August 31, 1929 –
RKO released the musical film-short St. Louis Blues, starring singer Bessie Smith, on this date.
At W.C. Handy’s suggestion, Bessie Smith was picked to be the star of the film. Bessie had scored a huge hit in 1925 with her recording of St. Louis Blues, which had featured Louis Armstrong on cornet. This is the only known footage of Bessie in existence.
The Haus of Dcaligari 