MEMPHIS AA HISTORY

The Peabody Hotel

The first AA meeting in Memphis was held in the Chamber of Commerce Room at the Peabody Hotel January 20, 1944. The founding was engineered by three members of the Five Points Group in Birmingham, AL who relocated here in 1943. Many early AA groups across the country were started just this way - by traveling salesmen.

YMCA

By June 23rd, 1944, this pioneering group (known as either The Memphis Tennessee Group or The Central Group) had grown to 26 members and had moved to the lounge of the Downtown YMCA. Membership swelled to 34 by August 8th, 1944.

152 1/2 Madison

Memphis first AA Group moved here in late 1944/early 1945 and - with one brief hiatus in 1948 at a location across the street - stayed until 1961. There were three weekly meetings and at least 150 members by the end of 1944.

The Ambassador Hotel

This small hotel downtown served as a primary focus of 12-step activity by early Memphis AA's. Until the late 1970s/early 1980's, most hospitals were reluctant to treat (much less admit) wet drunks and the treatment center model was just taking hold. Terry T. describes these calls as "real world stuff . . . there's nothing gentle about active alcoholism."

Paramount Group

In the wake of the 1961 closing of the downtown clubhouse at 152 1/2 Madison that housed The Central Group, The Paramount Group was formed in the former Paramount Dance studio at 1484 Madison.

Central Group - 1970s

The historical Central Group re-formed in 1970 and met at this two-story building at 663 S. Rembert that was once a market. The AA literature was stored in the former meat locker.

Action Club

The Action Club at 571 Malcomb was a locus of activity. As a former church, the layout was interesting and the former sanctuary and stage lent themselves nicely to AA meetings and activities. Bingo tournaments were held every Friday and Saturday night. A well-attended dance took place on Saturday, for which many of the AA's dressed in their finest and were regaled with “Johnny Be Good” seemingly every third dance.

The Tower

Seeing the need for a noon meeting that would be convenient for professionals, in 1973 an attorney started the Tower Meeting in a rented office directly across from the elevator on the top floor (31st) of the Clark Tower. Before then, Central Group held the only noon meeting in the Memphis area. From the 1940s until the early 1970s, AA meetings in Memphis (and around the country) traditionally started at 8:00 PM. The Tower Meeting became so popular so quickly that members felt compelled to lobby building management to dedicate an express elevator to the top floor just for the AA attendees

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BEGINNINGS

OCTOBER 1939

The depression was coming to an end. Germany was now occupying Poland. 5,000 copies of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS had just com off the press. 28 copies would go to those who had written stories, 49 copies would go to the alcoholic stockholders of Works Publishing. 4,923 copies were destined for a warehouse or possible repossession by the printer. There were few orders. The Alcoholic Foundation had been evicted from the house on Clinton Street in Brooklyn as it had been sold.

Morgan R., a former advertising man recently released from the Greystone Asylum and a new member of the fellowship, thought he could get on radio to "plug" the Big Book.

The program was Gabriel Heatter's "We the People" on NBC's Blue Network (An early 20/20 styled program).

After locking Morgan R. in the Downtown Athletic Club for several days before the broadcast to prevent him from showing up drunk, he was taken to "We the People" and told his story. A.A.'s story and plugged the book ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, to a nationwide audience for a grand total of 3 minutes.

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EVOLUTION OF MEMPHIS AA FROM 1946 - 1973

G.S.O. FINDINGS AUGUST 2017

THE INFORMATION BELOW WAS TAKEN FROM THE WORLD DIRECTORIES

In 1941 the only AA contact in the state of TN was a Bern H. in Knoxville.

In 1942 Knoxville and Nashville both had one group listed, but no contact names.

In 1943 only Chattanooga had a group listed.

In February 1945 there was one listing for Memphis. No group was named, but a Charles L., Secretary575 East street was listed. (He listed 88 members which I am sure was inaccurate.)

1946

Two groups listed:

Club at 152 Madison, Secretary Mr. Maryan E. H., 96 S. Front St
Crosstown Group, Crosstown Station, Secretary Howard G., 1359 Madison

1947

Two groups listed:

Central Group, Secretary W. Preston B., 152 Madison (Clubhouse)
Crosstown Group, Secretary Carl K., 1146 Union

1948

Three groups listed:

Central Group (no change)
Crosstown Group (no change)
Overton Park Group, Dr. M.D. H., 1120 Exchange Bldg.

No changes in 1949 or 1950

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THE 1970s

Memphis AA in the early 1970s was on the cusp of major change: The treatment center model was taking hold, the number of groups was mushrooming, the fellowship was starting to skew significantly younger, the first young people's group was started, the percentage of cross-addicted members was rapidly increasing, groups were becoming integrated, meetings were being held throughout the day rather than just in the evenings, and the Memphis Bluff City Convention was launched.

We have identified six current Memphis AA's who were sober by 1970: Bill D. (Came to Believe), Colin R. (Came to Believe), Syl D. (Bluff City), Frank M. (Traditions), Ray D. (Winchester), and Basil W. (Solutions).

In 1971, there were approximately twenty-one groups in the immediate Memphis area and thirty total listed in the meeting directory. The following eleven groups remain from that year: Bluff City, Central, Cherokee, Covington, Frayser, Millington, North Memphis, Ripley, South Memphis, Village, and West Memphis.

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1980's

Like most of you, we are still trying to remember the 80s. Thanks for your patience and check back soon.