T.O.B.A. Time: Black Vaudeville and the Theater Owners' Booking Association in Jazz-Age America

The Theater Owners Booking Association (T.O.B.A.) was a significant organization in the African American entertainment industry, providing a training ground for icons like Cab Calloway, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Sammy Davis Jr., and the Nicholas Brothers. Michelle R. Scotts book "T.O.B.A. Time" explores the organization's origins, practices, and the debates surrounding black entertainment during its eleven-year existence (1920–1931).

Format: Hardback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 03 April 2023
Publisher: University of Illinois Press

The Theater Owners Booking Association (T.O.B.A.) played a significant role in the African American entertainment industry, providing a platform for renowned icons such as Cab Calloway, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Sammy Davis Jr., the Nicholas Brothers, Count Basie, and Butterbeans and Susie. Michelle R. Scotts institutional history delves into the origins and practices of T.O.B.A., shedding light on the lesser-known stories of the managers, producers, performers, and audience members who were integral to the circuit.

Examining T.O.B.A.s eleven-year existence (1920–1931), Scott contextualizes the organization within the broader landscape of entrepreneurship and business development in black America during that time. She also highlights the intellectual debates surrounding the social, economic, and political significance of black entertainment from the early 1900s to T.O.B.A.'s decline during the Great Depression.

T.O.B.A. Time is a meticulously researched and comprehensive account of black entertainment and black business during a pivotal era. It offers a clear-eyed perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by performers, managers, and entrepreneurs in the early 20th century, providing valuable insights into the history and development of the African American entertainment industry.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 160 x 243 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780252044885