Loading…
United StatesSaved
William Greaves brought Harlem Renaissance artists and intellectuals together to revisit their work and consider how a creative legacy moves between generations. The restored film of that gathering screens at Music Box Theatre.
All times are local to the venue · America/Chicago
A four-hour gathering in 1972 is at the center of Once Upon a Time in Harlem, but that is not the film’s stated runtime. The newly restored film, shot on 16mm, screens at 7 p.m. Friday, November 13, at Music Box Theatre.
Filmmaker William Greaves arranged the 1972 gathering for artists and intellectuals associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Many of those present had not seen one another in about 50 years, giving the meeting a personal dimension as well as a place to revisit their creative work.
The conversations range from recollections to critiques of one another’s ideas and debate about the participants’ place in a changing cultural climate. The film preserves a gathering shaped by exchange, not simply a series of individual career summaries.
Further reading: Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗
The film also asks what made the Harlem Renaissance a significant creative period and how its culture reaches later generations. That makes the gathering’s subject larger than personal memory: it considers the role artists play in keeping cultural work alive and in circulation.
Further reading: Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗
The event listing credits David Greaves, Liani Greaves and William Greaves as directors, and William Greaves as the writer. It identifies David as William’s son and describes him as directing the film in its present form.
Romare Bearden, Arna Bontemps and Ida Mae Cullen are among the film’s credited featured figures. Those credits describe the film, not guests announced for the Chicago screening.
Further reading: Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗
The event lists one screening and does not announce an accompanying talk or other program.
The screening begins at 7 p.m. The listing does not give an end time.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗
The listed prices are $10, $11 and $13, but the event information does not say which ticket types or conditions correspond to each amount. Tickets are linked through Music Box Theatre.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗
No age policy is stated, and the venue information does not describe accessibility facilities. Music Box Theatre lists 773-871-6604 for questions.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗ · Music Box Theatre, Upcoming Events in Chicago on Do312 ↗
The screening is at Music Box Theatre, 3733 North Southport, Chicago, in Lakeview.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗ · Music Box Theatre, Upcoming Events in Chicago on Do312 ↗
The CTA Brown Line’s Southport station is about 0.3 miles from the theatre. Nearby bus routes include #152 Addison and #77 Belmont; #9 Ashland runs a few blocks west.
The venue lists metered street parking on Southport. It also says free street parking is typically available on and west of Ashland Avenue and north of Irving Park Road. The theatre has no dedicated lot.
The four hours describe the 1972 gathering. The film’s runtime is not listed.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗
The listing gives three amounts: $10, $11 and $13. It does not explain which ticket types correspond to each.
Once Upon a Time in Harlem in Chicago at Music Box Theatre ↗
The venue lists the Brown Line at Southport station, about 0.3 miles away, plus buses #152 Addison and #77 Belmont nearby and #9 Ashland a few blocks west.
The venue says it has no dedicated lot. It lists metered street parking on Southport and says free street parking is typically available on and west of Ashland Avenue and north of Irving Park Road.
3733 North Southport, Chicago, IL
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 2026-11-04 against the linked sources.