1978: Sweet Transvestites In London, circa 1973, adventurous theatregoers were flocking to a small movie-house-turned-live theatre outside the West End where a cult phenomenon had…
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Early holiday celebration for two historic sites endorsed by Memphis Landmarks: 492 Vance Ave & Persons’ 1917 lynching site
Two Landmarks endorsements put stamps of approval on the first steps toward honoring and restoring local African American histories For last Thursday’s Memphis Landmarks Commission…
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When “The Birth of a Nation” Came to Memphis
The news came in December 1915, that one of cinema’s most infamous films – which exalted, glorified and stoked white supremacy – was soon coming…
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Tragedy & Charity: The Year the Jews Saved Christmas
A jarring telephone ring at 5:30 AM startled businessman Abe Plough awake. On the other end was Clarence Henochsberg, assistant cashier and popular teller at…
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Metal Museum awarded $198k federal grant to take stock of vast collection
The Metal Museum was recently awarded a $198,051 Museums for America matching grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to conduct its…
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Big Moves: Downtown Club Rekindles Chess History in Memphis
In 1877, Memphis didn’t have trolleys. It had no elevators. Memphis didn’t even have a single bridge that crossed the Mississippi River – but it…
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“The Spanish are My Whites:” Chickasaw Diplomacy on the Fourth Chickasaw Bluff
This article originally appeared in Volume I, Issue III of StoryBoard Memphis Quarterly in July 2022. In late 1796, Chickasaw Chief Ugulayacabé (you-guh-lah yock-uh-bee) appeared at Fort…
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Innovating: Playhouse on the Square History, Part 4
1975: New Look, New Logo The Playhouse on the Square logo may have an Art Nouveau vibe, but it was in fact designed in 1975…
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More Brass Coming to Beale
Beale Street Brass Note Ceremonies Upcoming After two years of no presentation ceremonies due to pandemic and brass supplier issues, the Beale Street Brass Note…
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That Memphis Photographer: How Ernest Withers captured THE photo of the Emmett Till murder trial
By David Mason There was just the slightest tik when it happened. No one noticed. On Wednesday, September 21, 1955, the reverend Mose Wright, sixty-four…
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