Live! From Prince George's County

This StoryMap has been developed as part of the University of Maryland, College Park Fall 2024 Historic Preservation Studio Workshop (HISP650), in response to a Request for Proposals from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). The Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) hosted and funded the project as part of the M-NCPPC series, “The Sounds of Prince George’s County.” The team researched live music venue history from 1910 to 2010 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Over one hundred sites were identified that encapsulate the county's rich history of live music. This StoryMap focuses on fifteen of these venues to in order to tell the county's unique history of music, community, and place. Explore the interactive map below to read more about these sites!

Prince George's County is located primarily in the Coastal Plain of Maryland, characterized by its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and a flat or gently rolling landscape with tidal waterways fed by the Chesapeake, Potomac and Patuxent Rivers. Prior to settler colonialism, Prince George's County was forested by hardwoods and the rushes, sages, and grasses of tidal estuaries. These natural resources were a part of the lifeways of the Piscataway, a state-recognized tribe whose partial ancestral homeland resides in present-day Prince George's County. 

Before colonizers established political boundaries defining the state and counties in Maryland and before colonizers performed music on land they believed belonged to no one, the Piscataway performed their own songs and dances. Piscataway music existed, and continues to exist, on three different planes– social, spiritual (as both medicine and for healing), and personal. Music is performed for dances, social gatherings, honoring of life events, healing, and coming home.

Officially established in 1696 as a part of the early Maryland Colony, Prince George's County has been historically a mix of urban and rural, farming and manufacturing. The county's proximity to the nation's capital, Chesapeake Bay, and significant coastal cities like Baltimore and Annapolis have each had their impact on the economy and practices within Prince George's County. As an early port town, in 1752 Upper Marlboro staged what may be the earliest American opera and orchestral accompaniment. Formal music in early Prince George's County did not have specific structures associated with it— music was performed in multipurpose spaces such as converted barns, warehouses, and churches. 

From the turn of the twentieth century through the early twenty-first century, a wealth of music and music genres were performed widely in the United States and, most importantly, in Prince George’s County. Genres performed included but are not limited to Gospel, Country, Bluegrass and Folk, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Big Band, Latin, Heavy Metal and Rock, Caribbean, Disco, Go-go, Punk, Rap and Hip-hop. The popularity and presence of these genres in the County expanded largely in conjunction with the growth of the federal government and folks flocking to Washington D.C. As D.C. expanded, so did Prince George’s County. the number of incorporated communities, neighborhoods, and churches grew throughout the mid-twentieth century to accommodate those working in D.C. and within the burgeoning University of Maryland system. Soon, the Capital Beltway passed through Prince George’s County, and with it, the need and desire of travelers to partake in the nightlife and music scene of the county.

Moyaone is historically the capital of the Piscataway chiefdom, containing important ossuaries and space where Piscataway musical traditions took root. Today, Moyaone, located in present-day Piscataway Park along the Potomac River, still acts as a spiritual ceremony space for the Piscataway people. There is evidence of settlement at Moyaone from the Late Archaic period through the Late Woodland period. From the earliest beginnings in the Chesapeake through the present day, Moyaone is a significant location for the preservation of a space where Piscataway music developed and continues to be practiced. Music is performed for dances, social gatherings, honoring of life events, healing, and coming home; also serving as a vehicle for cultural education in the Piscataway community, as dancers and singers learn the arts by building their own regalia and occasionally by building their own instruments.

Bowie State University, the oldest historically Black college or university in Maryland, first began in Baltimore in 1866 under the title “School No. 1”. It was not until 1910 that the state of Maryland purchased land in Bowie to relocate the school, opening in 1911 to students and renaming it as the Maryland Normal and Industrial School at Bowie in 1914. In 1963, the school transitioned to Bowie State College and by 1988, transitioned a final time to Bowie State University. A nucleus for the development of music educators and performers, Bowie State University is home to the Bowie State University Gospel Choir. Professor Levenus Smith founded Bowie State Gospel Choir in 1975. Since its founding, the Bowie State University Gospel Choir, now led by Professor LaTonya Wrenn, is known for their impressive performances across the nation and awards, even performing in 2019 on the Steve Harvey Show.

