tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010805061387512003.post2218154137693898709..comments2023-06-23T03:55:31.716-04:00Comments on Keyword:Memphis: Beale Street DevelopmentPaul Dudenheferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151195827506868797noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3010805061387512003.post-46962223396121004382012-07-15T05:03:10.044-04:002012-07-15T05:03:10.044-04:00Beale Street is a mess. I moved to Memphis in 1995...Beale Street is a mess. I moved to Memphis in 1995. At the time Beale was hopping. There were bands setting up in Handy Park (Beale and 3rd) which is were the Blues players of the 20's would set up and play for local fish fries and weekend parties. There were also street musicians, which made me happy, being one myself. The fist thing they did was ban street musicians with the lopsided logic that people weren't going to go into the clubs and buy overpriced drinks if they could hear music on the sidealks for free. Funny, it sure works for New Orleans. No other Blues clubs could open downtown since it was decided they would compete with Beale, even though tourists were quickly bored with the limited amount of clubs on Beale and didn't stay in town long. The final straw for me was when the real home of the blues (handy park) was surrounded by a brick wall in order to charge admission. Shorty after, it was followed by a gift shop and a name change to The Pepsi Pavillion. If I was looking for a way to ruin Beale, I couldn't have done a better job. I went down there last weekend. On a friday night the street was dead, with cruisers parked at both ends, garbage all over the street and nothing but Rap blaring out of a club wwhich should never ave opened in the first place. If you want Blues, go to the festival in Helena Arkansas or the W.C. Handy Blues Festival and BBQ in Hendersonville Ky. You won't find any in Memphis. - J.K. RostAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com