Ask Vance

04/24/12

Anyone Remember The Beacon — "Memphis' Oldest Steakhouse"?

Memphians have gotten into disputes before about the oldest restaurant in town — an argument that usually boils down to the Arcade, the Little Tea Shop, and even Dyer's Hamburgers — depending upon your precise definition of "restaurant." But what about more specific categories, such as the oldest steakhouse in town? Certain obvious contenders come to mind, such as Folk's Folly. But one lonely night in the Lauderdale Mansion — oh, aren't they all?? — I was leafing through the pages of a 1957 Memphis Hotel and Motel Guide (third floor of the Lauderdale Library, fourth aisle, top shelf), and I came across this interesting ad. The Beacon, at 1489 Lamar, proclaims itself "Memphis' Oldest Steakhouse." And who am I to...

Posted at 06:14 PM | Permalink | Comments: 3

04/12/12

White Station Tower's "Top of the Tower" Restaurant

In the many decades since I've been writing my "Ask Vance" column (begun, as I recall, when I was laid up with my wartime injuries at Kennedy General Hospital), one of the topics often discussed has been the name of the revolving restaurant atop White Station Tower. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, that the place originally opened as The Embers — a second location in addition to the older, original Embers at Park and Getwell. And look — as this nice ad from a 1972 issue of Key Magazine shows — after a few years, it changed owners and became the Top of the Tower restaurant. I like some of the wording in this old ad, especially that bit about the "dining rooms that seem to blend with the stars." Revolving...

Posted at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments: 5

04/10/12

Lost Memphis: Blaz'r Steaks

Over the years, people have asked me about the curious design of Nagasaki, the Japanese restaurant at 3951 Summer. Others have noticed the rather unusual architecture of Patrick's, a restaurant and hanging-out-place at 4972 Park. A few readers finally noticed that the buildings look the same, and they asked me what the structures were, originally. As you can see from this somewhat grainy advertisement in a 1967 Kingsbury High School yearbook, both establishments began life as a restaurant chain called Blaz'r Steaks. I really can't explain why that company chose such a bizarre modern style for its steakhouses, with their jutting beams and swooping roofline, or what they hoped to accomplish by leaving that all-important "e" out of the word...

Posted at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments: 9

04/03/12

Meet Allen Crump, "BBQ Man" — Owner of Pig Pen #1 and Pig Pen #2

Last week, I posted an old Treadwell High School yearbook ad for a barbecue joint on Summer called the Pig Pen, because I just liked the matter-of-fact style of the ad. Well, imagine my surprise and delight when it turns out that the daughter and granddaughter of the owner — a fellow named Allen Crump — told me lots more about the place. Alisa also provided this wonderful photo shown here, which shows Crump and a some fellow who looks like a potato-chip salesman. What I especially like is the saying hand-painted on the wall behind them: "BBQ Is Delicious Even If You Are Sober." Maybe even more so. Alisa tells me: "My grandfather, Allen Crump, owned and operated the Pig Pen. In the family it was always considered 'the first counter-service...

Posted at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

04/02/12

Lost Memphis: The Luau

Regular readers of my "Ask Vance" column (you know who you are — I'm not allowed to give out the names of state prison inmates) know that my futile search for a decent photo of the exterior of the Luau — the Polynesian-themed restaurant on Poplar — has caused me to suffer from bouts of neurasthenia, jungle madness, and infestations of botflies. Or maybe it only seems that way. I just can't understand why such a distinctive and popular restaurant didn't leave behind more tangible evidence of its existence. I've seen some Key magazine ads (mainly illustrations), a tiny menu, and some partial shots of the exterior in a few East High School yearbook ads (the school was just across the street). But so far, no clear image of the restaurant...

Posted at 03:55 PM | Permalink | Comments: 5

03/30/12

Lost Memphis: The Pig Pen

Call me crazy (many of my doctors do), but I really love the stark simplicity of this ad, found in the back pages of a 1954 Treadwell High School yearbook. It tells you to "Eat" and then it tells you where: Pig Pen. And not "Eat at" or even "The Pig Pen." Nope, just: "Eat ... Pig Pen." The tone is very "Me Tarzan, You Jane." You've got the address on Summer, and even the one-word summary of the type of eatery: "Barbecue." You really can't get more concise than that. But then, perhaps because they had all that space to fill, they dropped in the mouth-watering slogan: "Where you get a bargain in a good fat pig," which not only suggests the prices are low, but gosh isn't a "good fat...

Posted at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2

03/28/12

When Elvis Presley and Vance Lauderdale Appeared Together on the Same Memphis Bus

It's not too often that the King of Rock-and-Roll and Vance Lauderdale share the same billing — it certainly doesn't happen enough, that's for sure — but just look at the interesting line-up on this old bus route sign that showed up recently on eBay. Not just one, but three lines that say "LAUDERDALE / ELVIS PRESLEY." My, I feel special. Plus, I got first billing. Modern-day MATA buses have a digital read0ut above the windshield, telling riders waiting at the stops which bus is going where (well, in theory, anyway). But in Ye Olden Days — and in this particular case, I'm talking all the way back to 1982 — the various route numbers and designations were printed in white letters on a long roll of rubberized fabric. The driver had to...

