Ellis Auditorium

Ellis Auditorium

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 to enlarge)

Looking south over the Auditorium circa 1930
(Click to enlarge)

The dark building with the spire to the right of the Auditorium is Poplar Street Rail Station.

1930s

Kingsbury Class of 1962 Graduation at Ellis Auditorium

The Auditorium was modernized in the 1960s.

The caption from this 1950s/1960s postcard reads:
ELLIS AUDITORIUM. Recently modernized at a cost of over $3,000,000 this magnificent building is air-conditioned and equipped with escalators. A total of 16 meeting rooms accommodating from 30 to 6800 persons are available for conventions, entertainment attractions, and public occasions.

Click photo to enlarge. Bluff City News Co., Memphis, Tenn

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.
	Barry Manilow	(November 1975) Manilow played the North Hall.
	Jesus Christ Super Star
	Kris Kristofferson
	David Crosby
	Doobie Brothers

Bob Hope and Doris Day at Ellis Auditorium

Liberace at Ellis Auditorium

Memphis Wrestling at Ellis Auditorium
(circa 1960)

Share Your Memories

Post your memories.

Submitted by: Ronnie Cowell : 31 Jan 2009, 18:21

1956, The Sarah Vaughn Rock And Roll Show, before she was only known for jazz. Some of the performers I remember; The Red Prysock band, Sarah Vaughn, The Moonglows, The Turbins. Al Hibbler...(there were more). There were two shows, one for whites and one for blacks.

Submitted by: robert romero : 07 Jul 2009, 14:34

Hi...I am from Milwaukee and I admire auditoriums and the like...armory's and arena/coliseums...I find your Ellis auditorium just marvelous...I wish I could have visited it in it's hey day...what a beautiful auditorium...I would love to see more interior photos of your bldg. Here in Milwaukee we have the milwaukee arena which is now called the u.s. cellular arena...the beatles performed here in sept. of 1964...ours has a barreled roof...seats 12,000...thanks for sharing.

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