With all the controversy surrounding murals in our city, I thought I would spotlight one that I haven’t seen much written about, the Southern Narrative Quilt Mural located on James Road. The artist, Jeffrey Unthank, is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and studied Fine Art and Illustration at Parsons School of Design and Columbus College of Art and Design. After relocating to Memphis, he worked …
Leahy’s: A Community of Memories
“My grandfather on my father’s side owned Monte’s Drive-in restaurant across the street from Leahy’s Motel. My brother and cousins worked at the restaurant every summer. My grandfather and Mr. Leahy were friends and after working all day we walked across the street to Leahy’s to go swimming. My grandfather on my mother’s side is Frank Balton as in Balton …
Summer Drive-In
As a sales manager for his father’s company, Whiz Auto Products, Richard Hollingshead understood the automobile and society’s love for this personal machine. He also understood a large lady like his mother couldn’t find comfort in the seat of the town’s lavish theater. Thus, he worked on an idea to create a movie watching experience in the comfort of your …
Leahy’s at Christmastime
An employee at Leahy’s tells us this was their park sometime in the 80’s. Isn’t it lovely? If you have your own photos of Memphis during past holiday seasons, we ask that you please submit them so that we may see what this city looked like in Christmastime during the lives of others among us! 3 Ways to Submit a …
Charlie Musselwhite & Leahy’s Inspirations
Leahy’s was inspirational for a lot of writers, artists, and musicians like Charlie Musselwhite. He wrote in the liner notes of his 2002 album One Night in America… Where I grew up, if I went out the back gate I was in Leahy’s Trailer Court. I had a lot of friends there and hung out there a lot. Itinerant-type people …
Leahy’s Postcard
This is a postcard of Leahy’s Motel & Trailer Park on Summer Avenue in it’s earlier years. Leahy’s began as a campsite for people who were fine with staying in a tent. Later on, the location matured into an RV and motel “campsite,” with a three-story house of which, people say, once served as a bordello visited by the great …