I'm Going To Be Very Busy, and Very Happy This Weekend

Yahoo...I'll be working the crowd at both the Princess Theatre Grand Opening Thursday, and at the Marshall Tucker concert on Saturday.  I'll be clicking away, and privy to even the "green room"!

I'll be back in touch, once my feet also touch the ground again!  I'm so excited, so pumped that my Princess once again is alive and well in Harriman, Tennessee!

Below are two of my recent posts on my Princess Theatre blog:

Post 1:

From Owen Driskill,  Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Roane State Community College:

March 6, 2012

Grand opening for Princess Theatre set for March 22

The grand opening for the renovated Princess Theatre in downtown Harriman will be Thursday, March 22.

The Princess Theatre Foundation is hosting the 7 p.m. event, which will include performances by area students and artists. Admission is free, but tickets are required.

Tickets can be picked up at Rocky Top General Store in Harriman (316 Ruritan Road) or Harriman Jewelry Exchange (509 Roane St.). Doors for the grand opening will open at 6 p.m.

The Princess Theatre Foundation also will host a fundraising concert on Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m. featuring The Marshall Tucker Band. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for floor seats and $20 for balcony seats. For ticket information, call (865) 403-2988.

All proceeds benefit the Princess Theatre.

The renovation of the 552-seat Princess, located at 421 N. Roane St., culminates a decade-long effort. The City of Harriman, Roane State Community College, the Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman, Roane County Schools, business leaders and community leaders worked together to complete the renovation. The Princess Theatre Foundation, formed in 2004, has raised money for the project and will continue to support the theatre.

The project was supported by a $317,000 grant awarded to the City of Harriman by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. In addition, TVA donated $1.7 million to the Princess Theatre Foundation for the renovation following the December 2008 ash spill. Dozens of individuals have donated time and resources to the project.

Sparkman & Associates Architects Inc. designed and oversaw the renovation.

Two neighboring buildings have been connected to the theatre for restrooms, dressing rooms, green room, storage and an elevator.

The City of Harriman owns the theatre. Roane State, with the support of the Princess Theatre Foundation, operates it. Megan Anderson, a Nashville native with more than 10 years of experience in theater production, is manager of the Princess.

The renovated Princess is part of a performing arts and education center that includes Channel 15 television station, operated by Roane State and owned by the City of Harriman. The Princess and the TV station give students opportunities to receive hands-on education and training in communications.

History of the Princess

The Princess Theatre was once downtown Harriman’s crown jewel, a 900-seat showplace that provided entertainment to movie-goers from Harriman and surrounding areas.

Crescent Amusement opened the Princess in September 1926, and it was known as one of the larger movie theaters in a small town. The Princess suffered minor damage in a September 1932 fire, but was not so fortunate a few years later. In January 1939, a blaze destroyed the building, and the loss led to new theater construction in Harriman.

The Princess reopened on Nov. 16, 1939, and began showing movies once again. L.W. Bevel, from Sudekum Theatres, was the manager of the new Princess.

The Princess continued on for several years. In 1987, theatre manager Cecil Johnson began to lease the theatre when he learned that the company that owned the Princess planned to close it. The theatre stayed open until 1999 when Johnson retired.

For more information about the Princess, visit www.princessharriman.org.

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Post 2:

The Princess Theatre Foundation presents an inaugural concert, the first of many to come, on Saturday, March 24^th, in the newly renovated facility. The Princess Theatre Foundation will proudly present The Marshall Tucker Band to break in the newly expanded Princess stage, and season the new plaster!

The Princess Theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets* cost $30 for floor seats and $20 for balcony seats. 

Tickets can be picked up at Rocky Top General Store in Harriman (316 Ruritan Road) or Harriman Jewelry Exchange (509 Roane St.).  

In the early fall of 1973 Marshall Tucker Band was a young and hungry group out to prove themselves every time they hit the stage.  They are still rockin’ today and continue to prove they are an unforgettable band!

