Harlem on the Prairie

Harlem on the Prairie (1937) is a race movie, billed as the first "all-colored" western musical. The movie reminded audiences that there were black cowboys and corrected a popular Hollywood image of an all-white Old West. It was produced by Associated Features, which was organized in 1937. The picture premiered at the Paramount Theatre in Hollywood and was first shown in New York City at the Rialto Theatre on Broadway. The company had offices at 937 N. Sycamore Ave., Hollywood, California, and the officers of the company were Jed Buell, president; Bert Sternbach, vice president; and Sabin W. Carr, secretary-treasurer. Harlem on the Prairie was filmed on location at Murray's Dude Ranch, Apple Valley, California. The ranch was founded by N.B. Murray, a black businessman from Los Angeles. President and chief producer Jed Buell, spent less than $50,000 on this picture.