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.

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

Tales from the South: Art of Communication

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talesfromsouthTonight’s edition of  ”Tales from the South” is The Art of Communication. It will feature stories by Katherine Shurlds, Bob Longo, and Kandice Parker. Music is by the Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host. The show is taped live on Tuesday. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

The program takes place at Starving Artist Café.  Dinner is served from 5pm to 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.  Admission is $7.50, not including dinner.

You MUST purchase your ticket before the show

Previous episodes of “Tales from the South” air on KUAR Public Radio on Thursdays at 7pm.

Dedication of Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library & Learning Center today

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READThe Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS) Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library & Learning Center will be dedicated on Monday, July 8, during an afternoon of events beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the children’s Library,  4800 W. 10th Street.

Admittance is free, but registration is required, and limited to 150 attendees and four attendees per registration. Each adult must be accompanied by a child of up to twelve years. Attendees may register at http://centralarkansaslibrarysystem.eventbrite.com or by calling the children’s Library at 918-3870.

Additional programming will be ongoing throughout the day.

The CALS Board of Trustees voted on Thursday, June 27, to recognize Hillary Rodham Clinton for her services to children by naming the new children’s Library in her honor. The board wished to specifically acknowledge the work she did as a citizen of Arkansas, including service for the Children’s Defense Fund, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Educational System Task Force, Rural Health Advisory Committee, and many others, including her ground-breaking work as co-chair of Arkansas’s Educational Standards Committee. Also recognized is her continued work at the national and international levels to improve the lives of all the world’s children.

CALS’s Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library & Learning Center is one of fourteen CALS branches serving Pulaski and Perry counties. For more information, call 978-3870 or visit www.cals.org.

Sculpture Vulture: Eagle of the Rock

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IMG_6178With Independence Day a few days ago, it is appropriate to feature Eagle of the Rock in the Sculpture Vulture.

This was one of the original six sculptures placed in the River Market, back in November 2004.  Sculpted by Sandy Scott, it depicts an eagle taking flight from atop a craggy rock.  The eagle and rock are cast in bronze which is then set upon a limestone base. It is situated on President Clinton Avenue to the west of the entrance to Clinton Presidential Park.

The sculpture was donated by the Jennings Osborne family.  The sculpture and the surrounding area is known as Osborne Plaza.

Little Rock Look Back: Haco Boyd

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BoydOn July 6, 1902, future Little Rock Mayor Haco O. Boyd was born in Leslie, Arkansas.  At the age of four, his family moved to Little Rock; he graduated from the Little Rock public schools.  He attended and graduated from Hendrix College.

In World War II, he was in the Army Air Corps.  He was a very decorated soldier earning two Purple Hearts, a Legion of Merit, and a Bronze star among other designations from the United States.  He also received high military honors from numerous European governments.  Boyd would remain in the Air National Guard and retired with the rank of Colonel in 1964.

As a businessman, he was a founder of Rebsamen Ford and then state manager of Benjamin Moore for Arkansas.  In 1952, he joined Union Life Insurance.  Throughout his career, he received most any recognition and honor and designation that the field of life insurance offered.

In November 1968, he won a three-candidate race for the Little Rock City Board of Directors. One of the candidates he defeated was former Director and Mayor Byron Morse.  In January 1969, he was selected to serve as Mayor of Little Rock.

Later in 1969, Mayor Boyd and 70 others were on an Eastern Airlines plane headed for a life insurance convention in  Nassau, departing from Miami.  A passenger hijacked it and the plane was diverted to Cuba.   The next morning the passengers were returned to Miami and then sent to Nassau without incident.

In other civic involvement, Boyd served on the Little Rock Airport Commission, including a term as chair.  He was also honored for his involvement with the Boy Scouts of America and Easter Seals.

In September 1923, Boyd married Mary Josephine “Polly” Goodrum.  They were married until her death in February 1977.  Haco Boyd died on March 27, 1988.  The couple are buried at Roselawn Cemetery.  They had two children and four grandchildren.