The brothers had earlier booked Tharpe for concerts at Turner’s Arena, a small indoor venue that could hold little more than 2,000 people. But they and Tharpe set bigger ambitions for their event in the summer of 1951. They decided on the ballpark, which also hosted the Negro League Homestead Grays.
Tharpe and Morrison were to wed on July 3, the Tuesday evening that preceded Independence Day. That timing may have been key, as Tharpe’s audience consisted primarily of working-class Black residents in a largely segregated city. In the Green Book era, there were only a few Black-friendly beaches they could get away to, and the midweek holiday left them with even fewer options. So, despite a crushing streetcar strike, they attended from all over the city.
A concert featuring Tharpe, the Harmonizing Four and several other gospel singers followed the vows. Concessionaires sold souvenir programs, lucky key chains and miniature bibles. The show ended with a fireworks display that included a giant pyrotechnic image of the singer with her guitar. Decca released an album with the wedding ceremony on one side and concert selections on the other.