Sis’s Tavern is a historic juke joint located in the National Historic District of North Brentwood, the first Black community incorporated in Prince George’s County in 1924. Constructed c. 1912 as a grocery, Sis’s has a vibrant history as a store, nightclub, and barbershop. Marie Alice Walls, known to many as Ms. Sis, leased the space from Jeremiah Hawkins in 1933. The space became known as Sis’s Tavern in the ‘50s, hosting famous musicians like Duke Ellington and Pearl Bailey, as well as performances by burlesque dancers and “female-impersonators.” Ms. Sis was also known to hire local musicians to play at Sis’s, including a band known as the DC Tornados that she managed. In the 1960s and 70s, Ms. Sis began developing her real estate empire through the purchase of eleven individual lots in North Brentwood alone, including the official purchase of Sis’s Tavern from Emma Hawkins in 1966. While Sis’s became notorious for such illicit activities as gambling rings, gun violence, brawls, and the illegal sale of alcohol, it remained a central hub of social life and entertainment for the town and surrounding communities until its closure in 1969-1970. In 1978, Deloris R. Sprigs purchased and reopened the space as Baby Dee’s Guest Club until 1996. 

Wilmer's Park, located in Brandywine, Maryland, is an 80-acre property host to a complex of buildings beginning with the dance hall, apartments, restaurant, outdoor stage, and baseball field. The property of Wilmer's Park was purchased by Arthur Wilmer in 1947. Arthur Wilmer developed Wilmer’s Park as a direct response to Jim Crow segregation in the United States; Wilmer’s Park served as a music venue and family-friendly community space for Black families. Early in its history, Wilmer’s Park was a music and sports venue; baseball games were often played on Sundays in the early years of this site's history. This venue hosted significant performances by Otis Redding, Rare Essence, The Junk Yard Band, Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, Linwood Taylor Band, Road Ducks, and many more!

The July 25th, 1965, concert titled Summer Parade Of Stars advertised a lineup of R&B, Soul, and blues artists like Otis Redding, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Carol Fran. On January 23rd of 1970, a newspaper article refers to Wilmer’s Park as a motel, bar, and “counting house” according to police for a “highly organized” lottery network across multiple Maryland counties. In total, nineteen locations were raided in relation to the network.

Throughout the 1980s and 90s. Wilmer’s Park hosted go-go festivals, rock festivals, Autumn equinox concerts, and the All Good Festival. Hosting a wide range of genres including rock, country, go-go, heavy metal, country, blue grass, and more. Posters for these events highlighted different amenities the venue offered. Go-go festivals often advertised the carnival / a playground while rock festivals advertised the restaurant and pool tables. Some festivals included camping, events in the 90s alongside ticket stubs were likely to have venue maps. These hand drawn and photocopied maps outline where activities were happening and spaces open to venue goers.

Crossroads was once a premiere reggae nightclub in Bladensburg, Maryland. Built in 1941, the site operated as a nightclub from the beginning, originally called Cross Roads Cafe, featuring live music performances representing a variety of genres. notably, famous jazz and pop musician Tony Bennett performed at the club for one week only in 1953. In the mid-1990s, Alton Gayle, a Jamaican immigrant, bought the nightclub and refocused the live music genre to reggae. The venue became a hotspot for Caribbean and African American culture in the greater D.C. area, drawing in big-name performances from Stephen Marley and Sizzla, as well as smaller musicians. Unfortunately, the nightclub closed in 2012 and has remained vacant ever since; however, the legacy of the nightclub lives on. In 2024, the sale sign listed on the building advertises that the structure was once the famous nightclub.

Largo High School in Maryland has a rich musical legacy, producing an impressive roster of artists who have made significant contributions to the music industry. The school is notably the alma mater of Mýa, the Grammy-winning R&B singer and actress, and J. Holiday, a celebrated R&B artist known for his chart-topping hits. It has also been part of a broader creative community that nurtured Oddisee, the critically acclaimed rapper and producer whose soulful, introspective sound has gained international recognition, and Rico Nasty, the trailblazing rapper known for her genre-defying style and electric energy.

Growing up in and around Largo, these artists reflect the dynamic cultural environment of the area, particularly its intersections with D.C.’s vibrant go-go, hip-hop, and R&B scenes. Largo High School and its surrounding community have served as a creative incubator, fostering the artistic passions of its students and shaping the careers of influential musicians. Its legacy extends far beyond its walls, inspiring the next generation of young talent in Prince George’s County and beyond.

