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Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Holiday Wurlitzer Concert
Monday, November 9, 2020
Horace Sudduth and the Manse Hotel
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| Former Manse Hotel, left and the headquarters of The Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women's Clubs |
Happy Monday! Today's high is pushing 80 degrees, not typical for November, but I'm not complaining.
A week ago yesterday, I went on the Black Baseball in Walnut Hills Walking Tour, and the former Manse Hotel was one of the stops. Today, I just feel like digging deeper and share the story of this landmark.
The Manse Hotel, not to be confused with the Old Manse Hotel in Britain, is listed in The Negro Travelers's Green Book and was perhaps the most prominent African American owned, operated, and designed hotel in Cincinnati.
The former hotel was designed by Horace Sudduth, a notable African American real estate giant in the early 20th century. Born in Covington, Kentucky, he served as president the Walnut Hills Enterprise Company, president of the Industrial Loan and Savings Company, president and organizer of the Creative Realty Company, and owner of the Sudduth Real Estate Agency.
In 1937, when Sudduth acquired it, it was an 11 family residence, and over the years, he converted it little by little until it became a 108-room hotel, and he invested $500,000 of his own money to finance the hotel.
The Manse Hotel formally opened in April 1950, and about 6,000 guest toured the hotel freely. Per the June 2, 1969 issue of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the hotel employed about 30 workers, had an annual payroll of $85,000, and grossed $200,000 annually in its peak years. Sudduth would only charge $3.00 per guest while the White hotels in downtown Cincinnati charged $6-$7 per guest. What's more, he never got a liquor license as he did not want liquor served in the hotel; the liquor alone would have more than tripled the income from all other sources.
In later years, with integration, Black customers left the Manse as the wanted better service, and the Manse was unable to draw white guests.
Sudduth's death in 1957 saw the decline of the Manse. His son-in-law Alexander saw that renovation was not necessarily within his power, and when the Manse was audited, it had a liability of $100,000.
Guest were now few and far in between, and the 108 rooms now were used for one night stays.
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The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 16, 1950
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Of course, behind every proud man stands a proud woman. Mrs. Melvina Sudduth was not directly involved in her husband's business ventures, but she made things strong on the homefront by making sure that their house ran smoothly. She and Horace had been childhood sweethearts and the couple was married from 1919 until her death in 1956. She had also been involved in many causes of her own, including as treasurer of the Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women's Clubs and community organizations in their native Covington, Kentucky.
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| The Pittsburgh Courier, March 12, 1955 |
The Manse Hotel was known to host baseball royalty such as Jackie Robinson.
As of this posting, the Manse has been awarded $1.2 million in tax credits and plan to convert the building into a 60-unit apartment complex for seniors and families.
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Ghosts of Black Walnut Hill's Past
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| Ashland Park |
Happy November! I'm still recovering from a knee injury that I suffered this past May. I did have a voucher for a Reds home game, but again due to this evil spirit we call COVID-19, in person games have been out of the question this year, so I still decided to celebrate with the Black Baseball in Walnut Hills Walking Tour.
Peter H Clark, in addition to being principal of Gaines Colored High School, was considered the Father of Cincinnati's Black Baseball, having found the Cincinnati Vigilants. The game made a significant mark in baseball history as it connected baseball to education, thus the team consisted of student-athletes from the school. He is also the author of the first account of the Black Brigade, and was also the first African American socialist in the United States. According to the July 1874 issue of the Cincinnati Daily Times, a writer who went by the name of Vigilant Play gave an account of why white teams refused to play against one of the best Black teams in the country:
“Now, why the white clubs refuse to play our club, I can’t see,” wrote Vigilant Play, adding the claim that the Vigilants were “the champions of Ohio.” “The Vigilant Club is composed of as good players as the Arctics [a white team]. Is this giving our colored boys a show? The Arctics, Favorites and Hunkidories have to work for a living as well as we Vigilant boys do, and we will play any of the above-mentioned any day next week, except Sunday.
“It seems as if the white clubs are afraid of us,” he added boldly.
Former Manggrum's Drugstore, Chapel Street. One of the first Black owned pharmacies in Cincinnati, the pharmacy was a vendor that sold tickets to Black performances, most notably the June Festival of Negro Music in Eden Park back in the 1940s.
Former Manse Hotel (left) and headquarters of the Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.
Listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book, the Manse Hotel, Black baseball players such as Jackie Robinson were guests.
To learn more about Dehart Hubbard, read this post.
Alms Hotel, home of the former WKRC jazz radio station.
Have a blessed week!
Saturday, October 31, 2020
Ghosts of Music Hall's Past
Happy Full Moon! Today has been a very relaxing, crisp, and sunny day, and the best part? Today is the last day of Daylight Savings Time!!! It's also the first full moon on Halloween since 1944, can you believe that? P.S. & BTW, if you want to catch the blue moon tonight, it will be visible at around ten minutes until 11pm. It is also All Saints' Day (November 1), and in Mexico, El Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) (November 2).
What better way to celebrate Halloween and to satiate my curiousity than to take a Guided Ghost Tour of Cincinnati Music Hall, given in partnership with with the Cincinnati Research and Paranormal Studies Team. Typically, these after hours tours are offered in person (and sell out within a day or two!), but due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, in person tours are not taking place, but I'm going to still tell you about the otherworldly side of one of Cincinnati's most iconic attractions.
Opened in 1878, Music Hall was built over a pauper's cemetery (potter's field), and in 2014, Travel Channel listed it as one of the most haunted places in America. During its construction in 1877, human remains were discovered in that pauper's cemetery on the property, and visitors and employees alike have reported paranormal activity on the property. Though the majority of the activity occurs in the basement, there have been reports of singing in various empty parts of the building, the freight elevator moving without being called, and period attired figures spotted in the Springer Auditorium. Then, due to the growing cholera epidemic in Cincinnati proper at the time, the city transferred the remains north to Spring Grove Cemetery, the second largest cemetery in the United States.
