Bris Collins’ first tavern, at 405 N. Washington burned down in 1949. He was able to rebuild and would eventually give Pryor a much needed regular gig at the same site.
Peoria
A digital companion to the biography Becoming Richard Pryor
Fire Gutted Tavern To Be Replaced by Modern Structure
Date: 11/24/1949
Citation:
"Fire-Gutted Tavern To Be Replaced by Modern Structure," The Peoria Journal Star, Nov. 24, 1949.
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1. Tavern Operator and Solid Citizen
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Fire Gutted Tavern To Be Replaced by Modern Structure
–11/24/1949–Collins lost his first tavern to fire, but rebuilt the building and business
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John Clark Discovers Negroes Now Talking
–10/11/1952–A reporter dropped into Bris Collins's tavern to take black America's pulse — and met Richard's “Uncle Dickie”
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Bris Collins’ Tap Raided, Closed; Baseball Pool Czar Fined $1,000
–5/23/1953–“Cleaning up Peoria” meant more raids on Bris Collins' place
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Playing With Matches May Have Caused Fatal Blaze
–5/20/1961–Collins risked his life many times trying to save children from a fire
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Cabristo Collins, Former Restaurant Owner, Dies at 72
–12/2/1980–In the death of Bris Collins, Peoria lost one of its most complicated figures
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2. Man of the Underworld
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Bris Collins Held on Bogus Money Count
–7/10/1951–Arrest was nothing new for Collins
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Bris Collins’ Tap Raided, Closed; Baseball Pool Czar Fined $1,000
–5/23/1953–“Cleaning up Peoria” meant more raids on Bris Collins' place
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Collins Gets Year, Day On Money Count
–7/2/1954–After 3 years and 2 hung juries, Collins was given the minimum sentence
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Bris Collins Surrenders to Serve Term
–9/11/1954–Collins, labeled as the “racket boss of Peoria,” took a one-year prison term
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Lack of Prosecution Kills Case On Collins
–10/14/59–Collins escaped the law, for once
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2 Women Entertainers Slain In Motel
–9/30/1964–Two “entertainers” were murdered at Bris Collins's motel over an unpaid debt
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