African American Theater Buildings : An Illustrated Historical Directory, 1900-1960
African American Theater Buildings : An Illustrated Historical Directory, 1900-1960
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Author(s): Smith, Eric Ledell
ISBN No.: 9780786415298
Pages: 294
Year: 200310
Format: Trade Cloth (Hard Cover)
Price: $ 103.50
Status: Out Of Print

African American theater buildings were theaters owned or managed by blacks or whites for an African American audience. Such theaters were nickelodeons, vaudeville houses, musical houses and neighborhood movie theaters. Although nearly 2000 African American theater buildings existed in the 20th century, very little has been written about them. The 1,850 theater buildings owned or managed from 1900 to 1960, are arranged by state, then by city, and then alphabetically under the name by which they were known to African American audiences. The street address, dates of operation, number of seats, architect, whether it was a member of TOBA (Theater Owners Booking Association), type of theater (nickelodeon, vaudeville, musical, drama or picture), alternate name(s), race and name of manager or owner, whether the audience was mixed, and the fate of the theater are the details given for each. Commentary by theater historians is also provided.


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