Tag Archives: City of Little Rock

Little Rock Look Back: J. V. Satterfield Jr., LR’s 48th Mayor

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SatterfieldOn May 14, 1902, future Little Rock Mayor John Vines Satterfield, Jr. was born in Marion.   He grew up in Little Rock and Earle. J.V. was a star quarterback for the Earle football team and is featured in a painting of that team by respected painter Carroll Cloar.  That painting is currently on display through June 1 at the Arkansas Arts Center as part of their exhibit of the works of Carroll Cloar.

Following high school, J.V. taught and coached and sold Fords.  He then moved to Little Rock and sold insurance and later securities.  In 1931 he opened his own business; that same year he built a house at 40 Beverly Place in Little Rock, which would serve as his home until his death.

J. V. Satterfield was elected to serve as Mayor of Little Rock in 1939 and served one term, until 1941.  He was credited with saving the City from bankruptcy because of his fiscal policies. Among his efficiencies were the creation of a central purchasing office and using grass moved from the airport to feed the Zoo animals.  Though as a private citizen he had voted against the creation of a municipal auditorium in 1937, Mayor Satterfield fought valiantly to ensure that Robinson Auditorium opened to the public once he took office.  Shortly after he became Mayor, it was discovered that there were not sufficient funds to finish the construction. After the federal government refused to put in more money, he was able to negotiate with some of the contractors to arrange for the building to be completed. He also oversaw a successful special election to raise the money to finish the project.

Satterfield was a staunch supporter of the airport and worked to expand it.  He would serve as the chair of the first Municipal Airport Commission.  He also established the Little Rock Housing Authority (on which he would later serve on the board).  Mayor Satterfield also served as President of the Arkansas Municipal League in 1941.

Following the outbreak of World War II, Satterfield enlisted in the Army and was given the rank of a Major. He later was promoted to a Colonel and worked in the Pentagon during its early days.

In the late 1940s Satterfield became president of a small Little Rock bank called People’s Bank.  The bank changed its named to First National Bank when it moved into new offices at 3rd and Louisiana in 1953.  By focusing on smaller customers and courting corporate customers, Satterfield grew the bank into one of the state’s largest banks.  He maintained his desk in the lobby of the bank so he could interact with the customers and ensure they were having a positive experience.

Due to chronic health issues, Satterfield retired from the bank in 1964. He died in March 1966.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Liza Minnelli

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Rock the Tonyslizatony2009LIZA MINNELLI

Little Rock connection: Appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in 2004. During that visit she was made an honorary Little Rock citizen.

Tony Awards connection: Won first Tony in 1965 for Flora, The Red Menace; received a Special Tony in 1974; and won a Tony in 1978 for The Act. She was also nominated in 1984 for The Rink. Her show Liza’s at the Palace… won the 2009 Tony for Special Theatrical Event. She has appeared as a presenter and performer for several Tony ceremonies. She hosted the 1993 ceremony.

53rd Young Arkansas Artists Exhibit at Arkansas Arts Center through July 27

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The Arkansas Arts Center, the state’s leader in international, visual and performing arts, presents the 53rd Young Arkansas Artists exhibition, on view May 9 – July 27, in the Alice Pratt Brown Atrium and the Sam Strauss Sr. Gallery.

“At the Arkansas Arts Center, we believe that the arts have the ability to educate and empower our children while cultivating a positive form of self-expression,” said Arkansas Arts Center executive director Todd Herman. “We strive to promote quality arts education initiatives and achievement in the visual arts and through this exhibition, we are offering a wonderful platform to celebrate artwork created by our very own Arkansas youth.”

First presented in 1961, the 53rd Young Arkansas Artists exhibition is a celebration of both the creative achievements of young artists and the youthful spirits of Arkansans. Now in its sixth decade, this annual children’s art exhibition showcases artwork by Arkansas students from with hopes to ensure learning, inspiration and creative expression are occurring in our state’s classrooms. In 2013, teachers from 127 schools across Arkansas submitted 508 works for consideration. Of those, 102 works were selected for inclusion in the exhibition.

The exhibition is open to all Arkansas students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Art must be original and completed within the current 2013-2014 school year. Original works in all media including drawings, paintings, prints, photographs, collages, crafts, and sculpture are eligible. Teachers may submit only one artwork per grade level per school or program. Entries must be made through a public, private or home school teacher or instructor of an art program. All artists whose works are selected will receive notification on March 18 and the deadline for delivery of all selected entries is April 11.

arkartsWorks will be selected for the exhibition by the Arkansas Art Educators Association. A juror selects one Best of Class and two Honorable Mentions for each grade, and each winning artist’s school receives a monetary award to supports its art program. Selected works from the exhibition travel to schools and other venues around the state as part of the Arkansas Arts Center’s State Services Program. The juror will also select the following awards: one Middle School and one High School level Art and the Written Word Award, the Ray Smenner Best in Show Painting Award and the Mid Southern Watercolorists Best in Show watercolor award.

