Reference Number
ARC-0084
Level of description
collection
Title
Bluefield Auditorium Posters
Date
1956-1958
Size
4 (Linear feet)
Scope and Contents
Bluefield Auditorium Posters spans the years 1956 to 1958. The collection consists of seven concert posters for performances held at the auditorium in Bluefield, West Viriginia. Performers included Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Ruth Brown, The Coasters, Fats Domino, The Five Satins, Ernie Freeman, Etta James, Little Richard, and "Big" Joe Turner. The collection provides a glimpse into the types of acts that appeared at Bluefield Auditorium and, most importantly, how the shows were promoted to a segregated audience. Seen in a broader context, the collection provides insights to the musicians that performed during the mid- to late-1950s, and the types of venues at which they performed. The Bluefield Auditorium Posters are arranged chronologically.
Biography / Administrative History
Bluefield Auditorium is located at 200 Rogers Street in Bluefield, West Virginia. The venue was a popular one for various rock and roll acts traveling around the country. Like most venues in the South during the 1950s, it was a segregated venue. If the promoters felt the performers would attract a predominately African-American audience, the main floor would be open to African Americans, and the white patrons would be seated in the balcony. If the performers attracted a predominately white audience, the whites would be seated on the main floor, and the African Americans would be seated in the balcony. Every attempt was made to keep the races separated before, during, and after the show, including different entrances and exits. The venue is still in use today but mainly for local events.
Notes
Processing Information: Processed by James A. Kohler, Project Archivist. Completed April 25, 2011. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this finding aid: DACS and local processing manual.
Acquisition Note: The Bluefield Auditorium Posters collection was received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. as a gift from Charles B. Parker in memory of Londo (Lee) Gross on October 30, 2003.
Citation: [Identification of item], Bluefield Auditorium Posters, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Exhibition History: May 2019-December 2020, Traveling Exhibit: Louder than Words.
Separated Materials: Poster on exhibit. Noted at the item level. Consult Library & Archives staff in advance of your visit for additional information.
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
Associated Persons
Associated Subjects
