Liberty Theatre National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

Liberty Theatre National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

A scanned document nominating the Liberty Theatre for placement in the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places inventory.

Logan Gordy

Kewanee Story

Yinuo Chen

Aidan Knighton

National Park Service, & Thomas, K., National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form (1984). Columbus, Georgia; National Park Service. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/f19db6a1-4d82-4788-82bc-7050bb5b1fe3

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service For NPS use only received APR 19, 1984 date entered National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries—complete applicable sections Substantive Review 1. Name historic Liberty Theater and or common Same 2. Location street & number 821 Eighth Avenue N_/A_ not for publication city, town Columbus N/A_ vicinity of state Georgia code 013 county Muscogee code 215 3. Classification Category district X building(s) structure site object Ownership public X private both Public Acquisition N/A in process being considered Status occupied X unoccupied work in progress Accessible X yes: restricted yes: unrestricted no Present Use agriculture commercial educational entertainment government industrial military museum park private residence religious scientific transportation X other: Vacant 4. Owner of Property name William H. Spencer Golden Owlettes, c/o Mrs. Charlotte Frazier, Executive Director street & number 4545 Kerz Court city, town Columbus N/A vicinity of state Georgia 31903 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Superior Court street & number Muscogee County Courthouse/Consolidated Government Center city, town Columbus state Georgia 6. Representation in Existing Surveys title None has this property been determined eligible? yes X no date federal state county local depository for survey records city, town state 7. Description Condition Excellent X good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X altered Check one X original site moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance The Liberty Theater is a brick theater building with a balcony, stage, and stage loft. The first floor contains a lobby, ticket booth, restrooms, office, seating for 600, and stage. The second floor consists of a balcony and projection area. The interior finishes and craftsmanship are simple. The interior was designed simply for use as a theater. Two sets of double doors give access and egress to the lobby. This area extends across the front of the building, with a depth of twelve feet, and provides access to stairs, office, ticket booth, and restroom. It contains a concession stand between the two sets of doors opening on the aisles of the main auditorium. There is a balcony over one-third of the auditorium. The woodwork is varnished, the floor is sloping and concrete, and the walls were originally plastered. Original wooden, metal-frame folding seats are in place. The stage remains, while the pulleys and some other stage fittings are gone. The theater is built of solid brick construction with a wooden-and-steel beam roof. It contains original and replacement electrical wiring, fixtures, fans, and plumbing. A 1950-period water-cooled air-conditioning system is in place. The theater occupies the entire property to the front and side boundaries with approximately fifty feet of open space at the rear of the lot. The terrain is flat and was extensively filled at the time the theater was constructed. It is located in a mixed commercial/residential area that has historically been a black section of the city. There are no outbuildings. Changes to the structure stem from major remodeling in 1955 when the tile, plastic and glass front facade was attached over the original, ornamental brick front and alterations were made to the lobby. A new and larger marquee was added and the original one removed. Windows were closed, the front doors were changed, and the lobby was remodeled. Walls on the interior were hung with acoustical fabric. 8. Significance Period prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 X 1900- Areas of Significance — Check and justify below archeology-prehistoric archeology-historic agriculture architecture art commerce communications community planning conservation economics education engineering exploration/settlement industry invention landscape architecture law literature military X music philosophy politics/government religion science sculpture social/ humanitarian X theater transportation other (specify) Specific dates 1925 Builder/Architect Unknown Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Liberty Theater is significant in the history of music and theater. In music, the theater is significant for the role it played during the peak of the jazz and blues era. It was built at a time when these musical forms were at the height of their popularity, particularly with the black audiences that came to the Liberty. Of special importance were the frequent performances of "Ma" Rainey (1886-1939), a Columbus native who became the "Mother of the Blues." It was the major place in Columbus for black audiences to partake of these and other cultural performances. In theater history, it is significant for having been built as a theater for blacks by the Martin Theater chain. It was Columbus' first black theater and featured films—silent and then talkies—as well as stage and musical productions. As late as 1955, it was the regional chain's only black theater. These areas of significance support property eligibility under National Register criteria A and B. Historical Narrative When the Liberty Theater opened in Columbus by late April, 1925, it was a significant event on several counts. Most importantly, it was one of the few theaters in Georgia built solely for black people to attend. Other motion-picture and live theater houses had existed for some time, with some opera houses being converted to motion-picture houses, but few other communities had a theater solely for black people. Roy E. Martin, a prominent white businessman, owned the theater chain. The theater was also important for having the largest seating capacity of any motion-picture theater in Columbus at that time. This designation did not last long, for in April, 1928, Mr. Martin opened the Royal Theater in Columbus, which seated 2,800. The motivation behind the building of the Liberty is not certain. Some believe that white citizens in Columbus who loved the performing arts felt strongly that blacks should have a place of their own; others believe it was primarily a business opportunity for the fast-growing Martin Theater chain. The local newspapers in 1924 show local emphasis on new recreation places and a need for entertainment for black soldiers (Fort Benning, a major Army base, being located nearby). Roy E. Martin (1885-1948), a native of nearby Harris County, purchased his first theater in 1912 and built his first new one in 1914, both in Columbus. By [continued] 9. Major Bibliographical References See Continuation Sheet. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property less than one acre Quadrangle name Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Quadrangle scale 1:24,000 UTM References A 16 689600 3593220____ B______________________________ Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing C ______________________ D______________________________ E ______________________ F______________________________ G ______________________ H______________________________ Verbal boundary description and justification The nominated property is Lot 9, which is the theater lot today and the same lot purchased for the theater in 1924. It is marked on the enclosed plat. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr., Historian Historic Preservation Section organization Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources date March 26, 1984 street & number 270 Washington Street, S.W. telephone (404) 656-2840 city or town Atlanta state Georgia 30334 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: __ national X state ____ local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89- 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. State Historic Preservation Officer signature [Elizabeth A. Lyon] Elizabeth A. Lyon title State Historic Preservation Officer date 4/5/84 For NFS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register [Signature] date 5/22/1984 Keeper of the National Register Attest: date Chief of Registration NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form Continuation sheet Significance Item number 8 Page 2 1928, he owned nine theaters in Columbus and nearby Phenix City, Alabama, in addition to the Liberty, and the chain rapidly spread to surrounding states. Martin Theaters is still in business in the Southeast. The Liberty was not just a movie house for blacks but was the only local place they had for entertainment and cultural activities outside of church, school and fraternal facilities. The productions there were an inspiration for young blacks, one of the few positive influences they received in a largely segregated world. The theater was begun in 1924 in a predominately black section of Columbus. The site of the Liberty was residential until immediately before the project began, even though the land had been purchased for the theater in 1920. The architect Mr. Martin used for a proposed theater begun in 1923, and for the Royal, completed in 1928, was T. Firth Lockwood (1894-1963) of Columbus. It is reasonable to assume that Mr. Martin used Lockwood for the Liberty, although no evidence has been discovered to substantiate this attribution. Lockwood designed buildings of all types, including private homes, schools, churches and libraries, and he worked in Columbus and the southwest Georgia region. Interviews have established that Jim Ingersoll and family of Phenix City, Alabama, did the grading and landscaping of the site. When the theater opened, there was no inside concession, food being obtained from the adjacent cafe which had a connecting opening to the theater. Later, a concession was added inside. In 1927, cost for a