Reasons to Love Memphis #2 - Stereo Alley

Reasons to Love Memphis #2 - Stereo Alley

Stereo Alley is a pretty normal alley these days. About the width of one car with a smattering of trash bags.

But in the 1960s, Memphis underwent something of an alley beautification process to make the city's smaller passages a bit more passable. A metal sign was erected over the entrance to the alley that says "KLYX Stereo Alley".  Apparently, radio station KLYX used to broadcast music via speakers into the alley.

Why? I'm not sure. Dance parties, maybe?

(Stereo Alley is scavenger hunt find No. 1.)

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Darryl
Interesting story behind KYLX Stereo Alley. The sign was apparently put there in the mid 60s as KLYX started as an FM (and Stereo!) station. Ironically, its format was Easy Listening (101 Strings perhaps) and wasn't the typical dance-party type station. The stations office may have also been in West Memphis at the time (correct me if I'm wrong). This was a nice idea that may have never come to fruition. Of course, it's never too late to bring it back.
August 31, 2009 9:16am
Elizabeth Alley
I think all Alleys are reasons to love Memphis ;)
September 18, 2009 3:06pm
I Love Memphis…
[...] - Stereo Alley [...]
December 8, 2009 1:16pm
Mike Pendergrass
Hey Holly, Thank you for writing about "Stereo Alley". I have always wondered about this ever since it ran in Vance Lauderdales' Ask Vance column. Indeed WLYX Played music in this alley. Later on after the "Muzak" era they went through many other radio formats. That's for another time.  
October 29, 2014 3:46pm