As a child, Clovis E. Semmes braved long lines to see
the extraordinary stage shows at the Regal Theater in his
south side Chicago neighborhood. Though it provided much
entertainment for the youth of his generation, most young
patrons never knew the history that surrounded the theater.
As an adult, Semmes looked back at the entertainment venue
and the community around it, choosing the landmark from
his childhood as the subject of his latest book, "The Regal
Theater and Black Culture."
 |
A REGAL REVIEW: Clovis Semmes, an EMU
professor of African American studies,
recently
wrote a book, "The Regal Theater
and Black Culture"
that explores the
history of the only theater palace
built
specifically for an African American
community. |
The book, 20 years in the making, investigates
the history of Chicago's Regal Theater and the culture
that surrounds it. Located in the historic black community
known as the "Black Belt" or "Bronzeville," the Regal Theater
was the only theater palace ever built specifically for
an African American community.
"Most people know about the Apollo, in New York, but the
Regal was really the most architecturally splendid, black-oriented
theater ever built," said Semmes, an EMU professor of African
American studies.
Though not necessarily as well known as the Apollo, the
Regal Theater predated the Apollo and helped shape the
entertainment culture for which the Apollo came to be known.
While it was common for many white investors to build
businesses in the black community, the Regal was unique
in that, from start to finish, it was designed as a high-quality
establishment. Unlike many other white-owned venues, the
Regal, its entertainment and its services could rival those
found at white establishments.
"Chicago was unique in that companies built theater palaces," said
Semmes. "They were intended to bring awe."
Chicago's theater palaces were built in an ornate style,
often imitating French palaces. The Regal could seat 2,800.
Its lobby rose up to 160 feet and could accommodate 1,500
people. It was circled by a balconade, where musicians
played for patrons who were awaiting seats. The theater
contained marble floors from Italy, silks from the Orient,
chandeliers from Belgium and leather from Morocco. The
total cost was $1.5 million dollars.
The Regal Theater was a combination movie theater and
live entertainment venue, intended to showcase top performers
and first-run films. The Regal had its own in-house entertainment,
employing a jazz band, symphony orchestra, its own choreographer
and chorus line, and a staff of 65. The theater was one
of the first white-owned businesses to hire black people
for jobs other than manual labor. It was an important economic
activity for the area, providing jobs for local entertainers.
In addition to in-house talent, the Regal hosted performers
such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole,
Josephine Baker, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the
Temptations, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder,
Aretha Franklin and B. B. King.
"I grew up in the area and went there when I was younger," said
Semmes, of the theater. "It wasn't until later in life
that I realized the importance of it."
Though the theater opened in 1928, Semmes only experienced
the theater firsthand in its last decade of operation,
when the theater was in its decline. Even though it wasn't
at its peak, to Semmes "the Regal could not have been better." Semmes'
generation saw performers such as James Brown, Patti LaBelle,
Gladys Knight, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. The Regal
closed in 1968 and was torn down in 1973.
Semmes became interested in researching the theater in
the mid-1980s, when the Avalon Theater was renamed "The
New Regal." The original Regal had been owned by The Balaban
and Katz Theater chain, which was a subsidiary of Paramount.
The New Regal was to be opened as a self-sustaining non-profit,
in honor of its namesake. Semmes did some research on the
original Regal for this project.
Although the New Regal closed in 2003, Semmes's interest
in the theater continues through the present. After his
original research in the mid-1980s, Semmes took a break
to write four other books. He resumed his work on
the Regal about a decade later.
Semmes' research took years of reading documents on microfilm.
He went through every issue of the Chicago Defender, the
leading black newspaper in the area, published while the
theater was open. He also consulted other black newspapers
with national circulation, mainstream publications, biographies,
personal collections and even conducted a few interviews
with people who attended the opening of the theater.
"The Regal Theater and Black Culture" was published April
2006 by Palgrave Macmillan, and is available through the
publisher. For more information, go to www.palgrave-usa.com or
call (800) 330-8477.