Posted at 08:55 PM | Permalink | Comments

03/26/12

100 Years Ago: When E.E. Loving Auto Company Sold Cole Motor Cars

Last week, when I took my half-dozen readers on a virtual tour down our city's "Automobile Row," we stopped — just go along with this fantasy, will you? — at most of the main car dealerships on Madison and looked at the various makes and models on display. Later, when flipping through old city directories, I came across this interesting 1912 ad for the E.E. Loving Auto Company, which sold Cole Motor Cars — precisely 100 years ago. At $1,885 this gleaming new automobile probably seems cheap by today's standards — why, that's close to a day's wages for me — but that was an enormous sum in those days. Judging from the illustration, the car itself is a fine-looking thing, very low-slung and even racy-looking for 1912 —...

Posted at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments

03/20/12

Lost Memphis: The Ford Motor Company Dealership and "Automobile Row" in 1911

It's depressing to think of the wonderful historical artifacts that lie hidden away in trunks, or pasted down in old scrapbooks, never to see the light of day until they are tossed in the trash or otherwise discarded. Just as frustrating, to me, are the amazing things that occasionally turn up on eBay that are treasures to local historians, but — for whatever reason — never find their way "home." Case in point: This terrific old photo of our city's first Ford Motor Company dealership. A seller in Ohio was offering it for sale, and even though I bid fast and furiously for it, it finally sold for $90 — far exceeding my maximum bid of $12.75 (a week's salary). But at least we have this somewhat grainy scan to see what an interesting place it...

Posted at 03:06 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

03/13/12

Lost Memphis Update: The Big Shoe

In this month's issue of Memphis magazine, I tell the story of the "Big Shoe" (as it was usually called) — the big white concrete shoe-shaped shoe store on Lamar that so many of you seem to remember. If you haven't read it, then what on earth have you been discussing at your fondue parties? Well, my pal Rob Jolly recently sent me an email adding a bit more information to the original story: "The story on the big shoe brought back early childhood memories. I was 12 years old when the shoe was built. My father (who died this last August) Robert E. Jolly Jr. was the individual that installed the metal roof on the shoe. Jolly Roofing and Sheet Metal (still in existence on Lamar — near the former location of the shoe) had the contract to roof...

