Memphis Type History: The Podcast

In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, Caitlin and Rebecca talk about the history of a few malls in Memphis, how they started and what they've become. They also include some hopeful future news.  They talk about the history of malls generally, but also specifically how Memphis malls illustrate the rise and apparent current fall of the mall as an architectural construct in cities across the country. They talk about where the oldest mall in the history of the world resides. Of course, it would be the motherland of architecture, none other than Italy. It's also an example of a galleria being in contrast to a mall because it makes use of a glass enclosed promenade. It's called Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. First up, the Hickory Ridge Mall, which came about in the heyday of indoor mall popularity: the eighties. Rebecca took her family to visit the what was once one of Memphis' most popular attractions. It's the same place Caitlin's grandmother used to take her to shop at the oh so bougie Goldsmith's department store (Caitlin really just wanted to go to Wet Seal, though). In any case, Rebecca was particularly impressed by the still operating, double-decker carousel. Unfortunately, the food court promised a lot but didn't seem to have much going on. The mall is now mostly space used by service providers to the now recessed community of Hickory Hill—a nonprofit pharmacy for low-income customers, tax prep services, the school district had a registration office, after school programs, etc. It's really amazing that it is still running at all given the fates of the next two malls and Hickory Ridge got hit by a tornado in 2008. You can see another perspective from someone who grew up at the Hickory Ridge Mall and recently went back to visit from Michael Butler at his blog one901.com. Next stop on my tour was the Raleigh Springs Mall—the second mall of Memphis. Rebecca couldn't go inside because the Raleigh Springs Mall had been scheduled for demolition. It opened in the seventies and was on the forefront of a new phenomenon at the time: movie theaters inside malls. It's something we all associate completely with malls now but in the seventies it was a brand new idea and the Raleigh Springs mall was one of the first. The Raleigh Springs Mall closed in 2011 and despite efforts to try and use it a new town centre concept to provide community services with a police precinct, library, job training center, etc. the build was demolish in 2017. Despite all of this, when Rebecca drove around the neighborhood, she was really impressed with the homes and surrounding neighborhood. It reminded her of the small Texas town where she grew up. Then maybe the most tragic tale of them all: The Mall of Memphis (aka The Mall of Murder) The Mall of Memphis stormed the Mid-South as the premier marketplace and arrived with much fanfare. It boasted 1.2 million square feet of retail space including an ice skating rink, food court, a fancy ribbon-cutting, indoor concerts, and basically all the things you saw in the movies in the eighties that wished were happening at your childhood mall. Caitlin knows firsthand. She grew up visiting and remembers it being the place with all the cutting-edge stores especially one favorite (admit it, you loved it as a teenager, too) Spencer Gifts. The mall developed a reputation for being unsafe. After hearing so many people refer to the mall by that reputation even now, many years after its closing, Rebecca looked into some research about exactly where the reputation came from. Rhodes College did a study about the subject comparing the Mall of Memphis to several others: Oak Court, Southland, and Hickory Ridge in regard to several specific areas of comparative data: location, demographics and, competition. The big takeaways for me were the following: Media coverage played a really significant role in the name "Mall of Murder" sticking and by extension the reputation Other malls actually had a higher number of crimes per capita (Oak Court) and property crime rates (Hickory Ridge). Note: Rebecca states that Oak Court had higher violent crimes but it was actually property crimes as well as crimes per capita. There was a dramatic demographic shift from 1990 to 2000 in which the percentage of white residents nearby dropped precipitously. It's also worth noting that this shift didn't just occur in a racial binary (black/white). There was also a significant increase in new hispanic residents to area surrounding the mall of Memphis. The businesses in the Mall of Memphis were almost entirely geared toward "blue collar" shoppers as opposed to shoppers looking for "luxury" brands For full show notes, go to memphistypehistory.com/malls  

