Princess Productions, along with Roane State, and other Princess supporters, are working on many entertaining stage events for the May 16th show at the Roane State Theater. Here are a few of the tentative acts that will be performing during this production to benefit of the Restoration of the Princess Theater. Many other acts and entertaining video documentaries will be added as the time grows nearer to “show time!”
Muse Watson, star of many Hollywood movies and television shows, will be sharing his vision of “The Dream” for the Princess Theater, live and on stage.

The “Pick “N” Grin Bluegrass Band” will perform, featuring Larry Mathis and Bud Brewster, who used to play along with Dolly Parton in the early days.

“JD” Williams, local World War 2 hero, will be interviewed by Bill Landry.

There will be music by “The Chickadees”, live and on stage singing many of the “great war” standards accompanied by the music of the Babahatchie Band.

There will be dancing provided by Jennifer Austin’s “Arts in Motion” dancers.

Brooks Benjamin, local school teacher and independent filmmaker, who was married last year in Princess by Mayor Mason, will present an entertaining “short” of one of his movies that was shot in the Roane County area.

There will be an interview of Dr. Terry Stephens by Bill Landry, as part of the Gene Pickel story.

There will be a video presentation of the Phillippi Primitive Baptist Choir, an interview conducted by Bill Landry, with live music on stage.

There will also be live music by Charlie Acuff and the Lantana Drifters.

This agenda will be tweaked as “show time” draws near! Stay tuned...and keep an eye on the Princess Theater blog!

The poster at right is the final draft poster advertising the May 16th 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.

See more detail and photos at the Princess Blog!

It's true, there are not many people who care more about the future of the Princess Theater than TV and screen actor Muse Watson. Muse owns a beautiful piece of farm property in Roane County and has been involved with Gary Baker in reviving the Princess Theater since 2002.

Read the full history of this relationship here.

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, or the Princess Theater blog, as well as your local news, for more specifics coming soon.

Following this planning meeting, Gary Baker 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.

I should have mentioned that the Alumni thanked Gary Baker for his hard work in restoring the Princess Theater, and gave him a hardy round of applause!

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, 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!

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The Princess Theater 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!”

The popcorn and the fountain Cokes tasted so good as you crammed your mouth full of the salty, buttery food and soaked it down with the icy, sweet, and syrupy liquid. And Goobers and Sugar Babies! Oh, what I would give for a pack of Goobers right now!
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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?

The "Heartland Series'" Bill Landry began classes at Roane State last evening, teaching Media Production. There were 17 students that attended the first class.

Michael Golebiewski, was on hand to welcome the students to this new class at the college. It is hoped that the area will become a center for education in the arts.

This class will join up with a Film Editing class that begins next Monday night to produce a film especially themed to showcase the surrounding area. The presentation will also feature special musical talent from the region and be shown in the Roane State Theater on May 16th!

Please stay tuned to this blog, the Princes Theater blog, and your local news for updates on upcoming events.

I'm involved in supporting the effort underway to restore the Princess Theater to its early glory, and to celebrate and further education of the arts in Roane and surrounding counties. If you have jpeg photo files of early scenes in and around Harriman, Kingston, Rockwood, Oliver Springs, or any of the cites in surrounding counties, old school photos, and of any of the old theaters (especially the Princess), please email them to me.

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