![]() What was once all vacant property has turned into one of the hottest entertainment districts in the country. In 1983, the first club reopened on Beale, and one by one, clubs and businesses moved into renovated spaces, producing the most vibrant streetscape and activity center in downtown Memphis and the Mid-South. Their primary responsibility was to focus on the marketing, leasing and property management of Beale Street in addition to developing the entertainment theme through the selection of tenants. In 1982, John Elkington and his company became involved in the redevelopment of Beale Street. In the late 1970's the City of Memphis bought nearly all of the properties along three blocks of Beale Street, and the Beale Street Management Corporation was formed with the charge of creating an entertainment district. The redevelopment of Beale Street is considered a catalyst in downtown Memphis' rebirth. Good or bad - Beale Street created some memories. There were big vaudeville shows at the Palace and the Daisy, hot snoot sandwiches at the corner café jug bands playing down at the park and one block over on Gayoso there was a red-light district to rival New Orleans Storyville. There were numerous gamblers setting a box next to the card table and sliding a share of the take into it for the church down the street. There was the sight of Machine Gun Kelly peddling bottled whiskey from a clothes basket back before he moved into the ranks of big-time crime. Or maybe he'd just stop over at PeeWee's and visit with the musicians, or play a little pool, or secure the voodoo protection of Mary the Wonder.īy mid-evening, the street would be packed and a one-block walk could take forever, especially if he had to detour around the medicine show set up in the little hole in the wall, or if he stopped and listened to the wandering bluesman playing for pennies and nickels. If the mark escaped from the dice or the cards, maybe the rube would fall victim to Little Ora, who was always ready to prove her reputation as the best pickpocket between New Orleans and St. Young ladies began to sashay around and inside the bars, gamblers waited for an easy mark from the country to come strolling in, bug-eyed at the ways of the big city. In the early evenings, boxback suits and Stetson hats mingled with overalls. One club, The Monarch, was known as The Castle of Missing Men due to the fact that its gunshot victims and dead gamblers could be easily disposed of at the undertaker’s place that shared their back alley. ![]() But, Beale Street's heyday was in the 1920's, when the area took on a carnival atmosphere and gambling, drinking, prostitution, murder and voodoo thrived alongside the booming nightclubs, theaters, restaurants, stores, pawnshops and hot music. Grant's headquarters during the Civil War. Named after an unknown military hero in 1841, it acted as General Ulysses S. While our limo is shining on his shanty streetīeale Street has been playing the blues for more than half a century. Why should I expect that old guy to give it to me true We're only welcome for our drink and smokeĪnd I'm not familiar with what you playedīut I get such strong impressions of your hey day She's silent waiting for the wrecker's beatĮverybody laughs as if it's the old man's standard joke There's a double bill murder at the New Daisy Lt's mostly muttering now and sideshow spiel You bring him smoke and drink and he'll play for you Like he's listening back to the good old bands And Egles the Tailor and the Shine Boy's gone
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