postcard courtesy Mindy Thompson
I’ve written before about the Silver Slipper, the famous nightclub owned and operated by Memphis man-about-town Bob Berryman. Located just outside the city limits on Macon Road, the Silver Slipper was quite simply THE place to be for years and years.
All this time, though, and I’ve never found a decent image of the place. Until now.
My pal, Mindy Thompson, sent me this wonderful old postcard view of the Silver Slipper, and — Wow! — it’s even fancier than I expected. Built of white stucco with a tile roof and rows of arched windows, the club sported a really stunning sign above the main entrance, featuring a huge illuminated slipper. Although we can’t tell from this image, I’ll bet you the sign was neon. Look closely and you’ll see rows of spotlights long the roof, shining downward upon the building. It really must have looked spectacular at night.
The only thing missing from the photograph is the Lauderdale’s Daimler-Benz, which could usually be found parked right outside the front door.
Note that the card proclaims the Silver Slipper “The South’s Smartest Supper Club.” Generations of Memphians who spent many evenings dining and dancing there wouldn’t disagree.
Thanks so much, Mindy, for sharing this. My next quest: a COLOR photograph of this place.
