Piggly Wiggly®, America's first true self-service grocery store, was founded in Memphis, Tennessee Sept 6, 1916 by Clarence Saunders

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Sonny,

I have heard some talk about the baseball and softball diamonds that were at the Fairgrounds in the 50's and 60's and I thought I would put in my two cents worth.

As I recall, there several diamonds there over the years and they were numbered in the order that they were built. This could lead to some confusion later as diamonds were added and they were not renumbered. The smaller fields were used as baseball fields for Junior League baseball and for softball games at night under the lights while the two bigger parks were used for High School and American Legion games as well as Senior league play.

George I'm the one who called in about MSU day Sept.16. I promised to send a picture of my MSU jacket and here it is.

- T. Cox

TV host ‘Happy Hal’ artwork gets belated showing with exhibit, sale

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George, I bought this album in Seattle at a rare records shop a few years ago just because it was such a unique collection of Memphis music. I was surprised to see the photo of the McDonald’s on the cover as well as the rare photos of the artists including Wink Martindale, Dewey Phillips and Harry Fritzius on the back. The photo is sharp enough that you should be able to read all the notes. The photo of the McDonald’s is credited to Colin Escott and gives the location as Northgate Plaza 1959. Enjoy, Robert Vaughn

Jingle, jangle, jingle

Here comes Mr. Bingle

With another message from Kris Kringle

Time to launch your Christmas season

Maison Blanche makes Christmas pleasin'

Gifts galore for you to see

Each a gem from MB!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning on SUNNY 1210

Wink Martindale's "Top 100 Christmas Hits of All Time." 

Eight hours of songs compiled from Billboard and Cashbox Top Hits Listings. Mariah Carey, the Lettermen, Bryan Adams, Bing Crosby, Amy Grant, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley – they are all there, and more, and for fun, there are novelty hits from Stan Freberg and Spike Jones.

Dr. Flinn ; I heard you talk about " Monk "  on your radio station Sunny1210 Callers asked you about him . I told you that I would send you these  great photos of Monk in our collection . photo Monk 1 is the way that he was always dressed  when I would  see him in downtown Memphis  mostly in the Hotel Peabody area . No matter what time of year , he always wore  several shirts  and the coat that you see , held together with a safety pin . A pocket chain with keys and a  lub. He was always O K  Monk 2 & 3 photos ; I wish I knew , he is dressed in top hat , tux and dress cane . I can not I D the ladies in the photos . Photos by Lou Lowry  1396 Vance Ave  Steve & Dean McFarland collection 

Monk's real name was Tony Cassatta . He died in Oct. 1979 at age 74  I heard that he was struck by a car . for more information there was an article  about him in one of the  .  1979 issues  of Memphis Magazine 

Dr. Flinn ; I took this early color photo at the Plantation Inn , West Memphis , Ark. June 14 , 1958 " Having Fun with Morris " I have heard you talk about Charles Turner on your radio station Sunny 1210 A M Here he is the lead vocal singer Charles Turner with his back -up group " The Famous Vel - Tones " " This is Dedicated to the One I Love " originally done by the 5 Royales but preformed nightly at the P I -  Steve & Dean McFarland Collection   

Dr. Flinn ; Here are a couple of photos for you of Pat Boone's visit to Memphis .

1. Pat Boone  with Ruben Cherry co-owner of 

   The Home of the Blues Record Shop on Beale St.

    That is were Daddy-O Dewey told us to buy our records .

    How about that Juke Box ?  Compliments of Southern Amusement Co.

     Photo by E H Jaffe

Dr. Flinn ; "Top Ten Dance Party" Sponsored by the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Jan. 3 , 1959 Wink Martindale photo from RSVP Magazine May 2011 - Steve McFarland

Not sure what year!  Face Book page friend shared it. Thought you would get a kick out of it!  Also you see the movie " The Wrecking Crew."  about  LA studio musicians from the 1950'-60's that played on everything from The beach Boys to Frank Sinatra. They were amazing!!! They showed Phil Spector also in his early Days.  It was fabulous!! Sincerely, Connie

Doctor Flinn ; Sunny1210

Dewey Phillips had  more of an impact on Memphis radio music than anyone else that I can think of . He played Rhythm and Blues for the white listeners  That was the cross over from "pop music " at the time to R & B  ,which later became Rock & Roll. Dewey played Elvis Presley on the WHBQ airwaves  the first time Elvis was ever played on the radio. If Dewey told you what record to buy and  where to buy it ; that's what you did.  I listened  to him every night . Red Hot & Blue I don't think there was anyone in the city of Memphis my age that did not listen to Dewey . " That will flat get it "  -  Steve  & Dean McFarland 

Okay George  Flinn.....

