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Robert T. Motts
Robert T. Motts was an African American saloon owner and gambling racket leader, who established and managed Chicago's Pekin Theatre, an epicenter of African-American theater. Motts was an organizer in the Republican Party.[1] He also owned theaters in New York City.[2] Early lifeMotts was born on June 24, 1861.[3] His father, Thomas Motts, was a coal dealer in Muscatine, Iowa and died during the Civil War.[3][4] His mother moved the five children to Washington, Iowa. At the age of 18, Motts left for St. Louis and later Chicago, where he worked odd jobs and then as a coachman for four years.[3] CareerAfter the World's Fair of 1893, he invested in a saloon on 2700 State Street, owned by Snowden and Beasley.[3] Eventually he bought out his business partners' shares and began to develop the Pekin Theatre.[3] A court order in New York enjoined Motts' theaters from having a show that infringed on a similarly named show.[2] DeathMotts' health began to decline, but he continued to devote his time to managing the theatre.[5] He arranged for his sister, Lucy Jackson, to have joint ownership of the business and eventually sold his last interest in the business before his death.[5] Motts died at his home on Calumet Avenue on July 11, 1911 from splenic leucemia.[3] Motts' funeral was a major affair.[6] Services were held at Quinn Chapel and Motts was interred in Washington, Iowa.[7][4] References
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