W. C. Handy Theatre

Never went there but drove by many times from 1973-1982. Occasionally it would be rejuvenated as a night club or something similar, but never seemed to last very long. Too bad.

There is a W C Handy Cultural Renaissance Theater at 3475 Central Ave. Is this the same place?

If I remember correctly, the Handy was on the South side of Park avenue just East of East Parkway in the area known as Orange Mound near the Fairgrounds and Libertyland amusement park (which Elvis would occasionally rent after hours). Central avenue is considerably to the north of there. Don't have a Memphis map handy, but I once lived at 3549 Mynders avenue near Memphis State University just East of Highland, so 3475 Central should be just West of Highland, probably in an old mansion. That's a good long way from Orange Mound.

This is a small photo of the former W. C. Handy Theater.

In the unfortunate era of segregation, African-American theaters in the South were sometimes named after well-known African-Americans such as W.C. Handy. That way, someone reading the newspaper ads would realize that it was an African-American theater and either go or not go, as appropriate in the social context of the times--without having to actually say anything. Another example was the Carver theater in Birmingham, Alabama (q.v.)

I have a listing for a Handy Theatre on 2353 Park Ave. Think these two are one of the same?

That sounds about right. The Handy was on the South side of Park Avenue just East of Airways, which is a Southward extension of East Parkway. Mapquest shows the address to be right where I remember it.
Mapquest also confirms 3475 Central Avenue (see the earlier posting on the Handy Cultural Renaissance Theater) to be just East of Highland, also as I suspected. Lots of retreaded old mansions in that area.

There are quite a few photos of the W.C. Handy in the 1946-47 edition of Theatre Catalog. The text says that the theatre was "specially built for the colored people of the Orange Mound district of Memphis." The auditorium had only an orchestra floor, with the 1,058 seats divided into four sections, two wide ones at the center and two narrow ones on the sides. The Handy had full stage facilities, and was intended to present "live" shows with "famous stars" once a month and movies the rest of the time. I don't know if that policy was ever actually followed.

Here are several images. In the first, at left, you can see the "milk bar," which could also be accessed from the street without purchasing a ticket and provided extra income for the theatre. The auditorium floor had a reverse slope towards the front. The stage had three-color footlights and two rows of drops for scenery. Under the stage were dressing rooms and toilets for the performers. At the rear of the auditorium, at either side of the projection booth, were two viewing rooms for groups, parents with infants, or special guests of management.
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/handy1.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/handy2.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/handy3.jpg

Here is a photo from January 2006 of the theatre.

This is something of a tangent, but the man, W. C. Handy, lived and worked in Memphis during the early 1900's. There is an interesting article at Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_C_Handy

that gives a good outline of his life. A statue of Handy stands on Beale Street near Fourth, placed there long after the old Handy theatre had been abandonded. A performance space named after him seems a much more fitting tribute than a statue, though I doubt the Orpheum, which stands at Main and Beale, will be renamed any time soon. It seems doubtful the theatre in Orange Mound will be saved.

And to finish off the digression, Beale Street seems to have become Beale "Street" because of W.C. Handy's tune Beale Street Blues. Typically, Memphis' East/West thoroughfares are "Avenues" and supposedly, the name Beale Avenue was changed due to the popularity of the song.

Hello Theatre Connoisseurs!
I represent a small group of "next generation" children who are now coming home to take care of parents and grandparents who have called Orange Mound home for all of their lives.
As we settle in here, we are trying to help revitalize an area that has a lot of history and potential for rebirth.
The W.C. Handy Theatre is currently for sale and would be absolutely wonderful if it could be "brought back". Do any of you know if there are channels for help (financial and otherwise) to save an historical site?? If you tell me it is possible and lead me in a good direction, I am vested in this area and will follow it through to the end. If you tell me that it's not possible, however tragic that would be, I'll follow your lead.
Thank you!
TPOM
(Taking Pride in Orange Mound :)

TPOM please contact me directly. If you'll click on my name below, you'll find my e-mail address.

Best wishes

This is a recent photo of the former W. C. Handy Theater.

New direct links to images described above on 10/29/05:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/handy1.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/handy2.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/handy3.jpg

Here is a 2008 photo.

1983 photo of the Handy Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c42%2c3%2c1808&catpageindex=3&ProductID=33662