Attucks Theatre

Attucks Theatre. . The Attucks Theatre was an entertainment and commercial center for the region's African American community from its opening in 1919 until it closed in 1953. The commercial complex on the upper floors accommodated several professional offices. The 600-seat theatre featured movies, plays and live performances by many legendary artists of the time, including Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, and Dizzie Gillespie. , , The Twin City Amusement Corporation, an enterprise of black businessmen from Norfolk and Portsmouth, developed the theatre. Their vision was to develop a cultural center in the heart of the minority community where citizens would be treated with dignity and respect. The corporation selected Harvey N. Johnson, a local African American architect, to design the facility when he was 25 years of age. , , The theatre was named in honor of Crispus Attucks (ca.1723-1770), an African American recognized as the first patriot to die in the American Revolution. The original fire curtain hanging over the stage depicts Crispus Attucks and other Boston colonists under fire from British soldiers during the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770. Lee Lash Studios of New York designed the curtain. , , Today, the Attucks Theatre is distinguished among the nation's oldest remaining playhouses that were completely financed, designed, constructed and operated by African Americans. , (captions) , Mascaron Wall Sconce , , Stage Curtain depicting the Boston Massacre with Crispus Attucks