CRUISIN' IN HARRIMAN IS DOWN RIGHT FUN!

Last Saturday was my first visit to a “Cruisin’ in Harriman” classic car show, but it won’t be my last! I was thoroughly impressed by the number and quality of cars attending the meet. They were lined up on both sides of Roane Street from the Harriman Utility Building all the way down to the old Miller & Brewer Building. The street was alive with local people looking at the old classic and hotrod cars. I took over 75 photos and still didn’t capture them all. CLICK HERE to see my car shots!

I was also impressed by the sound quality of the music coming out of the speakers all up and down Roane Street. It was perfect and I even got a photo of the sound system that makes it all possible. It’s state of the art equipment, and you have no trouble hearing or understanding what’s being played. Makes you want to dance!

The car shows are held the 2^nd Saturday in each month during the summer…come on down! They usually begin around 3:30 and all the cars “cruise” out of town around 6:30.

I saw some old friends and met lots of nice people…people like Katie Barnett, this year’s “Miss Polk Salad”! I asked David Webb why it’s spelled “polk” and he pointed out Elvis spelled it that way (actually it was Tony Joe White who wrote the song) in “Polk Salad Annie”! I had long wondered, and now I know!

Gary Baker, one of the original “Hooray for Harriman” organizers, was kind enough to drive me around in a golf cart. “Cruisin’” actually spun off of the “Hooray” Labor Day celebrations, and gets bigger with each show.

Gary also took the time to show me inside the building that will become the radio and TV studios next door to the Princess Theater. This building, to the left of the theater, and the building to the right will become part of the “complex” of entertainment and communications once the “dream” comes alive. The building on the right will be the teleconferencing center. The main theater will be reserved for stage shows, parties, and other local events.

Anyway, I just wanted you to see some of the volunteers that make the downtown events happen, see some of the cars, and let you know that the Princess dream is alive and well.

See you soon…hopefully at Brooks Benjamin’s premiere at the Roane State Theater Friday the 26^th! Get your tickets now…they’re only $5!

IF FILMING BEGINS, CAN A SHOW BE FAR BEHIND?

Princess Productions, specifically Gary Baker, Doug Mills, and yours truly, began filming another round of personal interviews of notable people in Roane County this afternoon. After almost 4 hours of shooting, we had 4 interviews in “the can”, or in today’s terminology on “memory packs”!

When filming begins, you can start looking forward to the next Princess Productions stage show at Roane State. However, it will be sometime yet before the next one, but we began today to start documenting interesting and informative content for the future production.

Today’s interviews were with James W. (Dub) Harmon, Dr. Julian Ahler, David Webb, and Lewis Spivey. The time flew by for me, because I was completely wrapped up in the history spewing forth from their memories! It would have been a shame not to document the experiences these gentlemen have had, even if there was never to be another show. It should be a lesson to all us to start talking to our parents and grandparents about their memories, before it’s too late.

Not surprisingly, many of the stories overlapped and became a seamless history of the many theaters that were once on Roane Street in Harriman. From their earliest memories to their thoughts on the future, each told their stories as if they happened yesterday, and they spoke positively about Harriman’s future. However, each warned that we (citizens of Harriman and Roane County) need to act now!

Dr. Ahler reflected on the beginnings of Harriman Hospital, all the doctors that mentored him, and how medical practice in Roane County has changed over the years. Many of the doctors I had not thought of in years like, Hooper, Cunningham, Kellifer, and Bowman. All were instrumental in making the hospital what it is today. Doctor Ahler and all the past doctors chose to live in Harriman and Roane because they, like us, loved it here.

I want so much to tell you about everything that I heard tonight, but that would spoil the next show for you. You’ll just have to wait!

Let me remind you of the upcoming “Boys of Summerville”. Brooks Benjamin will be showing his movie, shot in Roane County, at the Roane State Theater at 7PM on Friday, June 26^th. I personally saw the tickets this afternoon, so they should be at the Rocky Top General Store and the Harriman Jewelry Exchange sometime tomorrow or Friday. You might call ahead to be sure.

HOW A PRINCESS CAN LEARN FROM A WISE OL' FOX

Here’s a little personal note from me, the blog master…My wife dragged me to Atlanta this past Sunday to see the “Jersey Boys” and I am sure glad she did.

