Assimilationist Period (1935-1950s)
Leon Claxton
Born in Tampa in 1902 to a well-known vaudeville family, Clayton grew up traveling with Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey circus, originally as a water boy for elephants and eventually with a contortion act. In 1934, Clayton produced the show “Harlem in Havana”, a black and cuban variety show featuring singers, dancers, comedians, and an orchestra that was headquartered in the winter in Tampa. From the 1930’s-1960’s the show traveled and played at state fairs and was the only live entertainment available to black people at the Florida State Fair, and even then black people could only see it on “Negro Day”. Clayton is also known for becoming Tampa’s first black millionaire through his shows.
A newspaper ad from Saskatoon StarPhoenix advertising Harlem in Havana in 1950
Pages from a spread in Jet magazine in 1967
Butterfly McQueen
Butterfly McQueen is an African American actress born in Tampa, Florida in 1911. Her first role in film was as the maid of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. McQueen got her start in dance and theatre, appearing in a Broadway production of What a Life in 1938. In 1974, McQueen played the Queen of the Field of Mice in the original stage version of the Wiz, however her role was cut for the broadway production. After getting tired with the ethnic stereotypes she was expected to play, Butterfly pursued politics and earned a bachelors in political science from New York City College at age 64.
Stepin Fetchit
Stephen Fetchit is the stage name of African American actor Lincoln Perry. Born in 1902 in Key West, Florida, Perry moved to Tampa, Florida with his family when he was around 7 years old. Perry got his start acting in vaudeville shows, eventually developing a lazy, unintelligent “coon” character known as “the laziest man in the world”. While talented, his acting was incredibly controversial as a result of the stereotypes of blacks that he propagated. Perry went on to act in films and became the first black actor to become a millionaire.
Stepin Fetchit aka Lincoln Perry
Elder Jordan
Born in the late 1800’s, Elder Jordan was a prominent African American figure in St.Petersburg. He, along with his sons, constructed The Jordan Dance Hall, which eventually became known as The Manhattan Casino. Jordan also established a bus line and a beach for African Americans during segregation. Jordan Elementary school, created in 1926, was also named after him in honor for the work he put into it’s creation.
**During the era of segregation in America, there were limited places in which black artists were able to perform. The Chitlin’ Circuit is a collection of venues where African American’s could perform in the southeastern United States. Chitlin’ Circuit venues in the Tampa Bay Area are described below. **
Manhattan Casino
The Manhattan Casino operated in St.Petersburg, Florida from 1931 to 1968. It was originally known as Jordan Dance Hall, built by Elder Jordan. During the segregation era, The Manhattan was known as the heart of African American social life in St.Pete. The Manhattan Casino hosted some of the most prominent jazz musicians such as Nat King Cole, James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Ray Charles, and Sarah Vaughn.
Louis Armstrong performing in The Manhattan Casino
The Manhattan Casino
The link will take you to a video on the Manhattan Casino
The George Cooper Orchestra house band of the Manhattan Casino in 1945
The Royal Theater
The Royal Theater was constructed in downtown Tampa in 1912 and operated until the late 1950’s/early 1960’s. Featuring a clubhouse, theatre, and dance hall, it was a popular site for films, plays, and musical performances, especially cuban and jazz concerts.
The Melrose Clubhouse
The Melrose clubhouse was built in 1942 and served as a community center, YMCA branch, and meeting place for several African American service groups including the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women. The building featured an auditorium, an entry way, and had two stages where local performances were done. Today, the Melrose clubhouse is a designated historical site in St.Petersburg, FL.
Sources
“Butterfly McQueen.” IMDb, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/name/nm0574335/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1.
“Historic Landmarks.” The City of St. Petersburg Florida, 19 May 2016, www.stpete.org/history_and_preservation/historic_landmarks.php.
“Jazz in Florida : Florida Chitlin’ Circuit · USF Library Special & Digital Collections Exhibits.” Omeka RSS, exhibits.lib.usf.edu/exhibits/show/jazz-in-florida/venues/florida-chitlin-circuit.
JM Appel234. Butterfly McQueen. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Jan. 1 2000.
“Stepin Fetchit.” IMDb, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/name/nm0275297/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm.
“The Life and Legacy of Elder Jordan.” Theweeklychallenger.com, 16 June 2014, theweeklychallenger.com/the-life-and-legacy-of-elder-jordan/.
–Kiana Outen