Film Birmingham is proud to spotlight our local film community with Tuxedo Junction.

Released in 2024, Tuxedo Junction: The Almost Lost Story is both a powerful music documentary and an important historical portrait of Birmingham’s Black cultural legacy. Centered around the legendary Ensley entertainment district and the famed venue known as Tuxedo Junction, the film explores how the building evolved through multiple incarnations as a thriving hub for Black-owned businesses, nightlife, and community life during segregation, when spaces created by and for African Americans were essential to the city’s cultural identity. Beyond telling the story of a historic music venue, the documentary also stands as a great example of Birmingham filmmaking itself, utilizing local historians, musicians, archivists, and community voices to authentically capture the city’s history and character. By filming throughout Birmingham and relying heavily on local talent and crew members, the production demonstrates how regional filmmaking can preserve stories that might otherwise be overlooked while also investing directly back into the city’s creative community. The movie’s attention to local detail, from Ensley landmarks to oral histories and neighborhood memories, gives it an authenticity that could only come from filmmakers deeply connected to Birmingham and its people. Through archival photographs, interviews, and on-location footage, the documentary highlights not only Birmingham’s enormous influence on American music history, but also the importance of supporting local artists and filmmakers dedicated to preserving that legacy for future generations.

The film traces the history of Ensley and the original Tuxedo Junction entertainment district, while exploring the legacy of Birmingham-born trumpeter and bandleader Erskine Hawkins and his famous swing-era composition Tuxedo Junction. It also highlights the influence of educator John T. ‘Fess’ Whatley, connections to The Temptations, and the broader Black musical history of Birmingham through institutions like Parker High School and the Tuggle Institute. Featuring remarkable archival material and insightful interviews, the documentary serves as both a celebration of Birmingham’s artistic legacy and a reminder of the importance of preserving the stories