New Orleans Colored Waif’s Home Film Aims to Highlight Louis Armstrong’s Early Years

ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Historian and researcher Allen Y. Kimble, Jr., has announced the development of a planned feature film titled "The Colored Waif’s Home." The film aims to shed light on the overlooked figures who played pivotal roles in shaping the early life and musical career of Louis Armstrong.

Set in New Orleans, the film will explore the remarkable people and the institution known as the Colored Waif’s Home, which provided a nurturing environment for young boys, including the young Louis Armstrong. Through the leadership, care, discipline, and guidance of key figures such as Captain Joseph G. Jones, Manuella Duplessis Jones, and music instructor Professor Peter Davis, the Colored Waif’s Home became more than just an institution, it became a place where young lives could be redirected and where musical talents could flourish.

Kimble, who has spent decades researching and preserving the history of the Colored Waif’s Home and the Jones family, brings a unique personal connection to the project. His extensive body of research, which includes family recollections, historical documents, photographs, and memorabilia, will serve as the foundation for the film. The project is currently seeking to raise $10,000 through crowdfunding to produce a short proof of concept. This proof of concept will demonstrate the historical story, principal characters, tone, and cinematic vision of the proposed full-length feature while helping to attract filmmakers, collaborators, supporters, and production partners.

Kimble hopes that the project will also rally support throughout New Orleans, from its citizens, cultural and historical organizations, businesses, musicians, civic leaders, and others who recognize the importance of preserving and telling the city’s history. The film aims to highlight the perseverance, opportunity, mentorship, and music that were integral to the early years of one of the most consequential musical careers of the twentieth century.

The Colored Waif’s Home will not only honor the legacy of Louis Armstrong but also celebrate the unsung heroes who helped shape his journey. By bringing this important New Orleans story to the screen, the film seeks to educate and inspire a new generation of music lovers and history enthusiasts.

Supporters, historians, arts organizations, businesses, members of the film community, and prospective partners are invited to help bring this important New Orleans story to the screen. Contributions to the campaign, sharing the story, and joining the effort to produce "The Colored Waif’s Home" are all encouraged.

The Colored Waif’s Home will draw upon this extensive body of research to tell a story of perseverance, opportunity, mentorship, music, and the largely overlooked people who helped lay part of the foundation for one of the most consequential musical careers of the twentieth century.