The 53rd Young Arkansas Artists exhibition is sponsored by Barbara and Steve Bova, Dale and Lee Ronnel, The Philip R. Jonsson Foundation and The Central Arkansas Library System. Awards for the exhibition are sponsored by Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Today there will be a Family Festival and Awards Ceremony in celebration of the 53rd Young Arkansas Artists exhibition on May 10 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Activities for kids of all ages will be offered and awards will be presented at 1 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. The events are free for members and exhibition artists, $5 for a non-member individual and $20 for a non-member family. Guests are similarly invited to enjoy a matinee performance of Sleeping Beauty at 2 p.m. in the Children’s Theatre that will also be held on May 10.

For more information, visit arkansasartscenter.org/yaa or call (501) 372-4000.

Arkansas Arts Center programs are supported in part by: the City of Little Rock; the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; the City of North Little Rock; and the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Puppets, Kings and Robbers Hightlight 2014-2015 Season of Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre

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aac_logo_childrens_theatreAs the state’s leader in international, visual and performing arts, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre announces a sensational lineup of productions for the 2014–15 season.

“Our 2014-15 season has a diverse and innovative line-up of talented actors and compelling stories that reflect our continued tradition of bringing joy and laughter into the hearts of our audience,” said Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre artistic director Bradley Anderson. “Our upcoming season will offer something for everyone and we can’t wait to bring our audience back for six consecutive productions sure to delight children of all ages.”

The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre will open the 2014-15 season with Go, Dog. Go! September 17 – October 5, 2014. Watch the stage explode with a delight of color, motion, music and dogs in this captivating adaptation of P. D. Eastman’s famous canine extravaganza. Go, Dog. Go! is adapted for the stage by Stephen Dietz and Allison Gregory.

Magic and morality abound this fall when Pinocchio takes the stage on October 24 – November 9, 2014. One day, by a stroke of incredible luck, this commonplace piece of lumber found its way into the skilled hands of Geppetto the wood carver. And so, the world’s most famous marionette, Pinocchio, was born. Come join the fun as the little puppet runs away to discover the world. The audience will enjoy the fun and share Geppetto’s delight as his little Pinocchio learns an important lesson. The production is written by Alan Keith Smith based on the story by Carlo Collodi.

Spend quality time with the family this holiday season with The Velveteen Rabbit on November 28 – December 21, 2014. The audience will be thrilled with this Christmas themed childhood favorite as the story of a stuffed rabbit and his quest to become real through the love of his owner come to life on stage. The Velveteen Rabbit is written by Alan Keith Smith and based on the story by Margery Williams.

arkartsTake a break from the winter wonderland to see the world famous Grimm’s fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin take the stage January 21 – February 8, 2015. Watch as the miller whose bragging mouth was nearly as grand as the king’s greed gets his lovely daughter into a bit of a mess. The story takes the audience on an adventure while the characters facing life-altering decisions, broken promises and an array of mysterious events through the power of friendship, the destructive nature of vanity and greed and the value of forgiveness. Rumpelstiltskin is adapted for the stage by Alan Keith Smith.

Ever been stuck inside when the weather is blue? The Cat in the Hat has fun in store for you as one of the most familiar and beloved picture books of the last half century erupts with fun on the Children’s Theatre stage on March 5 – March 29, 2015. Sally and her brother are miserably bored on a rainy day until they cross paths with the Cat in the Hat and he’s just in time to show the kids a Thing or two about fun. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss is adapted for the stage by Katie Mitchell.

Just in time for spring, audiences will rally with Robin Hood and his merry band as they outwit and outclass the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham in The Legend of Robin Hood on stage April 24 – May 10, 2015. Join the Children’s Theatre on a glorious adventure with charm and wit that never fails to rouse our hearts in the age-old battle of good versus evil. The Legend of Robin Hood is written by Alan Keith Smith.

Current presenting sponsors for this Children’s Theatre season are Landers Fiat, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Centennial Bank, JPMS Cox and the media partner is Little Rock Family magazine.

Tickets are $12.50 for children and adults and $10 for Arkansas Arts Center members. Season ticket packages are available. For more information, visit arkansasartscenter.org or call (501) 372-4000.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Contact: (501) 372-4000

Location: Arkansas Arts Center – 9th and Commerce, Little Rock, AR 72202

Gallery Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Closed Monday & Major Holidays

 

Arkansas Arts Center programs are supported in part by: the City of Little Rock; the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; the City of North Little Rock; and the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Little Rock Look Back: Lottie Shackelford, LR’s 68th Mayor

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Mayor Lottie_ShackelfordOn April 30, 1941, future Little Rock Mayor Lottie Shackelford was born. Throughout her career in public service she has been a trailblazer.

