Odessa Warren Grey facts for kids
Odessa Warren Grey (born August 13, 1883 – died April 28, 1960) was a talented woman who made hats, ran her own business, and performed on stage in Harlem, New York. She is most famous for starring in the silent film Lime Kiln Field Day (1913), where she acted alongside the well-known performer Bert Williams.
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Early Life and Talents
Not much is known about Odessa Warren's very early life. She was born in Greenfield, Ohio, on August 13, 1883. Her parents were Edward A. and Sadie K. (Tyre) Warren.
From a young age, Odessa showed many skills. She was a great seamstress (someone who sews clothes), a clothes designer, and a hat maker (milliner). She was also a dancer and singer in different kinds of stage shows, like vaudeville and early African-American musical theater.
Odessa and her cousin, Madge Warren, traveled with shows put on by famous performers Bert Williams and George Walker. After her cousin Madge left the stage, Odessa kept performing. In 1902, she joined Williams and Walker's show called In Dahomey.
In 1903, In Dahomey moved to New York City and became the first musical by Black artists to open on Broadway. Odessa toured with the show to London, England, and then returned to New York in 1904. In 1906, she performed in another show called Rufus Rastus.
From Stage to Business
Odessa continued performing while also making costumes for other actresses. In 1908, she announced she was leaving the stage to focus on her business. She decided to become a full-time hat maker after making special "Bon Bon Buddy" hats for the women in the "Williams and Walker Show." Everyone praised her work.
Her hat-making business was called the "Pioneer millinery establishment by Negroes in Harlem" in a newspaper article from 1921. Odessa started the business from her home. Then, it grew and moved to a small shop at 41 West 135th Street in Harlem. After five years, her business moved again to a bigger place at 2221 Seventh Avenue. By 1921, her store was said to have one of the largest selections of hats in Harlem. She also trained and hired several young women as hat makers.
In June 1909, Odessa married Joseph W. Grey, who was a musician and actor. Odessa continued to succeed in her business. She also took part in social events and performances for charity. For example, in May 1909, she performed at a benefit for the "Children's Home" of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Harlem. She and fellow dancer Maggie Davis performed a lively dance.
In January 1912, Odessa Warren Grey was crowned “Queen Odessa” during a Mardi Gras celebration.
Lime Kiln Field Day Film
In 1913, Odessa Warren starred opposite Bert Williams in a film. She played a local beauty he was trying to impress. This film, now called Lime Kiln Field Day, is very important. It is the earliest surviving full-length film where the main characters are Black and from the middle class.
The film's cast included Black performers from Harlem, even before the famous Harlem Renaissance officially began. Besides the legendary Bert Williams, the film also featured Sam Lucas, Abbie Mitchell, and J. Leubrie Hill.
This film is special for several reasons:
- One of its three directors was a Black man.
- The footage shows a lot of interaction between the Black actors and the white crew members.
- The romance between Bert Williams and Odessa Warren was one of the first times affection between Black characters was shown in a film.
- The film also has one of the longest early recordings of Black dance on film, including a detailed cakewalk scene.
While the film does show some old racial stereotypes, it also highlights the efforts of talented performers to gain more visibility during a time of segregation.
The Biograph Company was making the film, but it was never released. The film reels were found in 1938 by staff from the Museum of Modern Art at an old studio site. The reasons why the film was not finished are unknown. Some think it might have been because of the controversial film Birth of a Nation (1915). The Lime Kiln Field Day footage was recently discovered and restored by the Museum of Modern Art after 101 years. It is now on display at the museum.
Later Years and the Amsterdam News
Odessa Grey's parents were involved with a weekly newspaper called the Amsterdam News. Her father, Edward A. Warren, was a successful businessman. He became a co-owner of the paper and helped it become financially stable.
After her father passed away, Odessa's mother, Sadie Warren, took over his share of the newspaper. She later bought out the other owner and took full control. Odessa was involved too, becoming the vice president of the Amsterdam News Company.
While working with the newspaper, Odessa also continued to run her hat shop. In September 1923, her shop moved to 2293 Seventh Avenue. During this time, she remarried to Roy Francis Morse. He worked for the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Roy Morse was also a famous athlete. In 1914, he tied the indoor track record for the 100-yard dash. The next year, he set a record for the 50-yard dash. He won many sprint races. He also played professional baseball and served in World War I as a member of the 369th Infantry Regiment (United States), known as the "Harlem Hellfighters." He continued in the Army National Guard and was called to serve in World War II. He became a Major in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Odessa and her mother lost control of the Amsterdam News in 1935 after several years of challenges, including issues with labor unions. They had to sell the paper.
Odessa Warren Grey Morse passed away on April 28, 1960. She was buried at the Long Island National Cemetery.
Images for kids
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An ad for Odessa Millinery in a newspaper in 1913, when it was at the 41 West 135th Street location.
