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African-American film star Lorenzo Tucker, "The Black Valentino," in 1932.
Credit: Courtesy of Dr. Richard Grupenhoff
The romantic lead in movies produced by pioneering black filmmaker Oscar Michaux between 1928 and 1934, Philadelphia's Lorenzo Tucker (1906-1986) was billed as "the Black Valentino." Tucker got his start in show business appearing with Bessie Smith on a number of cross-country tours.