Still led today by founding member and lead singer Doug Gray, they represent a time and place in music that will never be duplicated.  Gray is quick to credit the band's current dynamic members with carrying on the timeless essence of the Marshall Tucker Band sound.

Current members include slide guitarist Stuart Swanlund who joined the band in 1989, the highly respected drummer B.B. Borden, a former member of both Mother's Finest and The Outlaws, multi-instrumentalist Marcus Henderson of Macon, Georgia, plays flute, saxophone and keyboards in addition to lead and background vocals, Pat Elwood on bass guitar, and Rick Willis on lead guitar and vocals, both of Spartanburg SC, are disciples of the Caldwell Brothers.  Together they present a powerful stage presence as they continue to tour the country and continue to be powerful force in the world of music.

*All proceeds benefit the Princess Theatre.

Incidentally, tickets for both events sold-out 3 hours after the announcement on the Princess Blog!

MY DREAM AND THE MAN THAT CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

What's more American than the mechanics of a mayoral election in "small town USA"?  Nothing - it's the envy of the third world.  There's nothing more democratic or screams freedom more than the free periodic elections held in our country.  That freedom is again coming to life this month in my hometown of Harriman, Tennessee with a new mayoral campaign.  It's time to elect the next mayor of our fair city, and you can bet it is going to be a heated contest.

There will be lots of handshaking, baby kissing, stump speaking, and gatherings of townsfolk enticed by the smell of BBQ and the promise of cool lemonade!  That's part of the reason I'm involved, that and the photo opportunities, but those are not the only reasons.

Why am I so concerned over an election I can't even vote in?  

Mainly it's because I know the incumbent personally, and I know he's as honest as the day is long.  I've watched him with his family and I know how much he loves his wife and children, and extended family.  To me, that speaks volumes about a man.

However, one of the strongest reasons I want Chris Mason to win another term is because we believe in the same dream.  That dream is to see my hometown come back to life and be as close to what it once was as possible.  We both think that can only happen if our beloved Princess Theatre comes back to life first!  It's not the only issue I like his stand on, but it's the most important to me.

Since September 4, 2009, the dream to give new life to the Princess has been moving forward.  Adding to a $300K+ grant from the State of Tennessee for the construction of a "trailhead", the Tennessee Valley Authority donated $1.7M toward the restoration of the Princess.  This came completely unexpected after an unfortunate mishap involving the breach of years of impounded coal ash that spread out in a tsunami like wave covering and destroying local property.

The dream continues to move toward life daily as restoration work continues, having never stopped since it began last August. 

This is the dream work I want to see continued, and Chris wants to see it completed and operating fully during his next term.  Actually, it will most likely be opened prior to the election, but there are a lot of benefits to the city's prosperity that will be associated the Princess opening, and Chris knows how to address these future opportunities.

The Mayor's office has recently received letters of promise and intent from 4 or 5 new businesses to move into downtown Harriman.  The central part of the city has been virtually dead for several years, and these new promises lift everyone's hopes that our beloved "small town" will come back to life.  

Maybe it won't be like it once was, but, there is potential for Harriman to actually be better than it was!  With new college and high school student foot-traffic downtown taking classes in media and the arts, someone will want them to spend the money they carry in their pockets.  Someone will want some of them to live downtown in refurbished apartments, to eat a meal, drink a cup of coffee, by a book or art supplies, or...whatever!  

To ensure "the dream" comes alive and remains alive, I want Chris Mason to be reelected.  After that, I personally don't care who comes in to pursue their own dream.  By then the Princess will be fully functional, being perpetually supported by Roane State's educational funding, and the city will have begun to reap and understand her importance to its well being.

So, that's why I went to Thursday evening's kick off to Chris' campaign.  Well, it could have been the free BBQ, but I'd rather think it was because I supported a man that supports my cause; my dream.

It was my small way of getting involved in my community and giving back just a little. If I didn't have such first hand knowledge of this man's integrity, and if I didn't believe in "the dream" so much, I wouldn't have gotten involved at all.  But, I believe in the dream and the man that can make it happen!

