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.

Heritage Month – U.S. Arsenal Tower Building

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MacPark ArsenalToday is Armed Forces Day.  It is an appropriate day to look at the U. S. Arsenal Tower Building.  Construction on the Little Rock Arsenal began in 1838 and was completed in 1840.  The complex grew to include more than thirty buildings. The arsenal building itself was a two story brick building with an unusual central octagonal tower between two wings. The tower was actually used to move munitions between floors of the building. Other buildings included office buildings, a storehouse, a magazine, a guardhouse, a hospital and other service structures. The hospital and service structures were built of wood.

On 25 Jul 1873 the Little Rock Arsenal became the Little Rock Barracks and remained that until the facility was abandoned 25 Sep 1890. The tower building was converted into married officer quarters. Douglas MacArthur was born 26 Jan 1880, in the tower building at the Little Rock Barracks to then Captain Arthur MacArthur, Jr. and his wife.

The site was turned over to the city 23 Apr 1892, stipulated for use as a city park. In return, the City of Little Rock gave the U.S. Government 1,000 acres  on which Fort Logan H. Roots was established by the U.S. Congress on the same date, 23 Apr 1892. All of the remaining buildings on the original site were sold or destroyed except the Arsenal Tower building.

The land became known as City Park and later MacArthur Park.  The Tower Building remained empty and in deteriorating condition until the late 1930s, when the City of Little Rock renovated the building.  For many years, the Aesthetic Club met in the building as the only tenant.  When others refused to pay the utilities, the Aesthetic Club members did.  The organization continues to meet in the building.

In 1942, the Museum of Natural History and Antiquities opened in the building; it had previously been located in Little Rock’s City Hall. The name of the museum changed in 1964 to the Museum of Science and Natural History, and again in 1983 to the Arkansas Museum of Science and History. In 1997, the museum moved to a new location in the River Market, where it now is known as the Museum of Discovery.

In May 2001, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History opened in the building.

The structure was listed in National Register of Historic Places on July 28, 1970.  It was designated a National Historic Landmark on April 19, 1994.

Over 60 films shown at LR Film Festival today PLUS the Awards Gala tonight!

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LRFF2015 longThe Little Rock Film Festival has another jam-packed day today.

At 10am the films are:

  • H. – Butler Center
  • “Made in Arkansas” Shorts Block 6 – The Joint
    • “Go to the Ball with Me, Jenny” (Cole Borgstadt), “Simple” (Scott McEntire), “Stay a While” (Michael Kelley), “Sassy & the Private Eye” (Tanner Smith), “The Whisperers” (Jason Miller) and “Perfect Machine” (Jarrod Paul Beck)
  • “This Life” World Shorts Block – Bill and Margaret Clark Room
    • “The Suburbs Go On Forever” (Mark Day), “The Way Things Are” (Guy Nemesh), “Stella Walsh” (Rob Lucas), “The Youth” (Dehanza Rogers) and “Unmappable” (Diane Hodson, Jasmine Luoma)

Barge starts at 10:30 in the Ron Robinson Theater.

 

The 12:30 lineup includes:

  • Uncle Kent 2 – Ron Robinson Theater
  • The Hunting of the President – Clinton School. Filmmaker Harry Thomason will be present and lead a discussion.
  • Sweaty Betty – Stickyz
  • “Made in Arkansas” Shorts Block 5 – The Joint
    • “Not Interested” (Matt Foss), “The Making of ‘Sensitivity Training’” (Tanner Smith), “’Twas the Night of the Krampus” (Donovan Thompson), “Vampire-Killing Prostitute” (Jordan Mears), “Southern Pride” (Nick Lane), “The Paper Boy” (Thien Ngo) and “I Hate Alphaman” (Hunter West)
  • “Adventure” World Shorts Block – Bill and Margaret Clark Room
    • “Twelve Traditions” (Jonathan Cuartas), “Dust” (Mike Grier), “The Answers” (Michael Goode), “Spearhunter” (Adam Roffman), “The Other Side” (Scott Brown), “Big Boy” (Bryan Campbell) and “September Sketch Book” (Ronnie Cramer)

“Made in Arkansas” The Hanging of David O. Dodd will show at the Butler Center starting at 1pm.

At 2:30 there will be a filmmaker panel on Cinematic Non-fiction in the Filmmakers Lounge.

 

The films at 3:00pm are:

  • Western – Ron Robinson Theater
  • God Bless The Child – Butler Center
  • Cartel Land – Clinton School
  • “Made in Arkansas” Shorts Block 1 – Stickyz
    • “Loser” (Andrew Lisle), “Forsaken” (Krisha Mason), “Monotony Broken” (J. C. Cocker), “Stranger Than Paradise” (Johnnie Brannon), “Rites” (Cody Harris), and “The Dealer’s Tale” (Justin Nickels).
  • “Made in Arkansas” Block 4 – The Joint
    • “The Tricycle” (David Bogard, “What Was Lost” (Romello Williams, “Overgrown” (Bruce Hutchinson, “Pyro” (Cole Borgstadt, and “The Space Station” (Michael Sutterfield)
  • “Explore” World Shorts Block – Bill and Margaret Clark Room
    • “Swimming in Your Skin Again,” “Beach Week,” “The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano,” “Displacements,” “Pequeño bloque de cemento con pelo alborotado conteniendo el mar” and “When I Write.”

