Robert Levy

Robert Levy was an English-born early 20th century theatre manager and film producer. He was a Jewish man who dedicated his career to a vision of higher quality entertainment for African American audiences. His work includes twelve all black cast films and over one hundred stage plays with African American actors. He would use the work of black authors for the stage and the screen, helping to elevate public perception of black authorship.

Levy’s career in entertainment was initiated at the Éclair Film Company when he was 24 years old. On behalf of Quality Amusement he took on the role of general manager of Harlem based Lafayette Players Company. In 1916 Levy reorganized Lafayette Players, an all black actors theatre group, that involved from a first all black stock company started by Anita Bush in 1915, and focused repertoire on serious drama. Along with other pioneers of the era Robert Levy contributed to the cultural groundwork that would eventually grow into the Harlem Renaissance.