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Lew Leslie (born Lewis Lessinsky; April 15, 1888 – March 10, 1963) was a Jewish American writer and producer of Broadway shows. Leslie got his start in show business in vaudeville in his early twenties. Although white, he was the first major impresario to present African American artists on the Broadway stage.
Learn about Lew Leslie, a white producer and director of popular African American revues in the 1920s and 30s. Find references to his work in books, music, and theater.
Blackbirds of 1928 was the idea of impresario Lew Leslie, who planned to build the show around Florence Mills in New York City after her success in the hit 1926 show Blackbirds in London. Mills died from tuberculosis in 1927 before rehearsals for the new show had started and Hall was enlisted to replace her.
May 24, 2011 · Lew Leslie (1888-1963) was a Broadway writer and producer. Although white, he was the first impressario to present black artists on stage. He became famous for his stage shows at the Cotton...
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Lew Leslie (born Lewis Lessinsky; April 15, 1888 – March 10, 1963) was a Jewish American writer and producer of Broadway shows. Leslie got his start in show business in vaudeville in his early twenties. Although white, he was the first major impresario to present African American artists on the Broadway stage.
Overview. Lew Leslie. (1886—1963) Quick Reference. (1886–1963). Stage producer and director. The predominant presenter of African American entertainment on Broadway in the 1920s and 1930s, he introduced Florence Mills, Ethel Waters, Bill Robinson, and other black ... From: Leslie, Lew in The Oxford Companion to the American Musical »
African-American Revues: Lew Leslie was a white producer who brought some of Harlem’s best black talent to Broadway and London’s West End.