Club La Conga, a Latin American music venue, opened in September 1942 with Herbert Curbelos and his band as the featured live music act. milt barrett owned the nightclub from at least 1947 until the club permanently closed. although the ownership does not appear to be latinx owned at any point, many of the performers were latinx. Notable performers include Al Dunn and His Combo, Parrish and his Cuban American Orchestra, Chico Cortez and his Authentic Rumba Band, and Elena Emee. The club featured non-music acts, including a stuntman, comics, mimes, burlesque dancers, and adult entertainment. On June 16th, 1959, one of the apartment units located above the nightclub caught fire and irreparably damaged the structure. The club was demolished after the blaze and is now the site of a car dealership, College Park Hyundai.

The Paragon was a popular venue for disco, rock and roll, and heavy metal music in Prince George’s County, and was located at 7416 Baltimore Avenue. This building has two stories, and for many years, the first floor was reserved for the restaurant and bar, and live music was performed on the second floor. 

The Paragon has also been known as “The Paragon and the Cellar,”, “the Cellar and the Attic,”, “The Italian Gardens and The Paragon”, and the “Paragon Disco” as well as a variety of other names.

7416 Baltimore Avenue was built in 1920, and prior to its history as a live music venue, the building was home to a two-story bowling alley for decades before a 1960 fire destroyed much of the building’s interior. The business reopened as a restaurant known as Di Gennaro’s Italian Gardens in 1962, with the second floor known as the “Other Room”, and by the mid-1970s, the owners, Masoud and Nasser Zolfaghari had fully established the second floor as a space for live music. The Paragon was so successful that the Zolfagharis opened a second bar, The Paragon II (sometimes called the Paragon Too) in Washington, D.C. By 1978, it was commonly referred to as the Paragon.

Bands like Frankie and the Actions, Pentagram, Painted Lady, Deceased, Unworld, Snydly Crunch, Deuce, Dirty Work, Arsen, Sorry About Your Daughter, Mystic-Force, Iron Man, Unorthodox, and many others played at the venue. According to Rich Davis, whose band Mystic Force performed at the Paragon, the Paragon was a large venue, with no parking and stairs that were unpleasant to navigate. While the Paragon was best known for heavy metal music, other types of music were performed, as indicated by an advertisement for a live reggae show in January 1995.

The Paragon and the Cellar frequently had trouble with underage drinking and vetting patrons. By February 1995, the name was changed to Terrapin Station and University Concert Hall, and the building was renovated with the goal of being a better and cleaner venue than its predecessor. The new owners introduced bands from other genres, such as reggae, and booked fewer heavy metal and hard rock bands. However, Terrapin Station lost its liquor license in 1999 due to “failing to maintain the correct food-to-alcohol ratio, forgetting to submit quarterly sales reports and violating the fire code.” 

Afterwards, a variety of restaurants and bars were located there, including Lupo’s Italian Chophouse, the Thirsty Turtle, the Barking Dog, and MilkBoy ArtHouse, which closed in 2019. Currently, the Paragon’s former home is vacant. 

Sites of go-go can be difficult to survey because many are informal, have lost integrity, or are no longer extant. Parking lots, metro stations, basements, garages, parks, clubs, and large-scale venues all played important roles in go-go soundscapes in Prince George’s County. High schools were another important setting for go-go artists as the genre is inextricably tied to youth culture. Bowie High School was built in 1965 during a period of suburban development catering to white, middle-class homeowners. The 1970s saw gentrification in Washington, D.C., displacing many African Americans who established their own communities and soundscapes in Prince George’s County. Kato Hammond, a prominent go-go artist and curator of the Take Me Out To The Go-Go online archive attended Bowie High School and states in his autobiography that many go-go artists learned music through high school bands and were able to hone their craft at events both on and off school grounds. Other notable Bowie High School alumni include J.C. Chasez of NSYNC, Chris Volz of Flaw, and Eva Cassidy. Eva Cassidy was a jazz singer who also worked with the godfather of go-go, Chuck Brown.  

Club Hillbilly was established by Connie B. Gay in 1948 as the popularity of country music was growing in the region. Club Hillbilly was established in the former location of the Dixie Tavern. Gay was a radio personality who is credited with coining the term “country music,” allowing for the marketability of the genre. Although Gay primarily worked in Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia, he expressed that the loose alcohol and gambling laws contributed to his decision to open an establishment in Prince George’s County. During its short tenure, Club Hillbilly offered live music and broadcast live to Gay’s WARL radio station. Musicians who performed included Hawkshaw Hawkins, Eddy Arnold, and Dave Denney. Although the club was only open for one year, it was constantly embroiled in controversy, including violations of liquor laws. Gay attested that grafts and bribes by county officials forced him out of business. Club Hillbilly closed in March 1949 after a fire broke out on the second story. In December 1949, another fire in the abandoned building was thought to have been started by Prince George’s County firefighters.

