Embassy Theatre

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The Hill was self-sufficient. It held not only its own grocery store, hair shops, churches, and clothing stores, but also a theatre. Movie theaters were heavily segregated, causing Black patrons to go through extra steps to see a movie. They usually had to go to separate box offices, doors, bathrooms, and even stairs. Most movies would not allow them to go to the lobby to attain snacks. Still, Henry Brown decided that The Hill needed its own movie theatre, opening The Embassy in 1948, the only Black movie theatre in Catawba County.

Images

Embassy Theatre Opening Night

Monochrome, Black-and-white, Monochrome photography

Embassy Theatre's Auditorium

Embassy Theatre's Auditorium

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The Embassy Theatre opened in 1948. It was owned by Henry Brown, who had previously owned Norwood Theater, built and first owned by noted businessman Norwood Patterson, who later sold it to Brown. Norwood Theater closed in 1930 and was demolished in 1940. Brown would later build the Embassy Theatre, one of the few Black theaters in Western North Carolina, outside of Asheville. One of the most popular movie theaters was Center Theater in Hickory, NC. Center Theater held over 800 seats and the balcony an additional 192. Despite the vast space, it was segregated. Black patrons had to enter the building through a door on the left of the box office. They had to purchase their tickets in a separate box office and go up the second set of stairs to the balcony. Although there were no physical barriers that enforced segregation on the actual balcony, Black patrons’ movements were limited, they had their own bathroom on the balcony level. They could not go downstairs to buy food and drinks. They were brought leftover popcorn and beverages after the white patrons were done.

The Embassy Theatre filled the gap for Black moviegoers to provide a comfortable environment, and equal if not better than other segregated theaters. The Embassy held 450 seats and not only played movies but held live music and dances on Saturday nights. On Saturday morning, the theater played movies for children and frequently had them running around and playing cowboys and hopscotch. Records do not indicate the theater’s existence after 1958, and it was demolished after, which is now used for parking for Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. The loss of the Norwood and Embassy Theatres made Black patrons either attend the segregated theatres in the city or travel to the nearest Black movie theaters in Charlotte, NC, which held at least nine theaters that they could attend.

Sources

Barker, Don. “Center Theater.” Cinema Treasures. Accessed December 2, 2020. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/21563.

“Center Theater Hickory, N.C. 1941.” Going to the Show. Accessed December 1, 2020. http://gtts.oasis.unc.edu/learn/commentary/Stillwell_Center_Hickory.html.

Barker, Don. “Norwood Theater.” Cinema Treasures. Accessed December 2, 2020. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/29075.

“Embassy Theatre.” Cinema Treasures. Accessed December 2, 2020. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/42745.

Hartsoe, Drucella Sudderth. The Hill: Memories of the Ridgeview Community. High Point. The Marshall Group, Inc, 2001.

Smith, Eric Ledell. African American Theater Buildings, An Illustrated Historical Directory, 1900-1955. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, 2003.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

“Embassy Theatre.” Cinema Treasures. Accessed December 2, 2020. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/42745.