African American Gallery

Elisabeth Welch in concert at the Almeida Theatre, London du

Elisabeth Welch in concert at the Almeida Theatre, London during the filming of the documentary Keeping Love Alive described as a self portrait in words and songs'. Elisabeth Welch (1904-2003) African American singer & actress who settled in London in 1933. Popular star of British musical theatre, films, television & radio from the 1930s to the 1990s. Date: 1987

© The Stephen Bourne Collection / Mary Evans

Coliseum Theatre, Charing Cross, London - Blackbirds

Coliseum Theatre, Charing Cross, London - Lew Leslie's New Production of Blackbirds of 1935'. Leslie (1888-1963) was a Broadway writer and producer who got his start in show business in vaudeville in his early twenties. Leslie was the first major impresario to present African-American artists on the Broadway stage. He became famous for his stage shows at the Cotton Club and later for his Blackbirds revues (brought over for a run in the UK as evidenced by this programme). Date: 1935

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection