Symphony in Sepia Banned in Birmingham, Alabama Theatrical Performance 1936-11-19 New York Amsterdam News 11/21/1936: White Birminghamites were barred from seeing a Saturday midnight performance of "Symphony in Sepia" although Negro citizens saw the same show for two days under its real name of Irvin C. Miller's Brown Skin Models. The city commission banned the special show for whites only, and ordered the Alabama theatre to cancel the performance, although it had engaged in extensive advertising. It seemed likely the commission would make a permanent policy of ruling out Negro shows from white theatres. City commission President James M. Jones said he ruled against the show on his own responsibility "for the good of both Negroes and whites." The commission said there is "plenty of white talent" available. Performing Arts Encyclopedia http://www.loc.gov/performingarts Tap Dance America http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/tda/tda-home.html tda IHAS 151216 loc.music.tda.1695