1/22/24 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Claudine (1974) Starring Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones

Claudine is a 1974 American romantic comedy-drama film, directed by John Berry. Claudine was written by Lester Pine and Tina Pine, starring James Earl Jones, Diahann Carroll and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs.  The film was released on April 22, 1974, grossing about $6 million, a modest hit for the times. It was praised for showing a new dimension in black cinema during the height of blaxploitation. Continue reading

4/18/22 (Repost) O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Shakespeare’s King Lear. James Earl Jones, NYC Shakespeare Festival, 1974

Reposted by popular demand O&A NYC Magazine present an extraordinary live performance of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with the one and only James Earl Jones in the title role. Filmed in 1974 before a live audience in Central Park for the New York Shakespeare Festival the production featured  Jones, Paul Sorvino and Raul Julia. Continue reading

12/8/20 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Hallelujah (1993) Charles Lane, Dennis Haysbert, Phylicia Rashad and James Earl Jones

Hallelujah is the extremely rare third feature by filmmaker Charles Lane (Sidewalk Stories) was produced for the 11th season of PBS’ American Playhouse. This drama focuses on one Christmas at the Messiah Church in Washington D.C., when a young preacher and, later in the day, a mysterious pregnant girl arrive at the church doors looking to begin new lives. Continue reading

1/4/21 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The River Niger (1976) Starring Cicely Tyson,  James Earl Jones And Lou Gossett

The River Niger is a 1976 film adaptation of the 1972 Joseph A. Walker of the same name. The film was directed by Krisha Shah, and starred James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, and Louis Gossett Jr.  Continue reading

7/9/19 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: What To The Slave Is 4th of July? James Earl Jones Recites Frederick Douglas

On July 5, 1852, in Rochester, New York, Frederick Douglas gave one of his most famous speeches, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” He was addressing the Rochester Ladies Antislavery Society. Continue reading

5/10/21 (Repost) O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Great White Hope (1970)

The Great White Hope, the film and play are based on the true story of Jack Johnson and his first wife, Etta Terry Duryea and the controversy over their marriage and Duryea’s death by suicide in 1912. Continue reading

9/18/17 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Bingo Long And The Traveling All Stars (Entire Film)

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings is a 1976  comedic sports film about a team of enterprising Negro League baseball players in the era of racial segregation. The movie starred Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones and Richard Pryor. Directed by John Bedham the movie was produced by Berry Gordy for Motown Production and Rob Cohen for Universal Pictures. Continue reading

5/30/17 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: To Be A Drum read by James Earl Jones

To Be A Drum read by James Earl Jones, written by Evelyn Coleman with illustrations by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson. Continue reading

2/20/17 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Great White Hope (1970)

The Great White Hope, the film and play are based on the true story of Jack Johnson and his first wife, Etta Terry Duryea and the controversy over their marriage and Duryea’s death by suicide in 1912. Continue reading