BEYOND VERA STARK: HOLLYWOOD'S ... - Goodman Theatre

McDaniel as a maid in Gone with the
Wind, was very outspoken in her rejection
of the negative portrayal of blacks
in the film. “I was suffering the whole
time,” she said, “I didn’t know that I’d
have to be just a stupid little slave. I
wouldn’t let Vivien Leigh slap me, and
I wouldn’t eat watermelon. I was very
sensitive about that.” Others resisted
the restrictions of their roles in subtler
ways. Vera Stark recounts having to
“fight tooth and nail” to utter the last
line in The Belle of New Orleans, as
the producers originally “didn’t want a
Negrowoman to have the final word.”
Many African American actresses
eventually found such treatment intolerable
and sought political outlets for
their frustrations. Fredi Washington,
who played Louise Beavers’ daughter
in Imitation of Life, quit acting early
on, became a civil rights activist and
co-founded the Negro Actors Guild of
America, where she worked to create
better opportunities for black actors.
Vera Stark also eventually shunned
stereotypical roles and became involved
OPPOSITE: Clinton Sundberg, Louise Beavers and Ann
Sheridan in a scene from the movie Good Sam, 1948.
(Photo by Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images). LEFT:
Tamberla Perry as Vera Stark. Photo by Brian Kuhlmann.
in the civil rights movement as an avid
supporter of other Negro artists, fashion
designers and musicians. But others
reacted less constructively, and many
black actresses ended up turning to
drugs or alcohol, or simply disappearing
into uncredited extra roles. Such
was the quandary often faced by black
women in Hollywood: work demeaning
roles (and often risk alienating their
own community), or not work at all.
In Lynn Nottage’s play we are reminded
of an important set of histories that
have long remained unspoken. Vera
Stark’s character operates as a standin
for all of the forgotten or uncredited
African American actresses throughout
Hollywood history who never had the
chance to be properly introduced to
the American public. By the Way, Meet
Vera Stark presents a story that refuses
to be swept into a “dusty old trunk,” in
hopes that today’s audiences might be
inclined to look more critically at representations
of African American women
not only in early Hollywood, but on
today’s screens and in films for years
to come.
The Belle
of New
Orleans
The film adaptation of The Belle of
New Orleans starred screen legend
Gloria Mitchell*, but more interestingly,
it launched the controversial
career of African American actress
Vera Stark. Vera’s performance was
recognized by the Academy with a
nomination for Best Supporting
Actress, making her the first
African American to receive such
an honor. She was subsequently
signed to a multi-year contract at
Celestial Pictures, but the studio
squandered her talent on bit parts
in B-movies. After the implementation
of the notorious Hays Motion
Picture Production Code in 1934,
the studio didn’t know how to cast
the beautiful African American
actress, and she was relegated to
such throwaway roles as maids
and hat-check girls. Racism stifled
Vera’s career at the very moment it
was blossoming.
Vera would nevertheless go on to
make over 55 films in Hollywood,
including God’s Fitful Chilluns,
Five Stolen Kisses and Songs of
Dixie. Later, she would have a
modest though undistinguished
career on television, playing stereotypical
black characters in
shows such as Lumus and Larry.
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THE GOODMAN
Goodman Theatre is pleased to recognize American Express for its generous support during the 2011/2012
and 2012/2013 Seasons as Façade Restoration Sponsor.
Each year, the Goodman serves over 200,000 patrons through its broad array of productions and outreach
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With American Express’ support, the Goodman is able to undertake preservation efforts on the façade of its
Dearborn Street facility, helping the theater serve as a bedrock cultural institution for generations to come.
The Goodman salutes American Express for its commitment to the preservation of historic sites and monuments
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