United States, Georgia, Bibb County, Macon, 32.84069, -83.6324United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798United States, Georgia, Lowndes County, Valdosta, 30.83334, -83.28032Stein, Luke1927-07-08Letter from Luke Stein, owner and manager of the Palace Theatre in Valdosta, Georgia, to his brother Ben Stein, owner and manager of the Douglass Theatre, dated July 8, 1927, providing advice about the theater business. Luke attempts to calm his brother's fears about declining theater patronage, pointing to the fact that Ben is making expenses, and noting that business is bad everywhere. He reports that his business is fine but that business at the other theater is not. Luke complains that it is impossible for him to do business with the Ritz Theatre, as the rent is too much and the town cannot stand it. He explains that the "colored" singers for whom he sent Ben a contract are the Dixie Harmonizers, three men and a woman who is also a piano player. Luke adds that the performers will provide heralds, but advises that Ben not play them until they are thoroughly advertised. He mentions that Jennings, a man from Jacksonville, put on a boxing match, and that he will write to Ben soon and come to Macon on the 16th to discuss arrangements for a match. Luke reports that he arranged to pay Jennings fifty-fifty, paying for printing himself and Jennings paying for the fighters and other expenses. He asks Ben to answer Jennings' letter, should he write. Luke counsels his brother that the biggest showmen do not worry about the competition, but focus on their own business. He relates that he is enclosing a letter that he wants Ben to send to the Film Board of Trade. Luke asserts that he and his brother are due damages because the board let another theater have the film The Fire Fighters at the same time that they were showing it, and asks Ben to obtain written proof. He notes that he will have someone represent him, as it will be impossible for him to be there due to a meeting. Luke relates that he may come to Macon on Sunday and mentions that he would like Sophia to visit. The ten-episode silent serial The Fire Fighters was released in January of 1927 and starred Jack Daugherty, Helen Ferguson, Wilbur McGaugh, and Lafe McKee. It is presumed lost. See also dbr024 for film board's reply and dbr083 for Luke's discussion of their claim.Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2005, as part of Georgia HomePLACE. This project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.image/jpegtext/htmldbr083http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/Manuscript held by the Middle Georgia Archives, Washington Memorial Library, Charles Henry Douglass, Jr. business records, 1906-1967, box 22, folder 223, document 8.Atlanta Film Board of TradeDixie HarmonizersBoxing--Georgia--MaconContracts for work and labor--GeorgiaBreach of contract--GeorgiaNegotiation--GeorgiaMotion picture theaters--GeorgiaTheaters--Georgia--MaconAfrican American musicians--Georgia--MaconVaudeville--Georgia--MaconAdvertising fliers--Georgia--MaconAdvertising--Georgia--MaconObligations (Law)--Georgia--MaconFire fighters (Motion picture : 1927)Douglass Theatre (Macon, Ga.)Palace Theatre (Valdosta, Ga.)Jennings, Joe, boxing managerStein, BenLetter: Valdosta, Georgia to Ben Stein, Macon, Georgia, 1927 July 8Text