Maxwell Street as Beale Street


The comparisons between old Maxwell Street and old Beale Street are numerous. Both were in large cities that were centers for their region. Both were inner city commercial areas that were also racially tolerant social centers. Many of the patrons of both were from Mississippi and Arkansas. Both had multi-cultural shop owners, many of whom were Jewish. Both had street vendors, food stands, pullers (physically aggressive salesmen) and Blues musicians playing outside on the street. Many of the musicians who played on Maxwell Street also played on Beale Street. Both were influential in creating Rock and Roll. The architecture was similar also and anyone walking down Beale Street would feel at home walking down Maxwell Street. Memphis was a midway stop on the South-North route of the Illinois Central Railway. Chicago was the terminus along that route, "the promised land."

There were differences too. Maxwell Street was a transplanted southern neighborhood in a northern city. Memphis was a southern city. Maxwell Street was much more of an outdoor marketplace. It's nightlife was more informal compared to Beale Street's more formal nightlife. Beale Street was a bit more upscale.


Below are some quotes from the 1994 booklet: Beale Street Talks: A Walking Tour Down the Home of the Blues by Richard M. Raichelson (Arcadia Records, P.O. Box 240544, Memphis, TN 38124) .



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