Mantan Moreland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mantan Moreland
Moreland in Let's Go Collegiate (1941)
Born	(1902-09-03)September 3, 1902 Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	September 28, 1973(1973-09-28) (aged 71) Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Other names	Man Tan Moreland Manton Moreland
Occupation	Actor comedian
Years active	1933–1973
Spouse(s)	Hazel Moreland
Children	1

Mantan Moreland (born September 3, 1902 – died September 28, 1973) was a famous American actor and comedian. He was very popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Mantan Moreland starred in many movies during his career. His daughter, Marcella Moreland, also acted in films when she was a child.

Early Life and Beginnings

Mantan Moreland was born in Monroe, Louisiana. His father, Frank, was a Dixieland bandleader. Mantan started acting when he was a teenager. Some stories say he joined a minstrel show at age eight. However, his daughter believes he likely left home when he was fourteen years old.

Becoming a Star: Mantan Moreland's Career

After working for nearly ten years in small shows, Moreland got a big chance in 1927. He was hired as a comedian for a show called Connie's Inn Frolics in Harlem. Next, he performed in the musical show Blackbirds of 1928. This show was very successful and ran for 518 performances. By the late 1920s, Moreland had performed in vaudeville shows. He also acted on Broadway and toured around Europe.

Teaming Up and Early Films

In 1932, a comedian named Aubrey Lyles passed away. Aubrey was part of a famous comedy team called Miller and Lyles. Flournoy Miller, the other half of the team, asked Moreland to work with him. Together, Moreland and Miller performed comedy routines that Miller had done before. They appeared in a short film called That's the Spirit (1933). In this film, they played two night watchmen. They also performed in stage shows like Dixie Goes High Hat (1938).

Moreland also acted in "race movies." These were low-budget films made for African American audiences. Some of these movies include One Dark Night (1939) and Lucky Ghost (1941). He also starred in Mr. Washington Goes to Town (1941) and Mantan Runs for Mayor (1946) with Flournoy Miller.

Rising to Fame in Hollywood

As people noticed his great comedic talent, Moreland started getting bigger roles. At the peak of his career, he worked steadily for major film studios. He also worked for independent producers who made comedies with all-African American casts. Monogram Pictures hired Moreland to act alongside Frankie Darro in action movies. Moreland became a favorite supporting actor in Hollywood films. He was known for his wide eyes and funny laugh.

In the 1940 film Drums of the Desert, Moreland played a more serious role. He was a sergeant in charge of soldiers in French colonial Algeria. He is perhaps most famous for playing the chauffeur Birmingham Brown. This role was in Monogram's popular Charlie Chan movie series.

Comedy Duo with Ben Carter

During the 1940s, Mantan Moreland teamed up with Ben Carter. Carter was his "straight man," meaning he set up Moreland's jokes. They toured America, performing in vaudeville and making appearances in movie theaters. Moreland and Carter performed comedy routines that Moreland learned earlier. One famous routine was called "indefinite talk." In this routine, they would talk to each other, starting sentences but getting interrupted. Even so, they understood each other perfectly. Moreland and Carter had amazing chemistry and timing.

During World War II, they performed for soldiers at USO shows. You can see their "indefinite talk" routine in two Charlie Chan movies: The Scarlet Clue and Dark Alibi. They also performed it in the big musical film Bowery to Broadway. Their partnership ended when Ben Carter died in 1946. Later, Moreland performed this routine with Nipsey Russell in two variety films in 1955.

Changes in Roles

In the late 1940s, public opinions about how African Americans were shown in movies began to change. Filmmakers started to rethink the roles given to Black actors. Moreland's characters were sometimes seen as disrespectful to the African-American community. Because of this, he was offered fewer roles in the 1950s.

Mantan faced money problems. He had to tour and make personal appearances in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He worked with other comedians like Bud Harris, Tim Moore, Redd Foxx, and Nipsey Russell.

Almost a Three Stooge?

Mantan's biographer, Michael Price, says Moreland was briefly considered to join The Three Stooges. After Shemp Howard passed away in 1955, Moe Howard had reportedly watched Moreland's act for years. Moe offered Moreland a chance to be the new "third stooge." Moreland was excited about the idea. However, Columbia Pictures wanted a comedian who was already under contract with them. So, Joe Besser joined the act instead in 1956.

Later Career and Passing

Moreland's last main role was in the horror film Spider Baby (filmed in 1964, released in 1968). This movie was made to be like the thrillers from the 1940s. In the early 1960s, Moreland had a stroke. After that, he took on a few smaller comedy roles. He worked with famous comedians like Bill Cosby, Moms Mabley, and Carl Reiner. Later, he formed a comedy team called Mantan and Livingood with Roosevelt Livingood. They released several comedy albums.

Mantan Moreland passed away from a brain hemorrhage in 1973 in Hollywood. He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Achievements and Recognition

In 2004, Mantan Moreland was honored. He was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame.

Selected Filmography

Television

• 1957 Hallmark Hall of Fame (1 episode)
• 1969 Julia (1 episode)
• 1969 Love, American Style (1 episode)
• 1970 The Bill Cosby Show (1 episode)
• 1970 Adam-12 (1 episode)

Recordings

• That Ain't My Finger (Laff)
• Elsie's Sportin' House (Laff)
• Tribute to the Man (Laff)

See also

In Spanish: Mantan Moreland para niños