Funeral For Theater Pioneer Robert E. Leslie Sr.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Funeral services are being held this morning for a man who co-founded the Freedom Theater in North Philadelphia.
Robert E. Leslie Sr. along with John E. Allen Jr. founded Freedom Theatre in 1966, with a dream to make theater and arts education accessible to the African-American community.
Johnnie Hobbs is on the board of Freedom Theater and has been connected to Pennsylvania's oldest African American theater since 1974. He says Leslie's best qualities were his vision and loyalty.
"He was such an institution builder," Hobbs said. "Knowing who we are and making a contribution about that."
Hobbs says Leslie, who died last week at the age of 76, was active at the theater until his recent illness.
"He looked at every youth theatre show, he sat back there, very humble. He was always here and continuing to build an institution."
Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio
