MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS

MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1996

Hearts race, adrenalin pumps, muscles tighten as a mass of sweaty bodies prepares to sprint. The beginning of a marathon? No, the doors are about to open on a 70 percent-off sale. Are you a world-class sale hunter? Do you have a knack (or maybe an obsession) for finding the best bargains on things that you may not need but have to have because they are a steal? Is your closet overflowing with your finds? Do you have ”spies” in stores who alert you to upcoming bargains? Do you have war stories to tell? The Commercial Appeal is looking for mega-bargain hunters to feature in a story: We’re talking heavyweights, not people who occasionally go to a sale and get lucky, but those who have made an art of the hunt and have plenty of trophies.

50 years ago — 1971

After several years of being scared out of their wits by every new fashion turn, it’s nice to report that women can relax this fall. No worries about revealing too much of this or that which would be better off concealed. No anxiety over what’s “young” or what isn’t. One and all, American designers have gone back to the classics, as they are being called these days. What that means is the kind of clothes women wore in past eras and which, under various guises, have never stopped being worn.

75 years ago — 1946

E.H. Crump, political leader, contributed $250 to the Walter Chandler Scholarship Fund for Southwestern yesterday as the total reached $2,345. Said Mr. Crump in a letter accompanying his check received by the Chamber of Commerce: “I hope the people of Memphis will respond generously not only as a deserved reward and a high honor for Walter Chandler, but the scholarship will be one that will be greatly prized by its recipient from year to year.” 100 years ago — 1921

SAN FRANCISCO – Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, screen actor, will be formally charged in police court tomorrow with the murder of Miss Virginia Rappe, motion picture actress, Captain of Detectives Matthewson said today.

125 years ago — 1896

Captain James Lee of the Lee Line Steamers says unless the sandbar now forming in the Mississippi River back of the Federal Building is removed it will become a menace to the Memphis harbor.

THOMAS BUSLER/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL June 16, 1984 - A sellout crowd of 50,079 looks on as the Memphis Showboats play the Birmingham Stallions at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game was the Showboats’ final home game of the season and a 35-20 loss for Memphis. The crowd was only the second sellout in USFL history.

SAM PARRISH/UPI February 26, 1984 Philadelphia running back Kelvin Bryant is wrestled to the ground by Memphis Showboats linebacker Steve Hammond after Bryant brought down a pass for short yardage during their game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The Philadelphia Stars won the season opener for both teams 17-9, before a crowd of 28,098 fans.

COMMERCIAL APPEAL BILL KELLEY III / THE February 19, 1984 - Memphis Showboats, from left: offensive guard Mike Horton, offensive tackle Greg Fairchild, defensive end Brett Williams, defensive end Reggie White and offensive tackle Phil Mckinnely. The little guy between Williams and Mckennely is Rudi Schiffer, Showboats publicist

BILL KELLEY III/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL February 6, 2012 – New Memphis Showboats quarterback Walter Lewis waves to fans as he is introduced at a news conference in the lobby of the Peabody. The former Alabama quarterback signed a three-year contract for $1 million with a $400,000 signing bonus.

DAVID SMART / THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Jan. 19, 1984 - Reggie White of Memphis Showboats