Entertainment · Books & Arts · 6 hrs ago
A restored 1972 gathering brings Harlem Renaissance voices to film
William Greaves filmed Harlem Renaissance figures gathering in 1972 at Duke Ellington’s townhouse to discuss the movement’s legacy.
The gathering looked back to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, a major period of Black intellectual, artistic and cultural life.
Greaves planned to use the footage in a film, but his 1974 documentary instead relied largely on archival photographs.
After Greaves died in 2014, his widow arranged for the townhouse footage to be restored, and his son David helped complete the project.
The resulting film, Once Upon a Time in Harlem, presents conversations among attendees about what the Renaissance meant and who shaped it.
Their differing views show that its history is not easily reduced to a single definition.
The film connects that debate to the present, when Black history is under considerable threat, and ends with images of children outside.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem brings restored footage of a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance figures to film.
Filmmaker William Greaves hosted the gathering at Duke Ellington’s townhouse in August 1972 and filmed it on 16 mm.
The attendees discussed the Harlem Renaissance and what its legacy meant.
Greaves did not use the townhouse footage in his 1974 documentary From These Roots.
After Greaves died in 2014, his widow, Louise Aarchambault Greaves, arranged for the footage to be restored, and his son David directed the project.
- Who
- Filmmaker William Greaves invited surviving Harlem Renaissance figures; his son David later directed the restoration project.
- What
- Restored footage of a 1972 gathering has been made into the documentary Once Upon a Time in Harlem.
- When
- The gathering took place in August 1972. The sources report the film opening in theaters this month.
- Where
- Duke Ellington’s townhouse in Harlem.
- Why
- The attendees gathered to reflect on the Harlem Renaissance and its legacy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
William Greaves hosted a gathering of Harlem Renaissance figures at Duke Ellington’s townhouse and filmed it.
Greaves made From These Roots largely with archival photographs rather than the townhouse footage.
Greaves died at age 87.
His widow, Louise Aarchambault Greaves, resolved to have the footage restored, and David Greaves directed the project.
- Gathering
- August 1972
- Location
- Duke Ellington’s townhouse
- Film title
- Once Upon a Time in Harlem
- Original format
- 16 mm
- Earlier documentary
- From These Roots, 1974
- William Greaves
- Died in 2014 at age 87
3 sources
What people are saying
a prism reflecting all of the Black experience from the beginnings to the present
an awakening of people who wrote and thought
That will exist!
We want people to be in community, visit with the film, and really experience it in that way.