Author Archives: Scott

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About Scott

A cultural thinker with a life long interest in the arts and humanities: theatre, music, architecture, photography, history, urban planning, etc.

Original bonds sold for construction of Robinson Auditorium on Dec. 20, 1937

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On December 20, 1937, the Little Rock City Council adopted Resolution 1,418 which authorized the sale of municipal bonds to fund the municipal auditorium.

Earlier that year, Little Rock voters had authorized the sale of $468,000 of Municipal Auditorium Bonds.  Since that January election, city leaders had been undertaking various steps to plan for the project.  Finally, they were ready to sell the bonds.  On December 20, a public sale was held.  The US federal government made a bid for the purchase of $418,000 of the bonds. It was the only bid received.

The sale was accompanied by an Emergency Clause so that it would go into effect immediately.  The clause noted: “It is ascertained and declared that by reason of the present economic conditions many citizens of the City are out of work, and the improvements herein provided would furnish work for a large number of persons and thereby add to the peace and happiness of the City; further, that the City has no Municipal Auditorium or facilities for large conventions or gatherings…”

The offer by the US Government to purchase the bonds was in addition to an outright grant of $342,000 to help fund the auditorium.

While there would be other issues in financing and funding the project, the sale of the bonds on December 20, 1937, set things in motion which led to the February 16, 1940, opening.

Pay What You Can Weekend as Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre on Tour presents two shows in Riverdale

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A Christmas CarolThe Children’s Theatre on Tour is stopping by the Arkansas Arts Center’s Riverdale location for a weekend of Pay What You Can performances December 20–22.

Children’s Theatre on Tour will hold four performances of A Christmas Carol throughout the weekend and one performance of Wynken, Blynken and Nod: A Play for the Very Young. While the Arts Center’s MacArthur Park building undergoes a transformational renovation, the Children’s Theatre has expanded its touring program, which will feature four shows throughout the 2019–2020 season.  

A Christmas Carol will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, and 2 p.m. on Sunday December 22. Clever, comedic, and kid-friendly, A Christmas Carol breathes new life into Dickens’ heart-warming classic. Schooled by a team of magical Christmas Eve visitors, Ebenezer Scrooge, the most miserable of all misers, rediscovers the true spirit of the season—one of love, generosity, and family. With these touchstones of happiness revived in him, he wakes Christmas morning to find himself “light as a feather, happy as an angel, and merry as a schoolboy!” There will be a pre-show holiday party at 5:30 p.m. on December 20 with art activities, a hot chocolate bar, cupcakes, shopping and more. The holiday party is free for Friday evening ticket holders.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod: A Play for the Very YoungWynken, Blynken and Nod: A Play for the Very Young will be performed at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, December 21. Toddlers and preschoolers will delight in the enchanting and whimsical journey of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod as they sail away one magical night and meet the mystical Moon! Inspired by Eugene Field’s poem, this interactive musical for early-childhood audiences explores the fantasy world of dreams. When the Moon asks, “where are you going, and what do you wish?” the night sky becomes the sea and stars become fish as audience members see, touch, and participate throughout the play.

Pay What You Can tickets can be purchased by phone at 501-372-4000 or in person at the Arkansas Arts Center’s Riverdale location (2510 Cantrell Road). Ticket desk hours are 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon – 5 p.m. Sunday.

A Christmas Carol
Friday, December 20, 7 p.m. | Saturday, December 21, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. | Sunday December 22, 2 p.m.
Clever, comedic, and kid-friendly, this holiday show breathes new life into Dickens’ heart-warming classic. Schooled by a team of magical Christmas Eve visitors, Ebenezer Scrooge, the most miserable of all misers, rediscovers the true spirit of the season—one of love, generosity, and family. With these touchstones of happiness revived in him, he wakes Christmas morning to find himself “light as a feather, happy as an angel, and merry as a schoolboy!”

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod: A Play for the Very Young
Saturday December 21, 10:15 a.m.
Toddlers and preschoolers will delight in the enchanting and whimsical journey of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod as they sail away one magical night and meet the mystical Moon! Inspired by Eugene Field’s poem, this interactive musical for early-childhood audiences explores the fantasy world of dreams. When the Moon asks, “where are you going, and what do you wish?” the night sky becomes the sea and stars become fish as audience members see, touch, and participate throughout the play. Join Wynken, Blynken, Nod, and the Moon on this 45-minute multi-sensory adventure for the very young. 

As Skywalker rises, a look back to STAR WARS opening in LR in 1977

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As a third grade boy, I remember devouring the novelized version of Star Wars in 1977. I read everything I could about the movie. I owned (and still have) the two disc London Symphony Orchestra soundtrack on LP.

I was a few months late to Star Wars figures, but Christmas of 1977 and birthday of 1978 did feature them as gifts. (I promptly lost my Sandcrawler weapon at my grandparents’ house on Christmas day.)

In those early days, I was excited by the idea of NINE Star Wars movies. Then, I gave up hope when George Lucas abandoned them after Return of the Jedi. When the prequels were announced during my adulthood, I was excited. Only to be disappointed by the actual movies (though admittedly they did get better by episode 3).

Then in 2015, the day my eighth grade self dreamed of, was here: what happens AFTER Return of the Jedi?  I saw The Force Awakens and flashed back to those early days. (Cynics might say it was because so much of Episode 7 was a retread of Episode 4.)  While 2017’s The Last Jedi may have disappointed or confused some fans, it offered many memorable moments.

And today: 42 years after it all began, (after sneak peeks last night), The Rise of Skywalker, the long promised ninth installment opens.

First ad in Arkansas Gazette (June 23, 1977)

In honor of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker‘s opening day, here is a flash back to the Arkansas Gazette ad in June 1977 when the first film hit Little Rock (a full month after it first opened in New York).

