Series:

Hollywood in the Civil Rights Era

Topic:

African American History

Film and Television

Biographical Note:

Camera operator. Active in the union International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE) Local 659.

Interviewer:

Dawson, Andrew

Interviewee:

Langley, Norman

Persons Present:

Langley and Dawson.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.

Length:

2 hrs.

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

This series includes interviews with studio workers who gained entry to the motion picture industry following Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. They were donated to the UCLA Center for Oral History Research by Andrew Dawson of the University of Greenwich, London, who conducted them as part of his research on the Civil Rights era in Hollywood.

Introduction--Langley’s parents and their background--His siblings--Junior high and high school education--His time in the Navy as a reservist--Learning photography in the Navy--Photography equipment used during training--Racism and segregation in the Navy during the early 1960s-- Personal opposition from a Petty Officer--Segregation in Florida during the early 1960s--His applications to the CIA and the FBI--Studying at the Brooks Institute--His switch to motion pictures--Coursework and the student body at Brooks--The 1960s social milieu and its impact on Langley--Political demonstrations at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)--Nepotism in the film industry--Minority Training Program for the film industry--Women in the program--The program roster--His time at Paramount Studios--His marriage--His time at Universal Studios--Other studio work--Joe Wilcox and other African Americans working in film in the 1970s--Working with Wilcox on Roots--His work on Emergency--His acquaintance with Ivan Dixon--Frequency of project work and job stability in the film industry--More on racism in the film industry--Differences in the 1960s vs. 1970s film industry working climate--His involvement with the labor union--Experience with Camera Local--His work with Johnny McPherson and Bobby Stevens--Working with Steven Spielberg--More on union involvement--Changes in film industry working conditions during the 1980s and 90s.