Leonard Harper Way (Manhattan)
Present name:None
Location:At the southeast corner of West 132nd Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard
Honoree: Leonard Harper (1899-1943) was a producer and choreographer during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920’s and 1930’s. In 1914, at 14-years old, he became one of the first “Motion Picture Posers” among black performers, dancing in silent motion pictures for the Educational Film Company. In 1917, he teamed up with Osceola Blanks to form the song and dance team of Harper and Blanks. In 1921, they performed on Broadway in "Put and Take." Harper and Blanks were signed by owners of Shubert Brothers to be the first black act ever to tour in America. (Dickens)
LL:2015/76