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A fact from Laura Bowman appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 16 June 2026 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
Did you know... that Laura Bowman starred in the first sound horror film with an all-black cast?
@TarnishedPath: Nobody raised objection to the modified hook which addressed the issue. Not sure what your thinking is here in regards to the solution offered. There isn't any evidence that the modified hook is a problem, and nobody has stated so. I'm not seeing another hook, so my preference is to go with this modified claim.4meter4 (talk) 14:45, 11 June 2026 (UTC)[reply]
@4meter4: I saw that you suggest a variation; however, I didn't see any agreeance to it. Narutolovehinata5 stated that they thought it best to go in a different direction. TarnishedPathtalk23:37, 11 June 2026 (UTC)[reply]
@TarnishedPath: Narutolovehinata5 never reviewed the hook, and he always says that about every "first hook". He has a well documented bias in that area that resulted in an RFC where he got over ruled. I wouldn't consider him a reliable reviewer on any first hook because he is against using them in pretty much all cases, and routinely asks for alt hooks every time a first hook is proposed. I don't think pulling this was the right call.
Is there a valid reason why the alt hook is not usable? It is verified to the source, and doesn't conflict with the WP:OR brought forward on the silent film. As I said, I can't think of another hook. Asking for another isn't going to produce one, at least not from me.4meter4 (talk) 23:44, 11 June 2026 (UTC)[reply]
@4meter4: here's a few ideas. Some may need to article to be expanded a little.
She was in In Dahomey, "the first full-length musical written and played by blacks to be performed at a major Broadway house."
She toured Europe and Russia as early as 1903. I don't imagine that was all that common for African-American performers.
She cofounded Negro Art Theatre. The theatre's first production dealt with racian injustice in southern USA.
She had four mariages and struggled with alcoholism until her fourth marriage.
I see that you've adjusted ALT0 to include the word "sound" in it and that can be considered by whoever reviews this. If they have no problem with it then it will take away some of Narutolovehinata5's argument. TarnishedPathtalk03:25, 12 June 2026 (UTC)[reply]
@TarnishedPath: Thank you for the suggestions, but I am not particularly thrilled with any these ideas. Regarding Alt0, this adjustment was already made and put forward in the other discussion before you pulled the hook. It's the same wording that was in the prep at the time it was pulled. Nobody objected to that change. It's the same fact that was ticked earlier but with a narrower scope/qualified claim.
1)Bowman was in the chorus of the Broadway production of In, Dahomey. It is an important show, but her part in the New York production was minor. At least in the horror movie she had a leading role.
2) African-Americans performing in 19th and early 20th century Europe was not as unusual as you might think. Minstrel shows with black cast members toured Europe as early as the early 1850s and continued with increasing frequency after the American Civil War. Sissieretta Jones (aka Black Patti) and her troubadours did European tours in the 19th century for example. There are some interesting books that discuss 19th century touring minstrel shows with black entertainers that cover European trips (some also went to North Africa and the Middle East as well as Russia) long before In Dahomey was created and Bowman and her husband ended up in Europe. The 19th century British music hall had visiting African American performers as well with a rich history of black entertainers from the 1860s on.
3) The Negro Art Theatre (NAT) is obscure, and plays dealing with racial injustice are not uncommon. NAT is probably a "specialized knowledge" issue. It isn't going to appeal to a general audience.
4)She struggled with alcoholism in the early 1930s after the death of her third husband. She was not an alcoholic before then. Being an alcoholic isn't unusual. Having four husbands isn't so unusual in Hollywood. Not sure any of these would be hooky. Best.4meter4 (talk) 04:05, 12 June 2026 (UTC)[reply]
The article was recently 5× expanded. The hook is interesting and verified by the source. Nice work! ~WikiOriginal-9~ (talk) 18:40, 21 May 2026 (UTC)
, I've pulled this for further discussion/workshopping to occur. Pinging involved editors @4meter4, @Dclemens1971, @JuniperChill, @Launchballer, @Narutolovehinata5 and @Zzz plant. TarnishedPathtalk 05:07, 11 June 2026 (UTC)
