Slave Theater in Court, Preservation Effort Weak
[nggallery id=”21718″ template=galleryview] The fate of Slave No. 1 Theater in Bed-Stuy, opened in the early 1980s by Judge John L. Phillips, Jr., is still being decided by the probate court, documentary filmmaker and activist Mya Baker told us. The retired judge, who after being declared mentally incompetent lost control of $10 million or so…
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The fate of Slave No. 1 Theater in Bed-Stuy, opened in the early 1980s by Judge John L. Phillips, Jr., is still being decided by the probate court, documentary filmmaker and activist Mya Baker told us. The retired judge, who after being declared mentally incompetent lost control of $10 million or so worth of property in Bed-Stuy, was pronounced dead last February, on the same day a rally was scheduled to save his cherished theater, once a hub of black activism. “He didn’t really have any family members and he didn’t leave it to anybody, so it all depends on if they’re gonna take it or not,” she said.
Baker acknowledged that preservation efforts have so far received a tepid response, but a Juneteenth Festival to that end is still planed June 21. Online petitions such as this one, started last November to prevent its sale, have only a handful of signatures, and a myspace profile created for the theater hasn’t been logged into in six months. “Last week they had a play called ‘The Meeting Between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.’ and it was a three-day run … I went on the first day. It was, you know, people, not that many people,” she said, sounding a bit dispirited. During the time Baker, 34, was most heavily involved with the theater, she said, “It’s just trying to rally the community to want to save it, that was the biggest problem.” This is in stark contrast to the energy that once emanated from the place. During the 1980s, when racially-motivated killings twice caused firestorms throughout the city, the varied factions of the black community needed a central meeting place, and that became the Slave Theater. While the name was intended as reminder of the injustices black Americans have endured, inside the walls are lined with portraits of prominent activists like Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who led movements to overcome those struggles. Baker said there are still efforts to sell the theater, and we found a listing online, albeit almost a year old. Meanwhile, the historic theater continues to play host to small events.
A Symbol of Activism Is at Center of Court Dispute [NY Times]
Slave Theater could be sold to pay judge’s ‘debts’ [Brooklyn Paper]
John L. Phillips Jr., 83, Civil Court Judge Is Dead [NY Times via mybedstuy]
Thanks what – more stories about brooklyn back in the day please…nice for the readers to catch a glimpse of your pleasant nostalgic side!
I’d guess this photo was snapped circa 1971.
And 37 years later, there is a real possibility that the next prez will be African-American.
Pretty damn cool.
“Thanks for the info, What! Do you have any pictures from back then? I keep on hearing about how active the theater was in the early 80’s, but in the three years I’ve been in the neighborhood, it’s been locked up.”
I remember when John L. Phillips changes the name “The Slave” people went nuts but he explain everything in a letter posted at the theatre. The Neighborhood was hoping he reopen but, he got and the rest was history.
Plus there was a barber on the first floor called “Panama” Panama used to cut hair on the handball court with a razor and scissors. The dice game would be going and people would wait for Panama to finnish. BTW I saw Panama a couple weeks ago. For a man in his late 60’s, he looks great.
One last thing about The Regent. They a had bad rat problem and when someone would scream, RAT!!! The whole place would empty out, LOL. The sad this was you had to pay again to get in….. Like Archie Bunker would say “Those where the days…….
The What
Someday this war is gonna end….
Hey, Al Sharpton’s only 52…
I remember seeing him outside the Slave one evening…big community meeting going on inside, maybe around the time of the Crown Heights shootings. It was also a popular venue for the Black Muslims, who generally wouldn’t let white folks in to their rallies.
The photo is amazing! Does anyone have information on the year, event, photographer credit, etc?
I think that the lack of interest in this preservation effort is a mark of the changing times. As that type of firebrand activism fades into history, so will the theater. It’s no coincidence that the chief proponents of militancy are entering or in their senior years (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Charles Barron, Maxine Waters, etc.). Barack Obama and Hakeem Jeffries represent the current generation: corporate, button-down, and focused on playing the game rather than fighting the man.
It will probably wind up being condos or retail. C’est la vie.
Thanks for the info, What! Do you have any pictures from back then? I keep on hearing about how active the theater was in the early 80’s, but in the three years I’ve been in the neighborhood, it’s been locked up.
Pam Grier…
For once I agree with the What.
I grew up on Hancock Bet Beford and Nostrand. Back in the days it was call The Regent Theater. They had the triple feature of Bruce Lee, Blaxploitation films, Spaghetti Westerns and other films of the 70’s. I spend some of the best days of my life there.
The funny thing about the Regent there was no age limit. at 10 years old I saw Pam Grier in her beauty.
John L. Phillips Jr., 83 had Alzheimer and the Slave theatre went into disrepair. I hope some one makes it a land mark, it’s a piece of Bed Stuy’s history.
BTW If any asshat ask me what was the other theater in the neighborhood, it was the Banco. A 99 cent store is there now!
The What (Born and Raised in BROOKLYN!!!!!!!)
Someday this war is gonna end….