Good news...he said he will have another, more publicized, gathering closer to the election, and than means more great BBQ for me!

I'M DOING JUST FINE!

Several of you have asked for an update on my health, so, since my buddy Gary Baker took a couple of candids of me last evening I thought I'd share them with you.  

You can see I'm alive and kicking, although weighing in a bit less than before the surgery.  I shed at least 30 pounds, possibly a few more, and wearing some old pants I had stuck back in the closet.  Feels pretty good too, but I am suffering some pain at the bottom end of my incision today.  It may have been from standing up last night for the Christmas Parade in Harriman.

Our new city TV station, Channel 15 locally, put on its first production - a live presentation of the annual parade.  It was quite a historic event for us and one we've waited on for years.  The station is owned by the City of Harriman and Roane State Community College and will be a facility for local college and high school students to gain "hands on" experience along with their classroom instruction.

The station will also televise local events and live performances originating on the new stage of our Princess Theater once it is renovated and operating.  This new stage will give our community college two stages for their performing arts department to utilize, and the entire area will be able to benefit from the entertainment.

The production was done with backup equipment, which is not of the quality of the actual equipment to be installed at the station.  Nonetheless, the picture and sound was above and beyond what we have been used to seeing on other local stations.  Everything necessary was right there on that cart!  Everyone was so proud - and relieved!

Anyway, I shot photos at the event last night for about two and half hours, and I think that's why I'm hurting today.  Other than that however, I'm doing well.

I appreciate the concern and apologize for being lacks in posting...just too much going on and not enough about me happening to post - I suppose.  I mean, our blogs are all about US...right!?

THIS IS MY HOMETOWN

This past Saturday was the last "Crusin' In Harriman" for the summer. The event occurs every second Saturday beginning in April through the second Saturday in August each year. The City of Harriman makes no money on this event, but it does keep the spirit of the city alive by bringing folks together downtown!

While standing in front of the Princess Saturday, looking over the "Crusin'" event on Roane Street, (click to see my Flickr photos) I looked up and saw the yellow “caution tape” flapping in the breeze on the roof of the theater and a single open window over the marquee. It was a reminder of the new roof currently being placed on top, and the symbolism of the open window. Our Princess is about to emerge from her chrysalis!

Over the past two decades, the city has declined. It started with Wal-Mart and K-Mart moving into town, drawing customers from downtown, and the loss of jobs from the closing of the Kraft Mills, Mead Corporation, and the various hosiery companies like Burlington. Finally, in 2000 the Princess closed her doors, and began a slow moldy decay.

Downtown Harriman lost all but a handful of stores, and in the years following, other buildings began to follow in decay.

However, there is something new on the horizon that gives us, those who still care and remember, hope. That hope comes from a dream that started with Gary Baker and Muse Watson. The dream was that children of Roane and surrounding counties would have a place to learn about "the arts". The facility is to be called the “Princess Performing Arts, Education, and Conference Center", and is to be perpetually operated and funded through Roane State Community College.

This is the dream, and a long way around my point in making this post. That point is to restate the dream which begins with the restoration of the old Princess Theater (the building) and move toward a Princess Theatre (the art). There is no dream to show movies there again, unless, of course, some local resident creates their own movie, but to showcase live entertainment while providing a learning experience.

The dream is to provide a center where Roane State and high school students can come and learn "hands on" about careers in the arts. Planned is a local TV station (Channel 15), a live entertainment facility, utilizing the 900 seat auditorium of the Princess and the newly designed stage, and later a conferencing center will come online.

But, the point to remember is that students will run the total operation of the TV station, and have hands on experience when live entertainment is presented on the Princess stage. It may be a theatre production of the Roane State, or area high school, drama department, or a music concert presented by local groups. All the productions will be beamed live or taped from the TV station to multiple counties!

The best part, is that students will gain experience that will serve them in future careers in the arts, radio, TV, or the theatre.

