MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1993
States with waiting periods and background checks for handgun purchases similar to those in the Brady bill have stopped thousands of felons from buying guns through gun dealers, a random survey shows. Since 1989, computerized background checks or similar waiting period programs in California, Florida, Virginia and Maryland have blocked more than 47,000 attempted purchases by people who were banned from buying firearms. The states are among at least 25 that have some restrictions on handgun purchases similar to those included in the Brady bill, which President Clinton is scheduled to sign into law today.
50 years ago — 1968
The packingest-in show ever to hit Memphis returns tonight to the Mid-South Coliseum at 8 under auspices of radio station WDIA. The musical-variety entertainment, known as the Goodwill Revue, holds the Coliseum record for attendance — 12,930 people in 1965. Proceeds go to WDIA’s Goodwill Fund to support community and charity programs which primarily benefit Negroes, the audience to whom the station aims its broadcasts.
75 years ago — 1943
Two Memphis firms and one at Jackson, Tenn., have been awarded contracts for construction of temporary frame buildings at Kennedy General Hospital and the Air Force Supply Depot on Jackson, Fourth Service Command headquarters at Atlanta announced yesterday. Building Constructors, Inc., Dermon Building, will build depot installations at a cost of $93,665; Young and Maury, 554 Adams, have contracted to construct buildings at Kennedy General Hospital for $40,398, and Bowyer and Johnson of Jackson will construct facilities at the depot for $51,606.
100 years ago — 1918
Memphian Abe Scharff of Kraus & Co. has been named to the executive committee which will conduct the war emergency and reconstruction conference in Atlantic City next month. The conference is sponsored by the federal government and the United states Chamber of Commerce.
125 years ago — 1893
Flames of another disastrous fire cast a glow over Memphis last night. The beautiful five-story building at 330 Main, occupied by Schmalzried Stove and Range Co. and the YMCA, was destroyed. The building was only a year old, having been erected to replace the one burned in the great fire of 1892, which destroyed everything on Main from Monroe to Union.