Dorothy Van Engle (August 14, 1910 – May 10, 2004) was an American actress who performed throughout the 1930s. She starred in Oscar Micheaux films, including Murder in Harlem and Swing!.[1] Beautiful and sophisticated, she wore fashionable "updos" in her films.[2]
Born Donessa Dorothy Van Engle in Harlem, New York, on August 14, 1910,[3] she grew up with her mother and stepfather, being influenced by the latter's band and show business activities. It was through these acquaintances that she first met Oscar Micheaux and began starring in his films. Before that point, she had been working as a model and it was through these jobs that she made money, as Micheaux's low budget films never had the money to properly pay the actors. But, in her own words, she stated that she acted for fun and enjoyed the "adventure" such roles gave her. Also working as a seamstress, she made her own costumes for her film roles.[1]
Film careeredit
Cast as the main female lead in the 1935 film Murder in Harlem, Engle acted as a strong female character who actually solved the private eye's cases rather than the male lead.[1] The film's subject matter and original source events were criticized, however, along with Engle and the other actress's acting in the film, as if their lines were being delivered with an "air of artificiality".[4] In 1938's Swing!, she played the role of an assistant producer to the black male lead who played a producer character and it was her role that was responsible for making the critical show idea that allowed the male lead to be successful in the film. Ohio State University's professor of film studies, J. Ronald Green, described her as one of the few primary women actors cast by Micheaux and she frequently played intelligent and strong-minded characters that acted as a "proto-feminist role" for women at the time.[1] Green further stated that it was these race films that were the sole source of positive representation of black Americans in media during the early half of the 20th century.[1]
Personal lifeedit
She married Herbert Hollon and left her acting career behind to start a family as Donessa Dorothy Hollon. She had two sons and several grandchildren.[5] She lived with her husband, a building superintendent, in New York and New Jersey before moving to Florida in 1978.[1] She lived in Port Charlotte and worked at a library after her husband's death in 1992. She spent her final months in Ocala and died at the age of 93.[5]
^ abcdefghMclellan, Dennis (May 14, 2004). "Dorothy Van Engle, 87; African American Star of 'Race Films' in '30s". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
^"The Women Who Became Hair Icons During the Harlem Renaissance". May 2022.
^ abBoyd, Herb (August 23, 2018). "Dorothy Van Engle, a gorgeous and talented actress". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
^ abcdeLloyd, Christopher (May 12, 2004). . Star–Banner. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
^"Stirring Scenes From "Lem Hawkins' Confession," New Micheaux Film Production". The Pittsburgh Courier. April 27, 1935. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
Further readingedit
Gates, Henry Louis; Higginbotham, Evelyn Brooks (2008). The African American National Biography: Uggams-Zuber. Oxford University Press. pp. 10–11. ISBN978-0-19-516019-2.
dorothy, engle, august, 1910, 2004, american, actress, performed, throughout, 1930s, starred, oscar, micheaux, films, including, murder, harlem, swing, beautiful, sophisticated, wore, fashionable, updos, films, borndonessa, 1910, august, 1910harlem, york, usdi. Dorothy Van Engle August 14 1910 May 10 2004 was an American actress who performed throughout the 1930s She starred in Oscar Micheaux films including Murder in Harlem and Swing 1 Beautiful and sophisticated she wore fashionable updos in her films 2 Dorothy Van EngleBornDonessa Dorothy Van Engle 1910 08 14 August 14 1910Harlem New York USDiedMay 10 2004 2004 05 10 aged 93 Ocala Florida USOther namesDonessa Dorothy HollonOccupationsActressmodelseamstressYears active1932 1939EmployerOscar MicheauxKnown forStarring in Murder in Harlem and Swing SpouseHerbert HollonChildren2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early life 1 2 Film career 2 Personal life 3 Filmography 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory editEarly life edit Born Donessa Dorothy Van Engle in Harlem New York on August 14 1910 3 she grew up with her mother and stepfather being influenced by the latter s band and show business activities It was through these acquaintances that she first met Oscar Micheaux and began starring in his films Before that point she had been working as a model and it was through these jobs that she made money as Micheaux s low budget films never had the money to properly pay the actors But in her own words she stated that she acted for fun and enjoyed the adventure such roles gave her Also working as a seamstress she made her own costumes for her film roles 1 Film career edit Cast as the main female lead in the 1935 film Murder in Harlem Engle acted as a strong female character who actually solved the private eye s cases rather than the male lead 1 The film s subject matter and original source events were criticized however along with Engle and the other actress s acting in the film as if their lines were being delivered with an air of artificiality 4 In 1938 s Swing she played the role of an assistant producer to the black male lead who played a producer character and it was her role that was responsible for making the critical show idea that allowed the male lead to be successful in the film Ohio State University s professor of film studies J Ronald Green described her as one of the few primary women actors cast by Micheaux and she frequently played intelligent and strong minded characters that acted as a proto feminist role for women at the time 1 Green further stated that it was these race films that were the sole source of positive representation of black Americans in media during the early half of the 20th century 1 Personal life editShe married Herbert Hollon and left her acting career behind to start a family as Donessa Dorothy Hollon She had two sons and several grandchildren 5 She lived with her husband a building superintendent in New York and New Jersey before moving to Florida in 1978 1 She lived in Port Charlotte and worked at a library after her husband s death in 1992 She spent her final months in Ocala and died at the age of 93 5 Filmography editThe Girl from Chicago 1932 5 Harlem After Midnight 1934 1 Murder in Harlem 1935 6 Temptation 1935 5 Swing 1938 as Lena Powell 1 God s Step Children 1938 as Naomi s mother uncredited 3 Lying Lips 1939 5 References edit a b c d e f g h Mclellan Dennis May 14 2004 Dorothy Van Engle 87 African American Star of Race Films in 30s Los Angeles Times Retrieved April 23 2022 The Women Who Became Hair Icons During the Harlem Renaissance May 2022 a b Boyd Herb August 23 2018 Dorothy Van Engle a gorgeous and talented actress New York Amsterdam News Retrieved April 23 2022 Bernstein Matthew 2009 Screening a Lynching The Leo Frank Case on Film and Television University of Georgia Press p 58 ISBN 978 0 8203 2752 5 a b c d e Lloyd Christopher May 12 2004 Black film star Dorothy Van Engle dies at 93 Star Banner Archived from the original on June 6 2022 Retrieved April 23 2022 Stirring Scenes From Lem Hawkins Confession New Micheaux Film Production The Pittsburgh Courier April 27 1935 Retrieved April 23 2022 Further reading editGates Henry Louis Higginbotham Evelyn Brooks 2008 The African American National Biography Uggams Zuber Oxford University Press pp 10 11 ISBN 978 0 19 516019 2 McCann Bob 2010 Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television McFarland amp Company pp 340 341 ISBN 978 0 7864 3790 0 External links editDorothy Van Engle at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dorothy Van Engle amp oldid 1207096302, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
