BEHIND THE SCENES WORK ON MAY 16th SHOW SPEEDING UP

The poster at right is the final draft poster advertising the May 16^th stage show at Roane Theater. Mark your calendars now, watch this blog, and your local news for more on the finalized “multi-media variety show” that will benefit the efforts to restore the Princess Theater!

This last week saw Bill Landry, Doug Mills, Brooks Benjamin, Michael Golebiewski, Gary Baker, and Paul Mashburn in the field interviewing and getting video footage of our beautiful area. You’ve probably already seen the special on J. D. Williams, local war hero and antique car collector which aired last week on WBIR. Bill Landry talked with J. D. this past week while Brooks Benjamin manned the video camera. Even more footage of the interview will be shown during the Roane State Theater stage show.

While that was going on, Doug Mills, videographer for the “Heartland Series”, and Paul Mashburn were out shooting video and stills from Buzzard’s Bluff and in Riverfront Park in Harriman. (A funny little thing happened on the bluff that you might find interesting! CLICK HERE!)

Earlier that morning the field-team met at the College of Veterinary Medicine on UT’s Knoxville campus. An interview with Dr. Terry Stevens was conducted and will be shown during the May show at Roane State. Doctor Stevens was adopted and raised by Eugene “Gene” Monroe Pickel, giving him a chance at a future he may not have had otherwise. Mr. Pickel is active in the Roane County politics and has become “the man” to talk to about historical facts involving Roane County. His book “A History of Roane County, Tennessee to 1860” was published in 1981.

So, as you can see, there is a lot of action going on behind the scenes and I’m sure you will like the final product. Please, mark you calendars and make a special effort to come see what promises to be a very entertaining stage show!

If you have ideas for the show, or future shows, please let us know! Send you thoughts to: princess.theater AT yahoo.com.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH PRINCESS PRODUCTIONS

A lot of work, by a lot of people, is underway to make possible a very entertaining show for the benefit of the Restoration of the Princess Theatre. The show, which will be emceed by “The Heartland Series’” Bill Landry, and presented at the Roane State Theater, will be called “Appalachian Dreams” and will showcase regional culture, traditions, history, and musical and acting talent.

The Princess Productions’ stage show is to be patterned after PBS’s "A Prairie Home Companion", made popular by the entertaining Garrison Keillor.

Monday evening found production planners Gary Baker, Bill Landry, Michael Golebiewski, Brooks Benjamin, Jon Chemay, and Bill Farnham gathered around a table of ideas on the stage at Roane State. Ideas always flow freely when creative people are involved, and you can be assured that these talented people will pull together a great show.

There is still a lot of "behind the scenes" planning, filming, and talent gathering to be done, but everything should be in place for the stage show planned for mid-May.

Please follow this blog, as well as your local news, for more specifics coming soon.

Following this planning meeting, Gary Baker and I briefed the South Harriman High School Alumni Association, who are planning a joint class reunion which will probably coincide with the planned stage show weekend, about the efforts many in Roane and surrounding counties are making to restore the Princess.

Before Gary left, the association gave him a hardy, and well deserved round of applause for his hard work in bringing attention to the Princess restortation.

FEW PEOPLE LOVE THE PRINCESS THEATRE MORE THAN MUSE WATSON

In the last post, I hinted at the long connection and affection that Hollywood has had with the Princess Theatre in Harriman. That relationship remains today in the love Muse Watson has for our Princess.

Muse Watson (the man with the hook), even while being very busy currently with his career*, continually keeps abreast of the current work being done by the Princess Theater Partnership, the Restoration Committee, and a large cast of supporting citizens. The current focus is a Princess Productions stage show called “Appalachian Dreams”, to be emceed by Bill Landry, at the Roane State Theater in mid-May. Even though Muse cannot be here for all the board and planning meetings, or the local filming, he checks in often with Gary Baker to get an update.

Muse, who owns a farm locally and often comes here to relax, has been involved with the Princess Theatre for several years. After Cecil Johnson retired in 1999, Muse and Gary Baker came to an agreement with Carmike Cinemas for the building in 2002.

Muse’s career began to take off about that time, so it was necessary for him to move to Hollywood in order to routinely make auditions for movies and television programs. Therefore, he turned everything over to Gary Baker, and to make a long story short, Gary turned it over to the City of Harriman, who leased it back to the Princess Theater Partnership. The good news is that the Princess still has a future and there are many people working hard to make it a centerpiece that will spearhead redevelopment in Downtown Harriman.

However, Muse still loves and is involved in promoting the theater. Just last year he was here pitching his love and dream for the Princess at a local fundraiser. He’ll be back soon, and if possible, will make the “Appalachian Dreams” show in May.

