Monthly Archives: July 2013

Last Week of “Jazz Through the Eyes of Herman Leonard”

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Dinah Washington photo by Herman Leonard

Dinah Washington photo by Herman Leonard

Fans of jazz, photography or American popular culture in the 20th Century have one more week to see the exquisite exhibit “Jazz Through the Eyes of Herman Leonard.”  The exhibit, which opened in March, closes on July 21 at the Clinton Presidential Center.

Herman Leonard was a popular and influential photographer well into the 2000s, but is best known for his crisp, high-contrast black and white images of famous jazz performers from the 1940s and 1950s.

The exhibit features the who’s who of this uniquely American music.  If you have a favorite jazz singer, musician or composer, Herman Leonard photographed them – and they are featured in this collection.

Leonard caught the eye of jazz fans around the world, and Bill Clinton is no exception. Clinton called Leonard: “The greatest jazz photographer in the history of the genre” and has several Leonard prints hanging in his office in Harlem.

This exhibit features over 40 large-format black and white prints made and signed by Herman Leonard. To help tell the story of the artists in the images personal objects will accompany the stunning Leonard images.

Little Rock Look Back: Mayor James A. Woodson

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IMG_0298On July 14, 1848, future Little Rock Mayor James Alexander Woodson was born in North Carolina.  The son of two prominent eastern families, he and his parents moved to Pine Bluff in 1849.  His father died within two weeks of the families arrival in Arkansas.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as a drummer boy in the Ninth Arkansas infantry but was discharged because of his youth. He worked as a clerk at a general store in Pine Bluff. After the Civil War ended, he attended school in Virginia and Maryland before returning Pine Bluff. Upon his return he worked in the steamboat business and eventually started working in railroads. He was instrumental in putting together one of the forerunners of the Missouri Pacific Railroad and worked for them for 18 years.

Woodson moved to Little Rock in March 1881 and continued working for the railroad until 1891.  Working in the mercantile business allowed him more time to be engaged in civic affairs.  In 1895 he was elected mayor.   He handily defeated former mayor W. G. Whipple who was seeking to return to office.

During Mayor Woodson’s tenure, he oversaw renovations of Little Rock City Hall (which was located at the time on the north side of Markham between Main Street and Louisiana Street).  He also championed the construction of a city hospital and the first free bridge across the Arkansas River.  Mayor Woodson was reelected in April 1897 and April 1899.

In April 1890, he resigned to take over the Arkansas and Southwestern Railway.  After restoring it to sound financial footing, he later led the Arkansas Asphalt Company.  That company provided the first asphalt for paving Little Rock city streets.

Woodson served as a director of the Little Rock board of trade (forerunner to the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce), director of the Mercantile Trust Company and president of the state board of trade (forerunner of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce).

Woodson married Virginia Lanier in 1868.  They had six children, five of whom lived to adulthood.  Mayor Woodson died on October 19, 1908 and is buried in Mt. Holly Cemetery.  His wife lived until 1937 and is buried next to him.  Also buried in Mt. Holly are their children James Alexander, Benjamin Morehead and Gertrude Woodson Hardeman; each of whom died before their mother.  Mrs. Hardeman’s husband and son are also buried in Mt. Holly.

Vintage Military Vehicles at MacArthur Museum

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vintagevehiclemacmusThe MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History will be hosting an event today to showcase vintage military vehicles.  The event will run from 9am to 3pm and is FREE.

This event will showcase approximately 20 vintage military vehicles including World War II Jeeps, a 1941 Staff car, 1992 Humvee, and the 1915 Dodge touring car used by Gen. John J. Pershing in Mexico in his search for Pancho Villa.  Food and beverages will be available for purchase on-site from Bryant’s BBQ and Repicci’s Italian Ice of Little Rock.

The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History was created to interpret our state’s military heritage from its territorial period to the present.

Located in the historic Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal–the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur–the museum preserves the contributions of Arkansas men and women who served in the armed forces.

Exhibits feature artifacts, photographs, weapons, documents, uniforms and other military items that vividly portray Arkansas’s military history at home and abroad.

The Museum is a program of the City of Little Rock’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Sandwiching in History: Villa Marre

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villamarreToday at 12 noon, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program’s monthly “Sandwiching in History” program will visit the Villa Marre.

