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Rocket City Civil Rights Tour
Item 2 of 17
This is a contributing entry for Rocket City Civil Rights Tour and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.
In the 1960’s, Huntsville’s theaters included The Lyric, The Grand, The Tony (Martin), The Princess, The Central. The drive-ins were Whitesburg, 231, Parkway, Woody’s, and the 72. The Princess Theater specifically served African American moviegoers. During Huntsville's organized civil rights movement, African American protestors would stand in line to buy movie tickets at “white” theaters, be refused service when they got to the ticket window, then immediately go to the back of the line and try and try again. Eventually, African Americans were permitted to attend the previously all-white Lyric Theater, but were asked to sit in the balcony. Many young white people were upset because a courting place had been taken from them. They were told, “It is against the law for white people to sit in the balcony.” This was the same answer their parents had given them when they were children and had asked why they couldn’t drink out of the colored water fountains, “It is against the law and you will get arrested.”

The Lyric Theatre, located on Washington Street.

The Lyric Theatre, located on Washington Street.

The Princess Theatre, located on Church Street in the Black business district.

The Princess Theatre, located on Church Street in the Black business district.

The Princess Theatre, located on Church Street in the Black business district.

The Princess Theatre, located on Church Street in the Black business district.
Local Historians Kelly Hamlin, Sonnie Hereford III, and Lue English.

Huntsville Revisited, https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleRevisited/


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