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William Greaves filmed a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance figures at Duke Ellington’s home; his son David completed the film decades later. OKCMOA presents it in four Noble Theater screenings, with on-screen captions at the Sunday showing.
All times are local to the venue · America/Chicago
November 19–22, 2026. Screenings start at the listed times; the film is 100 minutes. Sunday, November 22 at 12:30 pm has on-screen captions. The page also offers Watch at Home, with streaming beginning November 19; virtual ticket price and viewing window are not stated in the supplied material.
The film’s record begins with a 1972 party, not in the Harlem Renaissance’s own era: William Greaves gathered artists, writers, poets, actors, musicians and thinkers connected with that earlier movement at Duke Ellington’s home. Completed by Greaves’s son David about five decades later, Once Upon a Time in Harlem brings those two periods into the same frame.
William Greaves conceived the film in 1972, the year he recorded the gathering. His son David completed it roughly fifty years later. That long interval is part of the film’s particular perspective: a meeting with people tied to an earlier cultural movement was preserved on film, then brought to completion by the next generation of the Greaves family.
The museum presents the work as a document of an actual gathering at Ellington’s home, rather than a reenactment of the Harlem Renaissance. OKCMOA lists both William and David Greaves as the filmmakers and identifies the title as a 2026 film.
Further reading: Once Upon a Time in Harlem | Oklahoma City Museum of Art | OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
The museum’s description identifies Richard Bruce Nugent, Aaron Douglas, Arna Bontemps and James Van Der Zee among the people appearing in the footage. It describes the gathering as a mix of artists, writers, poets, actors, musicians and thinkers. Those names and fields give the film’s historical frame a human scale: the earlier movement comes into view through people gathered together, rather than only through a broad account of its period.
The film connects a community associated with the 1920s to the social and political changes of the 1970s, when Greaves made the recording. OKCMOA also notes that the film was selected for the New York Film Festival 64 Main Slate.
Further reading: Once Upon a Time in Harlem | Oklahoma City Museum of Art | OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
The Noble Theater run spans Thursday evening through Sunday midday. The Sunday screening is the one specifically announced with on-screen captions; see the listed schedule for each start time.
OKCMOA lists film admission at $5 for Film Society members; $6 for museum members, children 12 and under, and adult groups of 15 or more; $10 for adults; $8 for seniors age 62 and older, college students with ID, and teens ages 13–18; and $7 for military with ID. A film ticket does not include gallery admission.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem | Oklahoma City Museum of Art | OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗ · Classic and Contemporary Screenings in OKC | Films at OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
The Noble Theater box office opens one hour before showtime and accepts cash or credit cards. The museum lists advance and same-day tickets, with will-call pickup available. Online buyers can print tickets at home and bypass the box office.
Credit-card phone orders are listed at (405) 236-3100, ext. 237. The event listing gives phone hours as Wednesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; and Sunday, noon–5 p.m.
The event listing also offers Watch at Home, with streaming beginning Nov. 19, 2026. It does not state this film’s virtual ticket price or viewing period. OKCMOA notes that virtual-film terms vary by title, so check the title-specific ticket details before buying.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem | Oklahoma City Museum of Art | OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗ · Virtual Cinema | OKCMOA Online Film ScreeningOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
Noble Theater is at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. The museum says its entrances and public spaces are wheelchair accessible; power-assist doors are at the east-side theater entrance. Noble Theater has dedicated wheelchair seating on the ground floor and mezzanine, with the mezzanine accessible by elevator.
Two wireless hearing-assist headsets are available to borrow at no cost; ask Visitor Services. The Sunday, Nov. 22, 12:30 p.m. screening is the one announced with on-screen captions.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem | Oklahoma City Museum of Art | OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗ · Accessibility | Visit OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗ · Classic and Contemporary Screenings in OKC | Films at OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
The Museum Parking Lot is directly north of the museum, at the northwest corner of Hudson and Robert S. Kerr. Its posted rates for Monday–Friday until 6 p.m. are $6 for 30 minutes, $9 for one hour, $13 for two hours and $17 for eight hours. From Friday at 6 p.m. through Sunday, the listed rates are $6 for two hours, $8 for four hours and $13 for eight hours.
The published chart does not give a Thursday-evening rate for the 7:30 p.m. screening. The museum says rates may change for events. Designated accessible parking is available on Couch Drive, free for up to two hours.
Visit | Oklahoma City Museum of ArtOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗ · Accessibility | Visit OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
The official visit information does not specify public-transit routes. Use the map links to calculate directions to the museum from your own starting point.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem | Oklahoma City Museum of Art | OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗ · Visit | Oklahoma City Museum of ArtOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
The Sunday, Nov. 22 screening at 12:30 p.m. is announced with on-screen captions.
Yes. Streaming begins Nov. 19, 2026. The event listing does not state this film’s virtual ticket price or viewing period; check its ticket details for terms.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem | Oklahoma City Museum of Art | OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗ · Virtual Cinema | OKCMOA Online Film ScreeningOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
No. OKCMOA says purchase of a film ticket does not include entrance to the galleries.
Classic and Contemporary Screenings in OKC | Films at OKCMOAOKCMOA Oklahoma City Museum of Art ↗
415 Couch Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.
Images from the linked sources. Each caption identifies the context of the image.
Event, planning and background information checked 2026-11-01 against the linked sources.