Category: Memphis History
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Mid-South Music
Eddie Bond is a well-known Memphis rockabilly having toured with many big names and releasing multiple albums with Mercury Records. However, it is more likely you know him for rejecting a then 18-year-old Elvis Presley after he had tried out for Eddie’s Band. This would not impact their relationship in the future since after this…
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Pancho’s
Although they began over the bridge, Pancho’s will always be a classic Memphis staple. The restaurant originally opened in 1956 in West Memphis, Arkansas. The idea for the restaurant began after Morris Berger had taken his son, Louis Jack Berger, on a trip to Mexico as a surprise after graduating high school. This trip would…
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Pool Sharks
The character Minnesota Fats was based on a real player named Rudolph Walter Wanderone JR. It is speculated since he lived in Nashville he may have visited Peoples Pool Hall on more than one occasion. Memphis has a rich history of many things, including the pub classic Billiards. Also known as “Pool” by us common…
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Memphis Polar Bears
“In the mid-1930’s my uncle, Bob Ewing, installed the first frozen custard machine in Memphis across from the Fairgrounds. It was a stand-alone building shaped like an ice-igloo and was called The FROZEN CUSTARD. There were two snowball-tossing bears on either side of the window where one ordered cones of custard. Many years later (1950’s)…
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Northgate Shopping Center
This is The Northgate Shopping center on Thomas Street In the 1950’s. My friend was picking up her Grandmother from Work at 3 Sisters. She shared these with us on face book! I just loved seeing them! There was a Gridiron at the corner too! We thought you would get a kick out of seeing the…
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Merry Mobile
This a pic of the Plastic sticks under the Buried Treasure, the most poplar one sold when I was a kid in the mid 1960’s. It was Vanilla and raspberry Ice cream sold by the Merry Mobile. I sent you a picture of the Merry Mobile awhile back and I heard another listener call in…
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Plantation Inn
Just heard on 1210 a question about the old Plantation Inn in West Memphis , Ark. “Having Fun with Morris” (owned by Morris Burger) the lead singer was Charles Turner his theme song was “This is dedicated to the One I Love” first put out by the 5 Royals the back up group was “The…
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My Summer with Elvis
As a youth, I lived in Memphis and I went to East High. You could say I really wasn’t crazy about school and looked forward to the Summer when it was over, I loved my free time in the Summer, so I was a bit sad when my father asks me to go to work…
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Memphis Broadcasting
Here is a collection of photos, provided by listeners, as well as excerpts from Gene Gill’s Historic Memphis website that showcase Memphis’ vibrant history in broadcasting. (Excerpts from historic-memphis.com) WHBQ became famous in the 1950s for playing rhythm and blues. Its legend was made by Dewey Phillips, a disc jockey who played rhythm and blues…
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