Texarkana Entertainment Blog

Tomorrow a special exhibit called “Main Street in Black and White” opens at the Arkansas Studies Institute gallery space at 401 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock, Ark. Texarkana, one of three cities with downtowns honored in this traveling photographic exhibit, figures prominently with 15 photos from local citizens as part of the show. Historic photos give a sense of the intriguing, unusual, and fascinating architecture in downtown Texarkana. Other places chosen (with photos generally ranging from the 1880s to 1940s) are Blytheville and Batesville. The show is scheduled to appear in Texarkansa at a yet-to-be-announced location in early December. Main Street Arkansas organized the show. The exhibit is free and the public is invited to see it between tomorrow and Nov. 13, after which it closes. Hours: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info: 501-320-5790. Find out more in tomorrow’s Texarkana Gazette on the Accent page.

- Aaron Brand

On Wednesday last week Gazette photographer Evan Lewis and I traveled down to Jefferson, Texas, to see what was happening on the set of “Boggy Creek,” the non-remake of the Charles B. Pierce cult favorite “The Legend of Boggy Creek.” The movie—directed by East Texas native Brian T. Jaynes—is an update on the Bigfoot/Sasquatch/Fouke monster theme: Shaggy, hairy creatures terrorizes people. It’s inspired in some ways by the original but has a very different plot, following five college-aged kids as they face the monster. Jaynes says this monster and movie is different than the Pierce film, and the creature is based more on Caddo Indian mythology and lore than the previous film’s scary creature.

We got to see the monster in person, and this creature is pretty impressive. I’d be scared if I saw him in the dead of night running at me through the swamp, fog, and Spanish moss. Creature effects specialists Phil and Melissa Nichols (who hail from Houston and have worked on a number of Hollywood films) crafted a monster that certainly blends in with the elements. Unlike a lot of such creatures portrayed in the movies, he is also, to put it succinctly, anatomically correct in appearance. I must admit that made the interview with the main monster actor in costume a little odd. There’s also more than one monster in the movie, said the director.

Much of the time while being on a film set it feels like a “hurry up and wait” experience as the shot gets set up. They were filming this day in the bayou woods at the edge of Jefferson, which has a suitably mysterious ambiance. It was a scene of the monster running through the trees. Later, the two lead actresses were going to be chased, and this scene involved a swim across the fictional Boggy Creek.

It was a fun experience, and it’s certainly not every day there’s a film being shot within driving distance of Texarkana. We should have the story out soon, most likely on the Oct. 11 Sunday Accent page this upcoming weekend.

- Aaron Brand

The excellent Conway, Ark.-based literary magazine Oxford American will be giving Arkansas some props in its 2009 Southern Music issue. It’s the first state to be honored in a new focus for its Southern Music edition, which comes out annually. Each year the magazine will pick a Southern state to honor, and Arkansas is first up. A double CD is included in the issue, which is slated for a Dec. 1 release. The CDs chronicle some of the great Southern music across different genres as well as the rich heritage of Arkansas music. I have no idea whom Oxford American will choose for the kudos, but musicians ranging from Johnny Cash to Evanescence hail from The Natural State. Not a bad start. More info: Oxfordamerican.org.

- Aaron Brand

Just got info sent my way about two concerts coming up in the next few days so I’ll pass the news along. 

Texarkana Community Music Education presents a summer chamber concert at 8 p.m. Thursday evening. TCME faculty and students will perform in the Veritas Christian Academy’s main auditorium at 2101 E. 50th Street. More information: 903-748-8263. 

Mid-nineteenth century music such as the songs of Stephen Foster will be featured from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Historic Washington State Park’s 1874 Courthouse in a performance by classical banjo musician Clarke R. Buehling and his string band. Included is dinner at Williams’ Tavern Restaurant (with music starting at 7 p.m.). 

Tickets: $25 for adults and $20 for children under 14 for both dinner and the music. For just the concert, tickets are $15. Reservations can be made by calling 870-983-2684. 

- Aaron Brand

For the 39th year the city of New Boston, Texas, will celebrate its pioneer times, a celebration that began when the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1970. The New Boston Pioneer Days festival takes place right downtown at T & P Trailhead Park. In addition to the usual varieties of entertainment you’d expect at this festival—a lumberjack show, street dances and rodeo (both on Friday and Saturday nights), amusement rides starting Wednesday night, concessions, arts and crafts, pony rides, a petting zoo, mechanical bull, four-wheeler mud race—there’s storyteller and musician Brian Burns. He uses music about Texas to portray the rich history of the Lone Star State. He’ll perform from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday at the festival. The parade will be held at 10 a.m. that day. More info on the festival: 903-628-2581. 

