255 N.
Main Street at Poplar
(where the Cannon
Center is now)
Even after
the completion of the Mid-South Coliseum
in 1963 and the Cook Convention Center
next door, Ellis Auditorium remained in
heavy use until its demolition in 1997.
Circa 1930
Click Photo to Enlarge
Looking south over the
Auditorium circa 1930 The dark building with
the spire to the right of the Auditorium
is Poplar Street Rail Station.
Click to Enlarge
1930s
Kingsbury
Class of 1962 Graduation at Ellis
Auditorium
Original Caption From The Postcard Reads:
THE AMPITHEATRE, MEMPHIS, TENN. North Main at Poplar Avenue
“Long an ideal convention location in an ideal convention city. Memphis’ new Auditorium now offers every possible facility for conventions, automobile, industrial or heavy equipment shows. It is the center of large cultural shows and Banquets.”
Thompson’s Community Service, 1220 Chickasaw, Paris, Tennessee.
The Auditorium was modernized in the 1960s.
Concerts at Ellis Auditorium
Jimi Hendrix
(late 1960s)
Todd Rundgren
(1977) "Ra" tour, complete
with lasers shooting out of
a giant Sphinx head
Slade
(1970s) Slade
played the North Hall. Their
opening act was Peter
Frampton's first band,
Frampton's Camel.
Cheech &
Chong
(1970s) North
Hall. Their opening act was
Alice Cooper.
