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The '''Lincoln Theater''' was a [[List of former cinemas|movie theater]] which was operated by [[Sam Raine]] at 1926 [[1st Avenue North Bessemer|1st Avenue North]] in [[Bessemer]] from [[1948]] to the 1970s. The 5,000 square foot building, built in [[1910]], was re-faced in teal and white glazed tile.
[[File:Lincoln Theatre logo.png|right|200px]]
The '''Lincoln Theatre''' is a [[List of former cinemas|former movie theater]] for Black audiences, located at 1926–1928 [[1st Avenue North Bessemer|1st Avenue North]] in [[Bessemer]].


Before integration, the theater solely accommodated black audiences. After it closed, the building was used by other businesses. Most recently [[John Boyd]] used the auditorium as storage space for his adjoining [[Economy Clothing & Furniture]] business.
[[Sam Raine]], owner of the nearby [[Frolic Theatre (Bessemer)|Frolic Theatre]], purchased the 5,000 square foot building, built in [[1910]], from [[Mildred Terry]] in October [[1942]] for $7,750. In [[1947]] he commissioned architect [[Charles McCauley]] to design renovations for a 750-seat theater. His design for a steel-framed air-conditioned theater included a new facade clad in teal and white glazed tile. Bids for construction were solicited that October, and the low bid of $46,000 was accepted, and the new theater opened in [[1948]]. Raine's son-in-law, [[Sam Maple]]<!--Sam Bernard?--> served as manager.


In July [[2012]] attorneys [[Jake Bivona]], [[Bret Gray]] and [[Ken Gray]] incorporated a non-profit organization, the '''Lincoln Phoenix Project''' to pursue restoration of the former theater as part of a performing arts center for downtown Bessemer.  Board member [[Kevin Wayne]] produced and directed a short documentary film about the theater's history and potential reuse.
In [[1950]] the Lincoln was scheduled to screen the 1949 feature "Lost Boundaries", about the family of Dr Albert Johnson who passed for white while living in New England in the 1930s and 1940s. As in Atlanta, Memphis and Birmingham, Bessemer's censors banned the screening. The board's opinion, reported by<!--[[Bessemer City Manager|City Manager]] [[J. J. Dean]], [[Bessemer City Commission|City Commission President]] [[Joe Lewis]], Public Safety Commissioner [[Wallace Reynolds]] and citizen [[Herman Thompson]]-->[[Bessemer Police Department|Bessemer Police chief]] [[Lacey Alexander]], was that, "We didn't want it shown in Bessemer. We didn't like the looks of it."


Actor [[André Holland]] purchased the building in [[2017]], hoping to restore it as a community asset. The non-profit [[Holland Project]] was incorporated under the name of his mother, [[Mary Holland]]. The group was awarded a $21,000 grant from the [[Alabama State Council on the Arts]] in [[2019]] to support the project's design phase.
In March [[1955]] the Lincoln hosted [[Boy Scouts]] of the [[Boy Scouts of America Bessemer-Fairfield Division|Bessemer-Fairfield Division]] for a morning film party.
 
Raine put the theater up for sale in [[1961]], asking $40,000. [[Theodore Jones Jr]] ended up leasing the auditorium for $400 per month. He advertised a "Grand Opening" of [[October 14]] with free cotton candy for the first 100 children. The two features shown during the opening were 1957's "Satchmo the Great", a documentary featuring Louis Armstrong and hosted by Edward R Murrow; and "Wonderful Country", a 1959 Western produced by and starring Robert Mitchum, with [[Satchel Paige]] appearing as a cavalry sergeant. Over the next several years, Jones rent was reduced to $200/month.
 
On [[October 1]], [[1968]] the theater building was sold to [[Sarah LaSala]] from the Great Valley Land Co., a holding company established by Sam Raine in 1960. The theater continued to operate until at least the early 1970s, and perhaps as late at [[1983]]. After it closed, the building was used by other businesses. In the early 21st century [[John Boyd]] used the auditorium as storage space for his adjoining [[Economy Clothing & Furniture]] business.
 
==Renovation==
In July [[2012]] attorneys [[Jake Bivona]], [[Bret Gray]] and [[Ken Gray]] incorporated a non-profit organization, the '''Lincoln Phoenix Project''' to pursue restoration of the former theater as part of a performing arts center for downtown Bessemer. Board member [[Kevin Wayne]] produced and directed a short documentary film about the theater's history and potential reuse.
 
Actor [[André Holland]] purchased the building in [[2017]], and began making plans to restore it as a community asset. The non-profit [[Holland Project]] was incorporated by his parents, [[Mary Holland|Mary]] and [[Donald Holland]], and his sister [[Natalie Holland|Natalie]]. The group was awarded a $21,000 grant from the [[Alabama State Council on the Arts]] in [[2019]] to support the project's design phase. [[Ted Perry]] of [[Shive Design]] designed a logo for the project.
 
In December [[2021]] the [[Alabama Historical Commission]] added the theater building to the [[Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage]].
 
