For such a little house on West Grand Boulevard, a lot of big things came out of Hitsville USA.
That’s often a challenge for the Motown Museum, situated in the cozy confines of the label’s original headquarters, as it seeks to convey both the magnitude and the particulars of Motown’s contribution to the world.
One response has been a series of rotating presentations on the museum’s second floor, where the latest themed exhibit focuses on Motown’s lady ensembles: “Girl Groups: The Grit, the Glamour, the Glory.” The exhibit, which opened Jan. 31, includes memorabilia from the Supremes, the Vandellas, the Marvelettes, the Velvelettes and backing group, the Andantes.
With items pulled from the museum’s massive offsite collection, “Girl Groups” features previously unseen photos, concert posters, records and, perhaps most tantalizing to Motown aficionados, stage outfits worn by the groups.
“There are so many stories to tell, we could use a museum 10 times as large,” said Allen Rawls, the museum’s interim CEO. “In the meantime, this is a way to dive into it a little more, put more meat on the bones, in terms of showing how each of these groups is so special.”
“Girl Groups,” which will run through at least mid-May, was preceded by displays spotlighting the Jackson 5 and Marvin Gaye. For patrons well acquainted with the museum’s offerings, including vintage preservations such as Studio A and the Gordy family bedroom, the special exhibits are a way to “keep refreshing the story,” curator Lina Stephens said.
“This gives us a little more opportunity to delve into the groups,” she says. “That’s that beauty of using this space.”
Stephens and Rawls say the exhibit space also is a platform to honor Hitsville figures who haven’t always grabbed the big headlines, including the Andantes, the trio whose backing harmonies are estimated to have appeared on more than 20,000 Motown tracks.
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