Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-08-04
NEGROES AGAIN
REFUSED PERMIT
TO OPEN THEATRE
Promoters and Others Hold In4
dignation Meeting After Hear
ing from Orange Mayor.

| Following an unsatisfactory interview
| yesterday afternoon with Mayor Arthur
B. Seymour, of Orange, negroes of the
First ward of that city, who have been
promoting the New Lincoln THEATRE
as the building owned by Mrs. James
N. Vandervall wife of one of the
negroes in the enterprise, was to have
been named met last night at the
residence of ]. Louis Smith, 98 South
street, Orange and discussed legal
measures to run the proposed theatre.
Mayor Seymour. giving as his reasons
that there are enough moving picture
shows in the city at present, declined
to give the promoters license for what
was planned to be exclusively a play
house for negroes.
/ The promoters of the negro theatre
plan, who are headed by Smith and
Vandervall, intended to fix up a new
building recently constructed by the
Vandervalls in Parrow street. near
Oakwood avenue, as part of the negro
theatrical circuit that furnishes negro
actors and actresses, exclusively, and
the men are much aggrieved at Mayor
Seymour's decision not to permit the
house to be opened. Following the
meeting the following statement was
given out by Messrs. Smith and Van
deryall:
"Since no good reasons, have been Of
fered, and the mayor, in an interview
yesterday afternoon, informed. our
committee there had been no protests
entered against our application for a
license for a proposed moving picture
show, We feel we have been treated
very unfairly. especially since we were
advised by his excellency to have a Pc
tition signed by majority of the prop
erty-owners In the vicinity of the pro-
posed playhouse and he would give the
application fair considerations This
advice was complied with to the letter,
and we received every encouragement
up until the very last moment that
said license was about to be granted
"Our prospects looked very good, in
deed. until certain gentleman with In
terests in a moving-picture place in
Main street was seen on several occa-
sions entering the proposed building
with one of the city officials, and Inn
mediately a sudden change occurred,
and finally we were positively turned
down, notwithstanding our petition was
signed by all Of the property-owners
we approached. Among the signers
were church officials and white and
colored merchants of the community.
Our place was to have been fitted up
in the most up-to-date fashion, at
cost OF $4,000, and plans and estimates
had been offered after we, had been led
to believe said license was to be grant
ed. We are continually being advised
by some of our good white friends, "do
something for your race" and then
yt1<ax. ,,lra
seen barrier forestalls US. and for what
purpose? We are trying to build up
our section of the town, commonly
called "the black belt" where no more
orderly class of citizens can be found.
by creating home attractions so our
people will not be so foolish as to ten
der their hard earned money where it
is not wanted, and to create places of
employment for them.
The colorphobia seemily Is growing
stronger and stronger throughout the
country and the door of opportunity is
fast closing against our professional
men and women of color. notwithstand-
ing many of our good white friends
have enjoyed more than one evenings
laugh at the expense of such artists
among our race as Ada Overington
Walker, Williams and Walker, Cole
and Johnson. S. H. Dudley. the lamen-
ted Ernest Hogan and many other ce-
lebreties of dark hue. Then why when
we make an appeal to help our race
along material lines. are we denied the
opportunity. especially when the peo-
pie are clamoring for such attractions
The official mentioned in the state
ment is William II. Matthews, chief
of the Orange fire department. The
chief wanted expert advice on the re-
quirements the playhouse should meet
with to prevent danger in case of hasty
exits, and a Main street moving picture
man went along to give his advice.
The fire chief had given his instruc-
tions for needed changes, and some
work was started by electricians when
the mayor negatived the plan.
I'VE have the opinion of City Coun-
sci William A. Lord that we may COM
pei the mayor through mandamus pro-
ceedings to give up a license" said
Mr.. Vandervall, "and we will take fur
ther steps to get what we consider our
rights. 10 is strange the sudden in
fuence has arisen to stop our play
house after all indications were that
we would get the privilege"