1950s memphis

Over one million slaves were transported from the Upper South. By the s, Memphis was the largest inland cotton market in the world, but the industry entirely relied on slavery. The domination continued for the next 70 years, and in the 20th century, Memphis became the largest hardwood lumber market and the largest mule market. This attracted a large number of immigrants, and the population was multiplied despite the yellow fever epidemic.

World War II brought enormous military and industrial expansion; large supply depots were constructed in Memphis. During the s, the city was at the center of the Civil Rights Movement. Here below are some historical photos of old Memphis from the s to s — capturing streets, roads, landmarks, and everyday life. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life. I once ran literally into a friend who was walking out of the restaurant with the largest handgun I've ever seen, wrapped in a bath towel.

I never figured out why. The place was like a David Lynch movie, only weirder. Pizza was thin crusted and good, as I recall. I never went there before midnight. Buzzer to get in". My husband and I were introduced to it in the early 60s by a friend who was a police lieutenant. It was near the intersection of Summer and Parkway on the north side of the street. It served wonderful pizza, but was so grungy-looking and often had rather unkempt characters around, so I was grateful for the police escort".

We would BYOB in high school and order a few pizzas on a fairly regular basis. I still have a great pic of Pat. Made me sad when they tore the place down". My Rocky Horror Cast used to come here after the show, along with the Whiteball crowd from Rhodes College there was some overlap.

Some crazy stuff happened here! But still, more room in which shenenigans could take place. I try to explain this place to people, and no one gets it. You truly had to be there". One night I stepped outside to get my jacket from the car, and a man came at me. Before he could grab me, my keys, or even speak, little "Miss Pat" ran out with a rifle.

She cocked it, put it right in his nose and said something about him not getting away with 'molesting our young girls'. Thanks Miss Pat! And thanks Gary. Really miss it". It was only open during the hours of dark or even later. Pat and his older than dirt wife, Missus Pat, ran the place. I don't think they ever saw the sun. The place looked like your Grandma's trailer. The kitchen must have been swiped from the set of Motel Hell.

Just a few booths; though, there may have been a bar under all those newspapers. They made a mean, and I mean mean BBQ pizza. Served beer colder than my Jr. Four jukeboxes, only one worked. Eventually, before they died or disappeared, they added some pool tables in the back.

Where all that crap went to make room, I never figured out. Every time it rained, those tables got drenched. Anyway, the Man and his Rib made a living after Midnight and were magnets to the Funk. Shout out to the True MFers past. It was considered the most "romantic restaurant" in Memphis, partially because it was modeled after a European country inn.

But it also had an extraordinary menu of French and Hungarian dishes. In , Paulette's moved its popular, award winning restaurant to the River Inn. After only 6 months Pete got out of the business but Sam never got around to changing the name on the sign.

The recipes of traditional Italian favorites at the restaurant have been passed down from generation to generation and the popular restaurant has now been serving Memphians for almost 7 decades.

Pig 'N Whistle Union. In there were "Pigs" at 21 S. The Union Avenue "Pig" was the best known, with a neon sign that featured a dancing pig playing a flute. In the restaurant doubled the size of its English Tavern facade and added a large dining room. The Union location closed in It was demolished in I believe during that period of time it was the only "Pig" in Memphis. It was highly popular during those years and we had our regulars who came in about every week.

We were saddened when Mother had to close the restaurant after my Dad passed away and I will always remember the great food and the great friends who enjoyed eating there. Elvis Presley used to come and sit in his car and had to use curb service because, of course, he would have caused a riot had he come inside. Mother was there almost every day to greet her customers and worked hard to keep the "Pig" successful by serving a varied menu including steaks and seafood in addition to the barbecue which everyone enjoyed.

The "Pig" was a jewel in Mother's cap and I'm so proud of what she sacrificed to make it such a popular place for so many". Millington: " Ferrell The whistles Rendezvous 52 S. You can see the food being prepared in an old open kitchen as you walk in, but more importantly, your sense of smell will immediately perk up as the fragrance of hickory-smoked pork wafts past. You'll also likely be intrigued by all the strange objects displayed in this huge but cozy cellar. When the waiter comes to take your order, there's no messin' around, because when you come in, you're expected to know what you want - and it's usually ribs.

The waiters are also part of the Rendezvous tradition. Legend has it that the jobs are handed down through family connections and that most make six figures. It's true that most of the staff have been here forever. They attended a private wedding party at the Rendezvous on the second floor of the restaurant. It was particularly noted for its grand neon sign as well as Morris' copyrighted slogan "The old master says".

Later, Morris will open an infamous restaurant on Poplar called "The Old Master Says" - and top it with a foot replica of his own head. Century off Poplar about 3 blocks east of the Laua. This restaurant with the big head was directly across from the playground of East High which I attended for 12 years. Family owned Robilio's was one of the earlier Italian Restaurants in Memphis.

Very popular. Joe Giuseppe Robilio immigrated to the U. Prior to the restaurant, he had a saloon on Main and a grocery on Manassas. Most folks don't remember his earlier restaurant on Union. The photo below was taken in The restaurant they do remember is the one on Madison at McLean..