Active in community activities and politics, she ran for the City Board in 1974 and lost.  But she was appointed to the Little Rock City Board in September 1978 to fill a vacancy.  This made her the first African American woman to serve on he City Board, and indeed on any governing board for the City (during Reconstruction, there were at least three African Americans on the City Council, but they were all men.) She was subsequently elected to a full-term on the City Board in 1980 winning 55% of the vote over three male candidates.

She was subsequently re-elected in 1984 (unopposed) and in 1988 (with 60% of the vote).

In January 1987, Shackelford became the first female mayor of Little Rock when she was chosen by her colleagues on the City Board to serve in that position. She was Mayor until December 1988.

From 1982 until 1992, she served as Executive Director of the Arkansas Regional Minority Purchasing Council.  She left that position to serve as Deputy Campaign Manager of Clinton for President.  She subsequently served on the Clinton/Gore transition team. She later served on the Overseas Private Investment Corporation from 1993 to 2003. She was the first African American to be in that position.

A graduate of Philander Smith College, she has also studied at the Arkansas Institute of Politics at Hendrix College and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Mayor Shackelford has also served on numerous boards including the Little Rock Airport Commission, Philander Smith College, Chapman Funds (Maryland) and Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (Arizona).  She has been the longest serving Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Mayor Shackelford was in the first class of inductees for the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

Little Rock Look Back: Sam Wassell, LR’s 51st Mayor

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IMG_5025On this date in 1883, future Little Rock Mayor Sam M. Wassell was born.  His grandfather John W. Wassell had been appointed Mayor of Little Rock in 1868.  He is the only Little Rock Mayor to be a grandson of another Little Rock Mayor.

Sam Wassell served on the Little Rock City Council from 1928 through 1934 and again from 1940 through 1946.  He is one of the few 20th Century Little Rock Mayors who previously served on the City Council.

Wassell was an attorney.  He practiced law privately and also served as an Assistant US Attorney.  In 1930, he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the US Congress representing the 5th Congressional District, which at the time included Little Rock.

Wassell ran for Mayor in 1947 and was unopposed in the general election.  He was unopposed in his bid for re-election in 1949.  During his second term, President Harry S. Truman visited Little Rock.  In 1951, he sought a third term as Mayor.  No Little Rock Mayor had sought a third consecutive term since 1923.  Though he received the Democratic nomination, the Republican party nominated Pratt Remmel who defeated Wassell by a 2 to 1 margin.

With a new USS Little Rock under construction, it is interesting to note that Mrs. Sam Wassell christened the previous USS Little Rock in 1944.  At the time, she was a City Councilor’s wife.

Mayor Wassell died on December 23, 1954 and is buried at Roselawn Cemetery in Little Rock.

Dine with the Dead at the RIP Mount Holly Picnic This Evening

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MtHollyMount Holly Cemetery is like an aging, but gracious Southern lady. She is in need of ongoing maintenance! Funds raised at the picnic will help maintain this historic landmark. Visitors will walk in Little Rock’s historical footsteps at the 9th Annual Mount Holly Cemetery Picnic. The Mt. Holly Committee calls this event Rest in Perpetuity. The Culture Vulture lovingly refers to it as Dining with the Dead.

Festivities will include:

  • Appetizers
  • Dinner
  • Wine
  • Turn of the century picnic “delicacies”
  • Live music by the Quapaw Brass Quintet
  • Silent auction of tours, elegant dinner parties and opportunities for exclusive events at Mount Holly Cemetery and many other items.

Guests will have the opportunity to join in a historic tour of the cemetery, featuring famous and infamous residents of Mount Holly Cemetery or guests can enjoy a naturalist tour!

This is the annual fundraiser to raise funds to maintain this historic landmark.
Tickets are $75.00 for adults, $25.00 for children under 12.

In case of rain, the event will be moved to Trinity Cathedral.

Dating to 1843, but with grave sites that date much earlier, Mount Holly is a “living and breathing” historical treasure in the heart of Little Rock’s Historic District. Interred within the rock walls of Mount Holly are 11 state governors, 15 state Supreme Court justices, four Confederate generals, seven United States senators and 22 Little Rock mayors, two Pulitzer Prize recipients, as well as doctors, attorneys, prominent families and military heroes. Also included are Eliza Cunningham, the first female resident of Little Rock (who later became the first First Lady of Little Rock) and her son Charles, who was the first baby born in Little Rock. There are veterans from all wars: Revolutionary, War of 1812, Mexican, Civil War, Spanish-American, World War I and II, Korean, Vietnam and Desert Storm.