My daddy was the manager of the Empire Theater for more than 20 years maybe 30, until sometime in the 1950s. His brother, Buster Hollyfield (Clifford G.) ran the snack bar/shop that ajoinned the theater lobby. They made the best Limeade’s you could ever want. When I would go to the theater, I would sometimes go upstairs and sit with the projectionist. I think his name was “Goppy”. There was a balcony and separate entrance for the “colored people”. I do not remember that area as being a slum (as mentioned in one of the above postings). The houses were nice, old Victorian styles, mostly 2 story. It was safe to walk any where in that area day or night.
My daddy was the manager of the Empire Theater for more than 20 years maybe 30, until sometime in the 1950s. His brother, Buster Hollyfield (Clifford G.) ran the snack bar/shop that ajoinned the theater lobby. They made the best Limeade’s you could ever want. When I would go to the theater, I would sometimes go upstairs and sit with the projectionist. I think his name was “Goppy”. There was a balcony and separate entrance for the “colored people”. I do not remember that area as being a slum (as mentioned in one of the above postings). The houses were nice, old Victorian styles, mostly 2 story. It was safe to walk any where in that area day or night.