movie at the Liberty and other local theaters was 5C for the balcony and 10C for the orchestra. After the theater opened, some seats were reserved for white citizens. In its hey-day, the Liberty saw many important black figures in the entertainment world. Primary among these was "Ma" Rainey, a Columbus native who performed here on many occasions while known as "Mother of the Blues." At least once, she had Bessie Smith, another great blues singer, with her. Marian Anderson is said to have played here in 1925-26, as well as the famous Whitman Sisters. The Marching Club of the Elks sponsored most of the big bands of the times, including Duke Ellington, Cab Galloway, Ella Fitzgerald singing with the Chick Webb Band, and others. It is not known if they performed at the Liberty, but they were part of the black cultural activities represented by the Liberty. Before the first talkies began to appear after 1927, the silent movies were accompanied by local musicians. The theater was also, as mentioned, a multipurpose facility, being the scene of many revues, minstrel shows, vaudeville acts, and other types of live entertainment. It also hosted dramatic readings and poetry readings. A local band, sponsored by the International Benevolent Society, often played at the Liberty. Occasionally, there would be an inspirational speech, [continued] NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form Continuation sheet Significance Item number 8 Page 3 like the time baseball star Jackie Robinson spoke, challenging young blacks to succeed at their chosen fields. From World War II until the theater closed in 1973, it functioned mostly as a movie house. The theater closed after integration opened all other local theaters to all people. There was then no longer a need for an all-black theater. After it closed in 1973, it was retained by the Martins until December, 1980, when it was transferred to the present owners, who hope to reopen it as a facility for the young of the area to participate in the performing arts, once again bringing the Liberty back to its original use as a cultural center for the black community. NPS Form 10-900-a (7-81) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form Continuation sheet Bibliography Item number 9 Page 2 Smith, Eugene. "A History of the Liberty Theatre in Columbus, Georgia (1924-1982)." Class paper, August, 1982. Copies on file at Historic Preservation Section. Mahan, Joseph B., Jr. "Liberty Theater," Historic Property Information Form, April 5, 1983. On file at the Historic Preservation Section, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, Georgia. "$30,000 Theater for Negroes," The Industrial Index, April 29, 1925, p. 24-C. "Chains Only Colored House Remodeled," Martin Tipster, August, 1955. [Hand drawn diagram of the interior of the Liberty Theatre] Door Door N. ^ Two Small windows 0 36’ STAGE SmAll WiNdow 12 12 ASBESTOS CURTAiN Three small windows PROSCENiUM WALL Interior of Liberty Theatre (Not to ScAle) PiLastered WAll SeRTS PiLastered WALL AiSLE MAiN SEATiNG AREA (AUDiTORiuM) AISLE SEATS SANborN INsurANce Co Door WALL DiVider Door MAp of Columbus, GA New INdex 1925 [BAlCONy-ABove] REST ROOMS {ProJectioN ROOM] stAiRs to bAlcoNy Window -ABOVe SEATING CAPACITY <--- Parapet Ticket booth-> 540 Door Door LIBERTY THEATER Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia 8th AVE FLOOR PLAN Scale: Not to scale Source: Drawing based on Sanborn Insurance Map, 1925 Date: Drawn in 1983 Key: Areas of the theater are marked on the map. This shows only the first floor. The only elements on the second floor are the balcony and projection room, the location of which is shown in brackets. [Property/Sketch Map] 8th STREET 99 14 11 10 7 IRON N 02°28’W—147.83 IRON 73.91 73.92 16.3 16.5 16.7 5.5 10.55 RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE 16.3 16.6 16.3 16.1 S 87°27’W—147.83 S 87°27’W—147.83 N 87°28’E—147.83 47.7 63.0[9] LOT 12 LOT 9 8 (82.83) STORES LIBERTY THEATRE NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. 813 815 817 819 821 73.91 (130.[illegibile]) 73.92 IRON —S 02°28’E—147.83 8th Avenue 99’ LIBERTY THEATER Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia PROPERTY/SKETCH MAP Scale: 1" = 40' Source: Aldridge, Moon and Associates, CE Date: 1965 Key: The nominated property is marked by a heavy black line and consists of the theater itself. In my opinion this plat is a correct representation of the land platted and has been prepared in conformity with the minimum standards and requirements of law. [A. B Moon Jr] A. B, MOON, JR., R. L., S. [STAMP] GEORGIA NO. 782 GEORGIA REGISTED No. 782 Expires 1-1-‘66 LAND SURVEYOR A. B. MOON, JR. Lots 9 and 12, Block 38 Commons Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia TO ALL PARTIES INTERESTED IN TITLE TO PREMISES SURVEYED I hereby certify that this is a true and correct survey, the Improvements are as shown and that there are no encroachment except as shown. Scale 1” = 40’ Date Revised 30 August 1965 12 August 1965 [A. B. MOON, JR.] ALDRIDGE. MOON & ASSOCIATES CIVIL ENGINEERS COLUMBUS, GEORGIA GEORGIA REG. 1662 & 3224 ALABAMA REG. 1192 & 1927 LIBERTY COLUMBUS