Pie, Pie, Blackbird

The Nicholas Brothers ask about the pie on the stove, and Nina Mae McKinney tells them it's a blackbird pie. Then the pie opens, and it's a small band led by Eubie Blake on the piano. Usually I'd be anxious while watching a short until the Nicholas Brothers start to dance. Here, I'm quite happy to wait while Blake and his group play and Miss McKinney sings. As long and they dance eventually, and they do.

Shorts like this were made to play in all the theaters up north, but they had a special market, even in the south. They might not be seen in the whites-only theaters, even with the stellar talents on view, but they were sure hits for the theaters frequented by Black movie-goers.