The Melody Ballroom was a 1940s-era teen nightclub offering big band jazz and swing music. During the 1930s and 1940s, swing’s widespread popularity among American youth represents one of the first times that African American music dominated pop culture. As a ballroom catering to white teenagers, the Melody Ballroom is indicative of this cultural trend. Besides the sale of alcohol, the venue featured all of the features of a traditional nightclub. It was described as featuring cathedral ceilings and a canopied bandstand and had a capacity of up to 800 dancers. The Melody Ballroom appears to have stopped offering live music in 1948, coinciding with the national decline of swing in America.

Strick’s Restaurant offered live country and rock and roll music between the 1950s and 1970s. The restaurant was established by Julius H. Strickland and 1934 and sold to Giles E. Fletcher, Sr. in 1953. Strick’s hosted a number of traveling musicians, and notably was a recurring venue for Patsy Cline in 1955. Like most bars in the area, Strick’s was often embroiled in controversy, ranging from liquor and gambling violations to fights and murders. After the death of Giles E. Fletcher, Sr. in 1973, ownership was transferred to his son, Giles E. Fletcher, Jr. and the restaurant was eventually transitioned into a liquor store.

The building that currently houses King Kong Restaurant was built around 1970. Advertisements for the first restaurant, the Rathskeller, appeared in April 1971, and several restaurants operated in the space from 1971 to the present. Advertisements through the years show that music and dancing have been a staple of every business in the space. King Kong Chinese Restaurant opened in 1983 and continues to operate today. In the 1980s, the promoters and bookers sought to compete with Washington, D.C.’s premier live music venues like D.C. Space and the 9:30 Club. King Kong hosted top-tier local acts, like Government Issue, and touring bands, like Zeitgeist.

In 1985, a band set to perform at King Kong put up offensive promotional posters around College Park and Prince George’s County. The posters were so offensive that the police took them all down the same day, and the Liquor Board threatened to revoke King Kong’s liquor license if the band played and the venue continued to host punk rock shows. The restaurant acquiesced, and King Kong ceased to be the punk powerhouse in the county as it had.

WMUC, the University of Maryland’s student-run radio station, was founded in 1948 and has since become a cornerstone of independent media and culture in the region. Initially operating as a low-power AM station, WMUC evolved into a hub for student-driven broadcasting, showcasing diverse music, news, and public affairs programming. By embracing a do-it-yourself ethos, the station fostered a culture of experimentation and creativity that has defined its operations for decades.

One of WMUC’s most iconic contributions is Third Rail Radio, a long-running live music series that has provided a platform for local and regional artists to perform and connect with the community. The show has been instrumental in highlighting the vibrant music scene in Prince George’s County, offering a rare opportunity for emerging and underground talent to reach new audiences.

Through its innovative programming and commitment to supporting independent music, WMUC has played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural landscape of the area. Its impact extends beyond the university, cultivating a loyal listener base and fostering connections within the local arts and music communities. WMUC’s legacy is a testament to the enduring power of student-led media in amplifying diverse voices and driving cultural innovation.

From 1973 to 2002, Landover, Maryland, was home to the Capital Centre, a state-of-the-art entertainment arena that hosted sports, live music, and other novelty events. While it was a large-scale operation, the character of the Capital Centre is remembered as being a collaborative, family-oriented work environment that former employees reminisce on in Facebook groups, in-person reunions, and blogs.

The Capital Centre was a beloved piece of the Prince George’s County music scene brought to life by Abe Pollin, local entrepreneur and owner of the Washington Bullets (who would eventually become the Washington Wizards). Pollin purchased the Bullets in 1964 with two partners, but the team's home in the Baltimore Civic Center struggled to draw large crowds. The arena was designed by Shaver Partnership and constructed by George Hyman Construction Company.

Pollin wanted a more modern and convenient home for his teams, and introduced such innovations as the first in-arena telescreen and private box seating known as "Sky Seats" that would become standard in arena construction and management.

