ASSEMBLY HALL 363 Main
     

The ASSEMBLY HALL is listed in the 1870 through 1877 Memphis Directories at 363 Main.  Seating capacity - 1000.  Manager:  James Sutton

The Assembly Hall was located between Union and Gayoso on the west side of the street. 

 

Below is a very rare 1873 Program for a concert at the Assembly Hall.  This Concert was originally scheduled for the Grand Opera House (Greenlaw Opera House) but was shifted to the Assembly Hall.  On the program, "Grand Opera House" is crossed out and "Assembly Hall" is printed above.  This obviously was a last minute change.  The Opera House had been undergoing extensive renovations in 1872 and probably wasn't ready to re-open by January of 1873.  (The program files are very large.  Please be patient while they Load).
 

1873 Program

1873 Program

1873 Program

 Ole Bull Graziella Ridgeway

Signor Feranti
 



Featured in this concert were famous Norwegian violinist-composer Ole Bull, Soprano Graziella Ridgeway, tenor-baritone Signor Feranti, and pianist-composer-conductor Joseph Hart Denck.  Ole Bull was world famous and had toured the US on several occasions, becoming enormously wealthy.  During an 1870 tour when he was 60, he had married a 20 year old American.  They maintained a summer home in Maine and another home in Norway.

 

Joseph Hart Denck
 


The Assembly Hall may have been built or remodeled in 1869 because there are theatre ads that year for the "NEW Assembly Hall".  The hall apparently was quite popular because there are many ads and reviews through 1877.  It may have been built as a skating rink and converted to a theatre.

 

  1869 AD

 

1869

1872

1874

1874

1875

1875
 

Minstrel shows were hugely popular and profitable in America at this time and there were no lack of major companies worldwide.  Numerous minstrel shows appeared at the Assembly.  In addition lectures were also booked.  A popular touring company presenting "The Pilgrim" was a huge success.  This was a panoramic moving tableau of "The Pilgrim's Progress".  And a troupe from Japan was also booked.

  1874 Review Wagner's
 
1871 - George Francis Train, Ad - Photo - Review

1876 Minstrel Ad

1876 Female Minstrels

        
 

1872 "The Pilgrim" Ad - Tableau

  

Japanese Troupe, Ad and Photo
 
 

  

 

   

 
   
 

Historic Memphis Website

   
 

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