Peabody Hotel Ducks # 2 - Memphis
by Allen Beatty
Title
Peabody Hotel Ducks # 2 - Memphis
Artist
Allen Beatty
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
Peabody Hotel Ducks # 2 - Memphis by Allen Beatty
The Legend of the Ducks
How did the tradition of the ducks in The Peabody fountain begin? Back in the 1930s Frank Schutt, General Manager of The Peabody, and a friend, Chip Barwick, returned from a weekend hunting trip to Arkansas. The men had a little too much Tennessee sippin' whiskey, and thought it would be funny to place some of their live duck decoys (it was legal then for hunters to use live decoys) in the beautiful Peabody fountain. Three small English call ducks were selected as "guinea pigs," and the reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic. Thus began a Peabody tradition which was to become internationally famous.®
In 1940, Bellman Edward Pembroke, a former circus animal trainer, offered to help with delivering the ducks to the fountain each day and taught them the now-famous Peabody Duck March. Mr. Pembroke became The Peabody Duckmaster, serving in that capacity for 50 years until his retirement in 1991.
Nearly 90 years after the inaugural march, ducks still visit the lobby fountain at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.
Hundreds of people come each day to grab the best seats while waiting for the ducks. Of course, the hotel is more than willing to ply them with food and drink while waiting.
Here we see the ducks enjoying their swim in the fountain Until it's time to descend the stairs and waddle over to the elevator for their ride up to their suite until the next morning at 11:00 at which time they will come back down and spend the day in the lobby fountain until 5:00 pm.
Uploaded
November 30th, 2018
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