Summary: The story of the Palace Park athletic/entertainment center that once existed in the back of the Allendale neighborhood of Shreveport from the 1910s to 1960s. Amenities available at various times over the years included the following:
- Baseball park, with covered grandstand seating 1,500 spectators
- Movie theater
- Dance hall/ballroom
- Skating rink
- Merry-go-round
Numerous athletic events including professional and amateur baseball, boxing, and football were held at the site. Baseball hall-of-famers Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard, as well as Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens made appearances there. A night club on the premises, operating for many years under the Palace Park name, and later as Club 66; featured several notable musicians of the day, such as Louis Armstrong, T-Bone Walker, and B. B. King. Today an apartment complex for the elderly stands on the site.
Note: While fairly exhaustive, sources used were limited to newspapers, periodicals, and books available over the internet; as well as some personally-owned materials. Other information may possibly exist in Shreveport-area libraries and, if so may be accessed at a later date and added to this work.
Additionally, the focus here is on the history of the venue, whether it is known as Palace Park or later Club 66. Mention of the groups/persons involved, for example the Shreveport Black Sox professional baseball team, is incidental in order to provide examples of how facilities were used at various junctures of its existence. It is not intended to present a comprehensive history of those entities, that certainly deserve more research and their own story to be told.
1913
The earliest mention found of Palace Park is notice of a baseball game to be played between local team, known as the "Smart Set," and the Mayo (LA) Giants. Mayo is an unincorporated area near Leesville.
1914
Acquitted of bootlegging in November 1914, D. M. Ward was reported to be manager of a "local negro amusement park." An article from the prior year, where he was arrested for violating the prohibition law (see a trend?), stated he was known as "Bud."
An early example of boxing held on the premises occurred in 1914, with "Battling" Liggins vs. the "Rattlesnake Kid" topping the card. Another article referred to the Kid as "the pride of Shreveport's colored elite."
1915
A movie theater at the site, owned by one Robert Matthews, was destroyed in 1914.
1916
The Draymen and Porters Association celebrated June 19 (known as "Juneteenth") with festivities that were to include a "Grand Street Parade."
A biographical profile of cornet player Charlie Love, appearing in a jazz retrospective, notes it was at Bud Ward's orders that Louisiana Cado (sic) Jazz Band leader Willie Livingstone, himself a cornetist, took Love into the group. Ward was described as tough, and "most of Shreveport had a healthy respect for him." A excerpt from the profile follows:.
Later in life, Charlie performing with the band (then lineup not known) in 1960.
1918
The local black community held a parade and afterward a celebration at Palace Park to raise money for the Red Cross during World War I. D. M. Ward donated the facilities for the occasion and was noted to have contributed $10 ($172 today) himself.
1919
Several boxing matches involving white fighters took place at the park in 1919-1920. Jim Foster, identified as new manager, announced a planned match between Battling Barrere of New Orleans and Joe Fisher of Fort Worth.
The match was however postponed when Foster fell ill and apparently never rescheduled. Other bouts that did occur follow:
Tom Coulter, touted as the "Fighting Plumber" of Cedar Grove, dispatched "Battling" Minor of Memphis in one round when the latter took a dive into the ropes after an old cut over his eye reopened. Reported out of shape, someone asked if Minor had been training on pies.
Battling Minor, appearing in much better shape than as described when battling (pun intended) Coulter.
Coulter later lost to "Young" Wallace of New Orleans. Note at the time many boxers took nicknames such as "Battling," Young," "Kid," and "Soldier" (the last if a real or claimed veteran).
Young Wallace:
Wallace was in turn knocked out by Bobby Waugh of Fort Worth..
1920
The park was used for clay target shooting, as evidenced by by results of a contest below..
1922
When the property is put up for sale in 1922, the following description was provided:
A program for black veterans held at the park included a football game between the Louisiana Collegiate Institute and Mansfield College.* A military ball was held that evening, preceded by a matinee dance.
* Louisiana Collegiate Institute was a Baptist-affiliated black college in Shreveport, having faculty and students totaling 10 and 310 respectively. Mansfield College is almost certainly a misprint, as it is unlikely the now defunct all-white women's institution ever fielded a team (and in football, no less!) and/or would have participated against a black opponent.
1924
During this time baseball was truly "America's Pastime" and companies large and small had teams that participated in the Shreveport City League. Playing sites included Gasser Park (home of the minor league professional team) as well as Palace Park and Centenary College. These were presumably all white teams.
1925
On Emancipation Day (Juneteenth) that year, a 15 acre tract adjacent to Palace Park was dedicated as Boykin Park, with Shreveport Mayor Thomas speaking at opening ceremony. Honoring prominent black minister, the Reverend Charles Boykin, it was later renamed Lincoln Park.
Times 19-Jun-1925, Page 1
Times 19-Jun-1925, Page 1
An advertisement for the North Louisiana baseball championship.
Times 09-Aug-1925,Page 10
Below is a solicitation to contractors for bids on a scope of work to pave Dale Avenue from Ford Street to Clay Street; essentially to the doorstep of Palace Park.
1926
An advertisement for a new "colored" subdivision notes it is just two blocks from Paradise Park.
1927
Shreveport High (later to become C. E. Byrd High) played Ringgold in baseball at Palace Park. The home team Yellow Jackets were noted as having won the state championship in the prior seven years.