The show was fantastic…I loved it, although I hated to admit to Judy! We were in the third row, just behind the “pit” area. Great seats (thanks Bill!)!

Anyway, my sister-in-law, Terri Sudderth, was with us and she accompanied me on a tour of the grand Fox Theatre, with our good friend Bill Foreman, who had promised us a look behind the scenes.

Bill has worked there as an usher for years and still helps out on occasion in other capacities. On the rounds, we happened to run into Len Tucker, Director of Operations, of Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. Bill introduced us and Len took us even further behind the scenes and into the main offices, the Grand Salon banquet room, the kitchen, and the famous Egyptian Ballroom. It was a very exciting tour and I was thrilled, to say the least.

Terri is a very talkative lady, just like her sister…my wife! She wanted Les to know that I was working with a group attempting to restore the Princess and how much I was appreciating the privileged “back stage” tour. His ears literally perked up!

It turns out the Fox Theatre helps theaters all around the country (around 150) and they are more than happy to share their knowledge. They even assisted the Tennessee Theater project with "lessons learned" on HVAC issues.

Long story short, Len, a very nice gentleman, wanted us to contact him…Gary did just that today. Len passed Gary’s number on to the Fox department that works on restoration projects…this can only be good for us! Len wants to come see the Princess as she is today, so he can watch her come alive!

It seems destiny has again smiled on the Princess…a pleasure trip turned out to be a “networking connection” that just may help an ol’ Princess learn from a wise ol’ Fox! Fingers crossed everyone!

So, sit back now and CLICK HERE, and take a tour of the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. I had a ball taking the shots, and only wish I could have used my DSLR and flash for some of them. However, the pocket Nikon did a pretty fair job.

I’d like to give my thanks to Bill, Terri, and Len for a very informative and productive trip. Oh yes, thanks dear for “making” me go!

“BOYS OF SUMMERVILLE” COMES TO THE ROANE STATE THEATER JUNE 26TH!

In the second of a planned entertainment series for Roane County and the surrounding area, Princess Productions, in conjunction with Lycan Entertainment, and Roane State Community College, will present Brooks Benjamin's "Boys of Summerville" at the college theater at 7 PM on June 26!

Tickets will be $5 and available at the Rocky Top General Store and the Jewelry Exchange in Harriman soon.

Brooks, a local filmmaker and educator, has been taking the indie movie to film festivals this past year and has gotten great reviews. The film is Brooks' tribute to his father, who passed away in 2000.

“One of the characters in the movie, Charles “Buddy” Davis, was based on my father, Charles Davis Benjamin, who passed away from cancer in 2000. I wanted to make a movie as a tribute to him, and since he loved comedies and softball so much, I thought this would be a perfect movie to make."

The film was shot right here in Roane County and many of the buildings and locations will be easily recognizable by area residents.

Brooks Benjamin was born in east Tennessee and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Since college, Brooks has written and directed several commercials and short films, including his award-winning feature thriller, "Point of Fear".

Brooks and his wife, Jackie Barnes, who were married in the Princess Theater, are the owners of Lycan Entertainment, their production company.

On hand, to honor and help celebrate the “hometown” showing of “Boys of Summerville” with Brooks, will be Muse Watson and Bill Landry. After the show, the audience will be permitted to ask questions about the movie, movie production in general, upcoming shows, and about progress being made on the Princess restoration.

See the movie trailer below...

FATE DRAWS NEW FRIENDS TO THE PRINCESS

It was pure fate that made Mark Tiedje and John Coles pull off the Interstate and drive up to the Princess Theater. Posted on the ticket booth window was a poster advertising “Appalachian Dreams”. Just then a tall man in a cowboy hat walked up looking for the show. It was Marshal Andy, who was mistaken about the location of the show, and together they drove on to Roane State. Mark and John finally found tickets and they watched the entire show in awe of what people had done in support of their beloved theater.

“There is no explanation for our decision to pull of the interstate at Harriman except my childhood memories*. We really believe these things happen for a reason,” Mark told us in an email earlier today.

He and John write and operate a website called “South Carolina Movie Theaters”, and have a great love for old single screen theaters. “We had such a great time at the show on the 16^th in Harriman. It was a total surprise to us. We just happened to stop in Harriman that day on our way to Nashville from Charleston, South Carolina. We have a web site about the old single screen movie theaters of South Carolina. It’s been evolving for the past six years. We just posted a feature on the Princess Theater and the wonderful show we saw at Roane State Community College. The show was first rate and we know the effort it takes to mount such a large show.”

