1931). Later it became a signature song of Louis Armstrong.[citation needed]

He was the major star in The Broken Earth (1936), which related the story of a black sharecropper whose son miraculously recovers from fever through the father's fervent prayer. Shot on a farm in the South with nonprofessional actors (except for Muse), the film's early scenes focused in a highly realistic manner on the physical labor of plowing scenes with black farmers. In 1938, Muse co-starred with boxer Joe Louis in Spirit of Youth, the fictional story of a champion boxer, which featured an all-black cast. Muse and Langston Hughes wrote the script for Way Down South (1939).[5]

Muse performed in Broken Strings (1940), as a concert violinist who opposes the desire of his son to play "swing".[6] During World War II, Muse performed for the USO, including a Negro USO in Riverside, California.[7] From 1955 to 1956, Muse was a regular on the weekly TV version of Casablanca, playing Sam the pianist (a part he had been considered for in the original Warner Brothers film). In 1959, he played Peter, the Honey Man, in the film musical Porgy and Bess.

Muse appeared on Disney's TV miniseries The Swamp Fox. Other film credits include Buck and the Preacher (1972), The World's Greatest Athlete (1973), Car Wash (1976), and Passing Through. His last acting role was in The Black Stallion (1979).

Other edit

Muse received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas, in 1972. He was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. Muse died in Perris, California, on October 13, 1979, one day before his 90th birthday and on the same day that his final film was released.

Partial filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ Sampson, Henry T. Blacks in Black and White, The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1995; ISBN 0810826054 [page needed]
  2. ^ Peterson, Bernard L. The African American Theatre Directory, 1816–1960: A Comprehensive Guide to Early Black Theatre, Greenwood Press, 1997; ISBN 0313295379
  3. ^ Penn, Arthur S. Before the Harlem Renaissance. Collodion Press: New York. 2010. [ISBN missing]
  4. ^ Clarence Muse profile, encyclopedia.com; accessed June 15, 2017.
  5. ^ Belton, John. Movies and Mass Culture, Rutgers University Press, 1996, ISBN 0813522285 [page needed]
  6. ^ Gabbard, Krin. Jammin' at the Margins: Jazz and the American Cinema, University of Chicago Press, p. 109, 1996; ISBN 0226277887
  7. ^ Lech, Steve (October 2022). "Riverside's Negro USO Club". Riverside During World War II. Riverside, CA: Riverside Historical Society. pp. 144–147. ISBN 979-8849200880.

Sources edit

  • Sampson, Henry T. Ghost Walks: A Chronological History of Blacks in Show Business, 1865–1910, Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1988 – ISBN 0810820706
  • Wintz, Cary D. Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance, Routledge, 2004. ISBN 157958389X
  • Penn, Arthur S. Before the Harlem Renaissance. Collodion Press: New York. 2010. [ISBN missing]

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clarence Muse.

