Denver D. Ferguson facts for kids
Denver Darious Ferguson (born February 19, 1895 – died May 11, 1957) was an American businessman. He owned nightclubs in Indianapolis. He played a big part in creating the "Chitlin' Circuit" in the 1930s and 1940s. This was a network of entertainment places for Black entertainers and audiences. Earlier in his life, he started a newspaper called The Edmonson County Star in his hometown of Brownsville, Kentucky. Later, he moved to Indianapolis and started a printing company. His younger brother, Sea Ferguson, helped him with his printing and other businesses. After leaving the printing world, Denver Ferguson became successful in other ventures, including property and helping artists find shows. A musician named Sax Kari even called him "the man who invented the chitlin’ circuit."
Early Life
Denver Ferguson was born in Brownsville, Kentucky, in 1895. He was the oldest son of Mattie and Samuel Henry Ferguson. His younger brother, Sea Harious Ferguson (born December 22, 1899 – died March 10, 1974), was also born in Brownsville. Sea later became a property developer and worked closely with Denver.
Starting His Career
When Denver was a teenager, he got a printing press. Around 1914, he started the Edmonson County Star newspaper in Brownsville. In 1917, he was drafted into the army. After leaving the army in 1919, he moved north to Indianapolis.
The next year, he started the Ferguson Printing Company. Soon, his business was set up on Indiana Avenue. Many of his customers ran a street lottery called the "numbers game." Ferguson designed and printed tickets for this game. When his success in this business started to get too much attention from officials, he asked his brother Sea to be the public face of the operation. Sea Ferguson opened a real estate business in the city. Both brothers became known for being generous. They often gave loans and helped out local Black community groups.
Building the Chitlin' Circuit
In 1931, Sea Ferguson opened the Cotton Club nightclub in Indianapolis. The next year, Denver Ferguson opened the Trianon Ballroom. His first big star there was Walter Barnes. Barnes was good at touring with his band around the South. He also wrote a regular column in The Chicago Defender.
A group called the Theatre Owners Booking Association (TOBA) had closed down in late 1930. The Ferguson brothers used Barnes and his contacts to bring top Black entertainers to Indianapolis. In 1938, Denver Ferguson opened the Sunset Terrace ballroom in Indianapolis. Famous artists like Tiny Bradshaw, Earl Hines, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald performed there early on. Thanks to the Ferguson brothers, businesses on Indiana Avenue grew a lot in the late 1930s. In 1939, a big announcement in the Indianapolis Recorder newspaper wished him well for opening the New Sunset Terrace. However, in 1940, city officials under Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan started to crack down. This led to their business licenses being taken away.
By the late 1930s, Denver and Sea Ferguson were seen as some of the richest people in Indianapolis. In 1941, they opened Ferguson Brothers, a booking agency. This agency grew quickly. It became the most powerful Black-owned talent agency in the country. They helped many bands and shows find places to perform. These included Jay McShann, King Kolax, Tiny Bradshaw, Roosevelt Sykes, Claude Trenier, the Bama State Collegians, Carolina Cotton Pickers, Snookum Russell, Milton Larkin, Clarence Love, Gene Pope, and the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. They also organized tours around the South for Black audiences.
In 1944, Denver Ferguson reopened Le Jazz Hott Spot in Chicago. He was a mentor to Sax Kari, who worked for him. Sax Kari helped writer Preston Lauterbach with his 2011 book, The Chitlin' Circuit and the Road to Rock 'n' Roll. This book tells the story of the Ferguson brothers' work and influence.
Personal Life
Denver Ferguson married a German woman named Lilo Rantlach. Their marriage ended after a short time. In 1954, Ferguson faced a legal issue after a car accident.
Death
Ferguson passed away in 1957 in Indianapolis. He is buried at Page-Ferguson Cemetery in Brownsville, Kentucky.
