On May 23, 1921, a weeklong commemoration began in New York City honoring Paul Laurence Dunbar, who had died 15 years earlier. A film adaptation of his novel The Sport of the Gods was screened, and Paul's former wife Alice endorsed the movie.
Dunbar week will be observed at the Lafayette Theatre commencing Monday, May 23, in memory of Paul Laurence Dunbar. The feature attraction will be the latest photo dramatic success, "The Sport of the Gods," in six reels, taken from Dunbar's great novel of that name. The picture was filmed by the Reol Productions Corporation, and nearly two hundred colored artists were used. Mrs. Alice Dunbar Nelson, after seeing "The Sport of the Gods" on the screen, made the following comment: "'The Sport of the Gods' is a wonderful picture."
"'The Sport of the Gods' and Other Features at Lafayette Week of May 23." The New York Age (New York, New York). May 21, 1921. Page 6.
The Reol Productions Company was operated by white film producers, but it released several movies based on stories by African American writers and featuring Black actors.
Advertisement for The Sport of the Gods film. The St. Louis Argus (St. Louis, Missouri). May 13, 1921. Page 4.
Although "The Sport of the Gods" was a silent film, a song for it was composed by Otto Standhardt, a musician from Georgia. He collaborated with lyricist Harry Diggs to write a song called "Dear Old Virginia." The cover of the sheet music was illustrated with a picture of a plantation mansion. The copyright entry gives the date as August 16, 1921, but mistakenly lists the film title as "The sport of kings."
STANDHARDT, OTTO E
(The sport of kings) Dear old Virginia; [from] The sport of kings, lyric by Harry P. Diggs, music by Otto E. Standhardt. © Mills Music, inc., (successor in interest to Jack Mills, inc.) New York; 16Aug21; EP36252.
"Published Music, January - June 1949." Copyright Office, The Library of Congress (Washington, D. C.). Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series. Volume 3, Part 5 A, Number 1, Page 186.
Harry P. Diggs of the Producers Service Company has written a song "Dear Old Virginia," which will be used as the theme for the orchestra setting for Paul Laurence Dunbar's story "The Sport of the Gods," which is being screened by Robert Levy for Reol Productions Corporation. It is said to be a plaintive song of the South rich in the melody and heart interest associated with the negro of the old plantation days.
"Keeping in Personal Touch," by Fritz Tidden. Moving Picture World (New York, New York). April 9, 1921. Page 587.
Many years later, Charles Higgins recalled the negotiations that preceded the production of the film. Higgins was the executor of Paul's estate and served as financial advisor for his mother Matilda.
There was one special amount received. Negotiation for this was started in 1920 while I was still engaged in camp Y. M. C. A. work under the war work council. "The Sport of the Gods," by Paul Laurence Dunbar was dramatized and a moving picture corporation wanted to purchase it for the screen. The proposition was referred to me and after considerable correspondence the deal was closed. Mrs. [Matilda] Dunbar's two-thirds amounted to $533.33.
"Summary of Mrs. Dunbar's Life as Compiled By Rev. Higgins, Executor of Son's Estate," by Rev. Charles D. Higgins. The Dayton Journal (Dayton, Ohio). March 18, 1934.
In 2008, the U. S. Postal Service issued a series of commemorative stamps called Vintage Black Cinema. Along with stamps featuring Duke Ellington and Josephine Baker, the series included a poster from the film The Sport of the Gods.
In the 1921 silent film The Sport of the Gods, the family of a wrongfully convicted man flees disgrace in Virginia only to face immorality and temptation in New York City. Based on a novel by Paul Laurence Dunbar, the film was produced by the short-lived Reol Motion Picture Corporation, which made several movies for black audiences.
"Vintage Black Cinema Movie Poster Stamps Highlight African American Cultural Experience." U. S. Postal Service press release No. 08-074. July 15, 2008.
"The Sport of the Gods" was not the first film based on Paul's literary works. A 1917 royalty report from his publisher indicates that movie rights to his short story "The Scapegoat" had been sold for $12.50.
Royalty Report
Dodd, Mead & Company
August 1, 1917.
To Estate of Paul Laurence Dunbar,
On sales from Feb 1st 1917.
Moving Picture Rights - Scapegoat 12.50
Royalty report from Dodd, Mead & Company, August 1, 1917. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 2).
"The Scapegoat" was made into a successful movie by the Frederick Douglass Film Company, a New Jersey production firm operated by African Americans (though not affiliated with the family of Frederick Douglass).
The Frederick Douglass Film Company's latest and most ambitious photo play, "The Scapegoat," was thrown on the screen for the first time Monday afternoon at the Simplex Theatre. "The Scapegoat" is an adaptation from the story written by Paul Laurence Dunbar. The picture is well acted by capable performers who have reason to feel proud of being identified with the picture. There is more sustained dramatic interest in "The Scapegoat" than any Negro photo play that has yet been produced, and it easily takes rank as the best to date.
"The Scapegoat," by Lester A. Walton. The New York Age (New York, New York). May 17, 1917. Page 6.
"The Scapegoat," in three reels, has made a big hit in many of the best picture houses, namely: Franklin, New York; Howard, Washington, D. C.; Regent, Baltimore; Olympia, Philadelphia; Majestic, Jersey City; Phoenix, Chicago. "The Scapegoat" has been pronounced by leading critics to be the best Negro photo play ever produced.
"The Difficulties of a Pioneer Film Company." The New York Age (New York, New York). August 9, 1917. Page 6.