In December [[2023]] Jason Smith and Jason Diamond from the Atlanta, Georgia office of Perkins & Will architects performed a 3-D digital survey and scan of the interior and exterior of the theater building. Their services were donated as part of the firm's social responsibility efforts.


==References==
==References==
Line 12: Line 26:
* Baker, Vicky (April 12, 2019) "Birmingham, Alabama: A city using theatres to reinvent itself." BBC.com
* Baker, Vicky (April 12, 2019) "Birmingham, Alabama: A city using theatres to reinvent itself." BBC.com
* "[http://www.arts.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=13335 ASCA Announces $253,000 in Fellowships and Cultural Facilities Grants]" (June 6, 2019) Alabama State Council on the Arts press release
* "[http://www.arts.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=13335 ASCA Announces $253,000 in Fellowships and Cultural Facilities Grants]" (June 6, 2019) Alabama State Council on the Arts press release
* Taylor, Drew (September 30, 2019) "[https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/bessemers-historic-lincoln-theatre-getting-a-second-life/ Bessemer’s historic Lincoln Theatre getting a second life]" CBS42.com
* Watson, Nathan (November 7, 2023) "An exclusive look inside Bessemer’s historic Lincoln Theatre." {{BNow}}
* Watson, Nathan (December 13, 2023) "Atlanta architects complete 3D scan of Lincoln Theatre in Bessemer." {{BNow}}
==External links==
* [https://alabamalincoln.com/ Lincoln Theatre / Holland Project] website


[[Category:Former cinemas]]
[[Category:Former cinemas]]
[[Category:1st Avenue North Bessemer]]
[[Category:1st Avenue North Bessemer]]
[[Category:1910 buildings]]
[[Category:1910 buildings]]
[[Category:1948 buildings]]
[[Category:Charles McCauley buildings]]
[[Category:1948 establishments]]
[[Category:1948 establishments]]
[[Category:1970s disestablishments]]
[[Category:1983 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage]]

Latest revision as of 09:33, 9 February 2024

Lincoln Theatre logo.png

The Lincoln Theatre is a former movie theater for Black audiences, located at 1926–1928 1st Avenue North in Bessemer.

Sam Raine, owner of the nearby Frolic Theatre, purchased the 5,000 square foot building, built in 1910, from Mildred Terry in October 1942 for $7,750. In 1947 he commissioned architect Charles McCauley to design renovations for a 750-seat theater. His design for a steel-framed air-conditioned theater included a new facade clad in teal and white glazed tile. Bids for construction were solicited that October, and the low bid of $46,000 was accepted, and the new theater opened in 1948. Raine's son-in-law, Sam Maple served as manager.

In 1950 the Lincoln was scheduled to screen the 1949 feature "Lost Boundaries", about the family of Dr Albert Johnson who passed for white while living in New England in the 1930s and 1940s. As in Atlanta, Memphis and Birmingham, Bessemer's censors banned the screening. The board's opinion, reported byBessemer Police chief Lacey Alexander, was that, "We didn't want it shown in Bessemer. We didn't like the looks of it."

In March 1955 the Lincoln hosted Boy Scouts of the Bessemer-Fairfield Division for a morning film party.

Raine put the theater up for sale in 1961, asking $40,000. Theodore Jones Jr ended up leasing the auditorium for $400 per month. He advertised a "Grand Opening" of October 14 with free cotton candy for the first 100 children. The two features shown during the opening were 1957's "Satchmo the Great", a documentary featuring Louis Armstrong and hosted by Edward R Murrow; and "Wonderful Country", a 1959 Western produced by and starring Robert Mitchum, with Satchel Paige appearing as a cavalry sergeant. Over the next several years, Jones rent was reduced to $200/month.

On October 1, 1968 the theater building was sold to Sarah LaSala from the Great Valley Land Co., a holding company established by Sam Raine in 1960. The theater continued to operate until at least the early 1970s, and perhaps as late at 1983. After it closed, the building was used by other businesses. In the early 21st century John Boyd used the auditorium as storage space for his adjoining Economy Clothing & Furniture business.

Renovation

In July 2012 attorneys Jake Bivona, Bret Gray and Ken Gray incorporated a non-profit organization, the Lincoln Phoenix Project to pursue restoration of the former theater as part of a performing arts center for downtown Bessemer. Board member Kevin Wayne produced and directed a short documentary film about the theater's history and potential reuse.

Actor André Holland purchased the building in 2017, and began making plans to restore it as a community asset. The non-profit Holland Project was incorporated by his parents, Mary and Donald Holland, and his sister Natalie. The group was awarded a $21,000 grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts in 2019 to support the project's design phase. Ted Perry of Shive Design designed a logo for the project.

In December 2021 the Alabama Historical Commission added the theater building to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

In December 2023 Jason Smith and Jason Diamond from the Atlanta, Georgia office of Perkins & Will architects performed a 3-D digital survey and scan of the interior and exterior of the theater building. Their services were donated as part of the firm's social responsibility efforts.

References

External links

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