Dunbar Theatre (Philadelphia) facts for kids
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The Dunbar Theatre was a large entertainment spot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It had 1600 seats and was a popular place for both plays and jazz music. It was located right on the corner of Lombard Street and Broad Street. The theatre first opened its doors in 1919. Over the years, it was also known as the Gibson Theatre and later the Lincoln Theatre.
The Dunbar Theatre's Story
The Dunbar Theatre first opened on December 29, 1919. It was started by two African-American businessmen, E. C. Brown and Andrew Stevens, Jr. For its grand opening, a famous theatre group from the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem came to perform. They were raising money for important groups like the NAACP, which worked for civil rights.
The group performed a show called Shuffle Along. This show later became very famous on Broadway. It was special because it was the first Broadway production with an all-Black cast and crew.
New Owners and New Names
After a while, Brown and Stevens faced money problems. In September 1921, a successful businessman named John T. Gibson bought the theatre. He paid $420,000 for it. Gibson renamed the club the Gibson Theatre. Along with another theatre he owned, the Standard Theatre, this made Gibson one of the richest African-American men in Philadelphia during the 1920s.
However, even Gibson faced challenges. The Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs and money, affected his business. In December 1929, he had to sell the theatre. New owners bought it and changed its name again, this time to the Lincoln Theatre.
A Hub for Jazz Music
The Lincoln Theatre became a very popular place for jazz music in the 1930s and 1940s. Many famous musicians and singers performed there. Some of these legendary artists included Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, and the amazing dancing duo, the Nicholas Brothers.
Today, you can find a special historical marker in Philadelphia. It's located at 500 South Broad Street, on the corner of Broad and Lombard Streets. This sign helps everyone remember the Dunbar Theatre. It reminds us of its important role in history as a successful place for Black performers from the 1920s to the 1940s.