April 25, 2024
clarence, muse, october, 1889, october, 1979, american, actor, screenwriter, director, singer, composer, first, african, american, appear, starring, role, film, 1929, hearts, dixie, acted, years, appeared, more, than, films, inducted, into, black, filmmakers, . Clarence Muse October 14 1889 October 13 1979 was an American actor screenwriter director singer and composer He was the first African American to appear in a starring role in a film 1929 s Hearts in Dixie He acted for 50 years and appeared in more than 150 films He was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1973 Clarence MuseMuse in 1978Born 1889 10 14 October 14 1889Baltimore Maryland U S DiedOctober 13 1979 1979 10 13 aged 89 Perris California U S EducationDickinson CollegeOccupationsActor screenwriter director singer composerYears active1921 1979SpousesWillabelie m 19 div 19 Irene Ena m 1952 wbr Children3 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Other 3 Partial filmography 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksLife and career edit nbsp Polly Ann Young Bela Lugosi and Clarence Muse in Invisible Ghost 1941 Born in Baltimore Maryland the son of Alexander and Mary Muse 1 he studied at Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle Pennsylvania for one year in 1908 He left because he believed he could not make a living in law as an African American He later received an honorary doctorate of laws from Dickinson School of Law in 1978 By the 1920s Muse was acting in New York during the Harlem Renaissance with two Harlem theatres Lincoln Players and Lafayette Players 2 While with the Lafayette Players Muse worked under the management of producer Robert Levy on productions that helped black actors to gain prominence and respect In regards to the Lafayette Theatre s staging of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Muse said the play was relevant to black actors and audiences because in a way it was every black man s story Black men too have been split creatures inhabiting one body 3 Muse moved to Chicago for a while and then moved to Hollywood He performed in Hearts in Dixie 1929 the first all black movie For the next fifty years he worked regularly in minor and major roles Muse appeared as an opera singer minstrel show performer vaudeville and Broadway actor he also wrote songs plays and sketches In 1943 he became the first African American Broadway director with Run Little Chillun 4 Muse was also the co writer of several notable songs In 1931 with Leon Rene and Otis Rene Muse wrote When It s Sleepy Time Down South also known as Sleepy Time Down South The song was sung by Nina Mae McKinney in the movie Safe in Hell 1931 Later it became a signature song of Louis Armstrong citation needed He was the major star in The Broken Earth 1936 which related the story of a black sharecropper whose son miraculously recovers from fever through the father s fervent prayer Shot on a farm in the South with nonprofessional actors except for Muse the film s early scenes focused in a highly realistic manner on the physical labor of plowing scenes with black farmers In 1938 Muse co starred with boxer Joe Louis in Spirit of Youth the fictional story of a champion boxer which featured an all black cast Muse and Langston Hughes wrote the script for Way Down South 1939 5 Muse performed in Broken Strings 1940 as a concert violinist who opposes the desire of his son to play swing 6 During World War II Muse performed for the USO including a Negro USO in Riverside California 7 From 1955 to 1956 Muse was a regular on the weekly TV version of Casablanca playing Sam the pianist a part he had been considered for in the original Warner Brothers film In 1959 he played Peter the Honey Man in the film musical Porgy and Bess Muse appeared on Disney s TV miniseries The Swamp Fox Other film credits include Buck and the Preacher 1972 The World s Greatest Athlete 1973 Car Wash 1976 and Passing Through His last acting role was in The Black Stallion 1979 Other editMuse received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Bishop College in Dallas Texas in 1972 He was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity Muse died in Perris California on October 13 1979 one day before his 90th birthday and on the same day that his final film was released Partial filmography editElection Day 1929 short as Farina s father Hearts in Dixie 1929 as Nappus Hallelujah 1929 as Church Member uncredited Guilty 1930 as Jefferson A Royal Romance 1930 as Rusty Honey 1930 as Black Revivalist uncredited Swing High 1930 as Singer uncredited Rain or Shine 1930 as Nero The Thoroughbred 1930 as Stablehand uncredited Outside the Law 1930 as Party Guest uncredited Derelict 1930 as Driver uncredited Deep South 1930 The Last Parade 1931 as Alabam Singing Voice of Condemned Man uncredited Dirigible 1931 as Clarence The Fighting Sheriff 1931 as Curfew Huckleberry Finn 1931 as Jim Secret Service 1931 as Jonas Polk Safe in Hell 1931 as Newcastle the Porter The Secret Witness 1931 as Jeff Building Janitor X Marks the Spot 1931 as Eustace Brown The Woman from Monte Carlo 1932 as Tombeau Prestige 1932 as Nham The Wet Parade 1932 as Taylor Tibbs Lena Rivers 1932 as Curfew Night World 1932 as Tim Washington the Doorman Attorney for the Defense 1932 as Jeff Is My Face Red 1932 as Horatio Winner Take All 1932 as Rosebud the Trainer White Zombie 1932 as Coach Driver uncredited Big City Blues 1932 as Nightclub Singer uncredited Blonde Venus 1932 as Charlie the Bartender Hell s Highway 1932 as Rascal The Cabin in the Cotton 1932 as A Blind Negro Washington Merry Go Round 1932 as Clarence Man Against Woman 1932 as Smoke Johnson If I Had a Million 1932 as Death Row Singing Prisoner uncredited The Death Kiss 1932 as Shoeshine Man uncredited Frisco Jenny 1932 as Singer voice uncredited Laughter in Hell 1933 as Abraham Jackson From Hell to Heaven 1933 as Sam Bellhop The Mind Reader 1933 as Sam The Life of Jimmy