The culture of the Capital Centre was well documented in several iterations of a monthly newsletter known as the Centre Spotlight from 1974 to ‘76, and rebranded as Good Times until the late ‘80s. The venue hosted some of the greatest musicians and performers of its time, such as Bruce Springsteen, Heart, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Rare Essence. 

The demolition of the Capital Centre in 2002 was a well-attended and heavily documented event, including the distribution of commemorative tickets.

Background

Prince George’s County Planning Department. 2010. “Postbellum Archeological Resources in Prince George’s County, Maryland A Historic Context and Research Guide.” Research Study. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Mario Harley. Hall and Gill Interview with Mario Harley, Piscataway Tribe, Wild Turkey Clan. Personal Communication, November 13, 2024.

Maryland Manual On-Line, “Prince George’s County, Maryland: Historical Chronology,” Maryland Manual On-Line: A Guide to Maryland & Its Government, September 22, 2022.

David K Hildebrand and Elizabeth M Schaaf, Musical Maryland: A History of Song and Performance from the Colonial Period to the Age of Radio (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2017).

Moyaone

Harley, Mario. Hall and Gill with Mario Harley, Piscataway Tribe, Wild Turkey Clan. Personal Communication, November 13, 2024.

Strickland, Scott M. “Native Settlements and Colonization: AD 900-1712.” In The Archaeology of Colonial Maryland : Five Essays by Scholars of the Early Province, edited by Matthew D. McKnight. Crownsville, MD: The Maryland Historical Trust Press, 2019.

Bowie State University

Cutair, Andre. “Bowie State University: A Historical Timeline.” Explore Bowie State University’s History Since 1865. Accessed November 14, 2024.  https://bowiestate.edu/about/history/timeline.php .

Wrenn, LaTonya. Hall Interview with Professor LaTonya Wrenn, Gospel Choir Director, Bowie State University. Personal Communication, November 8, 2024.

Sis's Tavern

Dayton, Maria, and Paul Weishar. “Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form: Sis’ Tavern PG-68-61-21.” Maryland Historical Trust, January 2010.

Prince George’s County Civil Rights Trail. “Black Entertainment & Community at Sis’s Tavern.” Accessed December 1, 2024.  https://www.pgccivilrights.org/destinations/sis-tavern/ .

Wilmer's Park

Patterson, Stacy Patterson. 2009. “86B-37 Wilmer’s Park. ” https://apps.mht.maryland.gov/medusa/PDF/PrinceGeorges/PG%3B86B-37.pdf 

Globe Poster Printing Corporation Collection, Box 229. n.d. MS.0755 Box 229. Special Collections, The Johns Hopkins University.

Crossroads

Mark Miller, “A Hot Spot in Bladensburg: Caribbean Crowd Warms up to Club,” The Washington Post, January 27, 1999. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1999/01/27/a-hot-spot-in-bladensburg/80e36a0d-c707-49da-8600-8e1617afa303/.

Largo High School

elKhalifa, Amir. 2024. Interview with Oddisee. Zoom.

Club La Conga

"Fighting Stubborn Blaze,” Evening Star, June 16, 1959, Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-la-conga-fire/154989349/.

“Milt Barrett Guarantees You the Time of Your Life,” The Washington Daily News, March 26, 1948, Newspapers.com.  https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-daily-news-la-conga-eleen/154738188/ .

The Paragon

Black Explosion. “Upcoming Events of Interest.” January 26, 1995, 1 edition, sec. Vol. 28 Issue 1. University of Maryland Digital Collections.

Diamondback Admin. “‘THE PLACE TO GO.’” The Diamondback. Accessed November 13, 2024.  https://dbknews.com/0999/12/31/arc-yam72paahrarzkcew6fn2qcncm/ .

Gallant, Lisa. “Paragon Too Rocks with Young Crowd, Dancing.” The Diamondback, October 5, 1978, 1 edition. University of Maryland Digital Collections.

Iannone, Dave J. “Terrapin Station Replaces Cellar in Name and Format.” The Diamondback, February 9, 1995, sec. Community. University of Maryland Digital Collections.

Pentagram - Live @ The Paragon 11th Dec 1993, 2015.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jIhsMtni_I .

Rhoads, Todd. “Time to Pull Your Train into Terrapin Station.” The Diamondback, September 17, 1996, 1 edition. University of Maryland Digital Collections.

Scaletti, Sara. “The Bad Luck Block?” The Diamondback, September 1, 1994, 1 edition. University of Maryland Digital Collections.

