Royal Theater

Royal Theater. Community, Culture, and Commerce - 22nd Street Corridor. At the time of its opening, admission prices were 40 cents for adults and 14 cents for children. In lieu of admission, children could also get in by bringing, enough bottle caps: from RC Cola or Whistle grape, orange, or strawberry sodas. The magic number of caps was reportedly seven. , , As an important part of the community, the Royal Theater employed many residents of the neighborhood. Often these employees, performed multiple duties. For example, Melvin Smith (pictured below) served as usher; ticket taker, and security along with Mack Faller and Richard Lawson. , , The Royal closed in 1966, about the time integration began opening St. Petersburg's previously all-white theaters to African Americans. It has been designated a local historic landmark. , , The Quonset Hut , The theater's Quonset-hut design was a popular method of construction after World War Il because the buildings were light, portable, and relatively cheap to build. The name is derived from the city where the buildings were produced: Quonset, Rhode Island. Another example of the Quonset design is the Soft Water Laundry located on the southwest corner of 22nd St. S. and 5th Ave. S., a business that, in its day, employed many residents of this community. , , Showtime , The Royal Theater was one of two theaters that African Americans could attend. The other, the Harlem, was in the Gas Plant neighborhood. , , The cry of bugles and the thunder of drums marked the theater's opening day. At the time of its opening, the Royal Theater boasted 700 seats. Its inaugural celebration included a parade featuring a marching corps directed by scout leader Charles "King" Tutson. , , A newspaper article praised it as "an inspiration for the whole. community," and it remained a major destination for 18 years. , , The Royal also earned a reputation as being a leading venue for weekly, community talent shows. An article in the December 15, 1950 edition of the Evening Independent suggests the popularity of the talent extravaganzas during which many people performed such as three-year-old dancer Anita Brown who performed a ballet to huge applause, and a quartet composed of Carl Brown, Jerome Brown, William Dorn, and Horace Cooper sang "At Night." Other performers mentioned included Johnnie B. Hawkins, Canline Payne, Bobby Burns and Frankie Mae Rivers. , (captions) , Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times. , , The Soft Water Laundry also used the quonset hut design as part of their facilities. , , Co-owners of the new Royal Theater, Bill Boardman and Horace Williams, pictured with staff before the opening of the theatre on November 23, 1948. Front row: Elois Coley, Alberta Hollins and Naomi Campbell. Back row: Celee Lanorus-Clark. Napoleon Payne and James Sumans. Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times. , , St. Petersburg Times, November 23, 1948. , , William Smith provided janitorial services for Royal Harlem Park, Stars and Cameo Reltors. After the Royal Theater closed, Mr. Smith was the first African-American staff hired at the new theater. Photo courtesy of the Tamp Bay Times.