January 25, 1940: Little Rock finally takes possession of Robinson Auditorium

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Scott

On January 25, 1940, the City of Little Rock officially took complete possession of the Joseph Taylor Robinson Memorial Auditorium. By assuming custody of the structure from the contractor and the PWA, the City accepted responsibility for any of the remaining work to be completed.

This event happened one day shy of the third anniversary of the election which approved plans to issue bonds for an auditorium. The act took place only about five months behind schedule.

E. E. Beaumont, the Auditorium Commission chairman, stated that an opening date could not be set until more work was completed. A major unfinished task was the laying of the front sidewalk which had been delayed due to cold weather.

The night before Little Rock took possession, Robinson Auditorium had been a topic of discussion at the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. The new Chamber president Reeves E. Ritchie (who as an Arkansas Power & Light executive had been engaged in the lengthy discussions about the installation of the steam line and transformers of the building) pledged that the Chamber would work to bring more and larger conventions to Little Rock at the Joseph Taylor Robinson Memorial Auditorium.

WICKED generates a lot of Green in Little Rock

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Scott

The Broadway sensation WICKED flew out of Robinson Performance Hall on Sunday, January 19^th after a record-setting 24-performance return engagement in Little Rock, presented by Celebrity Attractions. Welcomed by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, WICKED’s third play in Little Rock grossed over $3.9 million in sales and was seen by more than 50,000 patrons.

Based on a statistical analysis by The Broadway League, the New York City-based national trade association for the Broadway industry, the local economic impact of this year’s engagement of WICKED in Little Rock can be estimated at over $12.7 million. This estimate includes economic impact generated by patrons, tourism, hotels, dining at local restaurants, parking and more. It also includes the cost of local supplies and local labor involved in the production.

The cultural phenomenon returned by popular demand after successful runs in 2010 and 2013, providing a significant impact on the local economy once again. “We are overwhelmed by the support of Broadway and by the love Arkansans have for WICKED. The show has certainly turned Little Rock into the Emerald City,” says Kristin Dotson, CEO of Celebrity Attractions. “It has been extraordinary way to kick off 2020, with patrons coming from 74 of Arkansas’ 75 counties and from each of its neighboring states. It is also exciting to see the impact that WICKED had on downtown Little Rock during the run. Restaurants, hotels and retail establishments have benefited from the number of visitors in town for the production.”

Celebrity Attractions has helped drive the local economy by showcasing high-profile Broadway, concert and comedy events. Since its reopening in 2016, Robinson Performance Hall has become Little Rock’s definitive center for live entertainment, offering more than 320 performances with more than 479,000 patrons attending ticketed events.

Celebrity Attractions will announce its 2020-2021 season in just a few weeks.

27 African American students seek to integrate Little Rock schools in January 1956

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Scott

Arkansas Democrat photo by staff photographer Mr. Bisgood.

On Monday, January 23, 1956, twenty-seven African American students attempted to integrate four Little Rock schools. By the end of the day, all four school principals had refused entry and some of the students had met with LRSD Superintendent Virgil Blossom.

Eight girls who were students at Horace Mann High School arrived at Central High at 9:30 am accompanied by Daisy Bates and Frank W. Smith both of the NAACP. One male student attempted to integrate Little Rock Technical High School. Four students arrived at Forest Heights Junior High (accompanied by three adults) and fourteen students attempted to integrate Forest Park Elementary (accompanied by four adults). Neither the Arkansas Gazette nor the Arkansas Democrat broke down the age or gender of the junior high and elementary students.

Though all were referred to meet with Mr. Blossom, only the young women from Horace Mann visited with him. After the conversation both he and Mrs. Bates declared the conversation had been friendly. Mr. Blossom, in denying the request, noted that the Little Rock School District had a plan for integration. To allow them to integrate immediately would have been going against the plan. The integration plan was connected to the completion of the new high school. If it were ready to open in the fall of 1957, then integration at the high schools would start then. The newspapers noted that there was no timeline for when it would extend down to the junior high and elementary levels.

That evening, Rev. J. C. Crenchaw, the president of the Little Rock NAACP, issued a statement. In it he expressed frustration that the LRSD was vague on its timeline for integration. He noted that the students lived near the schools which they tried to integrate and were therefore forced to travel several extra miles each day to attend school. He also commented that the young man who attempted to enroll at Tech was not afforded the training available there at his current school.

The Arkansas Democrat ran a photo of the meeting with Mr. Blossom. It identified the seven students who were pictured. No mention was made as to whether the eighth student was present but not photographed, or if she did not attend the meeting. As was the practice at the time, the addresses of the students were listed by their names. Based on those addresses, the students lived between 0.4 and 0.9 miles from Central High School and were between 2.1 and 3.2 miles away from Horace Mann High School. Of the seven students in the photo, two were seniors, three were juniors, and three were sophomores. None of the students named became part of the Little Rock Nine who did integrate Central High twenty-one months later.

