MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1995
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art did away with general admission fees Wednesday, deciding, after 51⁄2 years of ticketed admissions, that an increased number of visitors who don’t have to pay will help increase revenue.
The museum board voted this week to eliminate the adult admission of $4 and student and senior citizen admission of $2 to the museum’s permanent collection and to most exhibitions.
The free admission, which goes into effect immediately, and revised opening and closing hours, which will go into effect in September, are intended to make the museum more accessible, increasing visitors and, with them, gift shop and restaurant revenues.
50 years ago — 1970
Broadway song stylist Janice Ames is scheduled to sing “People” and four other selections during the second of the season’s free concerts at Overton Park Shell at 8:15 tonight. Ames will be joined in her performance by the season’s first appearance by Noel Gilbert’s Memphis Concert Orchestra. The 50-piece group, in addition to accompanying Ames, will perform six selections, including the closing of the concert with Sousa’s “Semper Fidelis” march. The concerts are presented by the Memphis Federation of Musicians and the Memphis Park Commission. 75 years ago — 1945
Sharing their funds with the Heroes Phone Fund, just as they have shared their sons for service in the war, the Paris, Tenn., chapter of War Mothers sent their donation of $5 to The Commercial Appeal yesterday to be used for the benefit of Kennedy General Hospital patients who want to call loved ones.
100 years ago — 1920
The resignation of practically the entire fire department of Memphis takes effect at noon today. City officials are busy making plans to protect the city with volunteer citizens. There appears to be no hope of settling the dispute with the Firefighters Union. Union members have refused to agree to a 10-day delay in the threatened strike. 125 years ago — 1895
There is again a mass summer exodus of the elegant from Memphis to Lookout Inn in Chattanooga. Among those who left last week for the mountain breezes and lavish entertainments were Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Hill, Miss Phoebe Grosvenor, Mrs. Watkins Overton, Mrs. W.A. Sneed and Mrs. John Overton III.