Photo of Regal Theater: "Movie theater, Southside, Chicago, Illinois"
(1941, Library of Congress)
It is difficult for many immature people to imagine the variety of vibrant too bustling community life that surrounded the onetime site of the Regal Theater. The Savoy Ballroom complex, which would included the Regal Theater, opened on Thanksgiving nighttime inwards 1927 at 4719 S. South Parkway (later known every bit 4719 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive). The Regal Theater opened on Feb 24, 1928, giving nativity to a novel Black Chicago nightlife.
Photo: The Regal Theater: "In front end of the film theater, Chicago, Illinois"
(1941, Library of Congress)
Photo: An Exterior View of Chicago's Regal Theater
(ca. 1941, Library of Congress)
Built yesteryear the National Theater Corporation, the Regal Theater was 1 of the get-go home halls that was built specifically for the African American community's entertainment. From 1928-1971, the Regal Theater offered patrons alive performances too films.
Regal Theater acts included Louis Armstrong, County Baise, Cab Calloway, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Lena Horne, the Ink Spots, Moms Mabley, the Mills Brothers, too Bessie Smith. The keen historical acts of the home is commemorated yesteryear the community alongside a mural at the northeast corner of the intersection of 47th Street too Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.
Photo: "Crowd coming out of Regal film theater, Southside of Chicago, Illinois"
(1941, Library of Congress)
Built inwards 1926-27, the Regal Theater architect was John Eberson. Its architecture was the utter of the town. Its Castilian Baroque-revival facade too interior was based on the Moorish designs of North Africa too Spain. The auditorium ceiling was designed to deport upon the underside of an Arabian tent. The heaven too distant castles were painted into the interior facade.
The home featured deed was typically a 22-piece jazz band, the "Regalettes" chorus line, too a Barton House organist. Chicago's Bronzeville community is fond of noting that the history of its community theater predated New York's Apollo Theater too held twice its capacity.
"Art exhibit inwards the foyer of the Regal Theater, Chicago, Illinois"
(Library of Congress, 1941)
In 1973, the Regal Theater, located at 4719 S. King Dr. Street, was demolished. the New Regal Theater, originally named the Avalon, was opened yesteryear a grouping of community investors inwards 1985. The projection was spearheaded yesteryear Edward too Bettiann Gardner, founders of the Soft Sheen Products Company inwards Chicago.
The New Regal Theater Building
New Regal Theater Interior
The New Regal Theater sought to cry upward the Moorish architectural legacy of the Regal Theater inwards its roughly $10 1 chiliad m dollar renovation. The restored home was designed alongside a grand "Persian courtyard" to showcase home too musical concerts. This South Side amusement centre is located inwards the South Shore community of Chicago at 1641 E. 79th Street.
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