Fade in, crossroads : a history of the southern cinema

__Fade In, Crossroads__ is a history of the relations between southerners and motion pictures from the silent era to midcentury. In providing a narrative of the South’s contributions to the film medium from the late nineteenth century through the golden age of Hollywood, it considers the many southerners who worked as inventors, executives, filmmakers, screenwriters, performers, and critics during this period. It explores early production centers within the South as well as the effects of the migration of millions of black and white southerners beyond the region to such destinations as Los Angeles, where they made inroads in the growing film industry. It is also the story of how the rise and fall of the American film industry coincided with the rise and fall of the South’s most important modern product and export—Jim Crow segregation. This work looks at important southern historical legacies on film: the Civil War film tradition (which includes the two most successful films of all time, __The Birth of a Nation__ and __Gone with the Wind__); the notorious tradition of lynching films during an era of prolific lynching in the South; and the remarkable race film industry, whose independent African American filmmakers forged an important cinematic tradition in response to the racial limitations of both the South and Hollywood. It also examines the activities of southern censorship officials, who utilized the medium in the service of Jim Crow, and traces the influence of film on future Civil Rights Movement figures. Fade In, Crossroads Is A History Of The Relations Between Southerners And Motion Pictures From The Silent Era To Midcentury. Examining The Ways In Which The South Contributed To The Development Of The Film Medium From The Late Nineteenth Century Through The Golden Age Of Hollywood, It Sheds Light On Early Production Centers Within The Region, Such As Jacksonville, Florida And Asheville, North Carolina. It Also Explores The Migration Of Millions Of Black And White Southerners Beyond The South To Such Destinations As Los Angeles, And Their Impact On The Industry. Fade In, Crossroads Tells The Story Of How The Rise And Fall Of The American Film Industry Coincided With The Rise And Fall Of The South's Most Important Modern Product And Export: Jim Crow Segregation. This Work Details The Varied Encounters Of Southern Literary Figures Including William Faulkner, Richard Wright, And Many Others With The Medium As Viewers, Screenwriters, Critics, And Filmmakers, And Considers The Medium's Influence On Their Literary Writings. It Takes A Crucial Look At Southern Historical Legacies On Film: The Prolific Civil War Film Tradition; The Notorious Tradition Of Lynching Films During An Era Of Widespread Lynching In The South; And The Remarkable Race Film Industry, Whose Independent African American Filmmakers Forged An Important Cinematic Tradition In Response To The Racial Limitations Of Both The South And Hollywood. Fade In, Crossroads Also Maps The Influence Of Film On Future Participants In The Civil Rights Movement, From Prominent Leaders Such As Martin Luther King And Thurgood Marshall To Film-industry Veterans Like Lena Horne And Paul Robeson To The Millions Of Ordinary People, Black And White, Who Found Themselves Caught Up In The Struggle For Racial Equality In The Modern United States. "How did the US South contribute to the development of film? And how did film shape the modern South? In Fade In, Crossroads, Robert Jackson tells the story of the relationships between southerners and motion pictures from the silent era through the golden age of Hollywood. Jackson reveals the profound consequences of the coincidence of the rise and fall of the American film industry with the rise and fall of the South's most important modern product and export: Jim Crow segregation. He considers southern historical legacies on film, from popular Civil War films and comparably popular lynching films emerging in a time of prolific lynching in the South, to the resilient race film industry whose African American filmmakers forged an independent cinematic movement in defiance of the racial restrictions of both the South and Hollywood. He also traces the influence of film on future participants in the Civil Rights Movement, from prominent leaders such as Martin Luther King and Thurgood Marshall to film-industry veterans like Lena Horne and Paul Robeson to the millions of ordinary people, black and white, who found themselves caught up in the struggle for racial equality in the modern United States."--Publisher's Web site Fade In, Crossroads is a history of the relations between black and white southerners and films from the silent era to midcentury. It illustrates how the rise and fall of the American film industry coincided with that of the South's most important modern product and export: Jim Crow segregation Content: Introduction: at the crossroads -- This southern advent -- Migrant media -- The silver dream accumulated -- And the war came -- A theater of violence -- The matter of treatment -- Pruning knife busy -- Conclusion: scattering into every crossroad.