Robilio's on Union, Across the street from Loew's Palace. Thompson opened his first restaurant in Chicago in and immediately prospered and expanded throughout the U. By the Thompson Company had become one of the largest self-service lunchroom chains of the 20th Century. In , Thompson opened his first restaurant in Memphis at 11 South Main. It was still listed at this address in the Memphis Directory. In , Thompson opened a 2nd restaurant at South Main.

According to the Memphis Directory, it was still there in Thompson operated his restaurants by stressing cleanliness, nutrition, quality, and low prices. The restaurant serves Memphis-style port shoulder smoked for over 20 hours and served with their special barbeque sauce. You could smell the hickory smoke during Sunday School and church services. One of the pictures above has a chimney from the old location on Highland.

The Restaurant was there for many more years and I guess they moved to the current location on Quince. I remember grabbing a quick barbecue between Sunday School and church.

My brother-in-law from Colorado had his first taste of Memphis barbecue at the 3 Little Pigs and has been a fan ever since. That building is still there and is now a Quizno's Restaurant. Notice the chimney in the photos. All Toddle Houses were exactly the same - a small brick cottage, painted white with a blue roof.

Inside there were no tables, just a row of 10 stools at a stainless steel counter. One thing it didn't have was a cash register. It worked on the honor system. Customers paid their bill by dropping their money in a steel and glass box by the door when they left. And there was "No tipping Allowed". In Dobbs House bought Toddle House and simply let them die out. Notice the Cash Box by the door.

The small Harlem House Building is still there. It was located above the restaurant downtown Memphis. I was secretary to the construction supervisor. My first task upon being hired was to to type from a Dictaphone a manual of how to build a Toddle House from the ground up as they were all exactly alike. I was so intimated as I had never heard so many of the terms and building parts.

And, he dictated with a pipe in his mouth. If a draftsman had not been in the office to listen and explain I would have not made it. The boss dictated, then went on the road to supervise yet another Toddle House. Sandra Marusich - Town and Country Young. By the s they were selling vending machine pies in 26 states. Then they opened their popular Town and Country restaurant.

It too was successful growing into two locations at Young and Poplar. They sold it in the early s to a national company called Fairmont Foods. Approximate address was Poplar. The original building is still there. Some of the awnings that you would park under are still there. What I remember specifically from the early s when we went there was that they served french fries with honey.

Main, 94 S. Main, This restaurant appears in numerous early postcards of Memphis Main Street. From it was located at Main. We are looking for additional information on this one. We know that when it moved to S. Main, the proprietor was L.

The Leo Mivelaz family was prominent in the restaurant-hotel business - especially the the Arkansas-Missouri area. There is a Mivelaz Hotel sign visible above the Waldorf Cafe sign in many of the early post cards. In , a regular dinner at the Waldorf cost 25 cents. Main Street For over 50 years this was one of Main Streets most popular restaurants.

The White House Cafe was first listed in the Memphis Directories in - and the last listing we have found - so far, is - at the same location. No other information has become available. White House Cafe cigar stand The White House Cafe His favorite restaurant was The Davis White Spot. They were famous for their salad dressing.

It was out east on Poplar near where the Cadillac Dealership is now". Many have heard about it but almost no one knows exactly where it was located - or anything else about it. We have located a menu, which confirms the exact name of the restaurant and the two owners, Robert and Pearl Winfield.

Why was the restaurant named Davis' "White Spot"? Robert managed the business. After Ruby died in , Robert and his wife inherited the house and continued the business as a Restaurant.

Robert died in at the age of After Pearl's death a few years later, their daughter Ruby A. Vickers inherited the property and it was sold upon her death in See Deed below. The house has now been demolished. All that's left is to find that elusive photo of the house-restaurant. Davis White Spot Restaurant - parking and entrance side of the building. You can see 'Spot' on the sign at the front.

Shortly afterwards, Robert's daughter Elisabeth found "the photo" and Robert sent it to Vance. Thanks to all who helped solve this mystery and to those who continue to write to us about it.

Porter Cooper for sending the recipe for the White Spot Dressing. Vickers sold it in Winfields with the Wire family in their living room I went to Davis White Spot as a child and I know exactly where it was. It was located right in front of the railroad tracks near the se corner of the Cresent Center. It was also known for it great fried chicken.

My husband, Walker Uhlhorn, frequenty stayed with his grandparents Frances and Gaillard Uhlorn, who owned about 25 acres at what is now Park Avenue and Estate on the Southwest corner.

Estate was then called Hayne. It was on the southeast corner of Poplar and Estate Hayne. My name is Bob Winfield nee Robert C. The Winfield's who owned the Davis White Spot were my father's cousins. My mom passed away 2 years ago and Ruby Alice before that, Roberta of breast cancer many years earlier.

I had asked my mom several times to contact Ruby for pictures, recipes, what have you - it just never happened. I have vague memories of the White Spot. I was only 5 or 6 when Uncle Robert and Aunt Ruby died. I have one vivid recollection: I was hanging onto the door over Poplar after my dad drove onto Poplar out of the parking lot - my mom frantically reaching from the front seat to haul me back in. One short story my mom told me about the recipe posted for the House Dressing when it was originally published: Ruby Alice wrote the Commercial Appeal and said simply, "That is not correct".

