Holiday Wurlitzer Concert

MEDIA RELEASE Contact: Mindy Rosen 513-535-0678 For Immediate Release: November 11, 2020 Mighty Wurlitzer Delivers “Happy Holidays” Virtually for 2020 For a decade the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ at Cincinnati Music Hall’s Ballroom has offered a heartwarming seasonal concert tradition, Happy Holidays. For 2020, the event returns virtually for friends and family with free streaming offered on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7:00 p.m. presented by the Friends of Music Hall. The link will be live through Dec. 26. World renowned organist Mark Herman has been a Cincinnati favorite, and he’ll be at the keyboard to pull out all the holiday stops with seasonal music. The evening will be hosted by Evans Mirageas, Cincinnati Opera’s Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director and a veteran radio commentator. Further entertainment will be provided by vocalists Thom Dreeze and Jennifer Cherest, Cincinnati Opera regulars, as well as dancers from the Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy. Mark Herman is one of America’s busiest and most in-demand theatre organists. He has performed concerts across the U.S. and abroad in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In 2012, he was named Organist of the Year by the American Theatre Organ Society, the youngest person ever to be so honored. Area residents who have enjoyed Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ — as well as those seeking a special holiday experience — can order a FREE virtual link by emailing Mindy Rosen at mrosen@FriendsofMusicHall.org # # # ‌ // CONNECT WITH US //  ‌  ‌  ‌

Horace Sudduth and the Manse Hotel

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. 

The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 16, 1950

The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 2, 1969

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.

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.

Everybody have a blessed week!

Ghosts of Black Walnut Hill's Past

 

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.

Philanthropist Jacob Schmidlapp, provided low cost housing, such as the former Gordon Hotel (pictured), for African American wage earners. In the early 1900s, rooms were priced $.50 per night, $1.75 per week.

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!