1981 to 1990:  Research, Performances, Festivals,
Interpreting Beale Street and Urban Memphis' Musical and Cultural Icons 
Locations: 1216 Peabody (1975-89), Old Daisy Theatre 329 Beale (1983 to 1987), 152 Beale (1989-1993)

CSF Initiates major research: Steamboats, Cotton Bales, and Blues leading to major documentary work in Memphis as the urban capital of the Memphis/Delta Region. Research directed by George McDaniel and a team of historians and Folklorists: Ray Allen, Ricki Salzman, Jay Orr, Bob Gates and Louis Guida.

George & Eli McDaniel Ray Allen interviews Ellen Flinn

Piano Red Fiddler Howard Scott

1980-81 CSF produces small community festivals: These events (Gaston Park Community Folklife Festival July 30, 1981 in South Memphis, Sorghum Days Folk Festival on September 26, 1981 in North Mississippi, and the Ethnic Heritage Folklife Festival  on January 31, 1982 at the Memphis Jewish Community Center in East Memphis) produced while developing ideas for major regional festival. 1982 CSF produces first major festival Mid South Folklife Festival on Mud Island in Memphis on August 14-15. On the first day, the one-day paid attendance of 23,000 people was highest attendance for Mud Island for several years.

1983 CSF renovates and moves into the Old Daisy Theatre as the Interpretive Center for Beale Street: Produces 19 Projector Multimedia Show, Performance Series and programs for educational and tour market. School, tour and cultural programs and tours ongoing. Produced teaching guide for Memphis City School System: The Heritage of Black Music in Memphis.

Old Daisy Theater

Josie Breger & Judy Peiser on WEVL	Produces Radio Shows on WEVL in early 1980s. Began producing cable program on Channel 18 Library Channel in mid 1980s. Program continues to present.	Judy Peiser & Giatout Lee
Jackie Nadel interviews Leo Goldberger	Conducts interviews with ethnic communities in Memphis with support from the United State Department of Education, Memphis Jewish Federations and other community organizations. 1987 CSF produces exhibit for City Hall titled Memphis' Jewish Community 1840- Present.

1988 CSF produces Mid South Music & Heritage Festival @ Court Square in Downtown Memphis. Festival. Name changes to Memphis Music & Heritage Festival in 1992.

1989 Memphis Music & Heritage Festival

Rene Koopman films All Day & All Night

1989 Center moves to 152 Beale. CSF has exhibit space, darkroom, archives space 1990 CSF airs All Day & All Night: Memories from Beale Street Musicians nationally on PBS. Directed by Robert Gordon and Louis Guida.