The auditorium opened in 1924 as a multipurpose concert hall, convention center, and athletic arena.

[3] Elvis Presley played Ellis Auditorium on May 15, 1956, to open the Cotton Carnival.

[7][8][9] Ellis Auditorium also hosted basketball events, including a 6,000-strong all-white crowd who watched the all-black Harlem Globetrotters play in 1953.

[6] The Memphis Tigers basketball team also played select games at Ellis.

[10] Ellis Auditorium was demolished in 1999 and replaced by the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts at the same location.