Document: dbr037  [view transcript]

Letter: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Douglass Theatre, Macon, Georgia, 1927 Oct. 28


author: Dudley, Sherman H., ca. 1870-1940
extent: [1] p.
date: October 28, 1927
summary: Letter from Sherman H. Dudley, African American vaudevillian and president of the white-owned, Philadelphia-based Colored Players Film Corporation, to the Douglass Theatre, dated October 28, 1927, regarding the fact that the Douglass Theatre has not yet shown the film Children of Fate. Dudley relates that he has been elected president of the Colored Players Film Corporation and praises Children of Fate as the most wonderful "all Colored cast" picture ever produced. He remarks that they would like to quote prices on the film to get an early run in Macon, and that the company wants to show the film in all the first-run theaters before they release their next film. Dudley concludes by asking to hear from the theater by return mail. (For the corresponding reply, see [dbr036] of the Douglass Theatre Web site.) Children of Fate, released in 1926, was one of only three films produced by David Starkman's Colored Players Film Corporation. The film starred Lawrence Chenault, Harry Henderson, Arline Mickey, Howard Agusta, Alonzo Jackson, Shingzie Howard, and William A. Clayton, Jr.
repository: Middle Georgia Archives
collection: Charles Henry Douglass business records
box: 19
folder: 173
item: 56

subjects:
Macon (Ga.)
Bibb County (Ga.)
Douglass Theatre (Macon, Ga.)
Colored Players Film Corporation
African Americans in the motion picture industry
African Americans in motion pictures
Race in motion pictures
Race films--United States
Rent charges
Feature films--United States
Motion picture theaters--Georgia--Macon
Negotiation--Georgia--Macon
Commercial agents--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Children of fate (Motion picture : 1928)
Letters (correspondence)




Page: [1]   [view image] thumbnail


[Note: This document contains typewritten, handwritten, and printed text.]
[Note: The corporate name and address is presented inside an oval logo with a film strip on each side.]

[printed text:
DAVID STARKMAN
General Manager		 STUDIOS
5813 Woodland Ave. [Avenue]
COLORED
PLAYERS		1337 VINE ST. [STREET]
C.P.F.C.
[Colored Players Film Corporation]
PHILA. [PHILADELPHIA], PA. [PENNSYLVANIA] 		FILM
CORPORATION
BELL -- RITTENHOUSE 2563 CABLE ADDRESS -- C. P. F. C. [Colored Players Film Corporation]
KEYSTONE -- RACE 6187  
]

[typewritten text: October 28, 1927
Douglas Theatre,
Macon, Ga. [Georgia]
Gentlemen:

As you know I have been elected president of this company and am now in the Philadelphia office going over the affairs.

It has come to my attention that you have not as yet played our last and greatest picture "CHILDREN OF FATE". This is without question the most wonderful all Colored cast picture ever produced.

We would be pleased to quote you prices on this subject to get an early run in Macon. We are going ahead with our production plans and we are trying to get all the first run theatres played up, preparatory to releasing our new product.

May we hear from you by return mail?


Very truly yours]
[Signed] [written text: S. H. Dudley]
[typewritten text: President
COLORED PLAYERS FILM CORP. [CORPORATION] DS/K]