As you can see from the various photos, Muse has had a “hands on” approach to the restoration of the Princess. An article in Southern Living, back in 2002, featured Muse and Gary’s work in restoring the Princess. It’s obvious that he is not averse to getting his hands dirty or paint smeared!

I joined the band of interested parties just a couple of months ago, and I can attest to the fun and good feeling one gets from working on this dream. You can also see that good feeling in the smile on Muse’s face as he lends a hand. As an example, when he made the promotional video clip that is posted in the right sidebar, he had great fun with the film crew and especially with “Barney Fife” (a.k.a. Sammy Sawyer), who actually held the cue cards for Muse!

I suppose I say all this just to let you know that there is room for you too! Join us!

If you do nothing else, please watch for upcoming announcements about the great show now being planned for the Roane State Theater that will entertain you, and give you a warm feeling about your local culture, heritage, and musical and acting talent. It will also give you a great feeling of pride knowing that you too helped support the restoration of a grand ol’ lady, the Princess Theatre!

(CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE)

____________________________________________________

• * Death Keeps Coming (2009) (pre-production)
• First Howl (2009) (pre-production) .... Johnny Talbot
• The Cleansing (2008) (pre-production) .... Preach
• Wrong Way (2008) (pre-production) .... Topper
• TiMER (2009) (post-production) .... Rick
• The Presence (2009) (post-production) .... Mr. Browman
• Small Town Saturday Night (2009) (post-production) .... Charlie
• Stellina Blue (2009) (completed) .... Peter
• Between the Sand and the Sky (2008) (completed) .... Boss
• "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service"...NIS Agent Mike Franks (8 episodes, 2006-2009)
  - Deliverance (2009) TV episode...NIS Agent Mike Franks

THE PRINCESS THEATRE – A TEMPLE OF THE ARTS

Ten months after a January fire, its second and most devastating fire, causing and estimated 50,000 1939 dollars worth of damage, the Princess Theatre* reopened the third time to grand local fanfare and Hollywood well wishes.

The first movie to be shown on the new theater’s screen, after reopening was “Fifth Avenue Girl”, starring Ginger Rogers.

Ms. Rogers, Jack Benny, Clark Gable, and others prominent in the “theater and movie business” were among dignitaries that sent their congratulations.

Ticket prices, 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults, remained the same as before the fire. The first night audience was also treated to a short dedication service that included introductions of city officials, Crescent Amusement Company officials, and visiting Crescent theater managers.

For one night, it was as though Hollywood had come to Harriman, complete with flood- and spot-lights, and a real “Newsreel” photographer!

The Princess must have been something to see on that Thursday night of November 16.

A newspaper supplement to The Harriman Record with a banner headline of “The Dawn of a New Day for Theatre Patrons”, described the “Grand Premiere Opening”, heralded the new theater as the “South’s Finest Temple of Amusement”!

It further described the “ultra-modern” theater’s marquee as having “brilliant soffit lighting…black carrara structural glass, cromium (sic) trimming and red and blue marlite.”

“Underfoot is the shining terrazzo floor which extends into the foyer which is lined with marlite and the walls and ceilings are done in light shades of varying colors…enhanced by the soft light of…modern fixtures.”

Continuing inside the reporter describes the steps leading to the mezzanine and balcony as being covered in “soft, deep padded carpet in variegated colors...”

Highly stressed was the rebuilder’s intention of making the Princess “fireproof” for the safety of its patrons.

The United States Gypsum Company, then in Atlanta and Birmingham, supplied Sabinite Acoustical Plaster that was used extensively in the reconstruction.

It said to not only condition and enhance the acoustics of the theater, it also offered the additional value of being fire-proof.

Since this was after the second fire at the theater, the first one was in 1932; additional effort was put into advertising the building as “fire-proof”.

The builder even covered the roof in gypsum, hidden under 3 layers of felt and tar!

Cheaper “cello-tex” plaster could have been used in the walls and ceiling for around $350, however, the architects, and Crescent Amusement management, believed the $5500 for 3 coats of the Sabinite plaster’s acoustical and fire-proof properties was worth the extra cost.

After the 56 tons of steel was erected, workers began laying the 17” thick brick and cinder block walls, and pouring the first red “color pigment” concrete ever poured in Harriman.
No longer would the floors have to be repainted twice each year from shoe leather wear!
Soon, the Princess began resembling a movie “temple” once again.

Soon it was time to put in place the giant 500-pound speaker that could broadcast the slightest whisper through the perforated silver screen, onto the audience seated in “floating comfort” interlocking seats, that utilized no bolts or screws to tear ladies dresses, and with welded joints that eliminated all squeaks!