After the show, the audience was so gathered around the stage and the isles leading down, that they could not get back to their new friend Andy Smalls, nor did they get to meet Gary Baker or Bill Landry. However, both Gary and I have invited them back. We’re sure they have learned a lot of valuable lessons in bringing back old theaters from their travels throughout the south. We also promised to let them know when the “grand re-opening” occurred!

It’s little things like this story and the fate that pulled them into our lives that prove to us the Princess project will succeed, and that the Princess Theater is destined to return to us.

*I asked them (John and Mark) to explain their comment about “childhood memories” later, and John replied in an email with the following explanation:

“Hi Paul,

This is John typing. I was born in Nashville in 1944. I remember taking the last passenger run of the Tennessee Central Railway from Nashville to Harriman and back in 1955. My mother and I made the trip with our next-door neighbor. The massive engine shook the ground at Union Station when the train pulled in. It was the most exciting thing I had ever done. In Carthage, a woman boarded with her son. He was my age and we became friends. We were pen pals for several years until we eventually lost contact. A porter on the train came along and entertained the children with a “jack limber legs” which he made dance on a paddle while he whistled some old tune. I was mesmerized by this toy. The man said he would make one for me. My mother cautioned me that this would probably not happen. To my delight, a tall black man appeared on our front porch in Nashville a week later. It was the porter from the train. In his hand was a “Jack limber legs.” He said he hadn’t had time to make one so he was giving me the one he used on the train. I still have it. Since Harriman was the terminus for that historic train ride, I’ve always associated the town with happy childhood memories. I posted the story with a photo at http://www.johnrcoles.net/jacklimberlegs.”

Please make a special effort to visit Mark and John’s websites and read about all the wonderful theaters they have visited. If you have the time, email them (address link is on the main web page) and thank them for featuring our theater on their page.

"BOYS OF SUMMERVILLE" COMING TO ROANE STATE

Please watch this space for upcoming news on the Roane State Theater showing of local film maker Brooks Benjamin's "Boys of Summerville".

The indie film has been making the rounds at film festivals this past year and has gotten great reviews. The film is Brooks' tribute to his father, who passed away in 2000.

“One of the characters in the movie, Charles “Buddy” Davis, was based on my father, Charles Davis Benjamin, who passed away from cancer in 2000. I wanted to make a movie as a tribute to him, and since he loved comedies and softball so much, I thought this would be a perfect movie to make.”

"APPALACHIAN DREAMS" MOVES TO POST-PRODUCTION

Saturday's matinee and evening show called "Appalachian Dreams" was, without a doubt, a grand success, but it wore us all out! Filming, planning, rehearsing, and editing had been going on since mid-January and everyone was whipped by the time it was all over around 9PM Saturday night! I even had blisters on my feet from all the running around it did backstage. Still photography is hard work!

The dream for this show began with Gary Baker (local business man) and Muse Watson (star of TV and film), but then the fire jumped to Bill Landry (local celebrity host of the "Heartland Series") and Michael Golebiewski (Dept. Head of Humanities at RSCC)! Without their parts, the show would not have been as coordinated and professional as it was.

My personal congratulations to everyone involved...I know exactly how hard you worked, and it paid off! We all know how much Bill, Michael, and Gary put into the show, but I have to acknowledge cameramen Doug Mills, Andy Garrett, Matt Mullins, and Lee Ellis for their patience throughout the "on location" interview filming, all the rehearsals, all the editing, and, of course, both shows Saturday!

We must not forget Jon Chemay and Cody Hazelwood, and the others in and feeding sound to the sound booth.

There was Jimbo Duncan and company providing sound to the performers, Bill Farnham directing the curtains and acts off stage, and Angie Buck Skidmore marking the cues for everyone, and those hard working folks up in the lights above.

There was make-up, ushering, and, of course, Jean Penley selling tickets!

Then their are the acts themselves to recognize, Jenny Ballard and Maggie Kholbusch, Elizabeth Rose, the Lantana Drifters and especially Audine and Edd Webb, the Pickn' Grin house band, the Babahatchie Community Band and especially to its founder Dr. Joe Williams and the conductor McCall Bohanan, the Sister's of the Silver Sage (Donna, Rhonda, and Janet), The Chickadees (Sandra, Linda, and Ferrell), and the wonderful Phillippi Primitive Baptist Church choir, featuring Jerry Eskridge, April Chrisco, and Barbara Moore! And, last but not least, all the actors and dancers directed by Jennifer Austin of "Arts in Motion"!

