Established on June 18, 1904, Chicago’s Pekin Theatre was the first black owned musical and vaudeville stock theatre in the United States. Between 1904 and around 1915, the Pekin Club and its Pekin Theatre served as a training ground and showcase for Black theatrical talent, vaudeville acts, and musical comedies. Additionally, the theatre allowed “African-American theatre artists with an opportunity to master theater craft and contribute significantly to the development of an emerging Black theater tradition”.[1]
Pekin Rag was written by Joe Jordan, to celebrate Robert T Motts' Pekin Club, in Chicago. The club soon became the ground-breaking, African American Pekin Theatre
The Pekin became "renowned for its all-black stock company and school for actors, an orchestra able to play ragtime and opera with equal brilliance, and a repertoire of original musical comedies."[2] Robert T Motts, founded the theatre, and brought it to prominence by presenting an all black company, seeking out an affluent interracial audience, and using his establishment for social causes. Mott died in 1911, and after that the theater faded but he had established a new pattern of successful black enterprise.[2]
Following a 1901 trip to France and the Parisian music hall, "Cafe Chantants", Robert T. Motts, a Chicago saloon keeper and gambling king was inspired to "make a contribution to his race by providing entertainment along more cultural and uplifting lines".[3] In 1904, he converted his Pekin saloon and restaurant, located at the corner of 27th and State Street, into the Pekin Theatre “Temple of Music”. Following a fire in 1906, Motts renovated the entire building, increasing the capacity from 400 to 1200, including box and lodge seating. With its own “stock company of colored artists, original musical comedies, farces, and plays written and composed by colored men", the ‘New Pekin Theatre’ re-opened on March 31, 1906 with the first production of the musical The Man from 'Bam.[4] Hiring a collection of "talented and experienced group of theatre operatives" [4] including Charles Sager as stage manager, J. Ed. Green as producing director, and Joe Jordan as the resident director of music, Motts' Pekin Theatre became the "only theatre in America playing colored artists exclusively", at a time when "most whites believed that Blacks possessed little or no skill in theater management".[1]
In all the Pekin Theatre’s all African-American staff of 18 included a press agent, a treasurer, and a house physician, as well as its acting troupe, the Pekin Stock Co., with 34 members.[4] Among the numerous actors, playwrights, and directors to have contributed to the Pekin’s enormous popularity were Charles Sidney Gilpin, Jesse A. Shipp, Harrison Stewart (1882-1918), Lottie Grady, and J.Ed Green. Despite a decline in the overall interest in vaudeville and stock theatre, and a rise in the competition from White-owned theaters in Bronzeville, Chicago, the Pekin continued thrive under Motts' ownership until his passing in 1911. According to J. Hockley Smiley of the Chicago Defender "no other funeral in the memory of the writer has brought out such a vast crowd of people as that of Mr. Motts".[5] Following his passing, the Pekin remained in the Motts' estate before being sold to various owners over the next decade, never fully reclaiming its prominent position.
By 1910, there were over 53 Black-owned and operated Theatres across the United States, including seven theatres named after Robert T. Motts' New Pekin Theatre.[4]
See alsoEdit
African Grove Theatre an African American owned live company specializing in drama that existed in 1820s New York City.
ReferencesEdit
^ abRobinson, Edward A. (1982). "The Pekin: The Genesis of American Black Theater". Black American Literature Forum. 16 (4): 136–138. doi:10.2307/2904220. JSTOR 2904220.
^ abBauman, T. The Pekin: The Rise and Fall of Chicago's First Black-Owned Theater. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2014. at Project MUSE[page needed]
^Peterson, Bernard L.; Gore, Lena McPhatter (1997). The African American Theatre Directory, 1816-1960: A Comprehensive Guide to Early Black Theatre Organizations, Companies, Theatres, and Performing Groups. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN978-0-313-29537-9.[page needed]
^ abcdMiller, Henry (2004). "Review of A History of African American Theatre". African American Review. 38 (2): 335–337. doi:10.2307/1512295. JSTOR 1512295.
^Smiley, J Hockley (22 July 1911). "T. MOTTS: Entire City Turns Out to Honor One of Its Foremost Citizens". The Chicago Defender. p. 7. ProQuest 493200866.
