John Owen Brown papers

Summary: John Brown formed Mid-Continent Entertainment in the 1960s and quickly built the company into one of the leading management and promotion agencies in the mid-west music industry. The Flippers, later known as the Fabulous Flippers, became the first band under Brown’s management with Mid-Continent Entertainment. Brown later partnered with friend Jim Reardon to expand the company with the addition of the Blue Things, who were first known as the Blue Boys. To promote their events Brown purchased radio ads from the KOMA radio station in Oklahoma City. Despite its wide audience range, KOMA was not a popular station for advertising revenue, so ad space was very affordable. After moving to Lawrence, Kansas, for college, Brown partnered with fraternity brother Mike Murfin, to open the Red Dog Inn as an event venue and headquarters for Mid-Continent Entertainment. This collection consists of materials from John Brown’s career in the music industry in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as materials from reunion and regional music Hall of Fame events in the 1990s through the 2020s.

Scope and content: The John Owen Brown papers consist of materials from John Brown’s career in the music industry in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as materials from reunion and regional music Hall of Fame events in the 1990s through the 2020s. Materials include a large collection of recordings from concerts and studio recording sessions of bands represented by Brown and his management company, Mid-Continent Entertainment. John Brown created and operated Mid Continent Entertainment in the mid 1960s through the 1970s, working with bands such as the Red Dogs, Fabulous Flippers, The Rising Suns, and the Young Raiders. The collection also includes photographs, often of events or group shots of band members, posters, and other promotional materials and business records. Publications included in this collection include books and articles written by Tom Tourville, Rebecca Peters, various members of the music industry, and professional reporters.

Finding Aids: See the digital finding aid for the John Owen Brown papers.