Blues, Black vaudeville, and the silver screen, 1912-1930s : selections from the records of Macon's Douglass Theatre
Records of Macon's African American theater, the Douglass Theatre, from 1912 to the 1930s from the Middle Georgia Archives
More About This Collection
Creator
Douglass, Charles Henry, 1870-1940
Date of Original
1912/1939
Subject
Douglass, Charles Henry, 1870-1940--Archives
Micheaux, Oscar, 1884-1951
Stein, Ben--Archives
Douglass Theatre (Macon, Ga.)--Archives
Norman Film Manufacturing Company--History--20th century--Sources
Theatre Owners Booking Association--History--20th century--Sources
African American boxers--Georgia--History--20th century--Sources
African American entertainers--History--20th century--Sources
African Americans--Georgia--Macon--Social life and customs
African Americans--Recreation--Georgia--Macon--History--20th century--Sources
African Americans in motion pictures--History--20th century--Sources
African Americans in the motion picture industry--History--20th century--Sources
Blues (Music)
Race films
Theaters--Georgia--Macon--History--20th century--Sources
Theaters--Southern States--History--20th century--Sources
Vaudeville--Georgia--Macon--History--20th century--Sources
Vaudeville--Southern States--History--20th century--Sources
Location
United States, Georgia, Bibb County, Macon, 32.84069, -83.6324
United States, Georgia, Chatham County, Savannah, 32.08354, -81.09983
United States, Georgia, Cobb County, 33.94147, -84.57667
United States, Georgia, Dougherty County, 31.53337, -84.21625
United States, Georgia, Dougherty County, Albany, 31.57851, -84.15574
United States, Georgia, Fulton County, 33.79025, -84.46702
United States, Georgia, Laurens County, 32.46366, -82.92224
United States, Georgia, Lowndes County, 30.83386, -83.26771
United States, Georgia, Lowndes County, Valdosta, 30.83334, -83.28032
United States, Georgia, Muscogee County, Columbus, 32.46098, -84.98771
United States, Georgia, Richmond County, Augusta, 33.47097, -81.97484
Medium
account books
advertising cards
agreements
bookkeeping records
calendars (documents)
circulars (fliers)
contracts
correspondence
declaratory and advertising artifacts
financial records
financial statements
fliers (printed matter)
handbills
legal documents
legal instruments
letters (correspondence)
news bulletins
periodicals
publications
records (documents)
serials (publications)
texts (document genres)
Type
Still Image, Text
Description
The online collection consists of selected correspondence, financial records, contracts, and advertising materials from the Douglass Theatre's records in the Middle Georgia Archives' Charles Henry Douglass, Jr. business records, and it documents the amusements available to Macon's African American population and the business dealings of this African American entrepreneur from 1912 to the 1930s. The bulk of these selected records feature the period between 1920 and 1929, and describe the sporting events, vaudeville, and films brought to the theater, as well as the efforts to ensure its financial success. Handbills and booking correspondence document Georgia-based fighters such as Tiger Flowers and Texas Tanner who sought to fight at the venue in 1927. Douglass and Ben Stein, a white businessman who assumed ownership of the theater between 1927 and 1929, were affiliated with the Theatre Owners Booking Association (T.O.B.A.), a vaudeville circuit. This gave them access to bring prominent acts to Macon's African American community, such as well-known blues musicians Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, comedians Butterbeans and Susie, as well as musicals, revues, and sacred theater. When not hosting live acts, the Douglass also exhibited a wide variety of sound and silent motion pictures. Selected records feature race films (movies made specifically for African American audiences) of producers such as the Norman Film Manufacturing Company and Oscar Micheaux. The selections highlight other Southern African American theaters, such as the Palace Theatre in Valdosta, Georgia, Liberty Theatre in Columbus, Georgia, and the Liberty Theatre in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Web site also contains indexes to the documents, an introductory essay, and the finding aid for Douglass's business records.
Language
eng
Original Collection
Charles Henry Douglass business records, Theater records series, Middle Georgia Archives, Macon, Ga.
Holding Institution
Washington Memorial Library, Middle Georgia Regional Library
Rights
Search Constraints
You searched for: Subject Douglass Theatre (Macon, Ga.)--Archives Remove constraint Subject: Douglass Theatre (Macon, Ga.)--Archives Location United States, Georgia, Lowndes County Remove constraint Location: United States, Georgia, Lowndes County Location United States, Georgia, Richmond County, Augusta Remove constraint Location: United States, Georgia, Richmond County, Augusta Medium financial statements Remove constraint Medium: financial statements Holding Institution Washington Memorial Library, Middle Georgia Regional Library Remove constraint Holding Institution: Washington Memorial Library, Middle Georgia Regional LibrarySearch Results
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