- Evelyn Preer
Infobox actor
name = Evelyn Preer
imagesize = 150px
birthname = Evelyn Jarvis
birthdate = birth date|1896|7|16
birthplace =Vicksburg, Mississippi ,United States
deathdate = death date and age|1932|11|27|1896|7|16 (pneumonia)
deathplace =Los Angeles, California ,United States
occupation = Actress, singer
spouse = Edward Thompson
(1924-1932) (her death) 1 ChildEveleyn Preer (
July 16 ,1896 –November 27 ,1932 ) was a notable pioneeringAfrican-American stage and screenactress and accomplished bluessinger of the 1910s through the early 1930s.Biography
Born Evelyn Jarvis in
Vicksburg ,Mississippi , she migrated with her mother to Chicago when her father died prematurely. Upon completing high school Evelyn began her career in earlyvaudeville andminstrel shows before beginning her critically lauded professional association withOscar Micheaux , the African-American film director dubbed the "Father of Afro-American Cinema".Preer's first film role was in Micheaux's 1919 debut effort "
The Homesteader ". As his premier leading actress, Micheaux heavily promoted Preer with a steady tour of personal appearances and a publicity campaign. Many of Micheaux's subsequent films were vehicles designed to showcase Preer's extraordinary versatility; Preer was lauded by both the black and white press for her ability to continually succeed in ever more challenging roles and refusing to play roles that she believed demeaned African-Americans. Her most well known role is in her only known surviving Micheaux film appearance, 1919's "Within Our Gates ".In 1920, Evelyn Preer joined The Lafayette Players, a theatrical stock company founded in 1915 by another pioneering stage and film actress
Anita Bush , who was known as “The Little Mother of Black Drama.” Bush and her acting troupe brought legitimate theatre to black audiences throughout the U.S. While the troupe was based in Chicago, Preer met her future husband, fellow Lafayette Player Edward Thompson. They married inNashville, Tennessee in 1924 while on a Southern tour.In the mid-1920's Evelyn Preer began garnering much attention from the white press and began making a foray into "crossover" films and stage parts. In 1926, she had a successful stint on Broadway in
David Belasco ’s production of "Lulu Belle ". Preer supported and understudied actressLenore Ulric in the leading role ofEdward Sheldon ’s steamy drama of aHarlem prostitute. She won further acclaim as Sadie Thompson on the West Coast in a revival ofSomerset Maugham ’s fallen womanmelodrama , "Rain " in 1928.A 1930 race musical "
Georgia Rose ", presented Preer in her feature "talkie " debut. In 1931 Preer performed onscreen opposite actressSylvia Sidney in the film "Ladies of the Big House". Her final film performance was the minor role of a prostitute named Lola inJosef von Sternberg 's 1932 film "Blonde Venus ", oppositeCary Grant andMarlene Dietrich .Preer was also an accomplished vocalist and during stints in
cabaret andmusical theater was occasionally backed by such legendary and diverse musicians asDuke Ellington andRed Nichols .In April 1932, Preer gave birth to her only child, Edeve Thompson. She developed post-parturition complications and died of double
pneumonia onNovember 27 ,1932 inLos Angeles , aged 36.Her husband, Edward Thompson continued as a popular leading man and heavy in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s and died in 1960.
Evelyn Preer filmography
* "
The Homesteader " (1919)
* "Within Our Gates " (1920)
* "The Brute" (1920)
* "The Gunsaulas Mystery" (1921)
* "Deceit" (1923)
* "Birthright" (1924)
* "The Devil's Disciple" (1925)
* "The Conjure Woman" (1926)
* "The Spider's Web" (1926)
* "The Wedding March" (1928) uncredited
* "The Framing of the Shrew" (1928)
* "Melancholy Dame" (1928)
* "Oft in the Silly Night" (1928)
* "Georgia Rose" (1930)
* "Ladies of the Big House" (1931)
* "Blonde Venus " (1932)External links
*
*
* [http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/ninamaemckinney/EvelynPreer.html Evelyn Preer- Our First Lady of the Silver Screen]
* Evelyn Preer at Find A Grave|id=10181147
* [http://www.silentera.com/index.html Silent Era People]
* [http://www.aaregistry.com/ The African American Registry]Persondata
NAME= Preer, Evelyn
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Jarvis, Evelyn
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actress, singer
DATE OF BIRTH= 1896-7-16
PLACE OF BIRTH=Vicksburg, Mississippi ,United States
DATE OF DEATH= 1932-11-27 (pneumonia)
PLACE OF DEATH=Los Angeles, California ,United States
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