In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, we tell each other the history behind a favorite historical Memphis hotel. Rebecca dives right into how the Peabody Hotel came to be, while Caitlin shares about the lesser known Hotel Pontotoc. The very first Peabody Hotel opened in 1869 at the corner of Main and Monroe at a cost of $60,000. Rates were $4 a night and included a meal in the first class dining room. Rebecca talks about the origin of the famous Peabody ducks and how they got tamed by the Ringling Brothers' circus animal trainer... who then became the first Duckmaster! The current Peabody is a beautiful relic of historic architecture in Memphis... and many celebrities have stayed there (like Michael Jackson, for starters). The ducks stay in their duck palace up on the roof. The Pontotoc Hotel is a European-style hotel constructed of rusticated concrete block, located at 69 Pontotoc in downtown Memphis. Unlike the swankier Peabody, the Pontotoc catered to railway and riverboat travelers... but there were Turkish baths available just to keep things classy. And just in case you're not sure how a Turkish bath works, Caitlin happily gives you her first-hand account! By the 1920's, though, the Pontotoc was one of Memphis' most well-known (and most elegant) brothels. Later on a Greek family owned the establishment and Caitlin talks about the wine they made and the famous vaudeville performers and artists who stayed at the Pontotoc. We try to dispel yet another ghost story and tell you how the Pontotoc survived some wild years as a nightclub known as The Cellar. Caitlin wraps up by announcing who owns the Pontotoc now, the ways they support downtown Memphis, and their famous Halloween parties. For full show notes go to memphistypehistory.com/hotels1

In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, Rebecca tells Caitlin why there are goats on Beale Street and how they've been known to drink beer. Silky O'Sullivan's features dueling pianos and an outdoor patio with two wonderful female goats. Joellyn Sullivan joins on this episode to tell us the story of this famous Beale Street Irish pub. Her late husband Thomas Daniel Sullivan, got the nickname "Silky's" from a racehorse. He used the name when he first opened a bar on Overton Square... and then added an "O" to the Beale Street location in Irish naming tradition because it was the "son of" his first bar! It was one of the first places opened when Beale Street was getting revitalized. Joellyn tells us where the goats actually came from... which involves a famous Irish festival with a goat king and everything. But the journey to have these fun drinking partners on Beale was full of the best kind of Memphis drama like goat switcheroos and a Peabody ducks appearance... We learn about Maynard the one-horned goat that brought the Grizzlies good luck. Joellyn shares the secret of how Memphis barbecue got to Ireland, Estonia, Sweden, Bangkok, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Cuba (we're sure they're all extremely thankful). Our very heartfelt thanks goes out to Joellyn Sullivan for making this episode possible. Lastly, if you think you know what's inside a Diver, let us know! You can contribute to our Diver fund at patreon.com/memphistypehistory For full show notes, visit memphistypehistory.com/goats

In this episode, Caitlin and Rebecca ask each other questions about all sorts of random stuff. We learn how we got to Memphis and how one of us ended up in Shanghai. You'll find out what our alternate careers might be and who Rebecca would want as her first guest if she had a talk show.  For full show notes go to memphistypehistory.com/questions

In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, Caitlin tells Rebecca the truth (or as much as she can uncover) about one of Memphis' most famous "haunted" locations: Voodoo Village. Voodoo Village has truly become its own urban legend. So in this episode, they hope to dispel some of the rumor and lore and tell you what exactly is behind those locked gates. There are many stories of people having spooky encounters at Voodoo Village. But the reality behind this family compound filled with strange buildings and unusual art is actually more fascinating to us than the legend of it all. First, let’s set the record straight on what Voodoo Village is. The actual name for the place is St. Paul's Holiness Temple. Washington "Doc" Harris, a self-ordained Baptist minister from central Mississippi, built the temple there and lived on the land with his family. The colorfully painted shotgun houses are surrounded by roughly 1,500 pieces of mysterious sculptures and surreal machines made out of painted wood. We discuss the misunderstood relationship between the temple and voodoo, how a lot of what goes on in the compound is typical of African American vernacular worship in the Deep South, and how masonic symbols play their own interesting role in the story. We wrap up with how you might have interacted with a resident of Voodoo Village without even realizing it! For full show notes go to memphistypehistory.com/temple

