Introduction: The Regal Theater and Black Culture

Abstract

The Regal Theater was the greatest movie-stage-show venue in the United States ever constructed to specifically service a major African American community. Located in Chicago’s South Side, African American community that was known as “Bronzeville” or the “Black Belt,” the Regal was a neighborhood motion picture “palace” that was part of a state-of-the-art commercial and entertainment complex. This complex included the prominent Chicago Savoy Ballroom and South Center Department Store. The Regal Theater provided live entertainment and motion pictures from 1928 through 1968 but was most recognized for its live stage shows. The story of the Regal Theater reveals critical details regarding the chronology and context of African American innovation and participation in vaudeville, feature films, comedy, dance, European classical music, jazz as a dance music, bebop and progressive jazz, blues, jump blues, rhythm and blues, gospel, and so on. It is an important medium for understanding momentous shifts and developments in twentieth century African American popular and entertainment culture.KeywordsOrganize CrimeBlack CommunityMotion PictureRegal TheaterBlack BusinessThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.