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Cover Story Throwback: Calvin Lockhart

Two men in suits engage in a karate fight by a car. Text: "Karate Illustrated," "Action Gala," and article headlines. Energetic scene.
Two "Black Belt Magazine" covers featured; one with a woman in a hat, the other with a man in a red gi. Spring '25 issue promotion.

The November 1972 cover of Karate Illustrated featured action film star Calvin Lockhart, best known for his roles as Reverend Deke O'Malley in Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and Biggie Smalls in Let’s Do It Again (1975).


The cover celebrated his role in Melinda, where he played a karate-skilled disc jockey.


Oh, the ’70s!


Karate Illustrated cover: Two men in suits fighting near a car. Text highlights action scenes in "Melinda" and karate articles. Bold colors.

Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com 



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