The Potter's Field was not only used by the hospital, but served the city in connection with other tragic events. In 1838 when the steamer Moselle exploded her boilers above the site of the present waterworks, it reportedly blew the scones and limbs and blackened trunks of her passengers all over the city, so that falling bodies fell through the roofs of houses. The remains of these victims were buried in various pauper cemeteries throughout the city.
So, who was buried in the former potter's field? Obviously, the poor, but the 2011-2012 renovation of Washington Park left some headstones of some prominent movers and shakers of the 1800s.
James F Conover was the publisher of the Cincinnati Whig (later the Cincinnati Daily Whig ) and commercial intelligencer in 1835. Henry Clay (1777-1852), 7th U.S. House Speaker and 9th Secretary of State, wrote letters to Conover on Conover's own proposal to establish a newspaper in Cincinnati, 1829-1841. The manuscript is currently held at the University of Virginia Library.
Headstone of Harriet Key, infant daughter of James F. and Julia Ann Conover
We hope that this time next year that in person tours will take place, but until then, here are some spine tingling scenes to make you shudder (I mean, enjoy)!
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| Ghost Tour Music Hall Foyer |
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| Corbett Tower Washington Park lights on |
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| Ghost in Springer Auditorium |
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Friends of Music Hall Outdoor Tours Continue
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Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Music Hall Outdoor Building Tours are Coming Back!
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Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Love & Drunken Popcorn
A blessed Tuesday to all!
Five months into COVID-19, and many of us have the case of cabin fever and are really itching to eventually get back to our normal lives. I am slowly recovering from a knee injury. I am taking CBD/CBG oil for my physical pain, but now, I really gotta have something to lift me up spiritually (no pun intended).
What do you get when you mash up booze and popcorn? The best guilty pleasure there is! I know this sounds way out of left field, but hear me out on this one!
Going through my social media outlets, I happened to stumble upon Drunken Popcorn LLC, a Black owned startup. I have heard great buzz about this unique twist on this movie theater staple, so I decided to get to know this pillar of the community. In fact, let us all get to know this pillar of the community; here is my conversation with founder Nikki Bane:
BCT: When and how did Drunken Popcorn LLC get started?
Nikki: Drunken Popcorn was created in October 2018, a friend of mine helped me come up with the concept of alcohol coated popcorn. I gave it a name, perfected my recipe and branded my business Drunken Popcorn LLC as of 12/24/2018.
BCT: What inspired you to start this business?
Nikki: That’s an easy question, my children. I have 2 kids, and my son has autism. Everything I do in my life is for them.
BCT: What is your most popular flavor?
Nikki: Brown Sugar Baby is my most popular flavor it’s made with Cognac. Apple Sizzle is the second favorite it’s made with Whiskey.
BCT: Do you currently sell in stores?
Nikki: No I don’t sell in stores, online only for now.
BCT: You currently infuse your fruit flavored popcorn with vodka, tequila, whiskey, cognac, pink moscato, as well as beer. Do you plan on adding more flavors and more liquor to your line?
Nikki: Drunken Popcorn starts with a sweet glaze that embodies the taste and aroma of your favorite alcoholic beverages. The glaze is then coated over air popped popcorn. I do plan to add more flavors/alcohol options... I’m thinking mixed drinks (cocktails).
BCT: You also offer vegan/gluten free options?
Nikki: Yes I do, every flavor comes in vegan/ gluten free.
BCT: I know this is weird, but this popcorn contains alcohol. Will we get intoxicated from eating it?
Nikki: I get this a lot lol... My product does contain alcohol, most of what makes you intoxicated cooks off and you’re left with the true flavors of the alcohol.
BCT: As with all alcoholic beverages, is there a minimum age requirement to purchase or consume?
Nikki: Absolutely, you have to be 21 to drink alcohol so you have to be 21 to purchase.
BCT: Has Drunken Popcorn LLC made appearances at special events?
Nikki: I have not as of yet (was close before Covid-19). DrunkenPopcorn LLC is a small business trying to find its way to the top.
BCT: Will you introduce more snacks to your line in the future?
Nikki: Yes, I do plan to add more snacks in the future. I have big plans.
BCT: What are plans for the future of Drunken Popcorn LLC?
Nikki: God willing I plan to have several locations of Drunken Popcorn LLC across the world. I hope to one day see Drunken Popcorn in stadiums (I can customize the colors to match any event using any alcohol). I also hope to work with breweries and distilleries. I make Drunken Popcorn with beer and I would like to offer them a speciality product made with their in-house brews that you would only be able to get from them.
BCT: Is there anything else that Cincinnati should know about Drunken Popcorn LLC?
Nikki: I'm a single black mom with two children. My son has autism, and I'm creating generational wealth for my family. Nothing is going to stop me now!
Though the most popular flavors are Brown Sugar Baby and Apple Sizzle, I decided to go off the beaten path and have Mango Meet Up, made with vodka. Believe me, this. does. not. disappoint. The flavors are three-dimensional, and you actually experience the well rounded flavors of the mango and the vodka....without the hangover.
That being said, I'm going to go and finish basking in this greatness, but Drunken Popcorn LLC is a force to be reckoned with, and I want you to experience this awesomeness for yourself!
Please show your love and DM or email your order to DrunkenPopcornllc@gmail.com. Kudos to Nikki and her staff for putting love and commitment into this brand and into this community!
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