Difference between revisions of "Belmont Theatre"

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The '''Belmont Theatre''' was a movie theater located at 115 East [[Belmont Street]], in the [[Long Hollow]] neighborhood. Opening in {{date needed}} during [[segregation]], the theater was owned by whites (including at one point [[Clinton Vucovich]]) but initially catered to an all-black audience. It was a part of the Southern Consolidated Circuit from 1916 until 1920, and then became an important stop in the Managers' and Performers' Circuit in [[1922]].<ref name="directory"/> The theater "opened [its] doors to white patrons" on [[August 1]] of that year, but in a reversal of normal segregation conventions, they were required to sit in the balcony while black patrons occupied the first floor.<ref name="directory">''[http://books.google.com/books?id=pH2npoewU5cC The African American Theatre Directory, 1816-1960]''</ref>
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The '''Belmont Theatre''' was a music venue and eventual movie theater located at 115 East [[Belmont Street]], in the [[Long Hollow]] neighborhood. Opening in {{date needed}} during [[segregation]], the theater was owned by whites (including at one point [[Clinton Vucovich]]) but initially catered to an all-black audience.
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[[Wikipedia:Jelly Roll Morton|Jelly Roll Morton]] played regularly at the Belmont from 1906 to 1908.<ref>http://www.doctorjazz.co.uk/page10bc.html</ref> Other early performers included [[Wikipedia:Billie Pierce|Billie Pierce]], [[Wikipedia:Bessie Smith|Bessie Smith]] and [[Wikipedia:Ida Cox|Ida Cox]].<ref>Paul Oliver. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=hw9n90DDu2MC Conversation with the Blues]''. Cambridge University Press, 1997.</ref>
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It was a part of the Southern Consolidated Circuit from 1916 until 1920, and then became an important stop in the Managers' and Performers' Circuit in [[1922]].<ref name="directory"/> The theater "opened [its] doors to white patrons" on [[August 1]] of that year, but in a reversal of normal segregation conventions, they were required to sit in the balcony while black patrons occupied the first floor.<ref name="directory">''[http://books.google.com/books?id=pH2npoewU5cC The African American Theatre Directory, 1816-1960]''</ref>
  
 
The building was damaged by fire circa 1945.<ref>''Boxoffice'', July 21, 1945.</ref> It closed in {{date needed}}.
 
The building was damaged by fire circa 1945.<ref>''Boxoffice'', July 21, 1945.</ref> It closed in {{date needed}}.

Revision as of 19:23, 2 December 2008

The Belmont Theatre was a music venue and eventual movie theater located at 115 East Belmont Street, in the Long Hollow neighborhood. Opening in (date needed) during segregation, the theater was owned by whites (including at one point Clinton Vucovich) but initially catered to an all-black audience.

Jelly Roll Morton played regularly at the Belmont from 1906 to 1908.[1] Other early performers included Billie Pierce, Bessie Smith and Ida Cox.[2]

It was a part of the Southern Consolidated Circuit from 1916 until 1920, and then became an important stop in the Managers' and Performers' Circuit in 1922.[3] The theater "opened [its] doors to white patrons" on August 1 of that year, but in a reversal of normal segregation conventions, they were required to sit in the balcony while black patrons occupied the first floor.[3]

The building was damaged by fire circa 1945.[4] It closed in (date needed).

References