Posted at 09:22 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2

	04/24/12 Anyone Remember The Beacon — "Memphis' Oldest Steakhouse"? Memphians have gotten into disputes before about the oldest restaurant in town — an argument that usually boils down to the Arcade, the Little Tea Shop, and even Dyer's Hamburgers — depending upon your precise definition of "restaurant." But what about more specific categories, such as the oldest steakhouse in town? Certain obvious contenders come to mind, such as Folk's Folly. But one lonely night in the Lauderdale Mansion — oh, aren't they all?? — I was leafing through the pages of a 1957 Memphis Hotel and Motel Guide (third floor of the Lauderdale Library, fourth aisle, top shelf), and I came across this interesting ad. The Beacon, at 1489 Lamar, proclaims itself "Memphis' Oldest Steakhouse." And who am I to... Posted at 06:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 3
	04/12/12 White Station Tower's "Top of the Tower" Restaurant In the many decades since I've been writing my "Ask Vance" column (begun, as I recall, when I was laid up with my wartime injuries at Kennedy General Hospital), one of the topics often discussed has been the name of the revolving restaurant atop White Station Tower. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, that the place originally opened as The Embers — a second location in addition to the older, original Embers at Park and Getwell. And look — as this nice ad from a 1972 issue of Key Magazine shows — after a few years, it changed owners and became the Top of the Tower restaurant. I like some of the wording in this old ad, especially that bit about the "dining rooms that seem to blend with the stars." Revolving... Posted at 02:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 5
	04/10/12 Lost Memphis: Blaz'r Steaks Over the years, people have asked me about the curious design of Nagasaki, the Japanese restaurant at 3951 Summer. Others have noticed the rather unusual architecture of Patrick's, a restaurant and hanging-out-place at 4972 Park. A few readers finally noticed that the buildings look the same, and they asked me what the structures were, originally. As you can see from this somewhat grainy advertisement in a 1967 Kingsbury High School yearbook, both establishments began life as a restaurant chain called Blaz'r Steaks. I really can't explain why that company chose such a bizarre modern style for its steakhouses, with their jutting beams and swooping roofline, or what they hoped to accomplish by leaving that all-important "e" out of the word... Posted at 03:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 9
	04/03/12 Meet Allen Crump, "BBQ Man" — Owner of Pig Pen #1 and Pig Pen #2 Last week, I posted an old Treadwell High School yearbook ad for a barbecue joint on Summer called the Pig Pen, because I just liked the matter-of-fact style of the ad. Well, imagine my surprise and delight when it turns out that the daughter and granddaughter of the owner — a fellow named Allen Crump — told me lots more about the place. Alisa also provided this wonderful photo shown here, which shows Crump and a some fellow who looks like a potato-chip salesman. What I especially like is the saying hand-painted on the wall behind them: "BBQ Is Delicious Even If You Are Sober." Maybe even more so. Alisa tells me: "My grandfather, Allen Crump, owned and operated the Pig Pen. In the family it was always considered 'the first counter-service... Posted at 09:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	04/02/12 Lost Memphis: The Luau Regular readers of my "Ask Vance" column (you know who you are — I'm not allowed to give out the names of state prison inmates) know that my futile search for a decent photo of the exterior of the Luau — the Polynesian-themed restaurant on Poplar — has caused me to suffer from bouts of neurasthenia, jungle madness, and infestations of botflies. Or maybe it only seems that way. I just can't understand why such a distinctive and popular restaurant didn't leave behind more tangible evidence of its existence. I've seen some Key magazine ads (mainly illustrations), a tiny menu, and some partial shots of the exterior in a few East High School yearbook ads (the school was just across the street). But so far, no clear image of the restaurant... Posted at 03:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 5
	03/30/12 Lost Memphis: The Pig Pen Call me crazy (many of my doctors do), but I really love the stark simplicity of this ad, found in the back pages of a 1954 Treadwell High School yearbook. It tells you to "Eat" and then it tells you where: Pig Pen. And not "Eat at" or even "The Pig Pen." Nope, just: "Eat ... Pig Pen." The tone is very "Me Tarzan, You Jane." You've got the address on Summer, and even the one-word summary of the type of eatery: "Barbecue." You really can't get more concise than that. But then, perhaps because they had all that space to fill, they dropped in the mouth-watering slogan: "Where you get a bargain in a good fat pig," which not only suggests the prices are low, but gosh isn't a "good fat... Posted at 03:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 2
	03/28/12 When Elvis Presley and Vance Lauderdale Appeared Together on the Same Memphis Bus It's not too often that the King of Rock-and-Roll and Vance Lauderdale share the same billing — it certainly doesn't happen enough, that's for sure — but just look at the interesting line-up on this old bus route sign that showed up recently on eBay. Not just one, but three lines that say "LAUDERDALE / ELVIS PRESLEY." My, I feel special. Plus, I got first billing. Modern-day MATA buses have a digital read0ut above the windshield, telling riders waiting at the stops which bus is going where (well, in theory, anyway). But in Ye Olden Days — and in this particular case, I'm talking all the way back to 1982 — the various route numbers and designations were printed in white letters on a long roll of rubberized fabric. The driver had to... Posted at 08:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	03/26/12 100 Years Ago: When E.E. Loving Auto Company Sold Cole Motor Cars Last week, when I took my half-dozen readers on a virtual tour down our city's "Automobile Row," we stopped — just go along with this fantasy, will you? — at most of the main car dealerships on Madison and looked at the various makes and models on display. Later, when flipping through old city directories, I came across this interesting 1912 ad for the E.E. Loving Auto Company, which sold Cole Motor Cars — precisely 100 years ago. At $1,885 this gleaming new automobile probably seems cheap by today's standards — why, that's close to a day's wages for me — but that was an enormous sum in those days. Judging from the illustration, the car itself is a fine-looking thing, very low-slung and even racy-looking for 1912 —... Posted at 10:54 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	03/20/12 Lost Memphis: The Ford Motor Company Dealership and "Automobile Row" in 1911 It's depressing to think of the wonderful historical artifacts that lie hidden away in trunks, or pasted down in old scrapbooks, never to see the light of day until they are tossed in the trash or otherwise discarded. Just as frustrating, to me, are the amazing things that occasionally turn up on eBay that are treasures to local historians, but — for whatever reason — never find their way "home." Case in point: This terrific old photo of our city's first Ford Motor Company dealership. A seller in Ohio was offering it for sale, and even though I bid fast and furiously for it, it finally sold for $90 — far exceeding my maximum bid of $12.75 (a week's salary). But at least we have this somewhat grainy scan to see what an interesting place it... Posted at 03:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 1
	03/13/12 Lost Memphis Update: The Big Shoe In this month's issue of Memphis magazine, I tell the story of the "Big Shoe" (as it was usually called) — the big white concrete shoe-shaped shoe store on Lamar that so many of you seem to remember. If you haven't read it, then what on earth have you been discussing at your fondue parties? Well, my pal Rob Jolly recently sent me an email adding a bit more information to the original story: "The story on the big shoe brought back early childhood memories. I was 12 years old when the shoe was built. My father (who died this last August) Robert E. Jolly Jr. was the individual that installed the metal roof on the shoe. Jolly Roofing and Sheet Metal (still in existence on Lamar — near the former location of the shoe) had the contract to roof... Posted at 09:22 PM \| Permalink \| Comments: 2