Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum
From 1921 to 1971, the Ritz Theatre was the center of cultural life in LaVilla, an African-American neighborhood so vibrant that it was known as the Harlem of the South. Many entertainers played the Ritz before moving on to the Apollo Theater in the real Harlem. Most of LaVilla’s small clapboard “shotgun” houses (so called because you could fire a shotgun through the central hallway to the back room and not hit anything) have been torn down in anticipation of urban renewal, but the Ritz has been rebuilt and is once again a center of the city’s cultural life. Only the northwest corner of the building, including the Ritz sign, is original, but the newer, 426-seat theater captures the spirit of vaudevillian times. Off the lobby, the LaVilla Museum recounts local Black history and exhibits artwork. Regularly scheduled events include free spoken-word nights, free art walks, and Puttin’ on The Ritz, modeled after the famous talent show at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, at 7:30pm on the first Friday of every month.
From 1921 to 1971, the Ritz Theatre was the center of cultural life in LaVilla, an African-American neighborhood so vibrant that it was known as the Harlem of the South. Many entertainers played the Ritz before moving on to the Apollo Theater in the real Harlem. Most of LaVilla’s small clapboard “shotgun” houses (so called because you could fire a shotgun through the central hallway to the back room and not hit anything) have been torn down in anticipation of urban renewal, but the Ritz has been rebuilt and is once again a center of the city’s cultural life. Only the northwest corner of the building, including the Ritz sign, is original, but the newer, 426-seat theater captures the spirit of vaudevillian times. Off the lobby, the LaVilla Museum recounts local Black history and exhibits artwork. Regularly scheduled events include free spoken-word nights, free art walks, and Puttin’ on The Ritz, modeled after the famous talent show at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, at 7:30pm on the first Friday of every month.
Details
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
