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Memphis Moments
5:50 pm
Thu May 16, 2013

Abe Fortas

Associate Justice Abe Fortas

Abe Fortas may be the only Supreme Court Justice whose first career was in a dance band. The son of Jewish immigrants from England, Fortas grew up on Pontotoc Street in downtown Memphis. His father encouraged him to play the violin, and, by thirteen, he was playing in a dance band called “the Blue Medley Boys.”

The young sensation, nicknamed “Fiddlin' Abe,” earned enough to supplement his college scholarship at Southwestern University, today's Rhodes College. His passion for music and the arts remained with him throughout his life.

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Commentary
7:36 am
Wed May 15, 2013

There's More To The Game Than The Name

Credit http://sofakingjuicyburger.com/

It’s gotten quite popular in the last few years to select dirty names for start-up businesses. There’s Dirty Dick’s Crab House, Fat Bastard Burrito, but none tops the new burger joint in Chattanooga.

Its name is Sofa - King - Juicy - Burger. If you say the name real fast, it only takes a couple times to figure out the intent of the owner. Despite, that is, the fact that he says there’s a large sofa in the joint.

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Memphis Moments
5:48 pm
Tue May 14, 2013

Elmwood Cemetery

The Bridge Leading to Elmwood Cemetery

Elmwood Cemetery, founded in 1852, is the oldest active cemetery in Memphis. Fifty citizens put up $500 each to purchase and develop a 40-acre parcel of land. Another 40 acres were added later.

The name Elmwood was selected by a drawing from a list of proposed names. Elm trees had to be planted afterwards. 

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The Memphis Sound
7:42 am
Tue May 14, 2013

Muscling In On The Memphis Sound

Mid-South News
6:00 am
Mon May 13, 2013

You’ll Be Mine: Bringing Musical Tourism To West Memphis

In the 1940s and 1950s, KWEM was a stepping-stone for musicians on their way to greater fame. The original building still stands on Broadway Street in West Memphis, AR.

Every year more than 10 million visitors come to Memphis, and spend more than three billion dollars, much of it on music-related tourism. But few ever cross the bridge to West Memphis, Arkansas. Now some in the area are trying to change that by capitalizing on the rich musical history of an old West Memphis radio station, KWEM.

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