The Ellis Auditorium was a 10,000-seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

, USA. It hosted local sporting events and concerts.

History

The auditorium opened in 1924 as a multipurpose concert hall, convention center, and athletic arena. The first performance was held by

John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa ( , ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic music, Romantic era known primarily for American military March (music), marches. He is known as "The March King" or th ...

. The building opened as the Memphis Auditorium and Market House and was renamed for Memphis Chamber of Commerce President Robert R. Ellis after his death in 1930. The auditorium was segregated and had a separate entrance and balcony for black patrons, and in 1945 a performance of ''Annie, Get Your Gun'' did not go ahead because the cast included black members.

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

played Ellis Auditorium on May 15, 1956, to open the Cotton Carnival. Presley also made a number of other appearances at the venue. Other performers who played Ellis include

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...

(1972) and

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American Rock music, rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss", Springsteen has released 21 studio albums spanning six decades; most of his albums feature th ...

(1976 and 1996).

Sports

Ellis Auditorium also hosted basketball events, including a 6,000-strong all-white crowd who watched the all-black

Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters is an American Exhibition game, exhibition basketball team. They combine athleticism, theater, entertainment, and comedy in their style of play. Over the years, they have played more than 26,000 exhibition games in 124 ...

play in 1953. The Memphis Tigers basketball team also played select games at Ellis. They upset number 3 ranked Louisville at the venue in February 1957. Ellis Auditorium was demolished in 1999 and replaced by the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts at the same location.

References

1999 disestablishments in Tennessee Buildings and structures demolished in 1999 Indoor arenas in Tennessee Sports venues in Memphis, Tennessee {{Tennessee-stadium-stub