Reevin, Sam E

Description

Letter from Sam E. Reevin, manager 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 Charles Henry Douglass, Jr., African American entrepreneur and owner of the Douglass Theatre, dated December 15, 1924, regarding stage acts booked at the Douglass Theatre. Reevin confirms that the Douglass Theatre is booked for three acts next week and lists the acts with their salaries. He mentions that the acts will come from the Eighty-One Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Charles F. Bailey, known for being hard on performers, ran the white-owned Eighty-One Theatre, located on Decatur Street. Reevin advises the addition of a fourth act since next week is Christmas week. He directs Douglass to wire him if he can use only three acts, and that he will substitute a team act for Doorkey Singleton, an eccentric dancer. Reevin confirms that the Douglass Theatre is booked with the Mae Wilson Brown Beauties for the week of December 29, and mentions their route and salary. He advises that he can book the LaFayette Players in their new production, The Unborn, during the week of January 5th and reminds Douglass of the company's good reputation. The company, originally based in Harlem, was in existence from 1915 to 1932 and produced serious, legitimate dramas, melodramas, musicals, and opera. Several alumni went on to star in Micheaux's films and other race movies. Reevin adds that the show will play in Atlanta for two weeks. He requests that...

Record Contributed By

Middle Georgia Archives

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia