Starr, Milton

Description

Letter from Milton Starr, president of Theatre Owners Booking Association (T.O.B.A.), a Tennessee-based booking agency from 1920 to the 1930s for African American vaudeville acts, to Ben Stein, owner and manager of the Douglass Theatre, dated February 4, 1928, responding to Stein's refusal to pay sixty percent to Irvin Miller's show, Desires, for an engagement at the Douglass Theatre. Informed of Stein's counteroffer by Mr. Reevin, probably Sam E. Reevin, manager and treasurer of T.O.B.A., Starr questions Stein's decision. He explains that arrangements have already been made for Miller to produce a show every month for T.O.B.A., and that they will all play at the Douglass Theatre according to the route that he has laid out. Starr assures Stein of the quality of the shows. He adds that Miller's shows will not play for less than sixty percent unless they get a one thousand dollar guarantee on the week, in which case they will take fifty-five percent. Starr tempts Stein with the promise of shows to come, including Blue Baby and Tokio. Starr mentions that dates for Augusta and Columbia are at sixty percent and complains that it has taken him considerable trouble to arrange the route and that Stein will wreck the route unless he agrees to the same percentage. Starr notes that these shows mean money for him and he is anxious to retain the original route. He deems impossible Stein's offer of fifty-five percent with less than a six hundred dollar guarantee. Starr assures Stein that he...

Record Contributed By

Middle Georgia Archives

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia