The Story of The Howard Theatre

“For decades, the Howard was more than a theater; it was an institution, a place where black performers could get a foothold in the profession, where Washington’s black community could listen to the sounds of their generations and where white audiences could learn the passion and power of the black musician.”
-George Washington University

Howard Theatre

Howard Theatre

Long before the Apollo, and before the Regal, there was The Howard Theatre. When it opened in 1910  it was “the largest colored theatre in the world.”

The Howard Theatre captivated audiences for most of the 20th century, with music, dance, drama and comedy. In its earliest days, speakers like Booker T. Washington shared the stage with musicals, road shows, vaudeville acts, theater productions and community programs. Later, Washington’s favorite son Duke Ellington inaugurated a new era of jazz big bands on The Howard’s stage.

The Howard Theatre provided a place where color barriers blurred and music unified, at a time when the nation was deeply divided by segregation. It was called the “Theatre for The People” by The Washington Bee, and it was the place where dignitaries like President Franklin D. Roosevelt gathered with everyday folks to see both superstars and rising stars.  Along with legendary musicians like Duke Ellington, greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday, Cab Calloway and Nat King Cole graced the Howard stage and made way for talents like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gilespie, The Supremes, Otis Redding, Lena Horne and James Brown.

Duke Ellington PosterThe Howard Theatre inspired change, yet felt the impact of a nation in flux following the 1968 riots.  Eventually, the degradation of the neighborhood forced the theater to close. After several false starts in the late ’70s and early ’80s to reinvigorate The Howard, the curtains fell and the theatre remained shuttered for years. The once majestic building with its “trunk of soul” has survived death in order to be reborn in 2012. Today, The Howard Theatre is enjoying a rebirth and is entering a new era in its long and prestigious history. Via http://thehowardtheatre.com/

Address

Our Address:

620 T Street Washington, DC 20001

GPS:

38.9154692, -77.02112640000001