Spedden, Michael. “Season 5 Episode 8 Rich Davis- Guitarist- ‘Shift’, ‘Mystic-Force’, Now Working as a Solo Artist.” Fowl Players Radio. Accessed December 13, 2024.  https://www.buzzsprout.com/175423/episodes/3327226 .

Stanley, Mara. “Sorry About Your Daughter.” The Diamondback, September 7, 1993, sec. C. University of Maryland Digital Collections.

stevtoth. “Snydly Crunch ‘The Forgotten One,’” April 26, 2010.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibuiX03ICrU .

Stullich, Stephanie, and Katherine D. Bryant. “Roads and Rails.” In College Park, 59–80. Images of America. Charleston, SC, Chicago, IL, Portsmouth, NH and San Francisco, CA: Arcadia Publishing, 2005.

The Diamondback. “Paragon Disco: ‘Top of the Gardens.’” October 6, 1976, sec. Vol. 69 Issue 32.

The Diamondback. “The Diamondback (College Park, Md.), 1993-06-17, Page 7 - UMD Student Newspapers | University Archives | Digital Collections @ the University of Maryland.” June 17, 1993, Vol. 85, Issue 144 edition. Digital Collections @ the University of Maryland.

The Diamondback. “University Concert Hall AKA The Paragon.” September 21, 1995, 1 edition, sec. Vol. 88 Issue 13. University of Maryland Digital Collections.

Bowie High School

Hammond, Kato. Take Me Out To The Go-Go: The Autobiography of Kato Hammond. Otakcity Publishing, 2015.

Club Hillbilly

The Washington Daily News. “On the Stage In Person.” September 27, 1948. Newspapers.com.

Kip Lornell, “Back Then It Was Called Hillbilly Music (1946–1957),” in Capital Bluegrass: Hillbilly Music Meets Washington, DC, ed. Kip Lornell (Oxford University Press, 2020), 0, https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199863112.003.0002.

“More ‘Firemen’ Held as Firebugs,” Times Herald, June 9, 1950, Newspapers.com.

The Melody Ballroom

“Aywad and Clark to Run New Melody,” Times Herald, September 14, 1947, Newspapers.com.

Arnold Fine, “Tips on Tables ‘If He Doesn’t Make You Laugh, Don’t Pay Your Check,’” The Washington Daily News, February 21, 1947, Newspapers.com.

Strick's Restaurant

Big Jam Session Sunday Afternoon,” The Washington Daily News, March 4, 1955, Newspapers.com.

Mark Opsasnick, Rock the Potomac: Popular Music and Early-Era Rock and Roll in the Washington, D.C. Area, First edition (St. Petersburg, Florida: BookLocker, 2019), 145.

King Kong Chinese Restaurant

“Do You Have an Italian Friend?,” The Diamondback, March 19, 1973, 5, Student Newspapers, University of Maryland Digital Collections

“Coming Lu’s Gay 90’s Grand Opening Feb. 15th,” The Diamondback, February 16, 1972, 10, Student Newspapers, University of Maryland Digital Collections

“Want A Wild Place for the Weekend?,” The Diamondback, April 6, 1971, sec. classified ads, 6, Student Newspapers, University of Maryland Digital Collections

“New Opening King Kong Restaurant and Lounge,” The Diamondback, June 2, 1983, 3, Student Newspapers, University of Maryland Digital Collection

WMUC

Collection. “WMUC Records.” Collection: WMUC records | Archival Collections. Accessed December 14, 2024.

Saving College Radio: WMUC Past, Present and Future.” WMUC Online Exhibit. Accessed December 1, 2024.

Adam Hudacek, “WMUC Turns 75: How the Station Keeps Its Story Spinning,” The Diamondback, May 13, 2023.

The Capital Centre

Capital Centre collection, 0509-MDHC. Special Collections and University Archives. Accessed December 15, 2024.

Richard Friend, Kevin Leonard, and Jeff Krulik. Capital Centre: A Retrospective. Laurel, MD: Laurel History Boys, 2023.

Scott Allen. “Capital Centre Opened 50 Years Ago with Telscreen, Cold Hot Dogs and a Win.” Washington Post, December 1, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/12/01/capital-centre-50th-anniversary/

Tom Friend. “Facilities: Cap Centre Held Many Firsts. Now It’s Only the Memory That Lasts.” Sports Business Journal, January 15, 2024.