It did not reach Little Rock until June 24, 1977. Given its status as a sleeper hit, it is no surprise that it came into Little Rock largely unnoticed.

In that day, major films opening on a Friday would be heralded the previous Sunday with a substantial advertisement. The first Star Wars ad ran on Thursday, June 23, 1977, the day before it opened. By contrast, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, which would play at the same theater, had a large ad on Sunday, June 19.

While Star Wars would seem like the perfect movie for the great UA Cinema 150, it did not play there. The film playing at the 150 was A Bridge Too Far, which was, at least an action movie. Star Wars did not even open at a UA theatre. It opened at the ABC Cinema 1 & 2 (located at Markham and John Barrow) and at the McCain Mall Cinema. (The ABC Cinema location is now home to discount cellphone and discount clothing businesses; a cinema has returned to McCain Mall but in a different location.)

The day it opened, there was a fairly large ad which incorporated the familiar beefcake Luke, Leia in flowing gowns, and Darth Vader mask. On the Sunday after it opened, there was a slightly smaller ad with the same artwork. McCain Mall also ran a small add for both Star Wars and Herbie. It noted that Star Wars was a film that management “does not recommend for children.”

51 years since first full-length, locally produced THE NUTCRACKER was presented in Little Rock at Robinson Auditorium

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In December 1968:

  • the final stretch of Interstate 40 between Little Rock and Memphis was completed. (Little did anyone know that milestone merely meant work would change from construction to non-stop reconstruction.)
  • Talks were underway about merging private Little Rock University with the University of Arkansas system (which would be finalized in the summer of 1969).
  • On the TV on December 19, “The Little Drummer Boy” TV special was being shown for the first time.  Also, Arkansan Glen Campbell was one of the guest stars on Bob Hope’s Christmas TV special.

For those who did not sit at home watching TV, at Robinson Auditorium on December 19 and 20, 1968, the nascent Little Rock Civic Ballet (a forerunner to today’s Ballet Arkansas) presented its first production of THE NUTCRACKER.

Under the direction and choreography of D. Cater Cranford, this production featured 135 performers, a fifty piece orchestra under the direction of Vasilios Priakos, and the largest number of stagehands in Robinson Auditorium’s history.  The production cost $25,000 to mount.  That would be the equivalent of just over $184,775 in 2019.

A large portion of the money went to renting sets from Dallas for the production. The costumes were designed and sewn by Cranford.  He also appeared as Drosselmeyer in the production.  His wife Lorraine, assisted with the choreography and also appeared on stage.

Though most of the dancers were local, the leading roles were danced by Bill Martin-Viscont, Nathalie Krassovak, Linda DiBona, Margo Dean and Carl Tressler.  Some of the dancers who had rehearsed for the production were unable to participate due to several cast members coming down with flu in the days immediately prior to the production.

The production sold out both public performances as well as the daytime matinee for school children.  The dress rehearsal on December 18 was opened up for children with disabilities to attend.

Though The Nutcracker has not been presented in Little Rock every year since 1968, it has certainly been on stage most of the years since then.  The overwhelming response to this production set the stage for it to become a much-loved holiday tradition in the city.

Go “Home for the Holidays” with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra tonight

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Home for the HolidaysTonight, December 19, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will present its traditional holiday concert Home for the Holidays

ASO’s traditional holiday show is back for a one-night-only performance including music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Holst’s In the Bleak Midwinter, music from the hit film Polar Express, and your favorites like “O Holy Night”, “Sleigh Ride”, and “It’s Beginning to look a Lot like Christmas!”

Vocalist Stephanie Smittle will be performing with the ASO for “It’s Beginning to look a Lot like Christmas,” “This Christmastide (Jessye’s Carol),” “O Holy Night,” and “Mary Did You Know.”

Tickets are $16, $36, $57, and $70; active duty military and student tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at www.ArkansasSymphony.org; at the Robinson Center street-level box office beginning 90 minutes prior to a concert; or by phone at 501-666-1761, ext. 1.

Artists
Israel Getzov, conductor
Stephanie Smittle, vocalist

Program
HOLST – In the Bleak Midwinter
TCHAIKOVSKY – Nutcracker Suite, Op 71a, “Waltz of the Flowers”
Arr. O’Loughlin – Christmas Canticles
WILLSON/Arr. Holcombe – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas*
FRASER – This Christmastide (Jessye’s Carol)*
SILVESTRI/Brubaker – Polar Express Concert Suite
ANDERSON – Sleigh Ride
TORME/ Lowden – A Christmas Song
ADAM/ Ryden – O Holy Night*
LOWRY/SCHRADER – Mary Did You Know?*
O’NEILL/Phillips – Mad Russians’ Christmas
O’NEILL/Phillips – Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24

*denotes a song that Stephanie Smittle will be performing with the ASO

Explore George Bailey’s life as CALS Ron Robinson Theater shows IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE tonight

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It's a Wonderful Life PosterBefore or after seeing It’s a Wonderful Life on stage at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre (now through December 29), you can see the movie on the big screen tonight at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater.

Produced and directed by Frank Capra, It’s A Wonderful Life is based on the short story and booklet The Greatest Gift, which Philip Van Doren Stern wrote in 1939 and published privately in 1943.

The 1946 film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams to help others, and whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). Clarence shows George all the lives he has touched, and how different life in his community of Bedford Falls would be if he had never been born.

Joining Oscar winner Stewart in the film are Oscar winners Lionel Barrymore and Thomas Mitchell, future Oscar winners Donna Reed and Gloria Grahame, along with Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, future TV executive Sheldon Leonard (who inspired the names of the two leading characters in TV’s BIG BANG THEORY), and H. B. Warner.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Film starts at 7:00 p.m. Beer, wine, and concessions will be available!