Author Archives: Scott

Unknown's avatar

About Scott

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

Tonight at Clinton School – Discussion of Thurgood Marshall and 1949 Groveland Boys Case

Posted on by

UACS DevilBefore he was on the Supreme Court, before he supported the Little Rock Nine, before Brown v. Board of Education, Thurgood Marshall was a longtime crusader not just for civil rights, but for human rights.  T

Tonight at the Clinton School, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King, Justice Marshall’s son, Thurgood Marshall, Jr., will discuss the 1949 Groveland Boys case.

Gilbert King is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys and the Dawn of a New America. The book, about four black men falsely accused of raping Norma Lee Padgett, a 17-year-old white woman in Groveland, Fla. in 1949, unearthed a largely forgotten chapter in the long history of racial injustice in the United States, and explored, in painstaking details, the tactics used by Thurgood Marshall, the future Supreme Court Justice, to chip away at the foundations of Jim Crow law.

The program will begin at 6pm at the Clinton School of Public Service.  A book signing will follow.

KRISHNA Indian performance tonight at Wildwood Park

Posted on by

Wildwood KrishnaWith songs by Oscar winning legend A.R. Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire. The foremost exponent of classical dance in India, the danseuse and actor Shobana is coming with 22 performers from India for a magical show that will be the first ever musical show in Little Rock directly from India.

Please come out and enjoy the show. Free Indian food box dinner for all attending from 6pm to 6:30pm.

The performance begins at 6:30pm.  Tickets are available at Wildwood.

Little Rock Look Back: STAR WARS comes to Little Rock

Posted on by
First ad in Arkansas Gazette (June 23, 1977)

First ad in Arkansas Gazette (June 23, 1977)

Today, May the 4th, is Star Wars Day.

The classic film first opened in May 1977 (though after May 4).  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 theatre, 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 now in the location of the former MM Cohn’s store.)

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.”

IMG_5919

Heritage Month – Baer House

Posted on by

Baer HouseLocated at 1010 Rock Street, the Baer House was designed by the Charles Thompson firm in 1915.

Located in the MacArthur Park Historic District, the house displays a Craftsman Style influence in the abundant use of bracketing and the unusual paired squat box columns resting on brick piers which support the porch, The house has taken an additional historic significance within the district due to the discovery of the original drawings. The Baer House is also an important component of the streetscape and is significant in its representation of the firm’s much used Craftsman design.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 10, 1975.

54th Young Arkansas Artists exhibit now at Arkansas Arts Center

Posted on by

AACYAA2015Now in its sixth decade, the Young Arkansas Artists exhibit showcases artwork by students in kindergarten through 12th grade from across the state.

This year, 455 entries from 111 schools and programs across Arkansas were received. 106 works in a huge variety of media were juried by the Arkansas Art Educators. Award juror Katherine Strauss selected a Best of Class and Honorable Mentions for each grade among other awards. Monetary awards are provided to each winner’s school.

Each year, selections from the exhibition travel to schools and other venues throughout the state as part of the Arkansas Arts Center’s State Services program.

The exhibit runs through July 26 at the Arkansas Arts Center.

Heritage Month – Augustus Garland House

Posted on by

Augustus Garland HouseThe Augustus Garland House, also known as the Garland-Mitchell House, is located at 1404 Scott Street.

Built in 1873, the house has undergone few alterations during the last century. It appears much the same today as when Governor Augustus H. Garland and his family lived there in the 1870’s.  The dominant feature of the house is the two story ell-shaped gallery.

Even though the Garland-Mitchell House has been divided into three separate apartments, the interior still retains its architectural integrity. The wide central hallway which once bisected the entire first floor of the house now terminates at a wall under the stairs which was added in the 1940’s.

Because of the prominent two story porches which are reminiscent of nineteenth century riverboats, the Garland-Mitchell House is locally referred to as “steamboat Gothic” architecture; however, it also has elements of the Italianate Victorian style.

Not only is the building architecturally significant, but as the residence of Augustus Garland, it has other significance.  Augustus Hill Garland was an Arkansas lawyer and politician. He was a senator in both the United States and the Confederate States, served as 11th Governor of Arkansas and as Attorney General under President Cleveland. He was the first Arkansan to serve in the President’s cabinet (and would remain the only one until the Clinton administration). Later, the house served as the residence of Charles Brough while he served as Governor of Arkansas.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 10, 1975.

 

Wild Wines tonight at the Little Rock Zoo

Posted on by

6_yaya_11713_wild_winesJoin us for an event like no other at the wildest venue around – the Little Rock Zoo!

Wild Wines, sponsored by Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, is a culinary and wine experience featuring dozens of hand selected wines from O’Looney’s Wine & Liquor paired with food from more than 50 of central Arkansas’s greatest restaurants. There’s so much food and so much wine that many guests find it hard to get to every station! Five live entertainment areas keep guests moving through the night and animal friends are around each corner to greet guests along the way. Live DJ’s Poolboy and Tre’ Day will spin the after party in the Zoo’s main entry plaza.

A Reserve Room in Cafe Africa kicks-off the event at 6:00 p.m. with more exclusive wines and food prepared fresh by Cache. It’s a party like no other that you won’t want to miss! Mark your calendar now!

Each ticket comes with a souvenir glass and plate.
Must be 21 or older to attend. Please bring ID.
Online tickets will be available now through Saturday, May 2nd, at 3:00 p.m. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Wild Wines sells-out every year and the Zoo strongly encourages guests to buy tickets in advance to guarantee admission.