The Attucks Theatre during its heyday was the focal point of entertainment, business, and racial pride in Norfolk's African American community because it was strategically located on Church Street, one of the most important and oldest thoroughfares in the city. Church street can be traced back at least to 1637 in Norfolk County's Deed Books. It was originally known as the "road leading out of town," because it was the only land route by which travelers could enter or leave the town.Farmers and traders brought many of their produce and goods into town along Church Street and a rich variety of businesses and shops developed along the very busy thoroughfare. Over the years the street became a haven for wave after wave of ethnic groups. The new arrivals opened shops along the busy street and oftentimes resided above the shops with their families. Church Street was filled with "dry goods, stores, shoe shops, and grocery stores." It was always crowded with "horses, carriages, phaetons, chairs, carts, and drays." Many slaves and free African Americans lived and worked along the busy thoroughfare also.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, African Americans were not only working and shopping along Church Street, they owned businesses there too. Church Street was the place for African American professionals to locate. The Street was the life-blood of the African American community. Enterprising businessmen saw a need for a theatre and additional office space on Church Street, so they formed an investment corporation.
The Twin Cities Amusement Corporation was composed of African American businessmen of Norfolk and Portsmouth. The leading stockholders were Frank G. Russell, H.C. Young, G. Hamilton Francis, E.D. Burke, F.E. Puryear, and L.A. Howell. They held approximately seventy percent of the stock and the remainder was distributed in small blocks among four or five hundred investors. The stock was sold at $10.00 per share, and a payment policy was adopted so that even persons of modest means could purchase one share. A down payment of $2.50 was due the day of the subscription, $5.00 in 60 days, and $2.50 was due 120 days from the date of contract.
The investors contracted a young African American architect, Harvey N. Johnson to design and build the structure. It was a combination theatre and office building with twenty-one offices which were rented by physicians, realtors, lawyers, store keepers, insurance agents, and a dentist. The theatre had an auditorium that seated 600 people. The auditorium consisted of an orchestra pit, balcony and a gallery with box seats.
The name of the theatre, "Attucks" commemorates Crispus Attucks, an African American man who was the first American patriot to lose his life in the Boston Massacre of 1770. A fire curtain on which is painted a scene depicting the Massacre hung from the ceiling and still remains in the theatre today.
The Attucks Theatre is a symbol of the African American community's attempt to deal with the reality of segregation because African American shoppers were not welcomed in the downtown areas where whites shopped, and certainly, they could not socialize or seek entertainment in those areas.
The Attucks Theatre had a policy of giving the people the very best at the lowest possible price. Two acts were scheduled every week. The admission price was 25 cents. High-class pictures were shown daily in addition to the scheduled acts.
In the early life of the theatre, some of the best stars appeared on stage. One of those stars was Mamie Smith. It was said that she was one of the greatest blues singers in the world. Her concert was advertised as being "the highest priced and classiest aggregation ever to play Norfolk."
On March 11, 1921, the management of the Attucks Theatre presented the public with the first Midnight Ramble. The first attempt to give Norfolk theatregoers a midnight show was more than a success. The play house was packed from pit to dome and the crowd spilled out into the lobby. The movie "Dixie Bell" was the main feature and the Luke Scott Players appeared afterwards.
Although the Attucks was known for occasionally packing people in, a full house was not kept year round and operating expenses were extremely high. On Wednesday, October 18, 1922, the Attucks Theatre was sold at auction. It was acquired by the Levy Brothers, theatre operators from New York City. Robert Levy was the president of the Lafayette Players Corporation, whose name appears on the deed.
On June 27, 1924, the Attucks Theatre once again came under African American control when the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company acquired it. While under the ownership of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, two motion picture projectors, a 12x16 gold and silver picture screen, and a pipe organ were added to the theatre.
On November 25, 1933, the Attucks Theatre closed. The theatre was reopened Sunday night, December 31, 1933, at the beginning of the new year at 12:01 (technically the date was January 1, 1934) as the Booker T. The old building had been given a thorough renovation and redecoration which once again placed it on the level with the best picture houses in the country.
Many films were shown at the theatre. Warner Brothers' all star dramatic musical spectacle, "Gold Diggers of 1933," was the opening show which played for the first four days. Other pictures shown were, "The Man From Monteray," "Broadway to Hollywood," "Storm at Daybreak," "Imitation of Life," "Huckleberry Finn," and many more.
Movies were not the soul purpose of the theatre. Every Friday local groups would perform on talent night. Booker T. Washington High School held its commencement exercises there, and churches used the theatre for conducting special programs.
In the late 1940's and early 1950's entertainers such as Mom's Mabley, Redd Foxx, Dinah Washington, Bull Moose Jackson, Jimmy Reed, the Flamingoes, Clyde McPhatter, and several other nationally known stars appeared at the Booker T.
On April 15, 1955, Stark and Legum Clothiers purchased the Attucks Theatre. Along with the purchasing of the Attucks came a restriction on the building's use. It could not be used for any theatrical purposes for a period of twenty years from the day the current occupant vacated the premises. Stark and Legum used the building for a clothing store and pawn shop; the auditorium accomodated its storage needs.
In the early 1960's, Stark and Legum Clothiers altered the original entrance to the building. Fortunately, the interior lobby and the theatre proper received minimal alterations. Enough of the original architecture remained in tact that the building qualified for placement on the Virginia Landmark Register and on the National Register of Historic Places.
On October 15, 1986, the Attucks Theatre was sold by Stark and Legum Clothiers to its current owner, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA). NRHA is very optimistic about the restoration of the Attucks Theatre.
The City of Norfolk is also very interested in the restoration of the building. Norfolk's Vice Mayor Joseph N. Green Jr. has taken a personal interest in efforts to renovate the Attucks Theatre. He, along with the Crispus Attucks Cultural Center (CACC), a non-profit organization formed to raise money for the restoration of the theatre, have been working diligently to bring the theatre back to life.
Members of the CACC and citizens of the community envision the Attucks Theatre being used for theatrical purposes once again. They also envision the theatre being used as a cultural center and museum. They would like for local theatrical and artistic groups in need of a business address to utilize the office space.
The cuurrently 76 year old structure known as the Attucks Theatre is the keeper of many special memories for many people in the African American community. Most of the African American history in this area has been torn apart and forgotten. This is the perfect opportunity for the citizens of Hampton Roads to come together and help make the dream of restoring the Attucks Theatre a reality.
by Stacy Walker
and Denise Christian
For more information on how you can help, send E-mail to the Attucks
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