episode
Little Rock, Arkansas' West 9th Street was once a vibrant, African-American business and entertainment district. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior, Taborian Hall is the only remaining historic structure on West 9th Street and stands as a living witness to the street's former glory days. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Taborian Hall housed varied and important black businesses, including professional offices, a USO, the Gem Pharmacy and the Dreamland Ballroom. By the 1930s, Dreamland was firmly established as a stop on the 'Chitlin Circuit,' which showcased regional and national African-American bands, stage shows and performers such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Etta James, Count Basie, T. Bone Walker, and many more. It was also host to local musicians, dances, socials, concerts and sporting events. The documentary DREAM LAND: LITTLE ROCK'S WEST 9TH STREET details the history of this district, the black community in Little Rock and race relations in the city. It also showcases the spirit and hard work of the people who called the neighborhood home, and explores the impact of federal programs such as urban renewal, school desegregation, the Housing Act of 1949, and the Eisenhower Interstate Program.
