12/29/25 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Miracle In Harlem (1948)

Miracle in Harlem (1948) is a independent American film known as a race film, featuring an all-African American cast. is a murder mystery melodrama with musical elements, considered one of the better films of its genre from that era. The cast in the all black cast included  Sheila Guyse as Julie Weston, Hilda Offley as Aunt Hattie, William Greaves as Bert Hallam (Julie’s boyfriend), Stepin Fetchit as Swifty, the handyman, Laurence Criner as Albert Marshall, and  vocalists Savannah Churchill, Juanita Hall, and the Lynn Proctor Trio. Continue reading

11/27/25 O&A NYC THANKSGIVING THROWBACK: March of the Wooden Soldiers- Laurel & Hardy

Babes in Toyland is a Laurel and Hardy musical film released on March 10, 1934. The film is also known by its alternate titles Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet (the 1948 European reissue title), March of the Wooden Soldiers and Wooden Soldiers (in the United States). Continue reading

11/6/25 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ MOVIE TRAILER: Michael (2026) – Official Trailer

A teaser trailer for Michael, the film about the musician’s rise debuted on Thursday and gave the first glimpse of his real life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, portraying his late uncle.In the trailer, the younger Jackson is seen portraying some of Michael Jackson’s most iconic moments, including his famous Moonwalk dance and the Thriller music video. Continue reading

10/20/25 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Duke Is Tops (1938) – Lena Horne’s Film Debut

The Duke Is Tops (1938) an all black cast musical film released by Million Dollar Productions and directed by William Nolte. The film was later released in 1943 under the title The Bronze Venus, with Lena Horne given top billing. Continue reading

9/25/25 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ MOVIE TRAILER: Wicked: For Good | Final Trailer

Universal has dropped the final trailer for Wicked: For Good, with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo returning as Glinda and Elphaba.The visual further teases Oz’s acceptance of Glinda as the Good Witch of the North and their disdain for Elphaba as the Wicked Witch of the West.The sequel, directed by Jon M. Chu, hits theaters on November 21. Continue reading

9/20/25 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: The Harlem Sandman

That’s Reelblack Entertainment brings us another classic scene of Black entertainment excellence from the 1943 The Harlem Sandman. The venerable cast included Nick Stewart, Count Basie, Jack Williams, Dorothy Dandridge, Ernest Morrison and Pops & Louie as featured in Hit Parade of 1943. Continue reading

8/18/25 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Sammy Davis Jr. – Daddy’s Lecture The Rhythm of Life (Sweet Charity 1969)

Sammy Davis Jr. plays Big Daddy in Sweet Charity, performing the iconic hit “Rhythm of Life” as Charity (Shirley MacLaine) and Oscar (John McMartin) join the strange new church! Continue reading

4/22/25 O&A NYC REVIEW: Macbeth in Stride

By Walter Rutledge

For those of us that believe “Hell has no fury like a women scorned”. And for those of us who know firsthand you do not mess with a Black woman who “ain’t feeling it”. Leave your Elizabethan mindset at home and head to the Harvey Theater to experience MacBeth in Stride – Shakespeare from a sistah’s point of view. Written and performed by Obie- Award winner Whitney White the production takes Shakespeare and female empowerment to a new level. This soulful contemporary rendition of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth runs for only five remaining performances through April 27 at the Harvey Theater located at 651 Futon Street in downtown Brooklyn. Continue reading

3/17/25 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Carmen Jones- Gypsy Song – Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum

carmen-jones-movie-poster-1954-1020198681

In the groundbreaking black version of Carmen Jones there is a wonderful club scene Gypsy Song -Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum featuring three sepia divas, Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll. But there are at least three more present and future stars in the scene. As Carmen enters the club, the stunning woman with the pony-tail is famous beauty/dancer Carmen De Lavallade. Next two are fabled drummer Max Roach, and albeit just for a couple of seconds, Alvin Ailey! Continue reading

3/7/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Stormy Weather- Lena Horne, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Cab Calloway, Nicholas Brothers, Katherine Dunham and dancers

Shall We Dance Friday

Stormy Weather is a 1943 film musical produced and released by 20th Century Fox. The movie is considered one of the best Hollywood musicals with an all African-American cast and serve to  showcase of some of the top African-American performers of the time. Continue reading