Oh, I mustn't forget all you wonderful folks that came out to support the Princess Theater Foundation and its goal to restore the Princess Theater to cultural importance to Roane County. Our hope is that your contribution to the show was paid back in an entertaining evening. Please come again and again!

What a show people...you were outstanding and audience was more than impressed with your dedication, hard work, and talent! I apologize if I've left out anyone by name, but you all were important and can now add a big paragraph on your resumes!

Now begins the post-production work...an endeavor to make a professional looking DVD of the "Appalachian Dreams" show. From what I saw, there will be loads of wonderful footage from which to chose, so it too will undoubtably be a great hit as well. I can hardly wait to buy my copy!

“APPLACHIAN DREAMS” SHOW A BIG SUCCESS

Congratulations to Gary Baker, Bill Landry, and Michael Golbiewski on their success with the “Appalachian Dreams” show (shown here with wives Becky and Claudette), held at Roane State Theater last evening. I have yet to hear a negative comment and the feedback, in comments and applause, after the show warmed the hearts of all 120+ participants in the show. Everyone worked very hard behind the scenes to ensure attendees were entertained.

The most mentioned acts were the “Lantana Drifters” and Edd Webb’s train whistle during the song “Wabash Cannonball”, and the voices of the Phillippi Primitive Baptist Church.

However, all the acts were top notch and very professional, and the show would not have been the same without them. Each added its own unique flavor to the show and the over all enjoyment of the show. The audience, both the matinee and the evening show, got into the show by clapping time to the music and applauding the acts, sometime even in the middle of their performances.

If you missed the show…shame on you, but rest assured there will be more coming. As a matter of fact, once the Princess is restored, you could be privileged to have shows performed weekly! That’s just one of the reasons to back the project! Roane County needs entertainment, and there are no better performers than our own to provide it. The talents showcased in Saturday’s program just scratched the surface of the talent in our area!

The matinee at 2PM Saturday was a near sellout, while the evening show was completely packed! So, it’s evident that a lot of you got the message, were entertained, and are 100% behind the Princess Project.

To paraphrase what Chris Mason has said, “The Princess will not be showing first run movies, but will instead be providing arts education, conferencing, and live entertainment to the area!” The 900 seat auditorium will be a place for live entertainment, while the buildings on the right and left of the theater building will house facilities for teaching the arts, a TV and a radio station operated by the students of Roane County.

With such an “arts center” in place and functioning, other businesses will come to the cities of Roane County. As Muse Watson said in his address to the audience Saturday night, “We can do this!”

Among the dignitaries photographed after the show were: Ron Ramsey (Lt. Governor of Tennessee) and his wife Sindy, State Senator Ken Yager and wife Malinda, Sue-Ellen Gamble Mosler (r) shared the show with Mona Wright (l), David Webb and wife, Harriman Mayor Chris Mason and good friend Scott Adcock.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE.

THE ROANE STATE CAMPUS IS A BUSY PLACE

Friday evening, while rehearsal for today’s “Appalachian Dreams” show continued in the auditorium, Relay for life – Roane County, held its event on the grass and in front of the main building, and inside the alumni of Harriman City Schools met and ate. What a busy place! I never knew the campus was utilized to that extent. It made me feel good to see that many Roane County people out of a spring evening.

The Harriman City Schools Alumni invited Gary Baker, Chris Mason, and Lonnie Wright in to update them on the city’s progress over the past year.

Gary brought everyone up to date on the Princess Theater and the “Appalachian Dreams” show, telling them that he is already seeing the Princess project and the association with the schools in Roane County helping young people from the area learn about the arts. The young people working in the stage production are experiencing things they never would have had otherwise.

Chris told the crowd about his progress in cleaning up Harriman, and his goal of removing the stigma that Harriman is a dirty city. The Princess Theater will bring a focus to Harriman that will revitalize the downtown area.

Lonnie assumed the gathering that “no city money” was going into the restoration of the Princess Theater; but that he and other law makers believe the project will bring good things to downtown Harriman.

The big show is today…sure hope to see you all there! There may still be some matinee tickets at the door.