- Aaron Brand

If you’re going to talk about the Hope Watermelon Festival and the role of those melons in Hope history, you can’t go too far without including the Bright family. About a week ago I and one of our photographers, Megumi Rooze, got to walk through Lloyd Bright’s watermelon patch in Hope to see how these delicious, thirst-quenching treats are doing (they’re behind this year, according to Bright) and discover just what makes a watermelon farmer tick. Bright was quite forthcoming about what he as a grower looks for when it comes to the fruit. This Sunday, the Accent page features an overview of some of the festival’s history and an interview with Mr. Bright. Down below is a video from the Hope-Hempstead Chamber of Commerce showing the world’s largest watermelon (picked in the summer of 2005, it’s the second watermelon in the video – the first is dropped). It came from the Bright farm and checked in at 268.8 pounds. Check out this Sunday’s Accent page to learn about some monster melons. 

- Aaron Brand

Summer is a natural time to celebrate that delicious, succulent treat known as the watermelon. Naples, Texas, continues its own longstanding tradition of holding a watermelon festival on Friday and Saturday. And Hope is famous for its melon party, this year to be held August 6 through 8. For the first time in 16 years, the Hope Watermelon Festival will have a big musical headliner in the form of country music performer Tracy Byrd, He’ll play at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, at Legion Field in Fair Park. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with musical acts the Night Hawk Band and the Jason Helms Band opening for Byrd starting at 6 p.m.. The winner of the “Watermelon Idol” contest will also do a few numbers before the southeast Texas-based Byrd gets on stage. I talked with Byrd on Tuesday and he’s a pretty down-to-earth guy. He’s played around here a number of times and says he’ll bring a full band in for the Hope performance. Of course, it’s probably a safe bet he’ll perform “Watermelon Crawl.” Check out the Hope Watermelon Festival Website to see the many places you can get concert tickets; also, you can buy them online at UACCH’s Website. Byrd concert ticket prices: $12 in advance, $15 at the door; kids are $6. 

- Aaron Brand

Historic Jefferson Railway offers a preview of the Christmas lights to be displayed for its Rail of Lights Christmas Train. It will be a taste of Christmas during the hot summertime (watermelon and a Christmas prize included) from July 24-26. The Rail of Lights Christmas Train runs  later in the year from Thanksgiving through December. The railroad runs along the Big Cypress Bayou and through the Piney Woods—a throwback to the 19th century days of steam locomotives. More info: Jeffersonrailway.com. 

- Aaron Brand

… there are a couple events of note folks may want to check out in the upcoming weeks. 

First, for an event titled “Concert in the Garden,” members of Project String Power, Inc., also known as the Ambassadors of Music from East Texas, will perform to help fund a summer trip to Germany and Austria. It’s a non-profit music education organization, and their concert starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, at House of the Seasons, 409 S. Alley. The conductor, Leonard Kacenja, also leads the Marshall Symphony Orchestra. They request a $5 donation to see the show. If there’s bad weather, the event will move to Christ Episcopal Church at 703 S. Main. More info: 903-665-8000. 

Second, it’s a time to get Western for what’s being billed as Jefferson’s “1st Western Heritage Festival & Rodeo” on June 19 and 20. The festival gives you a chance to meet Cody Hart, who won the Professional Bull Riders World Championship in 1999. Rodeo contestants compete in a bunch of events: bareback riding, saddlebronc, tie-down and breakaway roping, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, mutton-busing, calf and critter scramble, shovel race, and bull riding. Food and Western jewelry and art vendors are on hand. Gate entry fee is $5 with no charge for kids under 6 years old. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday. 

- Aaron Brand

Pastoral settings and inspirational thoughts, tea and quiet contemplation. That’s the kind of thing Historic Washington State Park invites women to experience with a new series called Four Seasons Teas, and it kicks off with a 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. summer season tea on Saturday, June 27. This tea starts at Williams’ Tavern Restaurant and continues to visits of the gardens at the Sanders Farmstead and the Purdon House. It’s the first of four teas with others to be held Sept. 19 this year and then next year on Jan. 16 and April 17. Each tea takes people to two different locations within the park; there is a different menu for each tea. Tea cost is $20, and a membership can be bought to attend all four teas for $70. Reservations for this tea should be made by June 25. For reservations or more info: 870-983-2684. 

- Aaron Brand