I may have to stop listening to your station in the morning on the way to work. First people at stop signs look at me like I am an idiot because I am just singing away. Second, it never fails that ya'all are playing something that I really love when I pull into the parking lot at FedEx. This morning I just had to help Mamma Cass sing "Dedicated to the One I love". One of our VPs walked  to the door with me and I told him all about 103.1. Then I had to tell two managers about it too. I LOVE THIS RADIO STATION!!!

It was really nice talking to you  Saturday.  Hope to see you soon.

Hi, Wink. You would call my Dad in Memphis whenever it was too snowy or too rainy to fill-in the Mars Patrol gallery. Fortunately, that happened twice in 1955. Dad sold Pontiacs at Douthitt-Sanchez. Here are my two Mars Guard membership cards and I still have the ray gun. We're still doing a good job. Mars has never been invaded. (P.S.: Probably, because of such an early exposure to broadcasting I spent thirty years as a rock radio air personality.)

Dr. Flinn ; While I was listening to Sunny1210 the other day I heard you ask for Charles Atlas comic book add . Well here you are , along with a full page of comic book adds to send in for . Steve & Dean McFarland collection

Dr. Flinn ; Later than the 50's and 60's but a real classic on this album by Z Z Top titled " Eliminator " contains the classic " Sharp Dressed Man " Billy Gibbons Great album cover design Steve and Dean McFarland Collection

Dr. Flinn ;
May 2 , 2015 the passing of Ben E. King. He was the lead singer with " The Drifters " after Clyde McPhatter was no longer with the group. The Drifters were on the Atlantic record label. It took me some time to find this single , at first I looked among my Drifters records under "D " then later found it filed under " K " I did not remember that Atco record label  was a division of Atlantic records  The Drifters / Atlantic records after Clyde McPhatter  left did not credit Ben E. King as the lead singer .
This may be why he went solo . " Stand By Me " a Leiber-Stoller Production  Record McFarland collection  - Steve

How things have changed in the music world ! Do you think the F B I is doing an investigation to see if Rap music is obscene ? Give me that great old music form our 1950's ! Sunny 1210 Steve

Here is a vintage B & W photo of the W W I dough -boy monument in Overton Park that we bought at the Hunt -Phelan home sale . Steve

Hello to all ; It is time to start to move some things My wife and I had sold on EBay a few years ago but have not done so in some time we have the following if you know someone who might be interested M U S annuals 1927 and 1928 that is when the school was at Madison & Manassas around Forrest Park owner was Pipkin add in back for A E Pipkin insurance Central annual 1924 - Steve & Dean McFarland

Also we have paper wraps booklets from Central High School 1930 -31 and 32 I guess these came out every month ? like a school newspaper we have 12 issues we also have a 1934 Southwestern annual - Steve & Dean McFarland

Dr. Flinn ;

Here is the latest from Memory lane 

music from the 50's ; L P covers ; remember "Hi-Fi " ?

Rick Nelson ; from the teenage son on a T V series to teen idol

The Platters ; "Only You " lead singer , Tony Williams 

Bring back some memories ?

Steve & Dean McFarland Collection

Here is the rest of my movie house photos

McFarland collection

Lowe's State 2 ; Traffic safety week

Malco; the only one still standing downtown ; the grandest of all of them

Two away from downtown

Linden Circle and the Crosstown

I know that the Crosstown still stands

Steve

Use the photos if you want to

Memphis Movie houses downtown Memphis 1950's

Dr. Flinn ;

I knew that I had these and just found them filed away

Do you have this one ?

Barksdale district Station 1936

I know that you have the vintage postcard

with the police mounted on horseback

when it was a mounted police station

For some reason the photo in the middle

a couple of people are "blacked out " on purpose  

McFarland Collection

Steve