From the 1910s to the 1960s, Savannah’s West Broad Street was home to a lively movie theater district that served the city’s African American community during the Jim Crow era. The West Broad theaters, however, mattered far beyond their local importance, for along this boulevard we find one of the nation’s first theater palaces, venues that supported the work of the earliest African American filmmakers, and legendary performers who brought a touch of Hollywood to Savannah and vice versa. This talk will feature stories of theaters, entrepreneurs, films, and stars, and examine how these local Savannah tales enrich and enlarge our understanding of cinema. West Broad’s theater district wasn’t merely a place where film history happened; it’s where film history was made.

Doors open at 5:30 pm for a wine reception and the lecture starts at 6:00 pm. The event is free for HSF members and $15 for non-members; space is limited.