ABOUT THE ATTUCKS
The Attucks Theatre was the brainchild of the Twin Cities Amusement Corporation, an enterprise of black businessmen from Norfolk and Portsmouth who developed the Attucks as a regional mecca for entertainment and commerce.  Their vision was to develop a cultural center in the heart of the minority community where the citizens would be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserved. The theatre was named in honor of Crispus Attucks, an African American who the first to die in the Revolutionary War. Harvey N. Johnson, a noted African-American architect, was selected to design this facility.

When it opened in grand fashion in 1919, the Attucks showcased legitimate theatre (or plays), vaudeville and movies at a price the community could afford.

During its heyday an array of legendary performing artists graced the stage including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Mamie Smith, to name a few.  High class, noteworthy films thrilled audiences alike, such as Warner Brothers’ all star dramatic musical spectacle, “Gold Diggers of 1933”, “The Man From Monteray”, “Broadway to Hollywood”, “Imitation of Life” and many, many more.

Following an eight million dollar restoration in 2004, the legendary Attucks, once known as the
"Apollo of the South," has been restored to a world class state-of-the-art performing arts facility and again plays host to today’s finest touring performing ensembles and world premieres of original works.

Today, as a state and national landmark, it is distinguished as the oldest remaining legitimate theatre in the nation that was completely financed, designed, constructed and operated by African-Americans.