From this, downtown Harriman will reap the benefits of foot traffic on the sidewalks once again. Apartments will constructed within the old classic buildings, and store fronts of antique, boutique, specialty food shops will open, bringing jobs and further restoration and spirit back to "our hometown"!

While the dream was all about "some day", it has moved into the "coming true" column with the windfall, which came at the expense of other’s dreams, to the Princess Foundation after the Tennessee Valley Authority awarded $1.7M to the city of Harriman, specifically for the restoration of the Princess.

People who lost their property and homes, after the devastating "coal ash spill" for the Kingston Fossil Fuel Pant near Kingston in 2008, were rightly upset over this grant, and the other education and restoration awards to Roane County. However, this blessing cannot be overlooked or refused. We must carry on with the dream regardless of what God, or fate, sends our way.

The only dreams left now are those of limitless possibilities for the community! Whatever we can imagine now has a stage waiting for us to produce it, show it, and enjoy it!

This is our collective dream. Beyond this it is still our HOMETOWN. Please, PLEASE, get involved and continuing dreaming. It is all up to us now...it may be our last opportunity to make it just like we remember it.

Let me also give you a heads-up. Property values Downtown Harriman will be going up once people begin to see investment opportunities gained from having more foot traffic downtown. Pat Mynatt told me Saturday, while I was cooling off from the heat, that she started her “Red Door Antiquities” shop now in order to get ahead of the rush! I think that was a wise decision...don’t you!?

I WENT SEARCHING FOR NEMO!

Check out the latest post on my PRINCESS THEATER BLOG for details!

NEW FILM SEGMENTS SHOT IN ROANE COUNTY TENNESSEE

Veteran film and television director Harry Thomason is planning a film about the last ride Hank Williams, Sr. took, and has already begun collecting film clips for the production.

It is most probable that the ’52 Cadillac, driven by 18-year-old Charles Carr, with Hank asleep in the back seat, came through Roane County Tennessee sometime on New Year’s Eve 1952. They were on their way to Canton, OH and points north, for new bookings intended to be a new beginning for Hank’s career.

On the anniversary of that occurrence, December 31st, Bill Landry coordinated/directed, and Doug Mills filmed several local vintage automobiles driving around the area. This footage was procured by Harry Thomason for his planned movie "The Last Ride”. Thomason called Bill on Wednesday, but Bill was still able to get the needed cars, including a baby blue ’53 Cadillac convertible belonging to Rex Walls. The car is basically like the one Hank Williams was riding in as he passed this way. filmed several local vintage automobiles driving around the area. This footage was procured by Harry Thomason for his movie “

See more of the story and photos on the Princess Blog!

See more photos HERE!

A VISIT TO ANOTHER RESTORED THEATER

I just wanted to share some photos I took while on a wet and soggy "lessons learned" trip to Maryville, TN Saturday. Capitol Theatre there was restored a few years ago and continues to turn a profit for its owner Heath Claiborne. He told us several pitfalls to avoid and gave us the 50 cent tour.

We found several people visiting their coffee and souvenir shop, milling around the lobby, and many were in the auditorium setting up for a wedding. Gary introduced himself to Benita and Heath Claiborne, owners of the Capitol, and we soon had the 50 cent tour, including the auditorium, the basement, the upstairs interactive video game and lecture room, complete with wide-screen, and Heath’s private artist studio. My apologies to the lady I cut in half!

I went with Gary Baker (right in the group shot) and Dr. Julian Ahler (retired - center of the photo), who have a habit of doing a "road trip" once a month, and have begun inviting me alone. We all work on the Princess Restoration Project in Harriman, so these trips usually involve fact finding for that effort. Although, sometimes we are hunting watermelons, sourdough bread, and homemade cheeses!

Today we found a wonderful doughnut shop (Richy Krème), a used bookstore, and a pint of ale and appetizers at Sullivan's Fine Food in historic downtown Maryville!

As we begin to spend the $1.7M the Princess Foundation just received from TVA, there will be several of these trips, and plenty of opportunities to share my adventures with you!

There are some other shots posted at FLICKR and more about the theater on the Princess Blog!

