Hall of Memories

Each venue profiled here was widely recognized for excellence in its respective community. America’s fabled “Chittlin Circuit, “a safe harbor of theaters and supper clubs where entertainers of color could perform from the late 1800s to the late 1960s, provided opportunities to experience the artistry and magic of the early Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and R&B greats. Many of these establishments have receded from memory, recalled only by old timers and cultural historians. Harlem’s Cotton Club, the Howard Theatre in Washington D.C., the Royal Peacock Club in Atlanta and the Dreamland Ballroom of Little Rock were among the many establishments where you could hear and see legendary artists such as Bobby “Blue” Bland, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Albert King, and many, many more.