Huntersville in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Attucks Theatre

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Attucks Theatre Marker

Inscription. 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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

were completely financed, designed, constructed and operated by African Americans.
(captions)
Mascaron Wall Sconce

Stage Curtain depicting the Boston Massacre with Crispus Attucks

Erected by City of Norfolk.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 36° 51.407′ N, 76° 16.73′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Huntersville. It is on Church Street 0.1 miles north of East Virginia Beach Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1010 Church St, Norfolk VA 23504, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Attucks Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Attucks Theater Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); First Cavalry Baptist Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Plummer Bernard Young Sr. (1884-1962) (about 700 feet away); Cedar Grove Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elmwood Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Attucks Theatre Marker

(approx. ¼ mile away); Evelyn Thomas Butts (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

Also see . . .
1. Attucks Theatre. (Submitted on March 16, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. The Attucks Theatre. (Submitted on March 16, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Attucks Theatre image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Attucks Theatre

Attucks Theatre building ca. 1970’s image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

4. Attucks Theatre building ca. 1970’s

Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 259 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 16, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.