Photo Of The Week: Gary Jackson

This weeks photo is of Gary Jackson. Gary is an Iowa Blues Hall Of Fame artist, and still sings from time to time in town. Gary was one of the great soul singers in Des Moines during the 70s and traveled around many bands. Currently he works for UPS, and when he is in the area he still blows away lucky crowds who happen to see him sing.

Photo Of The Week: Harlan Thomas And Willis Dobbins

Photo of the week is Harlan Thomas and Willis Dobbins. Both these guys played on the legendary Center Street in the 1960s. Harlan stills plays piano and performs with his band in Des Moines and central Iowa. However, Willis has retired from public performance due to illness.

Mississippi Blues Film To Be Shown In Des Moines Iowa

The State Historical Society Of Iowa Will be showing Mississippi Blues, September 6th and 8th. Also their will be a Center Street retrospective with yours truly moderating the event. If you are in Des Moines stop on by and say hi.

Cool Photo Of Center Street, Des Moines Iowa

This is a photo of 3rd and Center about 11 blocks east of the black business district of Des Moines. These look like pretty nice brownstones, but they are long, long, gone now. Right now it would be the far south west corner of the new arena. These buildings were probably torn down not long after the photo was taken by Charles Cushman in 1958. That was about the time of the River Hills urban renewal effort. many of the people who lived in the River Hills area ended up living in the Center Street area to the west of where this photo was taken. This caused the area to get overcrowded, and to many people who used to live on the street helped lead to its decline. If you wonder what this has to do with the blues, it is because Center Street was a hot spot of blues and jazz in Des Moines. Without a doubt the streets decline began in 1958 for two reasons. The influx of people from River Hills, and plans for Interstate 235, which in 1958 was supposed to run right down Center Street. However, that plan eventually was scrapped in favor of moving the freeway north of Center. Yet, most of Des Moines still thinks that Center Street was demolished by the interstate, when in reality it was the urban renewal movement in the 60s that destroyed the street. To see more of Charles Cushman's photos click here.

The Sepia Club, Circa 1966

I took this picture at the Center Street Exhibit at the State Historical Society. It is a photo from the Des Moines Register that dealt with urban renewal. The building with the old Miller beer sign is the Sepia. However, by 1966 the Gray brothers had sold the club and it was then called the Collins Club. just a few door down was The Nip (it is the one with the Hamms beer sign). The Nip was a rough and tumble bar that Jimmy used to bar tend in his first couple of years in Des Moines. In its day the Sepia was the main rival of the Bilikin. The Sepia Club had a bandstand and stage shows, plus fine dinning was available. People who came to the Sepia Club or the Bilikin dressed up. In fact, many people came and parked on the street and watched the young couples strolling down the street, and listen to the hot blues and jazz floating out of the buildings. Of course it is hard to believe what the club was like in the 40s and 50s during its heyday from the picture above. by 1966 most businesses were beginning the slow move from Center Street to University Ave between 6th Avenue, and 12th street.

Location Of The Bilikin: Des Moines Former Hot Spot Of Blues and Jazz

This lovely grassy knoll was once the hottest spot in Des Moines. From World War I to 1969 on this lonesome hill was the legendary Bilikin theater. The Bilikin originally opened up as the Lincoln Theater sometime around 1917. Then in 1919 it became the Bilikin. The large building held many businesses in its day. Not only did it have a two floor nightclub, the upstairs known as the Empire Room for Jazz, and Swing, and downstairs the "Hole" known for the blues, but in the basement facing Center Street were several businesses. Ironically one of the most popular barbershops located in the Bilikin facing Center was owned by the Gray brothers. The Gray brother cut hair by day, and had the best jump blues/jazz band in the city. However, they didn't play at the Bilikin they played at their own club the Sepia Club located a block and 1/2 east of the Bilikin.

The location above is now a green space in the far northwest area of Methodist Hospital's parking lot. The urban renewal movement of the late 60s brought an end to the historic theater, and musical venue.

WOW! CHECK OUT THIS SITE NOW!!!!

WOW! If you love Des Moines history then you need to look at this site. This is the coolest place I have found on the net. Tons of old photos and a film that will soon come out about the old theaters in Des Moines. I hope that they find something on the old Bilikin from Center Street. It was originally a movie theater know as the Lincoln before it became one of the hottest nightclubs in the Midwest. They also have a linked site to a recreation of the roller coaster at River View Park. It will bring back fond memories to the over 40 set:-)

I will post a preview of the upcoming movie shortly.