There was no discussion in the media as to how long this plan had been in place or the genesis of it–had it been part of a national initiative or simply the local NAACP? There were also no details as to how the students had been selected.

On January 24, the Gazette editorial writer opined they were glad for the amicable nature of the conversations. They hoped it did not affect the good race relations in Little Rock. The writer concluded by saying they did not want it to incite extremists (but did not specify if they viewed the extremists as being for or against integration.

First public event in 1868 Little Rock City Hall – a charity ball

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Scott

One of the few images of the 1868 Little Rock City Hall.

On January 22, 1868, a charity ball (including a supper) was the first special event held in the new Little Rock City Hall located at 120 to 122 West Markham.

The two story building featured city offices downstairs, including an engine house for the volunteer fire department. Upstairs was the council chambers and a special event space. The facility was the width of two storefronts. The upstairs was accessed by a central staircase which went from street level through an archway directly up to the second floor. The first floor had a stone exterior and the second floor was a combination of brick and woodwork.

Records do not indicate when the first city council in the new building took place. At the January 21, 1868, meeting, the body formally accepted the building and cancelled any clauses in the contract about penalties should the contractor not meet the construction deadline. But there is no indication whether that meeting took place in the new building or in the previous city hall. (The location of that prior city hall is a mystery.). The minutes from the council meetings just prior to and just after the January 21 meeting give no indication as to which building was the site for the meeting.

It IS known that March 30, 1908, was the date of the final council meeting in the 1868 City Hall. After that meeting, city offices completed their move to the edifice at Markham and Broadway, which still serves as Little Rock City Hall.

As early as November 1867, the City Council was getting requests for special events to be held in the new city hall. In November and December the council refused to take action on any requests because the building was still under construction.

The January 22, 1868, event was created to help the destitute in Little Rock. The ARKANSAS GAZETTE encouraged people to be generous and purchase tickets. Even the day before the event, the weekly version of the GAZETTE (which at the time had added daily editions in addition to its weekly issue) was assuring people there would be plenty of space in the splendid new building so there was still room for additional ticket purchases. Tickets were $5 to admit a lady and a gentleman. (That would be the equivalent of $83.71 today. While cheap for two people to attend a Little Rock event in 2018, in the post-Civil War era, it was a definite hit to the pocketbook.)

The unnamed organization which put on the charity event was led by W. W. Wilshire (president), George W. Clark (secretary), Joseph Meyer (treasurer) and a standing committee of Dr. C. M. Taylor, Dr. P. O. Hooper, A. Adams, F. H. Moody, and E. Langley. Donations could be made to any of the officers. The arrangements for the event were handled by Joseph Meyer, A. Adams, J. P. Jones, Alexander George, Jr., Joseph W. Bossert, and Daniel Ottenheimer. The reception committee was W. D. Blocher, H. C. Ashley, A. McDonald, P. W. McWhorter, T. Lafferty, and F. H. Moody. Tickets could be purchased at the stores of J. E. Reardon, G. H. Gibbs, Joseph Meyer, Lafferty & Raleigh, S. L. Griffith, McAlmont & Stillwell, Beideman & Co., and Dodge & Co as well as at the Anthony and Commercial Houses. (It is interesting to note how so many people at the time were publicly listed by only their first initial.)

The building stood for 56 years after City Hall vacated it. It housed a variety of businesses over the years. The building was torn down in 1964 as part of Urban Renewal efforts. Today the land on which it stood is the site of part of the Statehouse Convention Center. It is directly across from the One-Eleven restaurant side of the Capital Hotel.

Learn about the visual art of the Mississippi River Delta in the newest exhibit at Clinton Center

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Scott

The Clinton Presidential Center’s newest temporary exhibit, The Mighty Mississippi: HeART and Soul of the Southern Delta, presents elements of culture from the last 120 years with roots in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana and features a selection of visual art that brings visitors face-to-face with the privilege and poverty that defines life in the Southern Delta. It is on display through March 22.

In the exhibit, visitors will experience the music of the region that combined the traditions of many into a regional sound that spread far and wide along with the largest outmigration in U.S. History.

This exhibit celebrates the true heart and soul of the Delta through dynamic visual art, music, and artifacts. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a walk-in juke joint where guests can enjoy the unique sounds of the Delta Blues – the musical genre that paved the way for modern Rock, country, R&B, and hip-hop.

This is a continuation of Clinton Center’s Fusion: Arts + Humanities Arkansas theme “The Mighty Mississippi” begun in 2019.

Fusion 2020 is made possible because of the generous support of Centennial Bank, Little Rock Port Authority, Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission, Union Pacific Foundation, and the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma.

Elijah A. More, Little Rock’s third Mayor, born on January 20, 1799

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Scott

On January 20, 1799, Elijah A. More was born in Kentucky. By the early 1830s, he was residing in Hempstead County and practicing law. Because of the court system being based in Little Rock, he spent a great deal of time in Pulaski County.

By January 1834, he had obviously established a permanent residence in Little Rock, because he was chosen as the third mayor. He served from January 1834 until January 1835.

