Document: dbr023  [view transcript]

Letter: Macon, Georgia to Oscar Micheaux, Chicago, Illinois, 1927 July 8


author: Stein, Ben
extent: [1] p.
date: July 8, 1927
summary: File copy of a letter (probably from Ben Stein, owner and manager of the Douglass Theatre from 1927 to 1929) to Oscar Micheaux, seminal African American film director, producer, and president of the Micheaux Film Corporation, dated July 8, 1927, regarding film scheduling. The writer tells Micheaux that The Conjure Woman arrived on time, but that because he was informed that the film would arrive late, he had problems with advertising and failed to draw a large number of people. The writer expresses the opinion that the advertising material would be improved with more pictures of scenes on the advertising. The writer concludes that the picture was well-received and mentions that he sent it to New York City. The Conjure Woman, released in 1926, starred Evelyn Preer and Percy Verwayen and was based on Charles Chesnutt's novel of the same name.
repository: Middle Georgia Archives
collection: Charles Henry Douglass business records
box: 19
folder: 172
item: 21

subjects:
Macon (Ga.)
Bibb County (Ga.)
Douglass Theatre (Macon, Ga.)
Micheaux Film Corporation
Micheaux, Oscar, 1884-1951
Chesnutt, Charles Waddell, 1858-1932. The Conjure woman
African Americans in the motion picture industry
African Americans in motion pictures
Race in motion pictures
Race films--United States
Feature films--United States
Motion picture theaters--Georgia--Macon
Film posters--Georgia
Advertising--Motion pictures--Georgia--Macon
Commercial agents--New York
Conjure woman (Motion picture : 1926)
Letters (correspondence)




Page: [1]  [view image] thumbnail



Macon, Ga. [Georgia], July-8th-27.
Mr. Oscar Micheaux,
Chicago, Ill. [Illinois],
Dear Sir:

Your picture The Conjure Woman was here on time but as you would not answer the two telegrams that I sent you about your picture being here on time after you said it was imposible [impossible] for it to get here before the 7 and 8th, as I was at a lost [loss] what to do about my advertising that I put up and had been showing slides and trailer that it would be shown on Wednesday and Thursday, then you said it would be the 7 and 8th- on Monday morning I found the picture here, then I tried to advertise it to the public but failed to make any of them know when it would be shown, but we had a few on the first day the second day it rained us out but done better that [than] the first day. Very sorry that it did not draw, but one of the main reasons is your paper is bad not pictures at all just a name, our race down here like to see some of the sceens [scenes] on paper, every body [everybody] who was here said that it was one of the best ever seen here, so the picture was alright [all right]. I sent your picture to New York City, best wishes with your new play.

Yours,