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Below find two notes on the S.O.S project now under way to save the Shell. You can help too. For more information contact
John or Larry
From John Larkin Historic Rock And Roll Landmark Endangered Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and many others made their first public appearances on the stage of the Raoul Wallenberg Shell in Memphis, Tennessee. The "Shell" is an outdoor amphitheatre built during the great depression as part of President Roosevelt's "Public Works Projects". The Shell has since made immeasurable contributions to the American public through the advancement of arts and entertainment. This is the spot where Rock and Roll music was heard live for the first time. It was from here that modern music spread like wild fire across the globe. The Shell has since been very proactive in promoting local music in Memphis and helping develop other arts related endeavors for free to the public. The Shell has not received any funds for improvements or upkeep since 1976. A recent engineers report ordered by the city indicated that it would take $500,000 to bring the aging facility up to code. By comparison the same report stated that it would only cost $50,000 to tear it down. A non-profit foundation exists for the preservation of the Shell. The S.O.S. foundation has been seeking public involvement in the "Save Our Shell" movement but lack of funding and professional management has rendered their effort largely ineffective. As the wrecking ball draws nigh the S.O.S group embarks on a last ditch effort to save this important national landmark. You can join the S.O.S. Foundation in an effort to "Save Our Shell": Overton Park Shell 1928 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 901.274.6046 email: john@overtonparkshell.com
This one is from Jamie Aaron Kelley's dad Larry, President of the Elvis Family of Fans Club in Iowa. We have been handling the Save the Shell Annual Concert Event on August 14th for the past four years (this August will be #4). All funds raised by this annual concert have been going directly to the director of the Shell's basic, daily operations. The funds to date have only been enough to cover utility bills and general upkeep of the building (painting, new copier machine, etc.). They (the Shell) dos not receive funds from the Park Commission nor the City of Memphis. Strictly volunteer help is what keeps the Shell going. That and donations from free shows they put on throughout the warmer months of the year. We are attempting to get the Elvis fan clubs world wide to hold fund raisers and those monies would go directly into an account set up to raise the kind of money we need for major renovation of the Shell - to bring it back to the glory days of the 40's and 50's.
The copyright of the article S.O.S -- Save Our Shell in Elvis Presley is owned by . Permission to republish S.O.S -- Save Our Shell in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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