MY FAVORITE PROJECT GETS $1.7M IN FUNDING

Some of you news buffs may remember hearing about a devastating ash spill at TVA's Kingston Steam Plant on December 22 of this year. TVA is still engaged in the cleanup of that catastrophic containment breach, and settling with area home owners that lost their homes and property.

In a further attempt to make amends and gain positive PR, the Tennessee Valley Authority has earmarked $43 million in Roane County, Tennessee restoration projects. While education is the primary area needing funding, a portion of that funding, $1.7 million, was awarded to the Princess Foundation Project, a project that I have been a part of since the first of 2009.

In celebration of that good news, I posted this piece on the Princess Theater Blog today:

THE BEST NEWS FOR HARRIMAN IN 40+ YEARS!

The Roane County Economic Development Foundation announced today the projects that will be funded with the money TVA donated on Monday (9/14/09) for the restoration of Roane County, Tennessee.

Today (9/16/09) the Foundation announced the “approved” projects that the $43 million earmarked for Roane County economic development. Those specific projects were:

$5 million: Kingston sewer improvements

$32,000: Rockwood paving improvements

$1.7 million: Princess Theater complex renovation in Harriman

An approval for $32 million for the Roane County school system expansion is anticipated to come very soon.

The $1.7 million for the restoration of the Princess "complex" area in Downtown Harriman, could actually have been included in the promised $32 million that will be directed toward the Roane County school system, since the theater, and the two adjacent buildings, will become an Arts Education and Conferencing Center managed by Roane State Community College. However, it is important to highlight the Princess Project because this project will have a long lasting effect on the County’s educational system, and bring new life to Downtown Harriman area.

Most people think the Princess will become a “movie theater” again, which is far from the truth. True, there may be times a special movie, especially ones created by local movie makers and/or the arts departments of Roane State and the local high schools, is shown and premiered at the Princess Theater, but the truth is the primary purpose of the auditorium segment of the Arts Education and Conferencing Center “complex” (see area #3 in the photo above) will be for arts and event productions, large scale teleconferencing meetings, reunions and similar party and planning events, and live music.

Area #1 (in photo above) is slated to become a TV and radio station operated by the students of Roane State Community College. Area #2 will become part of the lobby of area #3, an area that will showcase art and memorabilia. Area #4 will be used as project related offices, teleconferencing management/control areas, and dressing areas for the various events, shows, and live music.

The result of such a “complex” will be the enhancement of arts education in the area which results in entertainment for the citizens of the area.

As Harriman Mayor Chris Mason said today, “This Princess project will have more of a positive impact on the downtown revitalization than anything else we could have done. The best thing about this project is that it will expand our youth’s education throughout the region and that is what really motivates me to keep going on this project.”

The Mayor went on to say, “Today I have the pleasure to let you know that the Roane County Economic Development Board voted unanimously to give the Princess Foundation for Arts Education and Conference Center $1.7 million for the project. This, combined with the grant will fully finish the project and make it the most technologically advanced building in our county. It will be an extension of RSCC campus where all of our youth will be able to participate and take classes in media production, lighting, stage production, sound design etc. It will bring tourists in from out of town to watch shows on the weekend as well as be the catalyst for economic growth downtown.

I want to thank everyone that has participated in this LONG endeavor including the Harriman City Council that formally passed a resolution requesting that this project be funded. THIS IS THE BEST NEWS THAT HARRIMAN HAS HAD IN THE LAST 40+ YEARS!! This project WILL change the downtown as we currently know it and will change the lives of so many youth in our region.

The projected open date will be Summer 2010.

Thanks again…the future is bright for the City of Harriman!”

THIS IS MY HOMETOWN

Take a quick look around Harriman, Tennessee, my hometown. GO HERE

It's probably a lot like your hometown...slowly being choked out by Wal-Mart and the ever encroaching big city shopping malls. However there is still life here, and if you look very closely, you'll see the beauty of what was once a thriving community.

The old Victorian Buildings are still standing...waiting for something new to happen to bring the people back to visit and admire them once again.