Times 14-Apr-1927, Page 13
Times 14-Apr-1927, Page 13
1929
During prohibition, Sheriff Thomas Roland "Tom" Hughes and deputies raided the "resort," seizing a cache of illegal whiskey and beer. Operator at the time was identified as A. C. Riley.
In his obituary, it was stated Albert Carol Riley, Sr. (1888-1951) had previously operated the Murphy Street Bar, but does not mention Palace Park. His son Billy, identified as preceding him in death, would also manage the park in the 1940s.
In May, the Shreveport Black Sports hosted their season opener against Houston's Black Buffaloes.
1932
A dance held in February 1932 featured (Papa) Celestin's Original Tuxedo Orchestra. From New Orleans, the group once counted Louis Armstrong among its members. Note he will also make his way to the club one day (see 1946).
Their recording, "Give Me Some More."
The Black Sports vs. Texas All-Stars at Palace Park, 1900 Clay Street; said under new management.
The baseball park was described in an article about an upcoming baseball game. The entire place had been dressed up, and mention was made of a dance in the pavilion featuring music by the Vagabond Collegians, described in one newspaper as a "radio dance band of ten high class musicians" hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana.
1937
Another Juneteenth celebration is recapped.
1938
During spring training, the defending World Champion Homestead Grays played the locals in an exhibition. Among the Grays' lineup were future hall-of-famers Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard.
Among a list of local projects receiving permits from building inspector B. F. Ray was a skating rink approved for J. L. Ivy, to be constructed at 1900 Clay Street.
Among a list of local projects receiving permits from building inspector B. F. Ray was a skating rink approved for J. L. Ivy, to be constructed at 1900 Clay Street.
In the fall, the ball park was used for football by the local Central High Lions, as noted in an article previewing their upcoming game against a black school from Ruston.
1939
Mention of the Palace Park Bar in a liquor advertisement. Note also listed was now local landmark "Herby K," still a going concern.
1940
Sherman-Gordon Corporation is formed to operate a place of amusement and leases the site for 10 years from Palace Park Incorporated. Agents are realtor M. C. Sherman and Joseph A. Gordon, Strand Theater manager.
The following month Sherman-Gordon receive's a permit to build a dance hall at Palace Park. Cost is $5,000.
A merry-go-round located at the park is offered for sale.
The Palace Park Aces versus the Toledo Crawfords of the Negro American League, played in their namesake park in 1940. Note the added attraction of an appearance by Olympic Champion Jesse Owens, who would race a horse. The Aces were managed by Penny Gillard.
A newspaper article regarding local contributions to Red Cross war relief notes that proceeds from a softball game played at the park, between the Shreveport All-Stars and Haughton C.C.C. Camp, will go to the fund.
Times 25-Jun-1940, Page 9
Times 25-Jun-1940, Page 9
1941
A notice, possibly regarding bankruptcy, mentioned the Sherman-Gordon Corporation as Palace Park operator.
The corporation was dissolved in July of that year. In the Shreveport City Directory Edwin A. Riley was listed as manager, Palace Park.
Two teams from the Negro American League - the Birmingham Black Barons and Chicago Giants, compete at Palace Park. The Barons were conducting their spring training in Shreveport.
An annual festival hosted by the Hotel Men's Service Club featured a boxing program, and later a dance honoring black soldiers stationed at nearby Barksdale Field.
In conjunction with the festivities mentioned above, park manager Charley Ward announced a city-wide bathing beauty review, where the winner was to receive an expenses-paid trip to Galveston.
In both the 1941 and 1942 Shreveport City Directories, the only Charles Ward listed is identified as a porter living with wife Idell at 1657 Ashton. Interestingly, there is a Daniel Ward listed a few names below who works at the "99 Bar." That establishment was at 114 Texas Avenue.and later became Plantation Liquor.
A Baptist convention held at the park drew 4,000 attendees.
1942
Card and dice games, and dog fights were allegedly taking place at Palace Park," referred to as a "negro dance hall" operated by Billy Riley, a white man..
Apparently due to the unlawful behavior previously described, the Brewing Industry Foundation ordered wholesalers to end sales to the club.
Edwin Alexander "Billy" Riley, Sr. (1904-1948) was said to have been a boxer and wrestler in the 1920s, and later became a referee for those sports. He's pictured below overseeing a boxing match involving former LSU star football player and boxer Jack Torrance (at far left).
The 1940 U. S. Census lists him living at the "Right Way" (?) tourist camp on Greenwood Road with wife Robbie Lee and son Ernest, Jr. (who also went by Billy); and having the occupation of salesman, wholesale brewery
1943
Pianist and bandleader Jay McShann (1916-2006) appeared 20-Sep-1943 per Billboard Magazine.
McShann performing "On The Sunny Side Of The Street."
Below, Riley was promoting a boxing match at the Municipal Auditorium in 1944.
1946
Louis Armstrong's trumpet, public address system, and other goods were seized by law enforcement officials after a performance at Palace Park. This was due to a suit filed by club operator Riley (notice he let Armstrong perform first) because of Satchmo's failure to appear at Club Coronado the prior year. This was a white night club across the river in Bossier City. It's not clear if Riley also operated that club, or was simply promoter of the show to have been held there.
An advertisement from an appearance a few weeks earlier in St. Louis.
The scheduled appearance noted two days prior....
...but then announced cancelled the day it was to have occurred.
Continued: See Palace Park and Club 66 - Part II
Thanks so much. This is quite interesting.
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