Document: dbr066  [view transcript]

Letter: Washington D.C. to Charles Henry Douglass, Macon, Georgia, 1926 Feb. 15


author: Dudley, Sherman H., ca. 1870-1940
extent: [1] p.
date: February 15, 1926
summary: Letter from Sherman H. Dudley, African American vaudevillian, actor in the 1922 film Easy Money and later president of the white-owned, Philadelphia-based Colored Players Film Corporation, to Charles Henry Douglass, African American entrepreneur and owner of the Douglass Theatre, dated February 15, 1926, regarding his plans to make personal appearances to promote the film Easy Money. Dudley informs Douglass that he will be promoting his film with personal appearances for a limited time and reminds Douglass of the large amount of business that he played to before his tour. He explains that he presents a musical show with eighteen people, adding that he carries his own agent and advertises heavily. Dudley proposes to split the profits fifty-fifty, explaining that he does not want Douglass to pay him or guarantee him and lose money. He reminds Douglass that while this act is not his big show, Ebony Follies, it is his personal appearance with the film Easy Money and a "red hot company." He asks Douglass to reply at once (see [dbr046] of the Douglass Theatre Web site to view the circular for the film). Easy Money, released in 1921, was one of only two comedies released by REOL Productions Corporation, a white-owned, New York City based film company that released ten films for African Americans from 1920 to 1924.
repository: Middle Georgia Archives
collection: Charles Henry Douglass business records
box: 21A
folder: 212
item: 3

subjects:
Macon (Ga.)
Bibb County (Ga.)
Douglass Theatre (Macon, Ga.)
Theatre Owners Booking Association
Douglass, Charles Henry, 1870-1940
Contracts for work and labor--Georgia--Macon
Negotiation--Georgia--Macon
Theaters--Georgia--Macon
Vaudeville--Georgia--Macon
Entertainment events--Georgia--Macon
Commercial agents--Tennessee--Nashville
African American actors--Employment--Georgia--Macon
African American actresses--Employment--Georgia--Macon
African American musicians--Employment--Georgia--Macon
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
Easy money (Motion picture : 1922)
Bamville Dandies (Musical show : 1926)
Letters (correspondence)




Page: [1]   [view image] thumbnail


[Note: This document contains typewritten, handwritten, and printed text.]

[printed text:
MILTON STARR, PRES. [PRESIDENT]  SAM E. REEVIN, TREAS. [TREASURER] & GEN. MGR. [GENERAL MANAGER]

[Note: Red and black lines frame the text, accompanied by a decorative square around each letter of the acronym]
T O B A
THEATRE OWNERS BOOKING ASSOCIATION]
OFFICE OF
S. H. DUDLEY
1223 SEVENTH STREET, N.W. [NORTHWEST]
[Note: Drawing depicting two harps connected by a ribbon sash.] 		TELEPHONE
MAIN 4644



WASHINGTON, D. C.]
[typewritten text: 15 February 1926]
[written text: Chas. [Charles] Douglass
Douglass Theater
Macon, Ga. [Georgia]]
[typewritten text: Dear Sir:

I have decided to start South with my picture and my personal appearance and play a limited amount of Time South. I am sure you know of the large amount of business I played to before on my Tour.

I have surrounded myself with a musical Tab of 18 people and a real show, I carry my own Agent and bill heavy. I do not know at this writing just what date I can play you, but all that I careto [care to] know just now is: Will you play the attraction at a 50-50 basis. I want to gamble with you as I dont want you to pay me nor guarantee me and lose money. You have the house and I have the attraction.

Dont get this confused with my Ebony Follies as this is not the Big Show, but it is S. H. Dudley's personal appearance with his picture EASY MONEY and a red hot company. Let me hear from you at once.


Sincerely yours,]
[Signed] [written text: S H Dudley]