Champion Theater

The Champion Theater was a 750-seat African-American cinema location at 306 18th Street North. It was built by H. J. Hury's Hury Amusement Company in 1914. In 1916 the owners added an $8,000 electric theater organ installed by the Symphony Player Company of Covington, Kentucky. Hury found success booking popular serials distributed by Pathé, such as "Mystery of the Double Cross" in 1917 and "The House of Hate" in 1918.

In 1921 the theater was managed by Nathaniel Pressly and P. A. Engler for Gay Theater Properties. Other staff included assistant manager Money Gilreatii, pianist James Lyon and drummer Clarence White.

After the Frolic Theater moved around the corner to 4th Avenue North, the Champion moved into its former space at 312 18th Street North. In later years it was listed at 1720 4th Avenue North, near the Famous Theater.

References

• "Hury Amusement Company Takes All of 'Double Cross'." (April 7, 1917) Motion Picture News
• "The Exhibitor and His Activities" (April 27, 1918) Dramatic Mirror of Motion Pictures and the Stage Vol. 78, No. 2,053, p. 591
• "Colored Theaters in Birmingham, Alabama" (December 16, 1922) Billboard
• Smith, Eric Ledell (2003) African American Theater Buildings: An Illustrated Historical Directory, 1900-1955. McFarland Press. ISBN 0786449225