The New Roxy Theater
a documentary film
by
Daryl B. Jones
a documentary film
by
Daryl B. Jones
In the Mississippi Delta town of Clarksdale, The New Roxy Theater explores the tensions of black film spectatorship during segregation through the stories of family and friends with close ties to a defunct movie house.
From the director:
"Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, I am proud of my strong Southern roots. This is a story I've wanted to tell for a long time. It is personal, but also universal. It is the story of America's infatuation with going to the movies. My grandfather was an usher and custodian at the New Roxy and my uncle was a projectionist there. My father spent his childhood there watching movies whenever he could. Many people from Clarksdale found enjoyment at the New Roxy. They also found camaraderie, hope, and solace. At a time when blacks were forced to use separate entrances, sit in segregated seating, and endure unfair treatment, the New Roxy was a place black patrons could go to feel secure. "
Daryl B. Jones is a documentary filmmaker and film lecturer. He holds an M.F.A. in Social Documentation from the University of California, Santa Cruz. His production company, Black Leaf Films, is committed to documenting lives centrally located in black communities.
His most recent work is Tender, a documentary about black trans women facing gentrification and rising rent in a neighborhood they’ve always called home.
The New Roxy Theater is in production and proud to be filmed on location in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Thank you to the Mississippi Humanities Council for awarding us a MHC mini-grant.
Special thanks goes to our fiscal sponsor BraveMaker. BraveMaker celebrates diversity and aspires to foster inclusion across communities through guided discussions and powerful, authentic storytelling through films.
We are seeking New Roxy movie goers who went to the movies from the 1940s to 1960s.
We are also looking for photos of the New Roxy and Clarksdale, Mississippi from the 1940s to the 1980s.
Contact us at
All financial support for this film is tax deductible. You can securely give donations here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/brave-maker/the-new-roxy
You can also support our efforts or become a financial parter by emailing books@bravemaker.com.
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