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The fate of Slave No. 1 Theater in Bed-Stuy, opened in the early 1980s by Judge John L. Phillips, Jr., is still being decided by the probate court, documentary filmmaker and activist Mya Baker told us. The retired judge, who after being declared mentally incompetent lost control of $10 million or so worth of property in Bed-Stuy, was pronounced dead last February, on the same day a rally was scheduled to save his cherished theater, once a hub of black activism. “He didn’t really have any family members and he didn’t leave it to anybody, so it all depends on if they’re gonna take it or not,” she said.

Baker acknowledged that preservation efforts have so far received a tepid response, but a Juneteenth Festival to that end is still planed June 21. Online petitions such as this one, started last November to prevent its sale, have only a handful of signatures, and a myspace profile created for the theater hasn’t been logged into in six months. “Last week they had a play called ‘The Meeting Between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.’ and it was a three-day run … I went on the first day. It was, you know, people, not that many people,” she said, sounding a bit dispirited. During the time Baker, 34, was most heavily involved with the theater, she said, “It’s just trying to rally the community to want to save it, that was the biggest problem.” This is in stark contrast to the energy that once emanated from the place. During the 1980s, when racially-motivated killings twice caused firestorms throughout the city, the varied factions of the black community needed a central meeting place, and that became the Slave Theater. While the name was intended as reminder of the injustices black Americans have endured, inside the walls are lined with portraits of prominent activists like Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who led movements to overcome those struggles. Baker said there are still efforts to sell the theater, and we found a listing online, albeit almost a year old. Meanwhile, the historic theater continues to play host to small events.
A Symbol of Activism Is at Center of Court Dispute [NY Times]
Slave Theater could be sold to pay judge’s ‘debts’ [Brooklyn Paper]
John L. Phillips Jr., 83, Civil Court Judge Is Dead [NY Times via mybedstuy]


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  1. I disagree. Bed-stuy is filled with intelligent, well-monied people, especially at this point. If a high-degree of interest were present, this effort would have gained far more momentum that it currently has. In general, movie theaters are becoming a thing of the past – by the next generation, the vast majority of film buffs will enjoy cinema online or on DVD. Theaters will be for the periodic special occasion. For this same reason, I doubt that the Loews on Flatbush Ave. will ever be renovated.

  2. 1:21: In a sense, you’re right, although out of adversity some of us build strength and character. Don’t know about those days being over: http://gothamist.com/2008/06/02/a_plague_upon_a.php

    The Lincoln Theatre in the U Street corridor in DC is another historically black theatre that has been rescued from extinction. In a broader sense, a lot of these old movie theatres are still standing in smaller cities and towns. The great cinema theatres of my childhood like the Loews, Albee and Paramount theatres in downtown Brooklyn have long since gone.

  3. There are other historically black theatres around the country that have been renovated, saved and are still going strong with good programming. They did a great job with the Morton Theatre in Athens GA where I went to school.

    You have to run it like any other nonprofit arts organization. It is so hard to raise money and get people to attend programs. Even with the very best adminstrative staffs and best program directors and the best boards of directors it’s a struggle. Much less when you have a guy who was declared mentally incompetent but who never lined up anyone to take his place and keep things going. This has nothing to do with a lack of interest in the community about saving a black theatre. It’s about lack of organization. This theatre could be a center for black cinema in the country. The only answer is to convince a well established media nonprofit to absorb it into their fold. Don’t make the mistake of putting more amateurs in charge of it. You need people who know what they are doing.

  4. Man oh man, those recollections of rats brought me back to the old Happy Hour Theatre on Columbia Street in Red Hook. I went there in the early 1960’s for ten cents a show and twenty-five cents for a double feature. The place was invested big time with rats, sometimes crawling on the stage near the screen. No one left the theatre because of the rats back then.

    Judge Phillips was one of several blacks judges in the City back in the day; these guys were pioneers in a sense. Cut-em-loose Bruce (Judge Bruce Wright)was another character too.

  5. Tear it down? I hope not. The building has a great history. When I moved here in the early 80’s there was still sporadic activity there, although nothing like in the 70’s. Judge Phillips was quite the local character. What happened to him towards the end of his life shouldn’t happen to anyone.

    The theatre is really nice building – solidly built, great mass on the block. I’d turn the ground floor into a first class restaurant and separate coffee bar. The second floor I would lease to some kind of creative companies for offices, and have a non-profit office/gallery space for someone whose interests include local history and lore, local artists and/or organizations interested in preserving historical Bed Stuy.

    Any financial partners out there? I have great ideas, I’m just broke.

    What – that was great info.

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