Cab Calloway Home Movie: Haiti

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

This silent, color, home movie was shot by Cab Calloway while on a music tour in Haiti in 1951. It consists of an original 16mm film strip (a) on an original 100-foot film reel (b) and is housed in an original 100-foot film box (c). The film begins with footage of Cab Calloway and his band onstage playing. The band consists of a piano player, a brass section, a bass player, and a drummer in addition to Calloway. They appear to be ending a performance. The next scene shows the same stage, with a different band playing. This band has a percussion section with maracas, a drum and two other percussion instruments. There is also a guitar player. The next scene shows three people in front of a stage with a colorful background. The woman in the middle appears to be Nuffie Calloway, Cab Calloway's wife.

Explore Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