 

The last batch of films today are at 5:30:

  • (T)ERROR – Ron Robinson Theater
  • Funny Bunny – Butler Center
  • How to Change the World – Clinton School
  • Applesauce – Stickyz
  • “Made in Arkansas” Block 3 – The Joint
    • “Undefeated” (Nathan Willis), “Little Brother” (Eric White), “Spoonin’ the Devil” (Michael Carpenter), “Meredith” (Scott Eggleston), and “The Town Where Nobody Lives” (Al Topich)
  • “Quirks” World Shorts Block – Bill and Margaret Clark Room
    • “The Department of Signs and Magical Intervention,” “Woman of the World,” “reConception,” “Happy Hour,” “Miss Famous,” “Love in the Time of March Madness,” and “Jake Plays First Base.

 

At 8pm tonight the Little Rock Film Festival Awards Gala will take place at the Old State House Museum.  Winners will be announced for several awards including:

  • Golden Rock Narrative Feature Grand Prize
  • Golden Rock Documentary Feature Grand Prize
  • Made in Arkansas Grand Prize
  • Cinematic Non-Fiction Grand Prize
  • Arkansas Times Best Southern Film

On Armed Forces Day – Visit the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History

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Today is Armed Forces Day.  It is a good day to visit Little Rock’s museum devoted to Arkansas’ military heritage.  Located in the historic Arsenal Tower in MacArthur Park, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History honors the Arkansans who have 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 exhibits include:

  • From Turbulence to Tranquility: The Little Rock Arsenal
  • Capital In Crisis and Celebration: Little Rock and the Civil War
  • Alger Cadet Gun
  • Camden Expedition
  • David Owen Dodd
  • Through the Camera’s Eye: The Allison Collection of World War II Photographs
  • By the President in the Name of Congress: Arkansas’ Medal of Honor Recipients
  • Conflict and Crisis: The MacArthur- Truman Controversy
  • Duty, Honor and Country: General Douglas MacArthur
  • The Sun Never Sets on the Mighty Jeep: The Jeep During World War II
  • War and Remembrance: The 1911 United Confederate Veterans Reunion
  • First Call – American Posters of World War I
  • Undaunted Courage, Proven Loyalty: Japanese American Soldiers in World War II
  • Vietnam, America’s Conflict

The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History is a museum of the City of Little Rock.  It is led by executive director Stephan McAteer who works with the MacArthur Military History Museum Commission.  The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 4pm, Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm.

RIP B.B. King

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The one and only B.B. King has left us. While he will no longer be creating new music, he will live on in our memories and in the rich musical legacy he has left.

Here is a photo of him performing at the amphitheatre in Riverfront Park in July 2008.  Also on the bill (and sitting in with B. B. King at the end) was Willie Nelson.

BBKing Willie

Photo by Linda Banks

Over the years, King made numerous appearances in Little Rock and throughout Arkansas.  Ten years ago, he headlined the 2005 Riverfest.  But he had started his career playing in segregated and smaller settings.  His earliest Little Rock performance which has been documented was at Club Morocco in 1951 sharing the stage with Floyd Dixon.

Regardless of where he played, King poured his heart and soul into the performance. Even as he got older and faced health difficulties, he never gave less than his all in a performance.  When he went on stage, any age or infirmity limitations seemed to melt away.

 

The Tonight Show Starring Kevin Delaney airs on May 22

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Delaney MOD NBC

Photo from Museum of Discovery

David Letterman leaves the air on Wednesday, May 20.  One of the new stars of late night TV returns for his third appearance on Friday, May 22.

Kevin Delaney, director of visitor experience at the Museum of Discovery, will make his third appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at 10:35 p.m. Friday, May 22, on NBC.  Delaney serves as the show’s “science expert” and performs multiple science demonstrations with Fallon serving as his lab assistant.

“I am honored to return to ‘The Tonight Show’ and represent the Museum of Discovery and Arkansas,” said Delaney. “It’s exciting to have this opportunity to showcase how amazing science is, all while serving the museum’s mission of igniting a passion for science, technology and math.”

Delaney was chosen after “Tonight Show” producers reached out to more than 50 museums across the country in search of the right candidate. Following a test show in February, Delaney made his successful “Tonight Show” debut on May 5, 2014 and returned again on November 7. To watch his first two appearances, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OELiqiIHZEI andhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQWtZd8jM3g

To learn more about Delaney, visit https://www.museumofdiscovery.org/kevin-delaney-tonight-show-jimmy-fallon

The Museum of Discovery’s mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.

Heritage Month – Lamar Porter Field

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Lamar PorterLamar Porter Athletic Field is located in the Stifft Station neighborhood. Construction started in 1934 and continued for 18 months by the Works Progress Administration on a 10 acre site.

