Jean Cocteau

Jean Cocteau, 1889-1963, Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. Author: Abbott, Berenice, 1898-1991

Source: library.yale.edu/beinecke | Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Langston Hughes

Hughes in 1902

James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that "the negro was in vogue" which was later paraphrased as "when Harlem was in vogue". 1936 photo by Carl Van Vechten

Source: wikipedia

Frank Silvera

Actor, director, producer, teacher, Frank Silvera aka Man of a Thousand Faces, (July 24, 1914 - June 11, 1970), young emerging actor, in the American Negro Theatre, during the early stages of his career in theatre, film and television. Due to his looks, ability to transcend color, race, his skill with language, the new nearly dead art of make-up, and perhaps the surname of Silvera, Frank moved into the new elite inner circles of the leading American Theatre groups, where he became an active member of the famed Actors' Studio of New York, a "spin-off" of the old Group Theatre, of the Thirties.

Frank Silvera in the film, "Hombre."

Frank Silvera in the film, "Viva Zapata." 

Mae West

 Mae West

Mary Jane West, known as Mae West, (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980), was born in Brooklyn, New York, to "Battling Jack" West and Matilda Doelger. She began her career as a child star in vaudeville, and later went on to write her own plays, including "sex", for which she was arrested. Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades.

Source: womenofthe30s-70s | pastpicture | imdb

James Hughes

James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist,  novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry.

Source: editorialindependence

Sidney Toler

The film is also known as Charlie Chan in the Scarlet Clue (American informal title) and Charlie Chan: The Scarlet Clue in Australia.

Sidney Hooper Toler (April 28, 1874 – February 12, 1947) was an American actor, playwright, and theatre director. Of primarily Scottish ancestry, he was the second non-Asian actor to play the role of Charlie Chan.

Source: angelfire | wikipedia

Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee born October 27, 1924 is an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist and activist.