Queen Theater
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The Queen Theater, or New Queen Theater, was a Vaudeville house for African-American audiences. In the 1910s it became known for its bawdy "barrel house" acts. It also presented early blues singers, including a late career engagement by Hambone Jones and Virginia Liston in June 1915, and a three-week holiday residency for blues singer Ma Rainey in December 1917-January 1918.
Under the management of J. Elson, with the assistance of Billy Chambers, the venue reformed its bill in the early 1920s and presented only "clean" acts.
References
- Violet, Arthur (October 20, 1917) "New Queen Theater, Birmingham, Ala." Indianapolis Freeman
- "List of Colored Theaters and Attractions." (August 6, 1921) The Billboard
- "Colored Theaters in Birmingham, Ala." (December 16, 1922) The Billboard