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Midland High School Auditorium
Midland, TX was originally founded as the midway point between Fort Worth and El Paso. The original Midland High School in Midland, TX was built in 1926 and was moved twenty-three years later to a new building in 1949 at 906 West Illinois Avenue.1
The auditorium and stage at the High School were built in 1949 along with the rest of the new facilities.1 The auditorium, including the balcony, seats approximately 1,600.
On January 7, 1955, the day before Elvis' 20th birthday, Elvis, Scotty and Bill performed at the High School along with several other acts from the Louisiana hayride in what was billed as a "Western Show." They had appeared with several of the acts on the 6th at the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock as a result of KDAV radio owner Dave Stone. Joe Treadway was a co-owner with Stone of KPEP radio station in San Angelo. Treadway had been responsible for bringing the boys to San Angelo on the 5th and had teamed up with Midland/Odessa Radio KJBC deejay Keith Ward to bring them to Midland on the 7th.2 The Midland paper on the 6th advertised:
They made their third and final appearance at the High School Auditorium on October 12, 1955. The 7:30 show cost $1.25 in advance and $1.50 at the door, children 50 cents.5 It is reputedly at this show that Elvis met Roy Orbison for the first time though Roy had wanted to meet him since seeing him perform at least as early as Dallas in April while attending college at North Texas State University in Denton near Fort Worth. The Oct. 12 package show starred Elvis Presley and featured Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson, Floyd Cramer, Porter Wagoner, Bobby Lord, Jimmy C. Newman and Jimmy Day. Jane Carrens, a student at Midland High at the time, who later became principal there, said it is amazing to look back and think how accommodating the school administration was for such events. In fact, classes were often called off when a big name act was scheduled to appear in the evening, so that students could attend a free preview in the school auditorium. "It was crazy to see how the girls reacted to Elvis," Carrens said. "These were friends of mine and they just went crazy when he came on stage."6
Only 19 at the time of the last Midland show, Roy Orbison had been born in Vernon, TX , raised in Wink, TX and in the fall of 55 transferred to Odessa Junior college for his second year (previously at North State a college buddy, Pat Boone, recommended he write more pop oriented songs). With some members of his high school days band, the Wink Westerners, he formed the Teen Kings, who were regularly featured at local dances and talent shows and on Television stations KMID and KOSA. Cecil Holifield Jr., a student at MHS, said his dad not only promoted the Presley and Cash concert, but also arranged for various stars to appear on TV and radio in Midland/Odessa. In addition, "Pop" Holifield Sr., was also an adviser to Orbison about his would-be career. One of the performances he arranged was a Wednesday afternoon appearance on KMID (the day of the show). Also scheduled to appear on the show was Johnny Cash.6 ** It is rumored that Holifield asked Cash to appear on KMID because he knew that Orbison would also be performing. Cash was dazzled by his abilities and invited Orbison to the Midland High concert with a promise that he could finally meet Elvis. Oberst said, "By this time nobody was getting backstage unless they were let backed by someone like Cash. There were just too many girls wanting a piece of Elvis. There were also a lot of jealous boyfriends that they didn't want back there."6 Johnny suggested to Roy that he call Sam Phillips at Sun, whose response was something to the effect "Johnny Cash doesn't run my record company!" However, Holifield would later play a recording of Roy's "Ooby Dooby" for Sam that eventually got Roy an invite and ultimately a contract with Sun in March of 1956.7
Today the High School (officially Midland Senior High School) is part of Midland Independent School District. It hosts only high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (10th-12th grades) as Midland Freshman High School serves as a feeder school hosting freshman high school students.1
Both Midland High School and Midland Freshman High School use the same school mascot, the Midland High Bulldog. Also, the freshmen year of each class the Midland Freshmen school holds a Bulldog Beauty contest where real English bulldogs come and the Freshmen class votes on their class mascot. This dog stays and remains their class mascot through their senior year.1
In recent years, the school has received major renovations including complete asbestos removal and new science wing but the auditorium is basically the same.1
A fire in 2008 though required some replacement work. About the only difference they have made is when they remodeled they took out one set of steps going up to the stage, now we only have one set. They have also replaced the curtains.8
page added September 14, 2009 ** It's been speculated and rumored that Elvis also appeared on the same KMID television show as Johnny and Roy. Scotty said he has no recollection of having been anywhere with Roy Orbison on stage, or performed or made an appearance as a band and if Elvis did so without the band he has no recollection of this ever happening. Some people have claimed to have actually seen footage but to date nothing has publicly surfaced to substantiate that any exists or that Elvis actually made any appearance. Special Thanks to Mary Hurst of the Midland High School Library for her assistance with photos for this page, to Gary Gardner of the Midland County Public Library and to AEK's Luuk Bonthond for The Billboard links. 1 according to wikipedia
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All photos on this site (that we didn't borrow) unless otherwise indicated are the property of either Scotty Moore or James V. Roy and unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. |
The Midland Reporter-Telegram, Thursday, January 6, 1955
Mrs.
Treadway, Joe's wife, brought them into Midland's
radio station for an interview and to plug the show.2
According to Billboard magazine, over 1600 people bought tickets.3
