Preer, Evelyn

(1896-1932)

   Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the African American actress grew up in Chicago and discovered theatre in high school. She joined Raymond O'Neil's Ethiopian Art Players and traveled with the integrated cast to Washington and New York, where she reached Broadway in May 1923 in the title roles of Salome and The Chip Woman's Fortune, performed in repertory with The Comedy of Errors. She joined the Lafayette Players under Anita Bush in Harlem, and also acted under David Belasco's direction in Lulu Belle. She continued to play leading roles in New York, but relocated to Los Angeles with the Lafayette Players, where she won acclaim as Miss Sadie Thompson in Rain in 1928. She also made jazz recordings and starred in motion pictures produced by Oscar Micheaux between 1918 and 1941.