Can anyone recommend a thorough study of the black cinema companies which operated independent of and parallel to the Hollywood studio system from the teens through the forties? I know of some of Thomas Cripps' work, and also have heard about G. William Jones' _Black Cinema Treasures: Lost and Found_, though I haven't read it yet. Do you know if any of these early African-American-produced films are available for rental, or even where they might be archived if not in circulation? I understand that Micheaux's films are scarce, but wondered if others are available. I've never seen _Birth of A Race_ either. Are these films being taught in your university's film history classes? They seem to be a very important tradition, and I'd like to include them in my teaching. How have others handled this? Much thanks, Pam ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [log in to unmask] University of Wisconsin, Madison (608) 256-1824