King Biscuit Time (1942, 1952)

[@icepick60]

This is the most incredible clip I have ever seen on youtube. I never thought I would see color footage of Robert Lockwood and Sonny Boy Williamson from the 1940's. What a amazing treasure. I have had the great pleasure of being in the company of Robert Lockwood on numerous occasions and look back on those moments as being among my most precious memories. Robert was a great man and one of the greatest musicians I have ever heard.

[@markduggan538]

That is amazing.. seeing Sonny Boy so young,,, wish there were more footage of him,

[@jwcross6110]

The white man lifting the sack of King Biscuit Flour is my great grandfather, Sam Anderson. He was the owner and manager of the station. I’ve always known that he owned KFFA, but just recently am piecing together everything he actually did.. that being said, if anyone here knows any details/stories about him please let me know! Thank you!

[@antunesiaharris32]

Robert Lockwood Jr is my Grandfather. I've spent time with some wonderful folks related to the Blues. I enjoyed every conversation with Sunshine Sonny Payne. He was a very present person even in advanced age. I've heard great stories but haven't retained all of the detail. Reach out to Bob Corritore @ bobcorritore.com/. He is a bit of a Story Collector. Bill Donoghue may also be of assistance. Best of luck.

[@jwcross6110]

@@antunesiaharris32 Thank you! I’ll reach out.

[@cathyardans6618]

I have a couple of 8x10 photos of the band and a white guy who might be your great grandfather that I bought in Helena about 40 years ago. I can send you copies on the computer if you want. Just let me know how.

[@harrietwest-moore3745]

@@antunesiaharris32 My father knew your grandfather well. I remember my father would visit him at his home in East Cleveland.

[@antunesiaharris32]

@@harrietwest-moore3745 Super Cool!! I loved when Grandpa had visitors. It was always refreshing to hear him talking with friends. My ears have been blessed with some awesome stories. My Grandfather lived a very long time with his full memory in tact. Nice! To meet you here Harriet. It's a joy to know someone special to me and someone special to you enjoyed one another.

[@Marlg]

Totally amazing. Speechless. Coolest thing I've seen so far. Gives me hope that there's early films of everyone just waiting to be found. 50's BB, Gatemouth, Charlie Christian, more Bird, Herbie Nichols, etc...

[@Telecasterluvr]

You can practically hear Sonny Boys harp wailing in this clip.

[@fessormojo]

This is silent film from 1942 showing Sonny Boy Williamson II (then known as Willie "Rice" Miller in the Black community and Robert Lockwood Jr., the stepson of the legendary Robert Johnson who died in 1938. This is the earliest footage of any kind for a major identified blues man. Together they were playing amplified harp and guitar as early as 1938 (about six years before Muddy Waters even owned an electric guitar). They played it through juke boxes & car radios.

[@ceewill4936]

that's true because I've heard the old timers talk about playing through car radios

[@antunesiaharris32]

Grandpa, Robert Lockwood Jr believed himself to be the first to play amplified guitar on the radio. Greetings! Mr. Donoghue. On behalf of Grandpa and the family, Thanks! For your respect and support.

[@Zagg777]

Tremendous footage. Thanks very much.

[@Reallaw-p8o]

Wow what priceless footage of some of the greatest blues men in history. Rice obviously the greatest all rounder harp coupled with his voice plus his showmanship in the blues

[@ladivina79]

So beautiful. Thank you for sharing this on KZbin.

[@jano.e.6063]

yeah this is important for us

[@lonesomedaveferguson]

Wow... That was like a beautiful peek into another time and place. Funnily enough I didn't miss the audio, Sonny Boy and Robert Jnr Lockwood... The music is there! You just can't hear it

[@ab77blues]

Astonishing find. Thank you so much for posting.

[@fessormojo]

The Sponsor of this show was Max Moore's Interstate Grocery Company distributor of King Biscuit Flour. In 1947 when Sonny Boy returned to the show for a time WROX in Clarksale MS and KFFA in Helena Arkansas were joined as the Delta Network and Sonny Boy Corn Meal was introduced. That expanded both the range of these two tiny 50 watt stations and allowed the band to appear on the side of the river they were playing. It also gave Moore a broader product line.

[@unclebud2]

Thanks for posting this! It's great to see even without the sound. Would love to see the other footage as others have mentioned.

[@rhythmfield]

Little Lavon Helm used to supposedly go to the station and took huge inspiration from Williamson & drummer James Peck Curtis. Of course, he went on as eventual founder of The Band and later, had a stellar career as a great band leader, drummer, vocalist and mandolin player.

[@colindussault1942]

Sonny Boy and Lockwood!!! WOW!

[@dickirish1]

Wonderful piece of film !

[@Reallaw-p8o]

little walter / and Walter horton may be technically better on the harp. But no other blues harpist had the complete package The voice,Whit, lyrics and delivery of Sonny boy 2 Rice Miller !!

[@OtisSpain]

Just priceless!!

[@worldphilosopher101]

wow what a gem. and in color

[@urnrgurnrg]

WOWEE-Thanks

[@MACIEJBLUES]

Thank you for this very very rare film. There are only two films with Sonny Bboy Willimson recorded in the States. One is on the Sam Lay's Movie and second is this one. Thanks and second part please.

[@mauro2141]

mesmo não tendo o som,fica a imginação dos bluezeiros,coisa rara de se ver,sonny boy novinho...parabéns pelo video !

[@オーディオ兄さん]

こんな貴重な映像が残っていたとは！

[@santosbanuelos6661]

Saludos a Japón 🇯🇵

[@fessormojo]

Actually there is a second film of Sonny Boy in 1953 playing with a band which may have included Earl Hooker.

[@blues4sale4ever]

I am speechless :)

[@fessormojo]

The drummer is likely James Peck Curtis and the acoustic guitarist (1942) is Robert Lockwood Jr.; in the 1952 footage the electric guitarist is probably Earl Hooker. Hubert Sumlin was never on the show.

[@BrownMediaArchiveUGA]

@JERZEYBOB Sorry no sound. This is silent home movie footage.

[@garethhughes8391]

There’s no sound on this anymore?😢

[@ProfScratchy]

This footage is priceless. Is it true that the latter section of the footage is from a much lengthier film? If so, you would have the gratitude of blues fans everywhere if you would post it!

[@fessormojo]

The dances is "Ball The Jack" I believe.

[@jazzmanchgo]

Anyone know where this was shot? Is there a town called Highland Lake in Arkansas? Or mabye someone knows something about W.E.. Agee, apparently the store's owner . . .

[@sonnyboy3]

Who are the guitar player and drummer at the end of the video?

[@Zigblues]

For fun: let's collectively try to figure out what they're playing based on the movie...

[@オーディオ兄さん]

珍しい映像です。無声なのが残念！何の曲でしょう？

[@jazzmanchgo]

Great footage . . . but it's painful to see that guy (?), apparently in burnt-cork blackface, with those cartoonish fake white lips, shufflin' and jivin' toward the end (2:05). . . Someone (Max Moore himself, possibly?) seems to have thought Sonny Boy and Robert Jr. were little more than a minstrel show.

[@bjfsville]

the dancer behind Sonny Boy towards the end of the 2nd clip (1:54) appears to be made up in 'blackface'...