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White River Water Carnival
The Young Business Men’s Association in Batesville decided to build this stadium-wharf after onlookers of the boat races and various water activities complained about the grassy conditions and poison ivy. The stadium, believed to be the only one of it’s type at the time, cost nearly $16,000 and was completed in time for the second annual White River Water Carnival (Arena) in 1939.
Saturday August 6, 1955
Mom and I talked about this earlier tonight to make sure I had the "facts" straight.... or as straight as she can recall them. My aunt and a friend of hers talked with Elvis before his short performance.... he sitting on the hood of a pink Cadillac and them both perched on the front bumper. Elvis was very inquisitive about the local area; he asked them both about themselves, the local hangouts, the history of the Water Carnival, local jobs, etc. Looking back now, this was probably pretty much "standard operating procedure" for every little town he visited, but they were impressed by his interest and his down-to-earth nature. My aunt also commented to my Mom later before Elvis came on that they had met "the entertainer" and he had the "prettiest eyes I've ever seen in my life....". As she was trying to get my mother's group to come back up with her and meet him too, Elvis bounded onto the stage in front of them all.
I took my mother back there this morning; it was her first visit back to the site since the early 1960s. The stadium was originally built the Works Progress Administration (WPA). In reference to the picture, she told me that Elvis' pink Cadillac was parked right under this light pole pictured at the top of the bleachers. The street shown was then only barely two car lengths wide and concessions covered the far side for several yards. Her seat was directly down the row of steps from the front of this same pole; she sat about
seven or eight rows up from the stage in the center. Mom says she remembers no boos or heckling, but a lot of silence and a tiny smattering of no doubt exceedingly polite applause. I imagine that Elvis was probably ready to hit the road ASAP after such a poor reception. My aunt's friend had an old Kodak camera (my Mom described it as like an old "Brownie" camera.... like an Instamatic, maybe?) and took some shots but all 4 sides of her flash bulb malfunctioned! So, no photos from us on this one.
Everything is still as it was when I was last there and basically as it was when Elvis was there too, but it is slowly getting squeezed out by a local sand and gravel company. You can see some of the company's equipment in some of these shots. To my knowledge, the stadium hasn't been used for anything since the late 1980s.
The bleachers are entirely poured concrete in 18 separate levels from the top down to the river's edge. The stadium consists of four sections, each one about 50 feet wide. I didn't recall it being so long from end-to-end. IIRC, the capacity was around 3,000 people fully packed. The river slough the stadium was built next to is obvious in this shot; the actual White River can be seen just behind it over that little ridge of land and trees.
The field across the street my Mom mentioned is now this: one of our local poultry processing plants. This is where the rides and amusements were set up for the old Water Carnival festivities each year back then.
This view is taken looking out from the stage center back towards the west bleachers.... you get some idea of the large scale of the place here in this image.
This shot is taken at the river level. My mother told me the concrete stage you see in this shot was not there when Elvis appeared; it was built in later years. The lighting system dates from the 1950s.... not sure on the exact year, but it would have been "period correct" for when Elvis was here. In 1955 the entire length of the bleachers extended all the way down to the flat sidewalk/walkway you see next to the river.
The barge that functioned as the stage was tethered right next to this drop-down dock edge.... some remnants of that capability still remain as well. Cut off with what looked like a chainsaw, but still there in the concrete.... Mom recalls the barge being moored with two large ropes like those seen on sailing vessels and the catwalks connected with the walkway seen in the photo. I really enjoyed going back to this place after such a long time away. It was nice to just go and sit there.... and just think about what took place so many years ago.... and be thankful that somebody in my family was there to see it and take it all in, even if she was across the street most of the time.
But one star WAS there today.... with me: My little girl just had to go onstage after I told her that Elvis was once on that very stage a long time ago (OK, technically it was a little white one, but she'll never know ).... and naturally she had to strike one of her best rock-star poses. BTW, she was singing "That's All Right, Mama" too when I snapped this photo! She was so upset because she didn't have her guitar with us, though, that she made me promise to take her back again this weekend....
Frankie Rider, II page added April 3, 2008 This was originally posted on the FECC by member Frankie Rider II and with his permission we thought this would be a nice addition here on the site in the Venues section. Batesville newspaper article courtesy Brian Petersen * excerpt from "Elvis Day by Day" by Peter Guralnick and Ernst Jorgansen For those of you familiar with the Jorgensen/Guralnick "Day-By-Day" book, all through 1954 and 1955 there are many Arkansas communities listed as show sites for Elvis and his crew. One that shows up fairly regularly among the Arkansas dates is this particular establishment:
This is the Silver Moon Club in Newport, Arkansas. Newport is about 25 miles from where I live. Unfortunately, this is not the same building where Elvis performed many times in the early days. It is here:
Or at least the remnants of it are. According to locals, the original club was demolished when US Highway 67 was widened many years ago. But the entire outer dimensions and much of the period tile flooring are still readily discernible on the concrete foundation. This really surprised me to find this still in place, but a trip to the Chamber of Commerce quickly told me that the locals are very proud of what is left there. In fact, there is a push to have that entire stretch of Highway 67 to the Missouri state line designated as a landmark and officially named "The Rock-N-Roll Highway".
Here's some of the detail that is still visible from one of the restrooms in what was the rear corner of the structure. The lavatory drain and water inlets can clearly be seen in the bottom of the photo, and the floor drain was still under the dirt you can see in the center of the tile. Is that not some beautiful work? For it to still be in that kind of shape after all these years out in the open is amazing.
More of the beautiful tile work along the north side of the old structure. This looks like it may have been separated by a wall at some point. The condition of the tile where it was still together was really nice.
This appears to be the remnants of the dance floor/stage. The wooden runners in the poured concrete are still visible in many places. This is the only part of the old slab floor that had been visibly covered with wood. If anyone else knows anything different, please add your views.
Not sure on this.... it appeared to have been some kind of painted walkway at some point. What for, I have no idea.
The remnants of the 1950s-era Silver Moon Club sign. There was a large metal silver-painted crescent moon that hung on this post by the highway. No lettering or nameplate.... just the metal sign.
This is the original U.S. Armory where Elvis performed on the night of March 2, 1955. Currently the structure is serving as the Jackson County Recycling Center, so I didn't try to gain entry. You could easily see the vast empty hall-like interior from the street through the open bay doors. But the building still retains its original appearance, which predates Elvis' visit by several years.
The other show location on that same day proved to be the most elusive to find. Also on March 2, Elvis played a 10 PM set at the famous Porky's Rooftop Club. Luckily, a worker at the Chamber of Commerce there was familiar with it and directed me to the local Depot Diner. The owner there purportedly had the only photo of the building that anyone in Newport that I talked with had ever seen. I went down to the diner, introduced myself to the hostess, and told her of my somewhat unique quest. She proceeded to take me over to one wall where, lo and behold, there was a B&W photo of the club hanging on the wall. Interestingly enough, they had rescued the photo from a box of trash that the C of C had put on the curb for pickup many years earlier! But here is the location, circa 2008:
As you can see, the radio station is the exact same building with slightly different signage.
The drive-in/dance club stood between the drainage ditch in the foreground and the guide wires for the old radio station's tower that are seen in the background. A unique place, it featured a full drive-in/restaurant on the lower ground level and a full dance floor and live music stage on the roof. Most all of the famous 1950s "country" and "rockabilly" stars played there. The KNBY/KOKR radio station used to be the only one in our surrounding area; my Mom recalls listening to Elvis 1950s sides on it regularly.
It is believed that this is the remnant of the illuminated roadside sign for the club along US 67.
Frankie Rider, II
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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. |
