Old Daisy Theatre, Memphis

The Old Daisy Theatre is one of Beale Street’s surviving links to the early age of popular entertainment in Memphis. Located on the famous Beale Street, it was built in the early 20th century and is often described as a rare example of nickelodeon-style theatre architecture. Unlike the larger New Daisy Theatre across the street, the Old Daisy is smaller and more unusual, with a distinctive façade and an interior once noted for features such as a horseshoe-shaped balcony supported by iron rods.

Its history is closely tied to Beale Street’s role as a major African American business and entertainment district. From the 1930s into the 1960s, the Old Daisy served as a stop on the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” the network of venues that provided Black rhythm and blues performers with places to appear during the era of segregation. Artists associated with this wider touring circuit included Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, and Ike and Tina Turner, among many others.

In the 1980s, the building was converted into a blues museum, adding another layer to its Beale Street identity. The New Daisy Theatre, built across the street in the 1930s, later became a separate live entertainment venue. Today, the Old Daisy, also known as the Historical Daisy, is used for meetings, events, banquets, and catered functions.