Howard Theatre

The Howard Theatre, a national Historic Landmark is one the great African American theaters. Built in 1910, it is the Nation's oldest legitimate theater devoted to African American performing arts. The theater was founded and owned by the white-owned National Amusement Company. Andrew Thomas served as manager of the theater during its early years. Sherman Dudley, an actor, producer, and entrepreneur, leased and ran the theater beginning in 1922. Abe Lichtman, a white owner of a chain of movie houses took over the theater in 1926. The theater flourished during the early decades of the 20th century and became a staging area for black entertainment industry during the 1920s, and 1930's. Among some of the most notable to perform at the theatre are Billie Holiday, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, Sara Vaughn, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie. By the late 1960's, due in part to racial desegregation and the 1968 riots the theatre had difficulty attracting patrons. The theater closed in 1970 but due to the efforts of the Howard Theatre Foundation reopened in 1975. Unfortunately five years later in 1980 the theatre closed for a second time. The Theatre reopened in 2012. Due to the efforts of the Howard Theatre Foundation the theatre was placed on the national register of historic places on February 15, 1974. Three years after the close in 1975 the theatre reopened. On March 10, 1977 the theatre was acquired from the Small Business Administration in part with a grant from the United Black Fund. The Howard Theater Foundation was established in 1973 by a group of local citizens to reestablish and preserve the cultural legacy of the Howard Theatre. The foundation purposes was to preserve the Howard Theatre as a viable cultural institution, foster recognition and appreciation of the African American contribution to the performing arts, foster recognition of outstanding local talent, provide suitable facilities for the presentation of theater, music and dance, and to institute programs for training and development of new talent in theatre, music and dance. The Howard Theatre Foundation collaborated with various cultural and historic organizations, including, Operation Heritage Inc., Tomorrow's World Art Center, and NUV-1.