He was a Freemason like me, upon his dying wish, Bert Williams wrote a letter requesting that he may have his Masonic funeral service conducted by St. Cecile, which was well-known as the lodge for theatrical entertainers in New York City. St. Cecile Lodge became the first in the state of New York to conduct a Masonic funeral service for a black man. On March 8, 1922, the solemn & beautiful Masonic ritual was fulfilled.
@elnegrosombra1 The auditorium at Masonic temple was filled & even more overflowed the streets to pay their respects to the late comedian. He was raised in Waverly Lodge of Scotland.
@elnegrosombra1 The auditorium at Masonic temple was filled & even more overflowed the streets to pay their respects to the late comedian. He was raised in Waverly Lodge of Scotland.
@elnegrosombra1 The auditorium at Masonic temple was filled & even more overflowed the streets to pay their respects to the late comedian. He was raised in Waverly Lodge of Scotland.
"People sometimes ask me if I would not give anything to be white. I answer most emphatically, "No." How do I know what I might be if I were a white man? . . . . .There is many a white man less fortunate less well-equipped than I am. In fact, I have never been able to discover that there was anything disgraceful in being a colored man. But I have often found it inconvenient . . . . in America." Bert Williams
All of the apologizing for Bert Williams and his fellow visionaries needs to stop! Look at the man and his work for what it accomplished. He was indeed a pioneer, a genius and an innovator and his work is timeless art. Looking at him through hippie era apologetics is to negate his many accomplishments. God bless Bert Williams! He was one of the greats.
This does my heart proud to see these modern Black comedians give just respect for the foundation of their craft. Bert's records (which are VERY thought provoking) are available on Archeophone records' website and DVD's of his 2 surviving films are available on the "A Cinema Apart" webiste.
The first movie he made was with our company "Biograph" in 1915. Biograph gave him producer/director/and writer control over his films, as well as him starring in them. This was unprecidented for a film company to do this in 1915.
This is the guy W.C. Fields patterned himself after.
1mespud 2 months ago
@1mespud not quite. Fields was defiant and retaliatory. Bert Wheeler was of the "slow burn"/"why me?" school.
diddymuck 3 weeks ago
He was a Freemason like me, upon his dying wish, Bert Williams wrote a letter requesting that he may have his Masonic funeral service conducted by St. Cecile, which was well-known as the lodge for theatrical entertainers in New York City. St. Cecile Lodge became the first in the state of New York to conduct a Masonic funeral service for a black man. On March 8, 1922, the solemn & beautiful Masonic ritual was fulfilled.
elnegrosombra1 10 months ago
@elnegrosombra1 The auditorium at Masonic temple was filled & even more overflowed the streets to pay their respects to the late comedian. He was raised in Waverly Lodge of Scotland.
elnegrosombra1 10 months ago
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@elnegrosombra1 The auditorium at Masonic temple was filled & even more overflowed the streets to pay their respects to the late comedian. He was raised in Waverly Lodge of Scotland.
elnegrosombra1 10 months ago
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@elnegrosombra1 The auditorium at Masonic temple was filled & even more overflowed the streets to pay their respects to the late comedian. He was raised in Waverly Lodge of Scotland.
elnegrosombra1 10 months ago
at last, somebody gives credit for the minstral performers and singer comics of the 30's and 40's.
diddymuck 10 months ago
@diddymuck He died in 1922.
xjoncamposx 3 weeks ago
'The funniest man I ever saw, and the saddest man I ever knew' is the full quote.
tayloreh 1 year ago
"People sometimes ask me if I would not give anything to be white. I answer most emphatically, "No." How do I know what I might be if I were a white man? . . . . .There is many a white man less fortunate less well-equipped than I am. In fact, I have never been able to discover that there was anything disgraceful in being a colored man. But I have often found it inconvenient . . . . in America." Bert Williams
kenedwards88 1 year ago
Correction Egbert (Bert) Williams was born in Antigua not The Bahamas
Idaree 1 year ago
All of the apologizing for Bert Williams and his fellow visionaries needs to stop! Look at the man and his work for what it accomplished. He was indeed a pioneer, a genius and an innovator and his work is timeless art. Looking at him through hippie era apologetics is to negate his many accomplishments. God bless Bert Williams! He was one of the greats.
MikeBlitzMag 2 years ago 2
where can i buy the documentary at. i've been looking all over for this.
jdub03 2 years ago
This does my heart proud to see these modern Black comedians give just respect for the foundation of their craft. Bert's records (which are VERY thought provoking) are available on Archeophone records' website and DVD's of his 2 surviving films are available on the "A Cinema Apart" webiste.
Themaddprof 2 years ago 2
The first movie he made was with our company "Biograph" in 1915. Biograph gave him producer/director/and writer control over his films, as well as him starring in them. This was unprecidented for a film company to do this in 1915.
biographco 2 years ago
His life was tragic though. Imagine the stress he was under...
Laffington 2 years ago 5
Thanx for posting this video.....it is so nice to hear something positive for a change.
ekocentric 3 years ago 3
I heard of him, well i was born in the Bahamas too, i guess we look up to his great accomplishments as a nation! He is truly a pioneer.
securetravel 3 years ago 2
Yes. More people should know about him.
junedeon 3 years ago 2
that looks so good!
Karmalita 3 years ago 2
Great look back-I had never heard of him until now. Too short but still good.
phantassm 3 years ago