The Ritz

Back on the Skyway and to the other side of town where the Ritz Theatre and Museum is situated.

This building is on the site of a 1929 theatre in the historic African American community LaVilla, once known as the "Harlem of the South".

The blinds on the glass doors of the foyer display artists who once played on the stage here.

The museum houses a permanent exhibition of black history in Northeast  Florida representing scenes of everyday life from days gone by.

 

There is a jolly "animatronic" show giving us the story of Jacksonville's 'poet laureate' James Weldon Johnson who also wrote songs including one made famous by Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien in MEET ME IN ST LOUIS.

 

Johnson's brother wrote for Ziegfeld and his wife Anna held and became George Gershwin's musical director.

There are also some gorgeous artworks on display.

Josephine Baker

Bert Williams

On the walk back into town I passed a corner "notions" shop