The boys over at RedStateUpdate.com have a new video for us: Link... (YouTube) or Link... (RedStateUpdate.com).

Note that the audio is not safe for work.

-- OneTahiti

A small group from the Knox Heritage and the Oliver Springs Historical Society here the truth about the future of the Princess Theater Complex Thursday evening in Harriman.

The group gathered inside the future home of Channel 15 to hear Watson, Landry, Frank Sparkman, and Ehiel Garlington talk about the positives the Princess project will bring to Roane County.

Read more and see other photos at the Princess Blog.

I visited "our" Princess today and was amazed at how much the restoration crew has cleaned up since my last visit. Yes, it’s still quite dirty inside, but at least the floor is now dry and you can even see some color through the dust. I remember how the Princess looked back in the late 60’s and early 70’s, but if I understand the plans, the Princess will look even better than that period.

The roof, as I’ve posted, is on tight and there should be no more rain coming down inside. The men were tapping chalk lines on the dry auditorium floor when I walked in today. I don’t know what the line is for, but possibly it’s the line to which the stage will be extended.

For more on this visit, CLICK HERE.

We started something new at the Co-op, and it's funnier than ever!

Our professional cast from our murder mysteries has decided to take things to the edge... and go unscripted!
If you like the live sketch comedy of 'Saturday Night Live', you'll have to come out and see what we are up to!

From music videos to talk shows to store clerks - nothing is sacred and everything is funny.

Our next show is:
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 8pm.

You can find us at the Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing Arts Center
426 Ruritan Road
Harriman
Tickets are just $3.00 at the door
You must be 18 & older and not easily offended.

For more information, contact the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129.

See you there!

The new roof of the Princess is about another week from being completed. The recent rains have set the schedule back a few days, but the work done by Davis’ Brothers Roofing thus far is topnotch! The Princess should be “in the dry” in short order.

However, planning and discussions with other vendors continues, rain or shine. This week Frank Sparkman, Bill Milburn, Bill Landry, and Gary Baker met with the proposed marquee manufacturer. Once the façade and marquee are completed, everyone driving by will able to see some tangible progress, and be reminded of the ongoing restoration work hidden inside the Princess.

While others meet to plan the future reconstruction outside, workmen inside were hard at stripping out “the old” to prepare the way for “the new”. In the attached photo, a workman works atop a ladder while Doug Mills, known for his “Heartland Series” work, films his efforts. Sparkman’s crews are used to being the center of attention wherever they are at work on bringing the past back to life! They know they are doing special work on a place very special to the local people. Once finished, we’ll owe them a great debt of gratitude.

MORE ON THE STORY HERE!

We're live and unscripted!

The details are...

'The Comedy Experiment'
August 28, 2010
shows begin at 8:00pm
Tickets are $3.00 at the door
Must be 18 & older

For more information, call the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 or visit Link....

Catch the Creative Arts Co-op's next live comedy sketch show! If you like 'Saturday Night Live', you'll like this.

But beware - we are live and unscripted, so there is no tellin' what's going to happen.

Next show is:
Friday, August 13, 2010
Show begins at 8:00pm
$1.00 at the door
Must be 18 years and older

For more information, please contact the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 or visit Link....

The new “bonnet” will take at least three weeks to complete, but it has to be done prior to any inside work. Once the inside is in the dry, the “real work” of restoration can begin.

The Princess was not the only building in Harriman getting a new roof this week. Workmen could be seen on both the Farnham and old Edwards buildings. It seems a lot of people are into preserving Harriman’s Historic Buildings.

After the roof, you should be able to follow the reconstruction work on the façade of the Princess, and later the new marquee will be installed. All the while, the Princess will be getting cleaned up and dressed up inside.

If you are like me, you can hardly wait to see her all dressed out, looking like she’s supposed to…a real Princess!

More on the Princess Theater blog!

That’s right, for all you “non-believers” progress on the “Princess Performing Arts, Education, and Conference Center” has begun! This week the old seats will be removed from the theater and stored until the refurbishing company is ready for them. Next week, you will see the old roof being torn off and the new 20-year roof construction begin!