Dolan 1933 as Masseur uncredited Melody Cruise 1933 as Dock Worker uncredited The Wrecker 1933 as Chauffeur Fury of the Jungle 1933 as Sunrise Flying Down to Rio 1933 as Caddy in Haiti uncredited Massacre 1934 as Sam A Very Honorable Guy 1934 as Black Man uncredited The Personality Kid 1934 as Shamrock Operator 13 1934 as Slave at Medicine Show uncredited Black Moon 1934 as Lunch McClaren The Count of Monte Cristo 1934 as Ali Kid Millions 1934 as Native uncredited Broadway Bill 1934 as Whitey Red Hot Tires 1935 as Bud s Truck Partner Alias Mary Dow 1935 as Rufe So Red the Rose 1935 as Cato After the Dance 1935 as Cook uncredited Harmony Lane 1935 as Old Joe The Public Menace 1935 as Janitor uncredited O Shaughnessy s Boy 1935 as Jeff East of Java 1935 as First Mate Johnson Muss em Up 1936 as William Laughing Irish Eyes 1936 as Deacon Show Boat 1936 as Janitor The Green Pastures 1936 as Angel uncredited Spendthrift 1936 as Restaurant Table Captain uncredited Follow Your Heart 1936 as Choir Leader uncredited Daniel Boone 1936 as Pompey The Broken Earth 1936 a short extant Mysterious Crossing 1936 as Lincoln High Hat 1937 as Congo MacRosenbloom Jungle Menace 1937 as Lightning Street Singer Deep South 1937 Short Spirit of Youth 1938 also music as Frankie Walburn The Toy Wife 1938 as Brutus Prison Train 1938 as Train Steward Sam Secrets of a Nurse 1938 as Tiger Way Down South 1939 also writer as Uncle Caton Zanzibar 1940 as Bino Sporting Blood 1940 as Jeff Maryland 1940 as Rev Bitters uncredited That Gang of Mine 1940 as Ben Murder Over New York 1940 as Butler Chad Hanna 1940 as Henry Prince uncredited Adam Had Four Sons 1941 as Sam The Flame of New Orleans 1941 as Samuel Invisible Ghost 1941 as Evans Love Crazy 1941 as Robert Kisses for Breakfast 1941 as Old Jeff Gentleman from Dixie 1941 as Jupe Belle Starr 1941 as Bootblack in Saloon uncredited Among the Living 1941 as Riverbottom Cafe Waiter uncredited Twin Beds 1942 as George uncredited Tough As They Come 1942 as Eddie Tales of Manhattan 1942 as Grandpa Robeson sequence The Talk of the Town 1942 as Supreme Court Doorkeeper uncredited Sin Town 1942 as Train Porter uncredited Broken Strings 1942 as Arthur Williams Strictly in the Groove 1942 as Durham s Valet uncredited The Black Swan 1942 as Margaret s Servant uncredited Shadow of a Doubt 1943 as Pullman Porter Sherlock Holmes in Washington 1943 as George Porter uncredited The Sky s the Limit 1943 as Colonial Club Doorman uncredited Honeymoon Lodge 1943 as Porter uncredited Heaven Can Wait 1943 as Jasper Strabel s Butler uncredited Watch on the Rhine 1943 as Horace Johnny Come Lately 1943 as Butler Flesh and Fantasy 1943 as Jeff uncredited The Racket Man 1944 as George uncredited Jam Session 1944 as Henry Follow the Boys 1944 as Singer uncredited Stars on Parade 1944 as Carter uncredited Double Indemnity 1944 as Man uncredited The Soul of a Monster 1944 as Entertainer uncredited In the Meantime Darling 1944 as Henry Hotel Porter uncredited San Diego I Love You 1944 as Porter uncredited Jungle Queen 1945 as Kyba God Is My Co Pilot 1945 as Frank uncredited Without Love 1945 as Porter uncredited Boston Blackie s Rendezvous 1945 as Hotel Porter uncredited She Wouldn t Say Yes 1945 as Porter uncredited Scarlet Street 1945 as Ben Bank Janitor uncredited The Thin Man Goes Home 1945 as Porter on Train uncredited Two Smart People 1946 as Porter Night and Day 1946 as Porter uncredited Affairs of Geraldine 1946 as Porter uncredited My Favorite Brunette 1947 as Second Man on Death Row uncredited A Likely Story 1947 as Porter uncredited Welcome Stranger 1947 as Clarence Train Waiter uncredited Joe Palooka in the Knockout 1947 Smoky Unconquered 1947 Jason The Peanut Man 1947 as Dr George Washington Carver King of the Gamblers 1948 as Tom the Porter uncredited Silver River 1948 as Servant uncredited An Act of Murder 1948 as Mr Pope The Great Dan Patch 1949 as Voodoo Riding High 1950 as Whitey County Fair 1950 as Romulus uncredited Apache Drums 1951 as Jehu My Forbidden Past 1951 as Pompey She Couldn t Say No 1952 as Diaper Delivery Man uncredited The Las Vegas Story 1952 as Pullman Porter uncredited Caribbean Gold 1952 as Quashy The Sun Shines Bright 1953 as Uncle Zack Jamaica Run 1953 as Mose Porgy and Bess 1959 as Peter Buck and the Preacher 1972 as Cudjo The World s Greatest Athlete 1973 as Gazenga s Assistant Car Wash 1976 as Snapper Passing Through 1977 as Poppa Harris The Black Stallion 1979 as SnoeReferences edit Sampson Henry T Blacks in Black and White The Scarecrow Press Inc 1995 ISBN 0810826054 page needed Peterson Bernard L The African American Theatre Directory 1816 1960 A Comprehensive Guide to Early Black Theatre Greenwood Press 1997 ISBN 0313295379 Penn Arthur S Before the Harlem Renaissance Collodion Press New York 2010 ISBN missing Clarence Muse profile encyclopedia com accessed June 15 2017 Belton John Movies and Mass Culture Rutgers University Press 1996 ISBN 0813522285 page needed Gabbard Krin Jammin at the Margins Jazz and the American Cinema University of Chicago Press p 109 1996 ISBN 0226277887 Lech Steve October 2022 Riverside s Negro USO Club Riverside During World War II Riverside CA Riverside Historical Society pp 144 147 ISBN 979 8849200880 Sources editSampson Henry T Ghost Walks A Chronological History of Blacks in Show Business 1865 1910 Scarecrow Press Inc 1988 ISBN 0810820706 Wintz Cary D Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance Routledge 2004 ISBN 157958389X Penn Arthur S Before the Harlem Renaissance Collodion Press New York 2010 ISBN missing External links edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clarence Muse Clarence Muse at IMDb nbsp Clarence Muse at AllMovie nbsp Clarence Muse at the TCM Movie Database Clarence Muse at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clarence Muse amp oldid 1194088543, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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