Wonderful article Michael. Thanks so much for writing this. In the early 70’s I played on an all-black (except for myself) softball team called the Austin Warriors and their home field was at Givens Park near the east ending at E.12th close to Webberville Rd. The games at Givens were often announced to the fans by local DJ Bully Carter. Families came out and spread blankets and often bar-b-qued. Fantastic atmosphere and very warm and welcoming. The games were super competitive but everyone got along great. Our team was occasionally sponsored by Charlie G. and we went to the Playhouse after games. Local performers usually played and Mr. Willie Drisdale was a crowd favorite as he covered Fats Domino songs to near perfection. The star was a woman whose name I no longer remember but perhaps someone reading this would know…she was billed as “Little Aretha” and was incredibly exciting to listen and dance to. Great times and mostly forgotten until YOU jog our memories Michael with your nostalgic and historical articles.
I've mentioned this to you before, but I've long suspected that Gildon used his middle name for the new joint in part as a tribute to Ernie Henderson, the prominent Black Chicago entrepreneur, gambler, and character who lived large in the 1930s and died during minor surgery in 1941. Ernie's Chicken Shack was a big deal and so was Ernie, who was a major supporter of civil rights and culture for the African-American community and his red delivery cars delivered to Black neighborhoods, and he made his rounds in a chauffeur-driven Duesenberg limo. Again, I've never discussed this with the Gildon family, and it's possible that none of them know, but it always seemed like a good bet.
Great article, Michael. I'm working on a documentary film about Dr. James Polk (your article on him was good too) and I've been searching unsuccessfully for photos of Charlie's Playhouse or Ernie's Chicken Shack. Dr. Polk was playing gigs there while at Huston Tillotson. Wish there were more pics out there.
Wonderful article Michael. Thanks so much for writing this. In the early 70’s I played on an all-black (except for myself) softball team called the Austin Warriors and their home field was at Givens Park near the east ending at E.12th close to Webberville Rd. The games at Givens were often announced to the fans by local DJ Bully Carter. Families came out and spread blankets and often bar-b-qued. Fantastic atmosphere and very warm and welcoming. The games were super competitive but everyone got along great. Our team was occasionally sponsored by Charlie G. and we went to the Playhouse after games. Local performers usually played and Mr. Willie Drisdale was a crowd favorite as he covered Fats Domino songs to near perfection. The star was a woman whose name I no longer remember but perhaps someone reading this would know…she was billed as “Little Aretha” and was incredibly exciting to listen and dance to. Great times and mostly forgotten until YOU jog our memories Michael with your nostalgic and historical articles.
Fine work, Michael.
I've mentioned this to you before, but I've long suspected that Gildon used his middle name for the new joint in part as a tribute to Ernie Henderson, the prominent Black Chicago entrepreneur, gambler, and character who lived large in the 1930s and died during minor surgery in 1941. Ernie's Chicken Shack was a big deal and so was Ernie, who was a major supporter of civil rights and culture for the African-American community and his red delivery cars delivered to Black neighborhoods, and he made his rounds in a chauffeur-driven Duesenberg limo. Again, I've never discussed this with the Gildon family, and it's possible that none of them know, but it always seemed like a good bet.
OK, OK, make that his first name, not middle.
Great article!
Great article, Michael. I'm working on a documentary film about Dr. James Polk (your article on him was good too) and I've been searching unsuccessfully for photos of Charlie's Playhouse or Ernie's Chicken Shack. Dr. Polk was playing gigs there while at Huston Tillotson. Wish there were more pics out there.