After the roof, the real restoration work can begin inside.

So, keep your eyes on the Princess AND the blog…she’ll be smiling at us again soon! The dream IS happening!

MORE INFO AND PHOTOS ON THE PRINCESS BLOG!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Begins 8:00pm

Tickets are $10.00 per person

Join us at the Creative Arts Co-op for the excitement of Vegas without the pressure...!
Refreshments and door prizes
Call the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 for reservations.

This child-friendly, 'Scooby-Doo' style performance gets everyone involved - from searching for clues to questioning the characters.

The show is at:
July 30, 2010
10:00am
7:00pm
Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing Arts Center
426 Ruritan Road
Harriman

Tickets are $5.00 per person at the door.

For more information, contact the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 or visit Link....

Looking for Something Different to do with the Kids?

July 30 - at 10:00am and 7:00pm, the Creative Arts Co-op is having a live Children's Mystery Theatre presentation of 'The Case of the Haunted Theate'. This 'Scooby-Doo' style performance gets everyone involved - from searching for clues to questioning the characters.

The show is at:
Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing Arts Center
426 Ruritan Road
Harriman

Tickets are $5.00 per person at the door.

For more information, contact th Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 or visit Link....

Watch the Creative Arts Co-op go live and uncensored in our first comedy sketch show. If you like 'Saturday Night Live' style comedy, join us tomorrow night.

The details are:
'The Comedy Experiment' live sketch comedy
at the Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing Arts Center
426 Ruritan Road
Harriman, TN 37748
Show begins at 8:00pm

Tickets are $1.00 at the door.
Must be 18 or older.

Call 865/765-1129 or visit Link....

See Road Trip for America's Future: Tales of the Last Moonshiner (Link...)

It's not just about moonshine.

-- OneTahiti

Harvey Pekar is gone (Link...). I've been reading American Splendor since issue #1 in 1976 and feel as if I've lost an old friend.

-- OneTahiti

The venerable Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is looking for a new, non-urban home (Link...).

If the school relocated to Roane County, it would be a revitalizing jewel that would greatly uplift our economy, tourism, and culture. Why are Roane County, the Roane Alliance, and our towns not even trying to attract this valuable plum? Not once in months of news about this has Roane County been mentioned as even interested.

-- OneTahiti

I was wondering around the alley behind the Princess this week, thinking about the work that will soon begin. Upon this roof we should soon see men busily working on putting down a new 40-year roof. That will signal the start of the restoration work! However, the work inside cannot begin until a new roof is firmly in place.

Muse Watson and Gary Baker, among others, have been meeting with Frank Sparkman, and the finer points of the restoration blueprints have been worked out. A roofing contractor has been hired and the work should begin in short order.

More on the Princess Blog!

The second interactive murder mystery of the season is looming on the horizon - and it's going to be one heck of a celebration!

The details are...
'Dearly Beloved, We are Gathered
Together to...Solve a Murder?'
July 17 and 24, 2010
shows begin at 8:00pm
at the Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing
Arts Center
426 Ruritan Road
Harriman

Please call for reservations as seating is limited.
Tickets are still $20.00 per person and include dessert and the show. For more information, call the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 or visit Link....

It Looks Like We're at it ...Again!

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!

Well, sort of...

At least, we having a wedding...

Okay - we're having one heck of shindig.

Congrats to Levi Kreis!
Link...

Summer Fest 2010 is tomorrow in Roane County Park.

This is a big deal, folks. Family entertainment in the park, all day.

Shop with local crafters and vendors, have fun at Carnival Cove For the Kids and the Grand Opening of the Roane County Splash Pad, play in the 1st disc golf tournament, run or walk the Summer Fest 5K, ride along with “Cruisin' for the Kids” motorcycle ride, enjoy the BBQ, cheer on Roane County’s finest in the Law vs. Order softball game and much, much more!