Further readingEdit
Thomas Bauman (2014). The Pekin: The Rise and Fall of Chicago's First Black-Owned Theater. University of Illinois Press. ISBN978-0-252-09624-2.
pekin, theatre, established, june, 1904, chicago, first, black, owned, musical, vaudeville, stock, theatre, united, states, between, 1904, around, 1915, pekin, club, served, training, ground, showcase, black, theatrical, talent, vaudeville, acts, musical, come. Established on June 18 1904 Chicago s Pekin Theatre was the first black owned musical and vaudeville stock theatre in the United States Between 1904 and around 1915 the Pekin Club and its Pekin Theatre served as a training ground and showcase for Black theatrical talent vaudeville acts and musical comedies Additionally the theatre allowed African American theatre artists with an opportunity to master theater craft and contribute significantly to the development of an emerging Black theater tradition 1 Pekin Rag was written by Joe Jordan to celebrate Robert T Motts Pekin Club in Chicago The club soon became the ground breaking African American Pekin TheatreThe Pekin became renowned for its all black stock company and school for actors an orchestra able to play ragtime and opera with equal brilliance and a repertoire of original musical comedies 2 Robert T Motts founded the theatre and brought it to prominence by presenting an all black company seeking out an affluent interracial audience and using his establishment for social causes Mott died in 1911 and after that the theater faded but he had established a new pattern of successful black enterprise 2 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingHistory EditFollowing a 1901 trip to France and the Parisian music hall Cafe Chantants Robert T Motts a Chicago saloon keeper and gambling king was inspired to make a contribution to his race by providing entertainment along more cultural and uplifting lines 3 In 1904 he converted his Pekin saloon and restaurant located at the corner of 27th and State Street into the Pekin Theatre Temple of Music Following a fire in 1906 Motts renovated the entire building increasing the capacity from 400 to 1200 including box and lodge seating With its own stock company of colored artists original musical comedies farces and plays written and composed by colored men the New Pekin Theatre re opened on March 31 1906 with the first production of the musical The Man from Bam 4 Hiring a collection of talented and experienced group of theatre operatives 4 including Charles Sager as stage manager J Ed Green as producing director and Joe Jordan as the resident director of music Motts Pekin Theatre became the only theatre in America playing colored artists exclusively at a time when most whites believed that Blacks possessed little or no skill in theater management 1 In all the Pekin Theatre s all African American staff of 18 included a press agent a treasurer and a house physician as well as its acting troupe the Pekin Stock Co with 34 members 4 Among the numerous actors playwrights and directors to have contributed to the Pekin s enormous popularity were Charles Sidney Gilpin Jesse A Shipp Harrison Stewart 1882 1918 Lottie Grady and J Ed Green Despite a decline in the overall interest in vaudeville and stock theatre and a rise in the competition from White owned theaters in Bronzeville Chicago the Pekin continued thrive under Motts ownership until his passing in 1911 According to J Hockley Smiley of the Chicago Defender no other funeral in the memory of the writer has brought out such a vast crowd of people as that of Mr Motts 5 Following his passing the Pekin remained in the Motts estate before being sold to various owners over the next decade never fully reclaiming its prominent position By 1910 there were over 53 Black owned and operated Theatres across the United States including seven theatres named after Robert T Motts New Pekin Theatre 4 See also EditAfrican Grove Theatre an African American owned live company specializing in drama that existed in 1820s New York City References Edit a b Robinson Edward A 1982 The Pekin The Genesis of American Black Theater Black American Literature Forum 16 4 136 138 doi 10 2307 2904220 JSTOR 2904220 a b Bauman T The Pekin The Rise and Fall of Chicago s First Black Owned Theater Champaign University of Illinois Press 2014 at Project MUSE page needed Peterson Bernard L Gore Lena McPhatter 1997 The African American Theatre Directory 1816 1960 A Comprehensive Guide to Early Black Theatre Organizations Companies Theatres and Performing Groups Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 313 29537 9 page needed a b c d Miller Henry 2004 Review of A History of African American Theatre African American Review 38 2 335 337 doi 10 2307 1512295 JSTOR 1512295 Smiley J Hockley 22 July 1911 T MOTTS Entire City Turns Out to Honor One of Its Foremost Citizens The Chicago Defender p 7 ProQuest 493200866 Further reading EditThomas Bauman 2014 The Pekin The Rise and Fall of Chicago s First Black Owned Theater University of Illinois Press ISBN 978 0 252 09624 2 41 50 39 1 N 87 37 37 5 W 41 844194 N 87 627083 W 41 844194 87 627083 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pekin Theatre amp oldid 1165570015, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
