Doxey Theatre

Freeman B. Doxey was born in 1864 and became a businessman / barber at age 16 in Henderson. He opened his barber shop there in 1880. In 1914, he was given permission to build a brick movie theater in front of his 210 North Elm Street home by the City of Henderson. He was a very rare African American theatre owner in that part of the State. And the local newspaper did something very unusual in the United States by allowing Mr. Doxey to advertise in the newspaper.

On the project board, it was to be the Star Theatre but it was changed to the Doxey’s Theatre at its opening on June 4, 1914. Among the speakers was the builder of the venue, J.A. Carr. Doxey bonded with two other local operators in protesting the blue laws forbidding operation of theaters on Sundays. The last advertisement for the Doxey Theatre was November 11, 1926 with “The Tough Guy” with Fred Thomson and Silver King, his horse. The theater was not converted to sound.

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