Times: Summer Fest 5k at 8 am, Motorcycle Ride 10 am, Softball game at 6 pm. Other activities are 10 am to 6 pm. Call 865-466-0294 for more details.

Directions: See the map (Link...).

-- OneTahiti

'Gumshoe Memoirs'
June 12 & 19, 2010
Show begins at 8:00pm
at the new Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing Arts Center
426 Ruritan Road
Harriman

or the World's Largest Treehouse. I call it a work of art.

Link...

I went this weekend and this place is surreal. Walking through is the closest I've felt to actually being inside a fairy tale book. A must-see! I can't believe I left my camera at home.

Bring the whole family for a day of summer fun at Roane County Park!

Shop with local crafters and vendors, have fun at Carnival Cove For the Kids and the Grand Opening of the Roane County Splash Pad, play in the 1st disc golf tournament, run the Summer Fest 5K, ride along with “Cruisin' for the Kids” motorcycle ride, enjoy the BBQ, cheer on Roane County’s finest in the Law vs. Order softball game and much, much more!

Summer Fest 5k Run/Walk:
Sign up by noon Monday, June 7, to run or walk. Click here to register for the run.

Times:
Summer Fest 5k at 8 am, Motorcycle Ride 10 am, Softball game at 6 pm. Other activities are 10 am to 6 pm. Call 865-466-0294 for more details or to rent vendor space.

Location: - View a map.

Downloads:

• 
  Summer Fest 2010 Flyer, 8.5"x11", 88kb PDF
• Summer Fest 2010 Vendor Use Application, 8.5"x11", 50kb PDF

Content courtesy of RoaneCountyPark.com.

-- One Tahiti

The Creative Arts Co-op is excited to announce the fourth season of Murder a la Mode - scheduled to begin with the throwback mystery 'Gumshoe Memoirs'. Step back to a time of dames, P.I.'s, trench coats, and smoking guns.

Our new, larger location is...
the Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing Arts Center
426 Ruritan Road
Harriman, TN 37748
Please call for reservations as seating is limited.

Tickets are still $20.00 per person and include dessert and the show.

For more information, call the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 or visit Link....

It's that time of year again... another season of murder and mayhem and delicious desserts, of course.

Our fourth season of Murder a la Mode is scheduled to begin with the throwback mystery 'Gumshoe Memoirs'. Step back to a time of dames, P.I.'s, trench coats, and smoking guns. This show is a little different from previous seasons, but just as entertaining.

The details are...

'Gumshoe Memoirs'
June 12 & June 19, 2010
shows begin at 8:00pm
at the new Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing
Arts Center
426 Ruritan Road
Harriman, TN 37748
Please call for reservations as seating is limited.

TIckets are still $20.00 per person and include dessert and the show.

For more information, call the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 or visit Link....

Last night, the Creative Arts Co-op opened the curtain on its first production in the new Visual and Performing Arts Center. And what a show it was! The fourth annual high school level musical includes 17 high school students from public, private, and home schools. The show itself is classic Broadway with the music of George M. Cohan.

There are two more shows - Friday, May 14th and Saturday, May 15th. And we are located at 426 Ruritan Road, Harriman (the old Rising Sun Cycle shop, next to UGO).

Be sure check our web site (Link...) as we build our event season - with everything from our 'famous' murder mysteries to concerts, casino nights, children's mystery theatre, and more.

The arts are alive and well in Roane County.

We hope to see you there!

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Creative Arts Co-op has to cancel the Premiere Casino Night Gala for May 1, 2010. We will reschedule this event for a future date. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. And we hope to see you at our inaugural musical production '45 Minutes From Broadway!' next week.

The attached video clip is about a wonderful place in Eunice, Louisiana called the "Liberty Theater"! Every Saturday night a Cajun music stage show is presented and aired over their own radio and television station.

These kind of restored theaters are quite unique and the plans are to make the Princess Theater a member of this elite club.

For more information on the Liberty Theatre and the plans for the Princess, CLICK HERE!