James B. Lowe, circa 1922

Item Overview

Title

James B. Lowe, circa 1922

Alternative title

Motion Picture Actors (male)

Date Created

[circa 1922]

Date

1922

Collection

Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

Notes

Description

Studio portrait of James B. Lowe.
James B. Lowe’s acting career included three Hollywood productions during the 1920’s, including The Demon Rider (1925) and Blue Blazes (1926). He is best known for the lead role in Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1927), directed by Harry Pollard. Other than Paul Robeson, Lowe was the only African American actor to play the lead in a Hollywood film with white actors in the lesser roles. As portrayed by Lowe, Uncle Tom is doggedly devoted to Little Eva, his white master’s daughter, and thus is a conventional character, but Lowe’s own charisma added a new dimension to the role. Lowe was active in the African American community, staring in stage productions and headlining social functions and events.

Caption

Written on back of photo: James D. Lowe, actor.

Physical Description

Extent

1 photograph

Keywords

Genre

Portrait photographs

Names

Lowe, James B., 1879-1963

Resource type

still image

Subjects

African American actors
Civic leaders