Ellis Auditorium


The Ellis Auditorium was a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. It hosted local sporting events and concerts.

History

The auditorium opened in 1930. The first performance was held by John Philip Sousa.
The auditorium was segregated and had a separate entrance and balcony for black patrons, and in 1945 a performance of Annie, Get Your Gun did not go ahead because the cast included black members.
Elvis Presley played Ellis Auditorium on May 15, 1956 to open the Cotton Carnival. Presley also made a number of other appearances at the venue.
Other performers who played Ellis include David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen.

Sports

Ellis Auditorium also hosted basketball events, including a 6,000-strong all-white crowd who watched the all-black Harlem Globetrotters play in 1953.
The Memphis Tigers basketball team also played select games at Ellis. They upset number 3 ranked Louisville at the venue in February 1957.
Ellis Auditorium was demolished in 1997 and replaced by the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts.