Hollywood's movie "The Green Book" was released on November 21, 2019 and won this year's Oscar for best picture. The movie is based on a travel guide published from 1936 to 1966, specifically for Black Americans. The book's purpose was to assist minorities in finding hotels, restaurants, tailors, gas stations and other businesses that would provide service to Negroes in a segregated America. The author, Victor Hugo Green wished to provide a directory so they could plan a trip in advance and know where it was safe to stop for the night. At that time, such things as meals, bathrooms, fuel, and lodging were all at the mercy of the specific establishment's owners. Failure to locate these meant a night on the side of the road, sleeping with your family in your car. Although the book was meant only for New York City, it quickly expanded to all states throughout America.
The 1949 edition of the Green Book stated in its introduction that a, "list of hotels, boarding houses, restaurants, beauty shops, barber shops and various other services can most certainly help solve your travel problems. It was the idea of Victor H. Green, the publisher, in introducing the Green Book, to save the travelers of his race as many difficulties and embarrassments as possible.” That year, the only Green Book accommodations listed in Pensacola, Florida was the "Club Rum Boogie Tavern" at 509 East Salamanca Street and the "Reese Dry Cleaning Company" at 307 East Wright Street. The club on Salamanca was demolished years ago and the Gulf Power Building now occupies the lot where it once stood. Reese's cleaners was the business of Absolom Holcomb Reese who spent his whole life in the cleaning profession. At times, his brother Eugene Lewis would join him in the business, but he also held down a job at the Naval Air Station. Absolom would pass away in 1979 and was buried in Pensacola's Jordan Cemetery. His building at 307 East Wright Street was demolished to build the Interstate I-110 spur.
Even in 1949, the city of Mobile, Alabama only listed three "Tourist Homes" owned by private citizen's E. Reed at 950 Lyons Street, E. Jordan at 256 North Dearborn Street, and F. Wildins at 254 North Dearborn Street. By 1959, Pensacola was advertising a "stopover" at "Crosby's Motel, 3100 North Alcaniz Street" and called the "South's Finest For Colored," at Hemlock 2-2406. Frank and his wife Joanna Crosby established the motel in 1958 while maintaining their family home at 1015 North "L" Street. Another location not contained in the Green Book, but still available to Black citizens, was the "Traveler's Inn" at 2304 North Alcaniz Street (demolished). It was managed during the 1940's by Joseph Louis and Celia Williams Burnette. For years, there was a bar located downstairs with available rooms upstairs. Another unlisted, but available stopover was Grier's "Grand Hotel" at 2618 Guillemard Street near Palafox and Leonard Streets. In 1956, it was owned and managed by Thelma Griers Reeves, the daughter of Ebby and Hattie Baldwin Griers. Born in 1916, Thelma would marry Manuel Reeves in 1941 who went on to serve in the US Navy during World War II. Thelma would pass away in 2009 followed by her internment in the Holy Cross Cemetery.
Ironically, the subject of the Oscar winning movie was Donald Waldbridge Shirley, born on January 29, 1927 in Pensacola, Florida. He was the son of Edwin Samuel Shirley, an Episcopalian priest and Stella Gertrude Young, a teacher. His parents rented at house at 312 West La Rua Street for $12.00 per month where Don learned to play the piano at the age of two-years old. From this humble home his musical career would take off in every direction. After an accomplished career, both as a composer and performer, Dr. Shirley passed away of heart disease on April 6, 2013.
If you're interested click here to see the online edition of The Negro Motorist Green Book in pdf format: http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Race/R_Casestudy/Negro_motorist_green_bk.htm
Victor Hugo Green's Travel Book 1936
Absolom Holcomb Reese 1949 AD
Green Book's Author Victor Hugo Green (1912-1960)
Composer Donald Waldridge
Shirley, Pensacolian (1927-2013)