PRINCESS THEATRE - Raising the Curtain: HISTORICAL 1939 VIDEO OF THE PRINCESS THEATER AND HARRIMAN, TENNESSEE

Sunday, August 30, 2009

HISTORICAL 1939 VIDEO OF THE PRINCESS THEATER AND HARRIMAN, TENNESSEE

Some years back a Kiwanis Club member in Somerset, KY discovered an old film clip that had been left behind when a member died. The member was a former manager of the Princess Theater in Harriman, Tennessee and had taken the film clip with him when he moved. The clip was 15 minute Newsreel clip of the 1939 reopening of the Princess Theater after the second fire.

The Kiwanis member thought that the film belonged to the people of Harriman and Roane County, so he got in touch with Cecil Johnson, the last manager of the Princess, and sent him the film. Cecil had the presence of mind to have the strip preserved to DVD and later passed on a copy to James “Dub” Harmon, also a former manager and his brother-in-law. Dub, once being my father-in-law, gave me the DVD and I converted it to an .avi file and uploaded it to FACEBOOK, so I could embed the clip for your viewing pleasure.

This clip means so much to us working with Princess Productions to restore the Princess Theater, and I’m sure you will enjoy it too.

On the clip you will see many people in the street, maybe some of your kinfolks from yesteryear, who knows. If you see someone you know, let us know by either sending an email or leaving a comment.

You will also see Mr. L. W. Bevel, the manager in ’39, being greeting and congratulated by city officials of the day. You will also see many young kids streaming out of both the Harriman and South Harriman Schools…maybe you will see your parents or grandparents!

Let us know what you think of the clip and if you see someone you can identify.

4 comments:

FHB said...

Man, that's wild. What a wonderful historical record. Loved all the shots of the kids, and the views of the old town. Very interesting. I know you must just love it.

Daniel Monday said...

Wow, that's awesome. What a neat look into the past. The cool thing is that there are a lot of similarities to the festivities surrounding grand openings and ribbon cuttings today, 70 years later! Thanks for sharing this.

Roy L. Harmon, Jr. said...

Another Harmon clan has looked at the video and has spotted Roy Harmon coming out of the school. He could also be the one throwing the pass, but we'd need some help on that one.

posted by his son
Roy L. Harmon, Jr.
Kingsport, Tn
harmon@chartertn.net

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

Thanks for the comments guys, but especially Roy...I was hoping to get this kind of feedback from the clip.

Thanks...I'll take another look.

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