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in to co-star with him. Cooper left the company in 1939, according to one source because he was tired of only making gangster films, with another source feeling he desired the financing and distribution control of the Popkin brothers. In the same year
Million Dollar Productions merged with
74:(1937). Using the experience he went into partnership with the Popkin brothers, Harry and Leo to form Million Dollar Productions. Harry Popkin owned and managed a chain of Circle Theatres in Los Angeles. One of these was the Million Dollar Theatre that catered to a black clientele.
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The production company made several fast moving genre pictures with budgets, despite its name, of approximately $ 8,000 to $ 10,000 with the films shot in seven days. Cooper not only starred but wrote and directed several films as well as bringing
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was a movie studio in the United States active from 1937 until 1940. It was established to produce films with
African American casts. It was a partnership between
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279:"SCVHistory.com CP3908 | Val Verde | History of Million Dollar Productions; Written for Cornerstone Time Capsule, 4-16-1939"
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91:. It offered better distribution opportunities. Other black stars appearing in Million Dollar Productions were
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was an experienced black actor nicknamed "Dark Gable" who was also a singer, dancer, comedian and emcee at the
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Following World War II, the Popkin brothers produced several well regarded mainstream
Hollywood films such as
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107:. Production ceased at the start of American involvement in World War II.
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Hollywood Riots: Violent Crowds and
Progressive Politics in American Film
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Defunct film and television production companies of the United States
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United States. Congress. House. Committee on
Education - 1973
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Bright
Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood
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National Museum of
African American History and Culture
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The
Documentary Film Reader: History, Theory, Criticism
324:"Los Angeles Theatres: Million Dollar Theatre: history"
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National Museum of
African American History and Culture
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Black Lenses, Black Voices: African-American Film Now
66:, Cooper learned film making skills. Together with
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62:Amateur Night in Harlem. While contracted to
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471:Mass media companies disestablished in 1940
378:"Pioneers of Black Documentary Film (1999)"
384:. New York City: Oxford University Press.
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236:Colored Americans in the Nation's Capital
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87:, another film business specializing in
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486:American companies established in 1937
406:"Window card for Bargain with Bullets"
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125:News photographer turned film maker
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129:made documentary films such as
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380:. In Kahana, Jonathan (ed.).
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85:Sack Amusement Enterprises
33:Million Dollar Productions
135:Colored America on Parade
376:Bowser, Pearl (2016).
297:The Life of Lena Horne
158:Gangsters on the Loose
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308:p. 165 Bogle, Donald
238:(short subject, 1942)
229:While Thousands Cheer
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430:. September 7, 1938.
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153:Bargain with Bullets
295:p. 64 Gavin, James
205:Straight to Heaven
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391:978-0-19-973965-3
299:Atria Books 2009
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428:www.loc.gov
145:Filmography
116:(1950) and
460:Categories
244:References
89:race films
80:Lena Horne
21:Lobby card
221:Gang War
122:(1951).
119:The Well
51:History
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232:(1940)
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113:D.O.A.
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386:ISBN
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