Film Archives
African American Cinema Society
(a.k.a. Black American Cinema Society)
The Clayton Library Film Archives, known as the African American Cinema Society (AACS) a..k.a. the Black American Cinema Society (BACS) trace African American contributions to the motion picture industry from 1916 to the present. There are hundreds of 16mm films held in the archives ranging from early silent movies to contemporary.
African Americans have been involved in the motion picture industry since it's inception at the turn-of-the-Twentieth Century. Included in the collection are early silent films such as Paul Robeson's classic, "Body & Soul," 1924, directed by Oscar Micheaux. Within the collection is a special collection of the films by Oscar Micheaux, considered to this day to be one of America's most prolific independent filmmakers. The main body of Micheaux's works was produced during the height of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s and 40s.
The racial exploration films of the 1950s are part of the collection. Black Pride and 'blaxploitation' films of the 1960s and 70s, along with films from the 1980s and 1990s are also included, making it one of the most significant film assemblages of its kind in the world.
The African American Cinema Society was founded by Dr. Clayton in 1976. In 1978 ACCS mounted the first black film festival in the United States at the Museum of Science & Industry in Los Angeles. The festivals continue to this day and are known as BLACK TALKIES ON PARADE (BTOP).
The BTOP festivals are a way to share the richness of the collection with all people. AACS also presents the "Reel Black Cowboy Film & Western Festival" annually at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles.
January 2007 Mayme A. Clayton Library collaborated with the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles and presented the first ever Black & Yiddish Film Festival.
Please see the Calendar section of this website for details about upcoming BTOP and Reel Black Cowboy film festivals. MCL will present a Black & Latino Festival, Spring 2007 at the Norris Theater for Cinema, University of Southern California. Please see the Calendar section for details.
If you'd like to have a BTOP festival in your area, please contact AACS at (626) 794-4677
Oscar Micheaux Hollywood Walk of Fame Micheaux novel later
(1884-1951) 6721 Hollywood Boulevard adapted to a screenplay
Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte in "Buck and the Preacher," 1972
"Soul Soldier," 1970 Starring Rafer Johnson, Lincoln Kilpatrick and Caesar Romero
At the 2004 Reel Black Cowboy Film Festival, L. to R.: Reginald Dorsey, Herb Jeffries,
Dr. Mayme A, Clayton and 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Obba Babatunde
The African American Cinema Society's (AACS, a division of WSBREC) 2004 Reel Black Cowboy
Film & Western Festival at the Museum of the American West Autry National Center saluted the life and
career of actor, entertainer and cowboy, Herb Jeffries. Jeffries received AACS' Lifetime Achievement Award
Both the above posters featuring Herb Jeffries films are part of AACS Vintage
Poster Collection. The AACS Black Movie Poster Collection dates back to 1921.
Past BLACK TALKIES ON PARADE Film Festival Posters by Avery Clayton: L to R; 1979 at Kinsey Auditorium, Exposition Park, Los Angeles; 1983 at the Grand Avenue Theater, LA Trade Technical College; and 1985 Terrace Theater, Chicago, Illinois. To order past posters or greeting cards, visit the Gift Shop on this website
© Avery Clayton, 2004 These works may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of Avery Clayton
From the Clayton Collection, left to right: The Masquerade by Oscar Micheaux, 1947 (signed first edition);
A Tribute to Paul Robeson 1945 by the Council on African Affairs and the Musicians Congress;
and a poster for the1935 film, Zou Zou starring Josephine Baker
Phone (626) 794-4677 :: Email aclayton@wsbrec.org
