Story & Photography by Woody Woodard.

“A Night of Hollywood Glamour” was held at the New Southern Hotel as a fundraiser for the Jackson Downtown Development Corporation. The downstairs lobby was the host center for a glass of champagne and meeting friends before going upstairs to the ballroom or the speciality tasting room. Food was located in various locations allowing guests to visit and mingle prior to the band playing.

There were great outfits ranging from flapper dresses to Phantom of the Opera and many exquisitely dressed couples. Joe White really laid down great music on the grand piano in the lobby. Hal Crocker may have envisioned something like this when he was restoring the hotel, but on this evening he experienced it firsthand with Christi, his wife.