Anita Bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anita Bush
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Performing in The Crimson Skull.
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| Born | September 1, 1883 |
| Died | February 16, 1974 (aged 90) |
| Occupation | Theatre producer, Dancer, Actor |
| Years active | 1899–? |
Anita Bush (born September 1, 1883 – died February 16, 1974) was an amazing African American actress and writer for the stage. She started her own theater group in 1915 called the Anita Bush All-Colored Dramatic Stock Company. This was a very important group because it was one of the first black theater companies. Because of her work, people called her "The Little Mother of Colored Drama."
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Anita Bush was born in Washington, DC on September 1, 1883. When she was three, her family moved to Brooklyn, New York. Her father was a master tailor who made costumes for many actors.
Anita spent a lot of time helping her father. She delivered costumes to theaters. This gave her a chance to see many plays. She even saw shows where black people were not usually allowed.
Working with her father, she also acted with her sister. They performed in William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. This experience made her want to become an actress.
Starting Her Career
While helping her father at the Bijou Theater, Anita saw a famous show. It was called In Dahomey by Bert Williams and George Walker. She asked her father if she could try out for their group.
At 17, she joined the company. This allowed her to travel the world. She performed in England and in four other Williams and Walker shows. This experience helped her prepare to form her own groups later.
After her last play with the group, she started her own dance team. It was called Anita Bush and her 8 Shimmy Babies. Sadly, she had to stop dancing because of a back injury. This led her to focus on a full-time career in theater drama.
Building a Theater Company
In the early 1900s, Anita Bush was a busy dancer. She performed in many musical theater and vaudeville shows. She worked with Maria C. Downs on vaudeville acts and plays.
Anita then got a contract with Eugene "Frenchy" Elmore. He was the assistant manager of the Lincoln Theatre in Harlem. She convinced him to let her start a drama company. She promised she could put on a play in just two weeks.
In November 1915, her first play, The Girl at the Fort, opened. It was a light comedy with five characters. The cast included Carlotta Freeman, Dooley Wilson, and Andrew S. Bishop. The play was a big success. For the next six weeks, her company presented a new play every two weeks.
The Lafayette Players
In March 1916, the Lafayette Theatre bought the rights to Anita's company. They changed its name to The Lafayette Players. Anita then created four more groups of the Lafayette Players. These groups toured all over the United States.
At the Lafayette Theatre, Anita's company put on a new play every week. She helped launch the careers of many famous actors. These included Charles Gilpin, Dooley Wilson, and Evelyn Preer.
Anita stayed with the company until 1920. She then left to start a career in movies.
Silent Films
In 1921, a white filmmaker named Richard E. Norman contacted Anita. His company, Norman Studios, made "race films." These were movies with positive stories. They starred African American characters in good roles, not stereotypes.
Anita Bush appeared in The Bull-Dogger (1921). This movie starred the famous Black rodeo cowboy Bill Pickett. She also starred in The Crimson Skull (1922) with Lawrence Chenault and Bill Pickett.
Later Life
Anita Bush passed away at the age of 90. She died in her home in Bronx, New York, on February 16, 1974.
Known Works
Stage Plays
- In Dahomey, 1903
- Antony and Cleopatra, 1914
- Across the Footlights, 1915
- Within the Law, 1915-1916
- The Octoroon or Life in Louisiana, 1916
- Madame X, 1916-1917
- Very Good Eddie, 1917-1918
- Goethe’s Faust, 1917-1918
Movies
- The Bull-Dogger, 1921
- The Crimson Skull, 1922
Images for kids
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Anita Bush, around 1970
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Anita Bush, around 1937