In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, Caitlin talks to Aften Locken, the face behind one of her favorite Memphis Instagram feeds – @midcenturymemphis. Aften takes us back to the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s – very important in understanding mid-century modern architecture. Then, she schools us on how to recognize key aspects of these structures… Here’s a hint: Does it look like it’s from The Jetsons? It’s probably mid-mod! Some of her favorites in Memphis from each decade include many of our favorite barbecue joints, the Lorraine Motel, the Memphis College of Art, the Memphis airport, the Cossitt Library, Regions Bank on Lamar Ave, and Visible Music College in downtown Memphis. Aften also regales us with a story of jukebox distributors Sammons-Pennington located at 440 Madison Avenue (now home to Holiday Flowers’ events location). Finally, we wrap up with tips for becoming architectural explorers in Memphis. The full “Day of Mid-Mod in Memphis” itinerary can be found on Patreon at patreon.com/memphistypehistory (become a patron for access!) For full show notes go to memphistypehistory.com/midcentury

In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, we both tell each other a few select stories about being buried in Elmwood Cemetery. First, we learn that Elmwood is the oldest nonprofit in Tennessee. Then Rebecca shares how the cemetery got its name even though it didn't have any elms. I school you on the history of mourning (Queen Victoria is involved) and why Elmwood feels like a beautiful park where you want to spend time. Finally, hear about some people (and one surprising non-person) buried in Elmwood cemetery. The Civil War doubled the size of Elmwood Cemetery. The six cases of Yellow Fever that occurred in Memphis required mass burials in Elmwood. The 1878 epidemic was the worst one with 17,000 people contracting the disease... and overall the entire sickness led to the creation of the No Man's Land monument. Rebecca tells the story of the cemetery superintendent's daughter, Gracie, who became know as the Graveyard Girl. But she waits until the end of the episode to tell us all about Rufus the Dog... I dig right in (get it?) with the story of Annie Cook, aka the Madame with a Heart of Gold, aka the Mary Magdalene of Memphis. The upscale bordello owner figures prominently in the Elmwood story and, of course, has everything to do with the Yellow Fever (as does most of Memphis history, it seems). Finally, we wrap up with an Elvis connection and that story Rebecca's been dangling in front of our ears for the entire show. For full show notes go to memphistypehistory.com/elmwood To support the show (and get merch and more) head over to patreon.com/memphistypehistory

In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, I tell Rebecca all about one of my favorite alleys of Downtown Memphis. Rebecca then tells me the history behind Sam Cooper Boulevard. Barboro Alley is a charming alleyway with a long history that includes undertakers, groceries, ice, and (like most things in Memphis) the Yellow Fever epidemic. Rebecca then shares some fun facts about Cooper Street, which has nothing to do with Sam Cooper Boulevard. Sam Cooper Boulevard’s namesake was an integral part of Memphis history. We discuss everything Sam Cooper did to progress projects in Memphis like St. Jude and more. Finally, Rebecca wraps up the show with some useful information about a guy who has nothing to do with Memphis, signs, or typography. For full show notes please go to memphistypehistory.com/cooper

In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, I tell Rebecca all about Memphis' first all-girl radio station, WHER. Started by Sam Phillips in 1955, WHER featured women at all levels of making radio happen, from ad sales to management and, of course, the jockettes. There were a lot of radio stations in Memphis at this time, so Phillips put a twist on his and hired all women! We're sure he was inspired tons by his wife, Becky Phillips, who had the best radio voice he'd ever heard. Kemmons Wilson also went in on the endeavor with money and rooms at the Holiday Inn to house the station. The décor was ultra pastel and feminine... truly something to behold! And so were many of the on-air talent. We talk about Janie Joplin, Bettye Berger, Donna Bartlett, Marge Thrasher, Dean "The Hat" Duvall, and Dotty Abbot (aka Dolly Holiday). Head over to memphistypehistory.com/radio for show notes!

In this first ever episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, Rebecca and I welcome YOU, dear listeners. We discuss why we're crazy enough to make a podcast, the untold story of how the dancing lady came into our lives, and what to expect from us each week. Memphis Type History: The Podcast will feature weekly episodes of bite-sized history and the occasional guest appearance by someone interesting. We hope you'll consider supporting our project with your dollar bills on Patreon (patreon.com/memphistypehistory). We will send you goodies and good vibes in return. For show notes visit: memphistypehistory.com/welcome