According to records, he apparently continued to alternate between residing near what is now Hope and living in Little Rock. In 1839, his wife Caroline Owens More died and was buried in Little Rock. Though not originally buried at Mount Holly (the cemetery did not open until 1843), she is now buried there.

In 1840, More was the subject of a court case before the Arkansas Supreme Court resulting from actions he had taken as an executor of an estate and subsequently as Pulaski County Probate Judge.

By 1864, More resided in Missouri. There is a record of him swearing a loyalty oath to the Governor of Missouri in that year (presumably in response to actions associated with the Civil War).

He died on April 15, 1878 and is buried in Columbia Cemetery in Columbia, Missouri.

MLK in LR

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Scott

Ernest Green, Dr. King and Daisy Bates share a relaxed moment — which was probably rare for the three in 1958

Today is the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. It is an apt time to think about Dr. King and Little Rock. A friend of L. C. and Daisy Bates, he attended the 1958 Central High School graduation to witness Ernest Green receiving a diploma. Each senior only received eight tickets to the ceremony at Quigley Stadium. Dr. King was in the state to address the Arkansas AM&N (now UAPB) graduation.

His attendance was briefly mentioned in the local press, but there was no media photo of him at the ceremony. The Little Rock School District limited the press to one Democrat and one Gazette photographer. Other press were limited to the press box.

Ernest Green has a photo of him with Daisy Bates and Dr. King (pictured on this entry).

In 1968, when Dr. King was assassinated, Little Rock did not see the unrest that many cities did. Part of that was probably due to quick action by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller. The Governor released a statement fairly quickly expressing his sorrow at the tragedy and calling for a day of mourning. He also made the State Capitol available for the NAACP to have a public memorial, as well as worked with a group of ministers to host an interdenominational service.

Little Rock Mayor Martin Borchert issued a statement as well:

We in Little Rock are disturbed about the incident in Memphis. We are disturbed regardless of where it had happened. Killing is not the Christian solution to any of our problems today.

In Little Rock, we feel we have come a long way in 10 years toward solving some of our problems of living and working together regardless of race, creed or color.

The city Board of Directors in Little Rock has pledged itself toward continuing efforts to make Little Rock a better place in which to live and work for all our citizens.

We feel the efforts of all thus far have proved we can live in harmony in Little Rock and are confident such an incident as has happened will not occur in Little Rock. We will continue our most earnest efforts toward the full needs of our citizens.

The day after Dr. King was assassinated, a group of Philander Smith College students undertook a spontaneous walk to the nearby State Capitol, sang “We Shall Overcome” and then walked back to the campus. President Ernest T. Dixon, Jr., of the college then hosted a 90 minute prayer service in the Wesley Chapel on the campus.

On the Sunday following Dr. King’s assassination, some churches featured messages about Dr. King. As it was part of Holy Week, the Catholic Bishop for the Diocese of Little Rock had instructed all priests to include messages about Dr. King in their homilies. Some protestant ministers did as well. The Arkansas Gazette noted that Dr. Dale Cowling of Second Baptist Church downtown (who had received many threats because of his pro-integration stance in 1957) had preached about Dr. King and his legacy that morning.

Later that day, Governor Rockefeller participated in a public memorial service on the front steps of the State Capitol. The crowd, which started at 1,000 and grew to 3,000 before it was over, was racially mixed. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Governor and Mrs. Rockefeller joined hands with African American ministers and sang “We Shall Overcome.”

That evening, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral was the site of an interdenominational service which featured Methodist Bishop Rev. Paul V. Galloway, Catholic Bishop Most Rev. Albert L. Fletcher, Episcopal Bishop Rt. Rev. Robert R. Brown, Rabbi E. E. Palnick of Temple B’Nai Israel, Gov. Rockefeller, Philander Smith President Dixon, and Rufus King Young of Bethel AME Church.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Borchert stated:

We are gathered this afternoon to memorialize and pay tribute to a great American….To achieve equality of opportunity for all will require men of compassion and understanding on the one hand and men of reason and desire on the other.

Mayor Borchert pledged City resources to strive for equality.

Another Little Rock Mayor, Sharon Priest, participated in a ceremony 24 years after Dr. King’s assassination to rename High Street for Dr. King in January 1992. The name change had been approved in March 1991 to take effect in January 1992 in conjunction with activities celebrating Dr. King’s life. At the ceremony, Daisy Bates and Annie Abrams joined with other civil rights leaders and city officials to commemorate the name change.

Little Rock Culture Vulture

Cultural events, places and people in the Little Rock area

Category Archives: Government

January 25, 1940: Little Rock finally takes possession of Robinson Auditorium

WICKED generates a lot of Green in Little Rock

27 African American students seek to integrate Little Rock schools in January 1956

First public event in 1868 Little Rock City Hall – a charity ball

Learn about the visual art of the Mississippi River Delta in the newest exhibit at Clinton Center

Elijah A. More, Little Rock’s third Mayor, born on January 20, 1799

MLK in LR

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