My Mom and I watched Josephine Baker film reels when they were shown at the Regal or the Halsted Theatre. My mom was born in 1912 and was a real fan of Ms. Baker but recounted many of her contemporaries faulted her when she left America to live in France. They felt she was running away rather than standing on the front lines fighting against racism, lynching and segregation. Black Americans then were real race men and race women.
It is the USA way to demoralize or demonize a woman even in this day and age but a black woman in the 1920s that was unafraid of her talent and sexuality. Even now sex is still taboo in certain areas of the USA, I have never understood it.
The original sex symbol. She was totally awesome and ahead of her time. I only wish more people knew who she was. Long live LA BAKER. Love you forever.
She is an icon. I have been fascinated about her since I discovered her autobiography by chance when I was in 6th grade at the school library. I love her. I love that I can see her perform and hear her voice. She's a star!
She was in her early 60s here. Still so sexy....I'd go to bed with her in a heartbeat of my RAPID beating heart.....xxxxxxxxxooooooooooxxxxxxto you JOSEPHINE!!!
It's not the best show at all (she was actually performing due to heavy drugs in those days) and she had a sign when she couldn't anymore. Then we got 8 counts to the final 8 bars. No encores... she was really dragged to her dressing room, .... :( But it's a nice medley of her famous songs! :)
While reading her biography, I searched and found this rare footage here. She is very attractive as a person, not just a pioneer of black superstar women. I enjoyed the video very much..Thanks for posting.
The First Trend Setter. The first female super star on par with Madonna. Stars today seem to live out their lives in the spotlight, Josephine Bakers personal life was more dazzling than her costumes.To all her critics, including those racists, who are we watching and listening to now?.
@TllGrrl so true. very frustrating that in the 50's and 60's, so many jazz artists went overseas to perform d/t the change in music here..or more so, the introduction of rock and roll. They were embraced by audiences around the world, and the US turned a blind eye to true artistry. Anita O'Day, Coltrane, to name a couple spent alot of time overseas.
I had the greatest pleasure to meet two of her sons, who ran Chez Josephine in NYC. The restaurant was a tribute to La Baker, and the food was delish too. Ms. Baker was such a compelling entertainer, and a definite heroine of mine for too many reasons to list here.
@musicalErin18 if she died in 1968, it's kinda freaky that they put her on stage on April 8 1975 in the review Josephine a Bobino 1975... in front of Princess Grace & Jackie Onassis, no less. Or was that her evil twin ya think?
@musicalErin18 How can you make such a big mistake? I can not understand! You've got the Internet - a view would have been sufficient and there you had to see that Josephine Baker died in 1975 and not 1968!
it would be nice if her 1959 revue "Paris mes amours" (aka "The Fabulous Josephine Baker") would be released. It is the greatest spectacle she ever put on
Wow! Thanks for posting this -- especially for posting such a nice long clip.
Wish there was some footage of her practicing how to handle that hilarious feathered "bustle" on her bum ... one false move and she'd have taken off like a bird. Obviously (especially around 7:05), it was worth the trouble.
Of all Ms. Baker's amazing qualities, one of THE most amazing was how her singing voice just kept getting better and better as she got older.
Lovely. In later life, her performances did not always come together as well as one might hope... but this clip has all of the magic! Thanks for posting it.
Also, listen to the trill in her voice that Edit Pilaf ripped off.
ChinaSukaNolan 2 days ago
My Mom and I watched Josephine Baker film reels when they were shown at the Regal or the Halsted Theatre. My mom was born in 1912 and was a real fan of Ms. Baker but recounted many of her contemporaries faulted her when she left America to live in France. They felt she was running away rather than standing on the front lines fighting against racism, lynching and segregation. Black Americans then were real race men and race women.
ChinaSukaNolan 2 days ago
She was way before her time.......She's actually timeless!!!!
hajee1 1 week ago in playlist Josephine Baker
It is the USA way to demoralize or demonize a woman even in this day and age but a black woman in the 1920s that was unafraid of her talent and sexuality. Even now sex is still taboo in certain areas of the USA, I have never understood it.
iampeniel 2 weeks ago
@iampeniel Oh yes, the US media still does it. Look what they did to Diana Ross.and more recently, Lauryn Hill.
SmoothCinnamonX 1 week ago
The original sex symbol. She was totally awesome and ahead of her time. I only wish more people knew who she was. Long live LA BAKER. Love you forever.
tungstenfilms 2 weeks ago
She is an icon. I have been fascinated about her since I discovered her autobiography by chance when I was in 6th grade at the school library. I love her. I love that I can see her perform and hear her voice. She's a star!
