In April 1940, the first elaborate premiere of a Hollywood studioproduced film was held in Harlem, the cultural capital of Black America. Paramount Studios sponsored two simultaneous world premieres of Buck Benny Rides Again, a movie which, in every way but actual billing, co-starred American network radio’s premiere comedy star, Jack Benny, and his radio valet and butler, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson. One gala was held at the studio’s flagship theatre, the Paramount, in midtown Manhattan. With the California-based Benny and members of his radio cast making rare personal appearances on stage during the film’s run, the show broke all previous box office records. In a most unusual move for an industry which limited roles for African-American performers to tiny, often uncredited parts as servants, Paramount also aggressively promoted the film’s surprise, break-out co-star, African-American actor Anderson