Sepia Cinderella (1947)

The second in a series of films produced by Jack Goldberg and Arthur Leonard, made primarily for the 684 theaters (in 1947) that catered exclusively to Black audiences that were kept out of, or placed in "special" balcony sections in, most of the theaters in segregated America. The plot concerns a struggling band leader's rise to fame after overcoming many obstacles, including a bad-girl vs. good-girl situation. Freddie Bartholomew makes a guest-cameo appearance at the nightclub and was featured in the ads and posters for the film, but the producers were barking up an empty tree if they thought he would sell extra tickets in any of the booking situations, Black or white. Tondaleyo (the "bad girl") dances, and musical numbers feature Deek Watson and his Brown Dots, Walter Fuller's orchestra, John Kirby's band, and Ruble Blakey, former soloist with Lionel Hampton.