JamJera10 3 weeks ago
She was in her early 60s here. Still so sexy....I'd go to bed with her in a heartbeat of my RAPID beating heart.....xxxxxxxxxooooooooooxxxxxxto you JOSEPHINE!!!
borednlookin 1 month ago
It's not the best show at all (she was actually performing due to heavy drugs in those days) and she had a sign when she couldn't anymore. Then we got 8 counts to the final 8 bars. No encores... she was really dragged to her dressing room, .... :( But it's a nice medley of her famous songs! :)
danielmclion 1 month ago
Always loved her. She is my idol. Plz post more...
SeeFreeNews 1 month ago
Thank you for posting this! Amazing!!
Abeba323 1 month ago
While reading her biography, I searched and found this rare footage here. She is very attractive as a person, not just a pioneer of black superstar women. I enjoyed the video very much..Thanks for posting.
mrkick20000 1 month ago
The First Trend Setter. The first female super star on par with Madonna. Stars today seem to live out their lives in the spotlight, Josephine Bakers personal life was more dazzling than her costumes.To all her critics, including those racists, who are we watching and listening to now?.
TheSolaris810 2 months ago
The shame is how she was treated in the United States. Walter Winchell and I believe also Hedda Hopper demonized her. She was shamefully dismissed.
I'm glad there is this film of her performing in her later years when she had her brief, but wonderful, comeback.
La Baker est manifique!!!
TllGrrl 2 months ago 4
@TllGrrl so true. very frustrating that in the 50's and 60's, so many jazz artists went overseas to perform d/t the change in music here..or more so, the introduction of rock and roll. They were embraced by audiences around the world, and the US turned a blind eye to true artistry. Anita O'Day, Coltrane, to name a couple spent alot of time overseas.
Caseysmom2 2 months ago
I had the greatest pleasure to meet two of her sons, who ran Chez Josephine in NYC. The restaurant was a tribute to La Baker, and the food was delish too. Ms. Baker was such a compelling entertainer, and a definite heroine of mine for too many reasons to list here.
cocoabakerchica 2 months ago
@musicalErin18
Naw sweetie. 1975 she passes away.
BelTriniCurls 2 months ago
@musicalErin18 if she died in 1968, it's kinda freaky that they put her on stage on April 8 1975 in the review Josephine a Bobino 1975... in front of Princess Grace & Jackie Onassis, no less. Or was that her evil twin ya think?
cinnamonbrandylite 3 months ago 6
@cinnamonbrandylite she died april 12, 1975
ladymjedi 2 months ago
@cinnamonbrandylite She dies AGED 68!
Gangstagran 2 months ago
She is gorgeous!
Oscarnodwannabe 3 months ago 2
@musicalErin18 ...she died in 1975
jmusic45 4 months ago
Where are all those kids she adopted at now?
nakeist 4 months ago
@musicalErin18 How can you make such a big mistake? I can not understand! You've got the Internet - a view would have been sufficient and there you had to see that Josephine Baker died in 1975 and not 1968!
bobinobaker 5 months ago
@musicalErin18 She died in 1975
delov1 5 months ago
it would be nice if her 1959 revue "Paris mes amours" (aka "The Fabulous Josephine Baker") would be released. It is the greatest spectacle she ever put on
mrlopez2681 6 months ago
Wow! Thanks for posting this -- especially for posting such a nice long clip.
Wish there was some footage of her practicing how to handle that hilarious feathered "bustle" on her bum ... one false move and she'd have taken off like a bird. Obviously (especially around 7:05), it was worth the trouble.
Of all Ms. Baker's amazing qualities, one of THE most amazing was how her singing voice just kept getting better and better as she got older.
5tpxyyrk 6 months ago
Fantastic, loved the movie about her, but to be able to see & hear the real thing is mind blowing.
sphinxrising58 8 months ago
Josephine is pure magic, my aunt saw her at Bobino on her very last performance
she died the next morning.
I absolutely love her, so many younger artists have copied her style.
cant wait to see more, thanks a lot
dianaross2 9 months ago
Lovely. In later life, her performances did not always come together as well as one might hope... but this clip has all of the magic! Thanks for posting it.
monitortop 1 year ago
Absolutely Flawless :)
Butterflyxoxo09 1 year ago 2