The Princess Theater restoration project hopes that from an arts and cultural center, in the old theater building in Downtown Harriman, will grow another bustling community full of hope and brighter future for our children.

"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.

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!

I'M STILL BLOGGING - JUST NOT HERE AS MUCH

Most of my time lately has been devoted to my Princess Theater blog, and the stage show production "Appalachian Dreams" that will happen this coming Saturday.

The show will star local celebrity Bill Landry (star of the "Heartland Series"), and is directed by Michael Golebiewski (Head of the Humanities Department at Roane State Community College - RSCC).

The show, first of many to come, will raise funds needed to restore the Princess Theater to her former glory, and create an arts and cultural center that will help revitalize Downtown Harriman, Tennessee.

Anyway, as you will see from the blog, everyone has been very busy rehearsing for the show. The show is made up of area talent, and will be shown in a format similar to Garrison Keillor's "Pairie Home Companion" show on PBS. The crew and some of the acting talent is made up of students from Bill Landry's Media Production class at RSCC. It will be quite an experience for all involved.When rehearsal was over last evening, a storm had just passed through the area, leaving the streets wet. As I passed the Princess Theater in town, on my way home, noticed that someone had left the marquee lights on outside. I pulled over and snapped this photo. It almost appeared that the theater was open again. That is the dream...that one day soon it will be open for business once again.

WHAT'S MUSHY UP TO?

Oh, 'bout 250! No, seriously, here's a little preview of what I've been doing over at the PRINCESS THEATER blog:

Bill Landry, of the "Heartland Series", began the first class in Media Production Monday evening at Roane State Community College. Mr. Landry is a regional celebrity here in Tennessee. His productions are documenting how life was "back in the old days" and make for a very entertaining 3 minutes between the end of the news and the start of Jay Leno!The Princess Theater Foundation and Roane State Community College are working together to help revitalize Downtown Harriman, Tennessee, and restore the old Princess Theater. I was there last evening to snap this shot of (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)]

This first ever Media Production class, with 17 enrolled, met with Mr. Landry, who wanted to know about their backgrounds, interests, and hopes for the class. Their first assignment was a little "acting" for the camera!Anyway, I'm doing well and having fun working with the foundation on this project. Soon, I'll get to photograph some behind the scenes shots of the class filming their various projects. It's kind of my little Hollywood in the Smokies!

BREAKING BLOG SILENCE

Thought I would briefly break my silence and give you an update on what I’ve been doing.

First of all, it snowed…kind’a snowed…here today. However, it is no more than our usual dusting. The snow stuck briefly to surfaces that retain the required temperature. It is now about 2 hours later and a cold mist of rain, and higher temps, have wiped away all memory, except for a photo I took; of the temporary beauty snow brings to the brown of winter.

I have also been busy working on developing a blog for a “non-profit” cause to which I recently started devoting some time. I’ve joined a local partnership and committee group determined to restore and bring back the entertainment value of the old Princess Theater here in Harriman. CLICK HERE TO SEETHE PRINCESS!

Several years ago, Gary Baker, an old friend of mine, and Muse Watson, a 30year veteran movie and television actor, joined together to buy the Princess Theater after the theater company decided to close it. They then leased the facility back to Cecil Johnson, an uncle and friend of mine through my first marriage, who ran the theater until 2001.

About that time Muse got busy in Hollywood and decided he needed to live in LA full-time. So, Muse sold his interest to Gary, and Gary gave the building to the City of Harriman, who turned around and leased it back to the “Princess Theater Partnership”. The Partnership, in conjunction with “The Princess Theater Restoration Committee Board of Directors” (a group of business and political folks, and educators), is now working to restore the Princess to her former beauty and value to the community.

Long story short, I am supporting the effort with my meager knowledge of blogging, web hosting and design, and photography. It is very enjoyable and gets me out of the house more often. The pay is a good feeling down deep in my soul!

You can keep up with our progress on The Princess Theater blog, which may one day become a true web page.