So, who knows? I would love to be able to contact writer Jo Hall below and a couple of other commentators. Billy Ross called me last night to tell me he had seen the Historic-Memphis listing. Of course his dad was Ken Ross, a great photographer.

Billy did my wedding in Thank you". Bob Winfield, " Your article brought back a lot of memories. Ruby Vickers was known as Ruby Alice. We went to White Station Elementary School. Some of my relatives worked at the White Spot.

My grandparents the Bonicellis had a farm on White Station about a mile from Poplar. The White Spot bought all their fresh vegetables from them. The White Spot biscuits were the best I have ever put in my mouth. We used to sneak into the kitchen and grab a few. They would actually melt in your mouth.

All of their food was very, very good. After closing hours the owners would pile into one of their cars and drive around and into town just to relax.

Back then the city limits was at Goodlet I believe. Anyway, occasionally someone would take us to the bus; we were allowed to go to a movie downtown, catch the bus for home and someone would pick us up at the bus stop. We were maybe 13 or The Berrettas are relatives. Joy Berretta is still living, and I believe she has 3 daughters who also live in Memphis. My favorite there was the Bar-B-Q. Thanks for the memories".

There was a nice little gold fish pond near Poplar. When Ruby Alice was 16, the family gave her a brand spanking new car. Cutest thing! But, always had to hold my breath when riding with her. Took her a while to get the hang of it. The White Spot had private dining cubby holes for 2. Often we would sneak a peek at the guests to see if it was the wife or?

Oh, the things I do remember. My grandparents bought the farm when White Station Rd was a dirt road. They sold vegetables to local grocery stores and had to take their orders every evening, so therefore had to have a telephone.

To get the phone they had to put up their own poles and run the wire to the farm. In order to get electricity, they had to purchase an electric stove. Grandma, better known as Nona, had her wood cooking stove in one corner and the electric one in the opposite corner.

Wood in winter and gas in summer!! They had their own well with an electric pump and a large water tower and sold plants grown in hot beds — no hot houses back then. And, my mother went to White Station School when it was a two room log house".

My name is Marty Finley Gerstein I remember the huge juke box. Thanks for the Memories". It was in the county way out Poplar Pike. When it was torn down Mike Mabe's fathr put up an Exxon Station there. Never met Roberta's parents, but was good friends with her for many years until her death several years ago.

My husband worked for her husband Raymond's parents He worked there for over 35 years until it closed and everything was auction off. Raymond and Roberta divorced many years ago. She had 3 sons, Ray Jr, Robbie, and Rustie John Wills Memphis Bar - Grill. There were rave reviews and immediate success.

The new restaurant was also well received. Wills' Central Av restaurant was plagued with crime problems and plumbing problems and he closed it in In he closed the Sanderlin Drive restaurant. It eventually was purchased by Hardee's. The last restaurant closed around Parkway S T he Fairview drive-in, with its polar bears out front lasted until after the 's.

The building is now a pawn shop, but the two polar bears are still standing out front. Located across the street from the Fairgrounds. The first Sandy's came to Memphis in the early 's and quickly became a huge success, and the second one opened shortly afterwards. They took on McDonald's for hamburger supremacy - and lost, with an out of court settlement in The Shoney's franchise began in in West Virginia.

The company later acquired a Big Boy franchise in and opened a series of Shoney's Big Boy restaurants. I wish I did have some old pictures. You can find some interesting stories from many of the old Tech guys about the Cotton Bowl.

Lots of make-out, goings on in back. No photo of restaurant but I did find a photo of a plate and that the restaurant closed in the 's and that Elvis ate there in Four Flames has now been added to the main page. It wasn't a hangout though. I think it was on the corner of Linen and East St. The market was on the corner with the cafeteria style restaurant behind it.

I knew the son, Marshal Robilio. He was good on the horizontal bar and gymnastics, like Konrad Dignowity, who went to Tech. Konrad taught me the horizontal bar and hand-balancing.

Robilio's was there for many years. Delicious raviolis. It was on Madison downtown about a block east of Third and on the north side of Madison. They had the best egg and olive sandwiches - and great milkshakes A lot of attorneys and businessmen ate there. The summer between my junior and senior years at Tech I worked as a shipping clerk at Pittsburgh Plate Glass and Paint I went from to lbs in two and a half months.

Coach Vaughn didn't recognize me when school started. It was all muscle too, because I was exercising. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life. I could sense the struggle of African Americans and the pride of being such during such a difficult time.

It is near impossible to thank you enough, Withers, sir, but I truly appreciate you. Username or Email Address. Remember Me. Don't have an account? To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Privacy Policy.

Latest Popular Hot Trending. Search Search for: Search. TN Museum. One where segregation was still legal - the s was the last decade to allow rampant prejudice. Building a society wasn't an easy thing, but here's Chattanooga plugging away.

The beautiful Patty Page, owning the '50s with her smile and song. Tennessee In Your Inbox spinner. Thank you! You'll receive your first newsletter soon!