The Villa Marre is located at 1321 Scott Street. The Second Empire-style Villa Marre was built in 1881 by Italian immigrant and Little Rock saloonkeeper Angelo Marre, who also served on the Little Rock City Council.

The distinctive home features a mansard roof covered in patterned slate, a central tower topped by wrought-iron cresting, and hood molding above the doors and windows. Marre died in 1889, and his widow, Jennie, remained in the house until about 1900. Arkansas Governor Jeff Davis rented the house for a few years, and in 1905, the home was purchased by E. B. Kinsworthy, former state senator and attorney general of Arkansas.

It is probably most famous today for being the outdoor exterior of Sugarbakers design firm in the CBS sitcom “Designing Women.”  For several years, it was the home of the Quapaw Quarter Association. It later returned to a private residence.  Currently it is a rentable venue for weddings and other events.

The “Sandwiching In History” program is a series of tours that seeks to familiarize people who live and work in central Arkansas with the historic structures and sites around us. The tours take place on Fridays at noon, last less than an hour, and participants are encouraged to bring their lunches so that they can eat while listening to a brief lecture about the property and its history before proceeding on a short tour. A representative from the property is encouraged to attend also and address the group.

The tours are organized by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. All tours are free and open to the public.

 

Brown Bag Lecture at Old State House today

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OSH logoThe Old State House Museum, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, is hosting a brown bag lecture at noon today entitled Eternal Separations: The Civil War Letters of the Witten Family.

The American Civil War is often referred to as a conflict of brother against brother, but there is a dearth of primary documentation that details the impact on families actually torn apart owing to the struggle.

The Witten family of Saline County, Arkansas, provides an understanding of the divided loyalties of a non-slave owning, yeoman farm family during the Civil War. Approximately 150 surviving letters of the family detail the emotions and events that ripped apart this family, even affecting relatives from east Tennessee to Oregon during the conflict.

Though the war exacted a heavy toll on the family, the efforts of the Wittens to maintain contact with family across military lines provides a glimpse of the ties that would not be severed.

Speaker Anthony Rushing is a teacher of history in Bryant. He initiated the forming of Saline County history organizations including the David O. Dodd Camp of Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Saline County History and Heritage Society. Rushing is currently working on editing and publishing the Civil War letters of the Witten family.

Participants are welcome to bring a sack lunch; soft drinks and water are provided. Admission is free.

Movies in the Park: The Zookeeper

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zookeeperMovies in the Park continues tonight.  As the night gets dark, this week’s feature will be 2011’s The Zookeeper.  Kevin James plays the title character in this comedy directed by Frank Coraci.

Other leading roles are played by Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Ken Jeong, Donnie Wahlberg, Joe Rogan and Nicholas Turturro.  Among those supplying the voices of the zoo animals are Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, Adam Sandler, Cher, Judd Apatow, Maya Rudolph and Don Rickles.

Movies in the Park is a free outdoor movie series in Little Rock’s River Market. They take place at the First Security Amphitheatre. The mission of Movies in the Park is help foster a sense of community and enjoyment in downtown Little Rock and throughout Central Arkansas by bringing people together to enjoy a movie in a unique setting along the scenic banks of the Arkansas River.

Movies start at dark. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics but please no glass containers and pick up afterwards. Those choosing not to bring their own picnic, the park does have concessions available for sale.

Bring bug spray, picnic and family and have a good time!

The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau Technical Services department provides all the equipment for the movies.

Jazz in the Park: U A Monticello Jazz Band

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jazzinparkThe Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau continues Jazz in the Park tonight. The featured musicians are the University of Arkansas at Monticello Jazz Band.

The UAM Jazz Ensemble is open to all students by audition during the first week of class.  Instrumentation for the Jazz Ensemble is that of a traditional big band. The ensemble presents on campus performances of traditional jazz forms as well as more popular styles.

Jazz in the Park takes place Wednesday night in June and July from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. They will take place in the History Pavilion in Riverfront Park (between the Junction Bridge and Peabody Park).

Beer & Wine will be available for sale – to benefit Sculpture at the River Market…so no coolers, please. Free to attend!

Jazz Band I Master