Jacksonville’s Norman Studios is a trip back to the days of silent “race films”

Norman Studios, located in Jacksonville, Florida, stands as a remarkable piece of American film history and cultural heritage. Originally established as Eagle Film City in 1916 and later purchased by Richard E. Norman in the early 1920s, it became one of the first studios in the nation to produce “race films” that starred African American actors in dignified, positive roles—an effort especially significant during a time when racial barriers in the entertainment industry were firmly in place. The five-building complex, situated in Jacksonville’s Old Arlington neighborhood, is now preserved as a museum and historical site, serving as a testament to the city’s legacy as the “Winter Film Capital of the World” and its contribution to silent films. Norman Studios today hosts regular tours, educational programs, and restoration efforts, celebrating its unique role in representing African American actors and filmmakers from the silent film era.