Charles Henry Douglass

He opened the Douglass Theatre in Macon, Georgia, and continued to be a prominent leader within his community.

[3] To supplement the family income, Charles worked at a very young age peddling wood and vegetables.

[4] Thus showing that there was much unrest during this time period, and having the Douglass Theatre where African Americans could feel liberated through the arts.

In this time of severe racism and segregation, Douglass took pride in working and serving the black community of Macon.

[3] In 1898, Douglass worked in a bicycle rent and repair shop, and was successful until the rise of the automobile.

[3] Then in 1901, he became the director of the Georgia Loan and Savings Company, where he met his future wife Fannie Appling.

Douglass even became a member of the black chamber of commerce, and some would in which he was known as "…the city's wealthiest African American".

[4] With his growing power and authority during these racist times, Douglass was involved in many African American interest groups and gained positive fame from the black community as well as negative attention from the white community in Georgia.

[6] Some also say, "Charles H. Douglass…was Macon's most prominent African American business leader in the first half of the twentieth century" (Washington Memorial Library).

There was one instance in which the Macon police chief arrested 30 men to explain why they were not active workers, and Douglass came to their defense.

[4] "Black business leader Charles H. Douglass pleaded for the release of the men, vouching for their characters and that they worked for some of the establishments along Broadway Street".

[4] The company really propelled Douglass in the industry and the experience greatly helped him with his later theatre endeavors.

With Douglass' prior knowledge of performers and the entertainment business, the theatre grew into a great success rather rapidly.

(Theatre Owners Bookers Association) and his membership greatly aided in the success of the booking many of African American artists and performers.

It showed several feature-length films subsequently became a much respected venue in the country for its time.

[3] "When not hosting live acts, the Douglass also exhibited a wide variety of sound and silent motion pictures.

[1] However, the theatre was leased to Benjamin Stein,(incorrect link) a white business man for the short period between 1927 and 1929.

Some of the music talent that have performed there are Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Otis Redding, James Brown, Little Richard, and Pigmeat Markham.