BLACK MAGIC MOVIE NIGHT
FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025 | 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Circle Cinema
10 S. Lewis, Tulsa, OK 74104
Muhammad Ali was at the Black Rodeo event for no more than two hours. Yet his appearance established the rodeo as a pivotal moment for all black cowboys — past and present. Image Courtesy of the Everett Collection.
Feature Film: Black Rodeo (1972, 85 min, US) Written & Directed by Jeff Kanew. Cinematography by High Bell, Amin Q. Chaudhri, Louis San Andres, John M. Stephens, and John Wing. Narrated by Woody Strode. Featuring Muhammad Ali, Woody Strode, Bud Bramwell, Nelson Jackson, Mike Latting, and many more.
In 1971, a parade of Black cowboys took to the streets of Harlem, redefining what it meant to be a cowboy and celebrating a legacy long erased from mainstream history. Featuring powerful appearances by Muhammad Ali—who famously rode horseback along 125th Street—and actor Woody Strode, the film captures this historic event that brought together more than 50 of the nation’s top Black cowboys.
Inspired by rodeo traditions from Oklahoma and the American West, this Harlem event introduced thousands to the overlooked history of Black cowboys and their enduring contributions to Western culture. Ali’s brief but iconic appearance at the rodeo helped cement the event’s place in history and brought national attention to this powerful moment of cultural pride.
SS 2_Annahstasia Enuke VILLIAN dir by Adam Davis camera by Jeremy Herron.
Short Film: Villain (2025, 5 min, US) Directed by Adam Davis. Written & performed by Annahstasia. Produced by Rayvon Pollard. Edited by Arash Malekzadeh. Featuring Annahstasia, Kiali Barns, The Tulsa Outlaws.
Set to the soaring vocals of singer-songwriter Annahstasia, Villain is a cinematic exploration of self-reflection and the internal struggles we all face. Filmed in Tulsa and featuring local talent—including The Tulsa Outlaws and horses from D&R Ranch—this visual work blurs the line between music video and short film. Villain offers a powerful meditation on the dualities of human existence, accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful performance.
Director Adam Davis will introduce the films.
This event is presented in connection with the Black Magic Rodeo Residency, a weeklong program (May 21–27, 2025) led by Tulsa Artist Fellow Adam Davis. The residency brings together six Black image makers—Amber Aisha, Brian Edwards Jr., Samone Kidane, Qurissy Lopez, Da'Shaunae Marisa, and Tosin Popoola—to explore and document the living traditions of Black rodeo culture in Oklahoma. Residents will photograph the historic Boley Rodeo, develop their work at Tulsa Artist Fellowship’s Archer Studios, and present their final projects at a public exhibition during First Friday on June 6, from 6–9 PM.
Their work will culminate in a commemorative zine, debuting at an upcoming Tulsa Artist Fellowship First Friday event. Copies will also be available at Fulton Street Books & Coffee and preserved in the Boley Community Center's archives.
Individual film tickets are $12 each. Tulsa Artist Fellowship is committed to arts accessibility. Ticket subsidy is available for audience members experiencing hardship. Please contact info@tulsaartistfellowship.org for more information.
SS 1_Annahstasia Enuke VILLIAN dir by Adam Davis camera by Jeremy Herron.
ABOUT BLACK MAGIC
Black Magic is a multidisciplinary legacy project anchored in tintype portraits of Black people from around the world. Launched in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, its goal is to create the largest contemporary archive of Black American and Global Diasporic tintypes ever assembled. Exploring themes of belonging, placemaking, the Black rodeo, and more through a cultural anthropological lens, Black Magic remains a fluid representation of the evolving interests and concerns of its founder, Adam Davis.
ABOUT ADAM DAVIS
Adam Davis is an educator, advocate, artist, and collaborator passionate about creative and communicative storytelling as a tool for advancing diverse and equitable cultural progression at the intersection of the arts and education. Originally from Brooklyn, with deep ties to Long Island, Queens, and every place his travels take him, Davis began his photography journey in 2012 with an iPhone and a budding obsession with exploring New York City. That early fascination grew into a lifelong creative pursuit, solidified during a challenging period at a university in West Virginia and further developed through connections with the creative community in Los Angeles. Working from a small studio apartment in Koreatown—with the steadfast support of his service dog, Carmen, and a vibrant network of collaborators—Davis honed his practice in both intimate studio environments and the darkroom. He is a 2024–2026 Tulsa Artist Fellowship awardee and currently resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
ABOUT CIRCLE CINEMA
As Tulsa’s oldest movie theater, Circle Cinema celebrates creativity, the arts, and filmmakers from around the corner and across the world. We educate, enlighten, and entertain guests 365 days a year through selected features and programs that connect our community to global issues, environments, and cultures. Originally opened in 1928 as a silent movie theater, Circle Cinema now operates as the only nonprofit cinema in the area. Our mission is to use film to foster understanding and appreciation of the diversity of the human experience, creating a sense of community among our viewers.
VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Circle Cinema is committed to providing a welcoming and accessible experience for all guests. Free parking is available on-site, with wheelchair-accessible entry directly from the parking lot. Our facility is fully ADA-compliant, and assisted viewing and listening devices are available for many film screenings.
Please note that assisted viewing and listening options vary by film. For details on accessibility devices available for your next visit, please contact the Circle Cinema Box Office at 918-585-3456.
Established in 2015, the Tulsa Artist Fellowship was created as a place-based initiative by the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) to address pressing challenges faced by contemporary artists and arts workers living in and joining Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa Artist Fellowship believes the arts are critical to advancing cultural citizenship and supports community-invested practitioners who intentionally engage with our city.
Our exhibitions and events are free, documented, and archived.
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