J. Augustus Smith facts for kids

Gus Smith playing Forty-Four in his play Turpentine (1936)

J. Augustus Smith, also known as Gus Smith (born in 1891), was an American actor, writer for plays, and screenwriter. In 1936, he was one of three important theater artists who took over leadership of the Negro Theatre Unit in New York City. This unit was part of the Federal Theatre Project, a government program that helped people find work during a tough economic time.

About J. Augustus Smith

Gus Smith was born in Gainesville, Florida, in 1891. He started acting when he was a child, performing in shows that traveled around.

In 1911, Smith created his own acting company. They toured all over the United States. After this, he continued his career acting and writing for both plays and movies.

Smith wrote and acted in a movie called Drums O' Voodoo (1934). This movie was based on his play, Louisiana, which first opened in 1933 on Broadway. The play featured an all-Black cast, who were part of the New Negro Repertory Theater Group. Smith himself had started this group. The same actors from the play also appeared in the movie.

Smith also helped write, direct, and act in a play called Turpentine. This play was about the difficult lives of people working in turpentine camps in the Southern United States. It was created for the Federal Theatre Project. In 1936, Gus Smith became one of three African-American theater leaders who took charge of the Negro Theatre Unit for this project.

He also wrote a funny play called Just Ten Days. It was a folk-comedy that was performed in parks in the Bronx. Smith also had a main role in another play called Walk Together Chillun alongside Oliver Foster.

Plays by J. Augustus Smith

• Louisiana (1933)
• Turpentine (1936)
• Walk Together Chillun (1936)
• Just Ten Days (1937)
• The Case of Philip Lawrence (1937), director
• On Whitman Avenue (1946)

Movies by J. Augustus Smith

As an Actor

• Chloe Love Is Calling You (1934)
• Drums O' Voodoo (1934)
• Murder on Lenox Avenue (1941) as Pa Wilkins
• Stolen Paradise (1941)
• Sunday Sinners (1941)
• Hi-De-Ho (1947 film) as Preacher
• Junction 88 as Chinka Lin
• Boarding House Blues (1948) as Norman Norman
• Killer Diller as Stage Hand

As a Writer

• Drums O' Voodoo (1934)

Images for kids

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  Poster for the Turpentine play at the Lafayette Theatre (1936)