Black History Month / Anything But Silent…Live
Theater Organ Accompaniment by BEN MODEL
ERNIE “SUNSHINE SAMMY” MORRISON – founding
member of “Our Gang”
Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30pm
$11 Members | $16 Public
Laugh with Ernie “Sunshine Sammy” Morrison -
founding member of “Our Gang”
Ernie Morrison became the first African-American performer to be signed to a
Hollywood studio contract…at the ripe old age of 7! After supporting roles in
features starring Baby Marie Osborne, Hal Roach signed him and he began working
with leading comedians like Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard. In 1922 Roach
created the “Our Gang” (aka “Little Rascals”) series with “Sunshine Sammy” as
the leader. Morrison made 28 films in the series, and his roles were rarely if
ever stereotypes. This program will include clips from Harold Lloyd comedies
Morrison appeared in, as well as the “Our Gang” silents Firefighters
(1922), The Champeen (1923) and Dogs of War (1923).
Ben Model is
one of America’s leading silent film accompanists, and has been playing piano
and organ for silent films at the New York MoMA since 1984, and the CAC since
2006.
Ernie Morrison & Harold Lloyd
Hal Roach signing Ernie Morrison
Ernie Morrison, Mickey Daniels, Mary Kornman, Joe Cobb, Jackie Condon, & Allen "Farina" Hoskins
