A PORTRAIT OF FLORENCE MILLS

The cast of Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1927 added another exciting element to the mix of folks at the wild parties thrown by London's Bright Young People, a collection of rich bohemian youth known for their fondness of sex, drugs, Jazz and general outrageousness.  When Turner Layton, the Black American expatriate singer, decided to throw his own impromptu gathering, the word spread quickly and no doubt everybody showed up.  Mabel Mercer and Johnny Hudgins were probably there carrying on while Edith Wilson taught folks how to dance the Black Bottom.  And Florence Mills probably couldn't have thought about leaving until she sang more than a few songs for the revelers!

Turner Layton had just had his own portrait completed by an up and coming painter by the name of Alexander Stuart-Hill, a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the painting had just been accepted by the academy for a Spring exhibit.  Feeling himself, feeling Florence, and high on lobster, champagne and jazz, Stuart-Hill came up with the brilliant idea to capture Florence in oil.  She agreed on the spot!

The English loved Florence and couldn't get enough of her!  They were obssessed with her and she gave them something to talk about.  When she didn't, they made up things about her (and the Prince of Wales) and captured bits of her essence in their literature.  They certainly had good taste but they were late coming to the same party that Harlem had been celebrating for quite some time.  Florence Mills had been a child star in vaudeville and now as a young woman on the TOBA circuit, she was now recognized as Black America's first female Mega-Star!

 

Today, we have Florence Mills on canvas, in caricature, and in a number of precious fading photographs but we do not have Florence Mills on film nor on record.  Those who knew her or remember seeing her on stage are just about now all gone and all of these factors are the probable reasons you have never heard of her!  All that's left is the legend of Florence Mills, and thanks in part to the enthusiasm & skills of historian and Divatarian, Delilah Jackson, we have the meticulously researched book, Florence Mills: Harlem Jazz Queen by Bill Egan (2004).  If you want to know more about Mills - READ IT!

Florence's life was NOT made conspicuous by scandal, drugs, alcohol or ruin. Mills made all the right type of headlines with her artistic triumphs. The only thing of any shock value was the news and aftermath of her untimely death at the age of 31.  Florence had contracted pelvic tuberculosis and literally worked herself to death after more than 250 performances abroad in Lew Leslie's Blackbirds.  She came home to Harlem to die but they didn't know that then. They just thought she was in the hospital for minor surgery. To say that the death of Florence Mills hit Harlem like one of Kid Chocolate's TKO's is an understatement.  The ensuing rumors, grief and outpouring of love was unprecedented and beyond anything Florence could have created or dreamed about on the stage. 

Ironically, the funeral of Florence Mills has become a major part of her legend and is still talked about by those who have no firsthand knowledge of it.  Thus, instead of writing about the life of Florence Mills, I have an upcoming post in the works called The Death and Funeral of Florence Mills.  You can do your own research or just enjoy this portrait for now.

Comments

[Greg]

Thanks for this post Corey and yes people in Harlem still speak of Florence Mills funeral. I don't think anyone Black or White has had such a spectacular funeral in NYC since. Some people still speak of their grandparents and great grandparents watching as Florence would leave her West 133rd St. home and walk to the subway to go downtown to her engagements. She was a true Harlem Home Girl.

Recently, I had the occasion to visit someone at 267 Edgecombe Avenue and their are two lovely photographs of Florence over the mail box. I think the building has officially been dubbed the Florence Mills building.

[Derrick from Philly]

Thanks, Corey and Greg.

I remember hearing Alberta Hunter describe Mills' incredible singing voice (I think it was in the documentary "Brown Sugar". She is indeed a legend--and maybe a great film vehicle for...well...who? I don't recognize any great talent in show business under age sixty.

[Greg]

Her funeral alone would be a great subject for a documentary or a docu-drama.

I swear, in my next life I'm coming back as a filthy rich documentary film maker and make all the films I want. No longer will I have to pray that someone with deep pockets makes the films I want to see. I'll make them my damn self!

[Brandon]

I mentioned Florence Mills in my novel.