The African American Experience in Louisiana

Pontchartrain Park course, now renamed for Bartholomew, is of special significance not just as a
rare example of an African American golf course, but as the only existing course both designed
and played by Bartholomew. The Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Shreveport, which is listed
on the National Register, opened as the first for African Americans in its region in 1952 (Figure
100). It was developed on the site on a former park and golf course, on another part of which the
Booker T. Washington High School for African American students had recently been completed.
In order to be eligible for the National Register in association with this context, golf courses
must have a demonstrated significance to the African American community and substantially
retain their original design.
4. Theaters
Theaters were yet another aspect of life affected by
segregation. In theaters that served both blacks and
whites, African Americans were relegated to poor
seats in balconies and typically had to enter through
separate doors. In their own theaters African
Americans instead got to enjoy the entertainment
without such discriminatory treatment. This
category includes two different types of theaters,
those that hosted live performances and those of later
years that showed only movies. There are three
Louisiana African American theaters presently listed
on the National Register. The Iroqouis Theater of
1911 belongs to the live performance genre (Figure
101). It was located along the African American
commercial hub of South Rampart Street in New
Orleans and has been identified as being of National
Significance for its association with early jazz
performances. It should be noted that two of the
Masonic temples discussed above also housed
theaters. Both the Pythian and Prince Hall temples
offered theaters. It was an act at the Pythian Temple
theater that is said to have inspired the creation of the
Zulu Mardi Gras parade.
As cinema became the popular entertainment medium
numerous small African American theaters opened,
but it was many years before African Americans
could go to the movies in a first rate theater of their
own. The Carver Theater, which opened in 1950 in
New Orleans, was a watershed in this area (Figure
102). It offered a movie experience on par with the
best movie theaters, but was built specifically to serve
African Americans, many of whom lived in the
housing project across the street from its location.
Likewise, in Baton Rouge, the National Register
Figure 101: Iroquois Theater, New Orleans, Orleans
Parish.
Figure 102: Carver Theater, New Orleans, Orleans
Parish.
Figure 103: Lincoln Theater, Baton Rouge, East
Baton Rouge Parish.
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