Historical Marker

The Alamo Theatre

Historical marker location:
333 N. Farish St., Jackson, Mississippi
Marker provided by: Mississippi Blues Commission.

The Alamo Theatre opened at this location in 1949. Prior to that, the Alamo occupied two other spots in the area. The theatre showed movies, hosted music competitions, and presented blues and jazz concerts by artists such as Nat “King” Cole, Elmore James, Louis Jordan, and Cab Calloway during the 1940s and ‘50s. Gospel groups and vocal ensembles also performed. Local resident Dorothy Moore’s many victories at Alamo talent contests ultimately led to a successful recording career.

Talent shows have long served as an entry to the world of professional entertainment, and in Jackson many aspiring artists began their careers in contests at the Alamo Theatre. One was Dorothy Moore, who was offered a recording contract after consistently winning the Wednesday night talent contests here while in junior high. In 1966 she recorded an album as the lead singer of the vocal group the Poppies. Moore later sang background vocals for Malaco Records in Jackson and was soon recording there as a featured artist. In 1976 her record “Misty Blue” was a huge hit and established Malaco as a major player in the soul and blues field. Her other hits included “Funny How Time Slips Away,” “I Believe You,” and “With Pen In Hand.” She later formed her own label, Farish Street Records, and her honors include a 1996 Governor’s Award For Excellence in the Arts.

For many decades the Alamo served as a major African American entertainment venue under the management of Arthur Lehmann. The theatre opened at 134 North Farish Street in 1915 and moved to 123 West Amite Street, just off Farish, in the 1920s. In 1948 Lehmann constructed a new building at this location to house the Alamo. Lehmann sold the property in 1957. The Alamo served mostly as a movie theatre, initially showing piano-accompanied silent movies and, after 1932, “soundies.” The theatre also booked vaudeville, jazz, blues, and gospel performers, including Elmore James, Tiny Bradshaw, Nat King Cole, and the Rays of Rhythm from Mississippi’s Piney Woods School. Al Benson, who later became Chicago’s top radio personality, promoted shows here in the 1930s and sang with the Leaners Band, which featured George Leaner on piano. Lillian McMurry of Trumpet Records, whose offices were located on the same block, attended gospel shows here to discover talent. Blues pianist Otis Spann recalled winning an Alamo talent contest as a child, and other local artists who competed included Sam Baker, Jr., Mel Brown, Sam Myers, Cadillac George Harris, Little Jeno Tucker, Tommy Tate, Amanda Humphrey (Bradley), Roosevelt Robinson, the vocal group the Quails (Dequincy Johnson, George Jackson, and Sam Jones), and Albert Goodman, later of the Moments and the trio Ray, Goodman & Brown. During the 1950s and ’60s Jobie Martin of Jackson’s WOKJ radio emceed the contests.

The Alamo closed in the 1980s and, following extensive renovation, reopened under non-profit ownership in 1997. The theatre began to celebrate Farish Street’s musical legacy again with occasional music programs, and in 2000 Jackson bluesman Eddie Cotton, Jr., recorded his CD Live at the Alamo Theatre here

  A brief timeline of the Battle of the Alamo
  • February 23, 1836: Mexican forces, led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, began a siege of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas.
  • March 1, 1836: William Barret Travis, the commander of the Texan forces at the Alamo, sent out a letter calling for reinforcements and stating that the Texans were under siege by the Mexican army.
  • March 2, 1836: Texas declared its independence from Mexico.
  • March 6, 1836: After a 13-day siege, Mexican forces launched a final assault on the Alamo, overwhelming the Texan defenders and killing all of them, including Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Barret Travis.
  • March 27, 1836: The Goliad Massacre occurred, where over 300 Texan soldiers were executed by the Mexican army under orders from Santa Anna.
  • April 21, 1836: Texan forces, led by Sam Houston, defeated the Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto, securing Texas independence.

The Mississippi Blues Trail markers tell stories through words and images of bluesmen and women and how the places where they lived and the times in which they existed–and continue to exist–influenced their music. The sites run the gamut from city streets to cotton fields, train depots to cemeteries, and clubs to churches. We have a lot to share, and it’s just down the Mississippi Blues Trail.

The Mississippi Blues Trail is an ongoing project of the Mississippi Blues Commission. Funding for this project has been made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, AT&T, and the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University plus additional support from the Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division.

For more information visit msbluestrail.org.

Blues Trail
In 1963, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi. His killer, Byron De La Beckwith, was not convicted until 1994.
Mississippi random facts
Hinds County, Mississippi, has a rich history that spans centuries. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Choctaw and Chickasaw, who relied on the fertile land for hunting and farming. European explorers arrived in the region in the 16th century, with the Spanish establishing a presence in the area. However, it was not until the early 19th century that Hinds County began to take shape as a permanent settlement.

In 1821, Hinds County was created as one of the original counties in the newly formed state of Mississippi. The county was named after Thomas Hinds, a prominent Mississippi pioneer and early political figure. The county seat, Jackson, was established shortly thereafter and quickly became a center of government, commerce, and industry. The presence of the Pearl River provided opportunities for transportation, further contributing to the growth and development of Hinds County.

During the antebellum period, Hinds County played a significant role in the cotton industry of the Deep South. The county's vast plantations relied heavily on enslaved labor, with African Americans making up a substantial portion of the population. This history of slavery and the agricultural economy would leave a lasting impact on the culture and demographics of the county for generations to come.

Following the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, Hinds County experienced periods of social and political turbulence. The county became a center of Civil Rights activism during the 20th century, with notable figures like Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader, making significant contributions to the movement. Today, Hinds County continues to be a vibrant and diverse community, with a blend of historical landmarks and modern developments that reflect its varied past.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Hinds County, Mississippi.

  • 1821 - Hinds County is established as one of the original counties in Mississippi.
  • 1832 - The city of Jackson becomes the county seat of Hinds County.
  • 1863 - During the American Civil War, Hinds County is occupied by Union forces.
  • 1875 - The Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, is established in Hinds County.
  • 1960s - Hinds County becomes a major center for the civil rights movement in Mississippi.
  • 2010 - Hinds County celebrates its bicentennial anniversary.