The original seats themselves must have been a beautiful thing to behold.

The backs are covered with light orange leather and the bottoms are of read maroon leather with green velour skirts.

The arms are of hard maple in natural finish…”

Just try and imagine the pride theater manager L. W. Bevel must have felt as his first night’s patrons stepped through the doors of the new Princess!

Just try and imagine what it would be like to see it just like that…just once more in our life time!

What pride might we feel, with grandchildren in hand, as they step through the doors of the Princess Theatre and see it for the first time, as it was meant to be seen, “A Temple of the Arts”!

The correct form is to refer to the building as “theater” and the art form as “theatre”.
You probably have noted that Crescent Amusement Company used the “theatre” form of the word in naming the Princess.

Not to be correct, but to follow tradition, this blog will henceforth refer to our beloved theater as the Princess Theatre.

PRINCESS MEMORIES

The Princess Theatre was the highlight of entertainment during the days of my youth. Oh, there were other theaters, skating rinks, a bowling alley, a drive-in theater, and a number of drive-in restaurants, but my fondest memories are of being at the Princess watching great old 50s and 60s movies.

I remember watching all the great westerns there. My heroes were Roy Rogers, Rex Allen, Gene Autry, Rod Cameron, Will Bill Elliot, Lash LaRue, and even ol’ Gabby Hayes, and Smiley Burnette, whom I met once!

Sometimes these screen stars visited the Princess too!

I remember the popcorn smell of the theater and the sticky/tacky touch of the floor between the seats and the little squishy sounds it made when you walked over it.

I remember the low hum of teenage voices, just under the movie sounds, whispering in the ears of their dates or remarks made out loud meant to make an impression on some pretty girl.

Occasionally, there was a live show, or at least a prelude show to build up the intrigue for the up coming horror show. “If you frighten easily, or if you have heart problems, or if you are here alone, I advise you to leave now!”

This, of course, only made you want to see the movie that much more. “The screen will flash red just before a scary scene to warn you. That will give you time to hide your eyes!”

“Okay, okay,” everyone would shout, “get on with it!”

I also remember watching the Harriman Christmas parades, back in the 70’s, from beneath the canopy marquee, and holding my son on my shoulders (pictured far right).

Corey was Dub Harmon’s grandson and Cecil Johnson’s nephew, so he, and his cousin Brandon Powers (pictured on left, atop James Keebler’s shoulders) had the run of the theater back then.

As his childhood friend, Jason Whitus, reminded me the other day, Corey’s birthday parties used to be in the balcony of the Princess. It’s good to remember that the balcony was used for some good other than separating us from each other.

How about you…got any Princess memories?

Why not send them to us and get them posted here!?

Who can guess what the banner behind us says?

BILL LANDRY BEGINS FIRST CLASS IN MEDIA PRODUCTION AT ROANE STATE

Bill Landry, of the "Heartland Series", began the first class in Media Production Monday evening at Roane State Community College.On hand to commemorate the occasion as the first project undertaken by the Princess Theater Foundation and Roane State Community College, were (left to right): Bill Landry (Creator & Producer of the Heartland Series), Michael Golebiewski (Humanities Department at RSCC), Gary Baker (Local businessman), Chris Mason (Mayor of Harriman), and Bill Farnham (local Princess Foundation supporter). [Photo by J. Paul Mashburn (Foundation Supporter & Photographer)]

These two organizations are working hand-in-hand in an effort to revitalize Downtown Harriman and restore the Princess Theater.

This first ever Media Production class, with 17 enrolled, met at 6:30 Monday evening with Mr. Landry getting to know the class, their backgrounds, interests, and hopes for the class. Their first assignment was a little "acting" for the camera!The class project will culminate on May 16th with a public showcase of their work. Regional entertainment will also be presented to make up what promises to be a very entertaining evening at the RSCC Theater. This program will kick off public awareness and support for the restoration of the Princess Theater and the plan to make this area an arts education and conferencing center, with the express intention of revitalizing downtown Harriman by bringing business and attention back to Harriman.

Stay tuned...a lot is about to happen!

THE PRINCESS ENTERTAINED US FOR OVER 70 YEARS!

The Princess Theater has been entertaining Roane and surrounding counties for over 70 years (’32 and ’39)! The heyday of her importance to the community may have been the vital diversion she offered during the World War II years, with promotional events such as “Bank Night”, during which a whopping $75 was given away! That was big money in those days!

It wasn’t just the movies, like “Gone with the Wind”, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, Vincent Price horror movies, or Roy Rogers and Trigger westerns that entertained us. Often it has been live entertainment on stage, or on a temporary stage out front on Roane Street.

