What is your favorite Black theater growing up?

[richardmurray]

 

Name names:) if none , say none

https://aalbc.com/tc/events/event/452-opening-for-the-boone-theatre-from-the-black-movie-hall-of-fame%C2%A0/

 

[aka Contrarian]

Below is a picture of what was the only theater in my hometown back in the day, and it has since been demolished to make room for a mini mall.

In its heyday,  it was a beautiful movie palace, and it holds a special place in my heart because, for years, my mother worked there part-time as the ladies room attendant, and I got into the show for free.

From the time beginning around 6 years old until I went off to college in my teens. I would go there at least once a week, depending on whether or not I wanted to see what was playing.

I remember going there to see both "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone With the Wind" when they originally came out waaay back in 1939. 

This easy accessibility is undoubtedly why I used to be a big movie buff.

 

[Chevdove]

 

 

I was shuffled around a lot when I was young so, I have several memories of going to theaters and enjoying productions.

I remember going to a college theater in Pennsylvania to see 'the Princess and the Pea'.

Then I remember in Va. Beach, Va. my mother taking me to Pembroke Mall theater to see, Cecil B. DeMill's production of 'The Ten Commandments' and how Civil Rights leaders of the day, did not like it that right next door to that movie was a cartoon about 'Tar Baby' [?]. 

In Texas I remember going to the theaters. I saw a thriller 'Carrie', and I think I saw the movie, 'Jaws' and also, 'Billy Joe' or something like that. 

Then in California, I remember going to the theaters and I enjoyed seeing Diana Ross and Michael Jackson in 'the Wiz'. 

Growing up though, it was not a great desire for me to go to the movies, but it was nice sometimes.

But the Black Theater that means the most to me is when I went to college and also auditioned and, to my shock and surprise, I was selected to be in some productions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks so different now! 

The NSU Theater Company, I found out, was big time! I couldn't believe it!

It's been so many years ago that I have to think back to remember how I even got into it.

But it was so fun. But now, it expanded even more!

They are award winning! Crazy.

It is one of the best times of my life. 

The head of the company was very well known, Robert Wynne Jackson and he hired major artist, for instance, once a man from Harlem Theater to train his 

actors and dancers. I auditioned as a dancer. I was in the production, 'Raisin In the Sun' and 'Ain't MisBehavin'. All of his productions were sold out performances. 

It was an insane learning experience for me. Auditions were tough, especially for Ain't MisBehavin because only four dancers were selected and I was the only college student selected. the other three were invited and professional dancers and they intimidated me intensely. I had to learn tap dancing and I had to practice for hours relentlessly. My legs swelled up like crazy. Our costumes were shipped and I had to go to a beauty salon to get finger waves!

 

The third audition the next year was for the production 'Bubbling Brown Sugar' and guess what!? I was pre-selected to be the main character. Lol. But because, I became depressed and went through hard times with my mother and etc. I declined. Mr. Jackson had people come to my home and sent a famous man to try and convince me to be the star, but it was too much for me. I did not want to be a star and have to deal with so much 'behind the scenes' troubles that goes along with being a celebrity. They were very upset, but even today, I have no regrets. I just recently heard about the lovely talk show host, Sherri, and in how her show was just cancelled. At times, she became very emotional on her show and spoke about the things that some of them have to go through to be celebrities and it brought back memories. 

 

Sherri spoke about the recent docu-series about the Supermodel, Tyra Banks, and man are they trying to drag her through the mud!

Some people are saying that Tyra was too hard on Black models, but I disagree. In fact, she did the opposite. Tyra went all out to try and help

Black girls who otherwise would not even have a chance!

That is my opinion. I do see that she went off on one model, but that girl was rough and I think that she should have thought about Tyra before she reacted in the way that she did when she was faced with a conflict, one time, at a bar when a White model poured beer on her hair. That particular Black model said herself, that she was kicked out of her high school for fighting. Yes, she is gorgeous, but her behavior was pretty bad. 

Anyway, I have digressed, but I stopped watching that show years ago though, after Tocarra was eliminated. 

I had no idea it got a bad rap until it came up on my channel recently. 

 

[Pioneer1]

 

The Fine Arts Theater in Detroit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been down a while, but I had some fun and a lot of education there.
 

It was a "live" theater that featured plays and speakers.
I remember seeing Khalid Muhammad in real life for the first time down there.

[richardmurray]

Common ground achieved, arguably my most positively responsed post. I am very happy:) 

thank you again @aka Contrarian @Chevdove @Pioneer1

 

beautiful memories from you all:) thank you for sharing.