The 1,500 seat grandstand included club rooms, shower and locker rooms and a concession stand. It was first used by Boys’ Club teams in 1936. By 1937, City leagues and American Legion teams used it.  A playground, softball field and tennis courts were constructed next to the baseball field.

Lamar Porter Field is remarkable not only for its architecture, but also for its history.  Thousands of boys growing up in Little Rock played ball here.  One of those was future Baltimore Oriole Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson.  He has come back numerous times and has aided in fundraising efforts to restore the field.

The baseball sequence from A Soldier’s Story with Denzel Washington was filmed at Lamar Porter Field.

The field is named in memory of Lamar Porter, whose family donated the land and some money to help with the construction.  A Little Rock native, he was killed in May 1934 while he was attending Washington and Lee University.

Today Lamar Porter Field and the multipurpose field are home to RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner-city) which is an official program of Major League Baseball. Both Catholic High School and Episcopal Collegiate use Lamar Porter as their home field.

Lamar Porter Field was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 6, 1990.

Twelve Hours of Film Viewing Possible in Day 5 of Little Rock Film Festival

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LRFF2015posterIf you have the stamina, you can watch films from 10 in the morning until 10:30 tonight today with the Little Rock Film Festival.

At 10am at The Joint – Made in Arkansas” Shorts Block 6 with “Go to the Ball with Me, Jenny” (Cole Borgstadt), “Simple” (Scott McEntire), “Stay a While” (Michael Kelley), “Sassy & the Private Eye” (Tanner Smith), “The Whisperers” (Jason Miller) and “Perfect Machine” (Jarrod Paul Beck).  At 10:30am – 7 Chinese Brothers (Ron Robinson Theater), I Am the People (Butler Center) and “Made in Arkansas: The Hanging of David O. Dodd – Bill and Margaret Clark Room.

Those four locations will again be busy at 12:30 with:

  • Western – Ron Robinson Theater
  • Tired Moonlight – Butler Center
  • “Made in Arkansas” Block 3 – The Joint
    • “Undefeated” (Nathan Willis), “Little Brother” (Eric White), “Spoonin’ the Devil” (Michael Carpenter), “Meredith” (Scott Eggleston), and “The Town Where Nobody Lives” (Al Topich)
  • “Adventure” World Shorts Block – Bill and Margaret Clark Room
    • “Twelve Traditions” (Jonathan Cuartas), “Dust” (Mike Grier), “The Answers” (Michael Goode), “Spearhunter” (Adam Roffman), “The Other Side” (Scott Brown), “Big Boy” (Bryan Campbell) and “September Sketch Book” (Ronnie Cramer)

There will be a panel at 2:15 “Making Million Dollar Films for Thousands” in the Filmmakers Lounge.

At 3pm the films are:

  • God Bless the Child – Ron Robinson Theater
  • Sweaty Betty – Butler Center
  • “Made in Arkansas” Shorts Block 5 – The Joint
    • “Not Interested” (Matt Foss), “The Making of ‘Sensitivity Training’” (Tanner Smith), “’Twas the Night of the Krampus” (Donovan Thompson), “Vampire-Killing Prostitute” (Jordan Mears), “Southern Pride” (Nick Lane), “The Paper Boy” (Thien Ngo) and “I Hate Alphaman” (Hunter West)
  • “Some Lives” World Shorts Block – Bill and Margaret Clark Room
    • “The Resort (Shadae Lamar Smith), “Tom in America” (Flavio Alves), “Elgin Park” (Danny Yourd), “Write with Me…” (Hannah Leshaw), “Chute Fighter” (Laurel Parmet), “Lay in Wait” (Jonathan Ade), “The Murder Ballad of James Jones” (Jesse Kreitzer)

The 5:30 screenings are:

  • Applesauce – Ron Robinson Theater
  • Crocodile Gennadiy – Butler Center
  • “Made in Arkansas” The Grace of Jake – The Joint
  • “One, Two” World Shorts Block – Bill and Margaret Clark Room
    • “Biscayne World” (Ahol Sniffs Glue, Michael Arcos, Ellen Hertzler), “one hitta quitta” (Ya’Ke Smith), “Boxeadora” (Meg Smaker), “Day One” (Henry Hughes), “Hunter’s Fall” (Peter J. McCarthey) and “Bookin’” (John Kirkscey)
  • (T)ERROR – Clinton School

 

The final round of films tonight start at 8.  They are:

  • Breaking a Monster which will also feature a performance by Unlocking the Truth – Ron Robinson Theater
  • Uncle Kent 2 – Butler Center
  • “Made in Arkansas” The Phone in the Attic – The Joint
  • “Comes and Goes” World Shorts Block – Bill and Margaret Clark Room
    • “Tough” (Alfonso Johnson), “Marathon” (Lauren Smitelli), “The Art of Richard Thompson” (Bob Burnett), “Papa Machete” (Jonathan David Kane), “How to Stand Up for Yourself” (Sarah Hanssen), “La Reina” (Manual Abramovich) and “Mr. Gold” (Brian Carlson).
  • Peace Officer – Clinton School

At 9pm, the Tale of Two Cities Party takes place on the Junction Bridge.