Unfortunately, most entertainment events are outside these days, but the Princess Theater still takes center stage by offering shelter and a focal point along Roane Street. We’ve all been there! Remember the “Tennessee Polk Salad Association’s” street and park events every year, or how about the Harriman’s Car Shows, and their “Cruisin’ in Historic Downtown Harriman” the second Saturday of each month during the summer!?

It is the hope of many local leaders and interested supporters, that the Princess will again soon be the indoor stage for local live events and entertainment.

Over the years, the Princess has seen many movie and television stars, nationally known as well as home-grown musicians, and happy pageant queens come to entertain the local masses.

It has even been the sanctuary to some who just wanted a quiet peaceful place to say “I do”, like Brooks Benjamin and
Jackie Barnes back in March of 2008!

Someday real soon, she will again be the site of entertainment! The Princess Theater will become an arts, education, and conferencing center for all to enjoy.

Keep watching this site and your local news for more information on upcoming events that will celebrate local student accomplishments, regional entertainment, and showcase the bright future of the Princess Theater.

WHO CARES ABOUT THE PRINCESS THEATER?

In May of 2008, a catered fundraiser for the restoration of the Princess Theater was held at the home of Dr. Terry and Kathy Bingham, in Harriman. Invited guest were also treated to a feast for the ears by country music superstar Clint Black, who performed an acoustic set of some of his biggest hits, such as "Killin' Time" and "A Better Man."

Some of those in attendance included "The Heartland Series" host Bill Landry, University of Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl with Brandy Miller (not pictured), soul-music entertainer Archie Bell, Roane State Community College President Dr. Gary Goff (not pictured), Carla and Ted Hatfield with Regal Entertainment Group (not pictured), Roane County Executive Mike Farmer (not pictured), Harriman Mayor Chris Mason and wife Shasta, photographer Shannon Stansfield (not pictured), Harriman businessman Gary Baker and veteran actor Muse Watson, who lives in Los Angeles but has a farm near Harriman. Watson has made numerous television and movie appearances, which include recurring roles on "Prison Break" and "NCIS," and the teen-stalker in the horror film "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and its sequel.

Baker donated the Princess Theater to Harriman in 2007. The money raised at the gathering will go towards the $1.9 million renovation project. The building is then planned to become a cultural and educational center for the arts, as well as a conferencing center of the regional area. The facility will be operated and managed by the Princess Theater Foundation and the City of Harriman, in cooperation with the Tennessee Technology Center and the Roane County School system.

The active center will serve as a seven-county center for cultural, educational, conferencing events, and as studios for a new public-access television station. COMCAST has provided Channel 15 to be used locally and operated by the students of Roane State.

As you can see, there are many people who care about making this dream come true. You too can become involved and take pride in a renewed downtown Harriman.

WILL THE PRINCESS THEATER CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN US?

The Princess Theater first opened in 1926, but the 900 seat Princess was damaged by fire six years later. In 1939, the theater was completely destroyed by a blaze, but was rebuilt within 10 months with an “Art Deco” design with 854 seats, courtesy of Paramount Studios.

During World War II, while the secret city of Oak Ridge was under construction a few miles away, there were three showings a day, each one sold out.

The theater screened its last movie in 1999, when Cecil Johnson, long time operator and lessee of the building, retired. It officially closed in that same year.

Local officials (See the cast of partnerships and directors in the sidebar.) are now joining hands with Hollywood bad guy Muse Watson, to restore and revitalize the theater. The Princess Theater Partnership and the Princess Theater Restoration Committee Board of Directors are determined to return the Princess Theater to its active place in the community, and turn it into a center of cultural excellence! The Princess will provide a stage for live music and theater, to be enjoyed by the entire region, and a facility for arts education programs , and become a regional teleconferencing center that will bring attention and business to the area.

The visionary’s plans include a $1.9 million renovation, which will allow the facility to be managed by the Princess Theater Foundation and the city of Harriman, in cooperation with the Tennessee Technology Center and the Roane County School system. Through educational funding assistance, and the public entertainment programs that will originate there, the Princess Theater can continue to serve the community for years to come.

With the assistance of the Harriman City Mayor, Chris Mason, COMCAST has provided a public access television channel (CH 15) to be used by Roane State students to broadcast local entertainment productions to the area.

Other hopes are that the Tennessee Technology Center will teach theater lighting and stage design, while public schools from around the area may use the building for programs, plays and special events.

“It would be an ideal location for weddings, concerts, dance recitals and screenings of classical movies,” Gary Baker has stated. “It's hoped a vibrant Princess Theater will lure restaurants, specialty shops and other new businesses downtown.”

You bet…with the hard work of the Princess Theater Partnerships and its many interested community volunteers, the Princess will soon entertain us again!