Texarkana Entertainment Blog

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

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If you’re in the neighborhood Saturday in Jefferson, Texas, you may want to stop on by the town’s City-Wide Rummage Sale. Bargains galore will be found in the participating neighborhoods and businesses, and the Marion County Courthouse Parking Lot. I just spent the day in Jefferson on Wednesday to watch filming of the “Boggy Creek” movie, and it’s a lovely time to check out Jefferson’s tree-lined streets and interesting downtown shopping district. Perfect, crisp fall weather for it. To get a free map of sale locations stop by the Marion County Chamber of Commerce (101 N. Polk) after 5 p.m. tomorrow; there will be a rack with free maps. More info: 903-665-2672.

- Aaron Brand

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Edward Humes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and journalist, will discuss his career and new book “Eco Barons: The Dreamers, Schemers, and Millionaires Who Are Saving Our Planet” at 7 p.m. on Monday at Soul Surroundings (121 N. Polk) in Jefferson, Texas. The discussion is part of the Pulpwood Queen Book Club’s Arts, Letters, and Soul Author Lecture Series. “Eco Barons” chronicles some of the visionaries who push for stronger environmental stewardship and a deeper eco-consciousness. I’ve not read the book, but it certainly is a timely issue and there are a number of fascinating characters (Ted Turner, for example) who’ve devoted their considerable fortunes and time to enacting positive environmental change. Humes has a blog about his book here: Eco Barons blog. 

Tickets are $30 per person and $40 per couple; a supper and refreshments are included. For more information or buying a ticket, call Soul Surroundings at 903-665-8107 or Beauty and the Book (where copies of “Eco Barons” are available) at 903-665-7520. 

- Aaron Brand

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… 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

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A fly-in at Jefferson’s Cypress River Airport from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, brings a special piece of aircraft to town, an Aermacchi AM-3C, which was largely used by the South African Air Force until the early ’90s, particularly during the Angolan War. Reportedly only five of them exist in the U.S. They were designed in the 1960s as a replacement for the Cessna L-19. A DC-3 from Oklahoma City and other vintage places are scheduled to participate in this fly-in as well. Admission is free. 

Airport location: 3 miles east of Big Cypress Bayou Bridge on Highway 134. For more info, check out www.jeffersonflyin.com. 

- Aaron Brand

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Jefferson, Texas, is no stranger to holding a fine event, especially in spring when it can show off its beautiful looks and history on some supremely pleasant days. “Grace and Charm Along the Bayou” is the title for the 62nd Annual Pilgrimage Tour of Homes & Spring Festival on Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3. Four homes will welcome you during the tour: The French Townhouse at 502 E. Walker, Schluter House at 602 E. Taylor, the Hudgins-Blake House at 1111 S. Line, and Whitington’s Terry House at 404 Walnut. And there are plenty of other attractions and action going on during the first weekend of May in Jefferson. 

For more info and tickets, contact The Excelsior House Hotel at 903-665-2513 or the Marion County Chamber of Commerce at  903-665-2672. 

On the Net: Jefferson’s Historical Pilgrimage Home Tour and Spring Festival. 

- Aaron Brand

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Down in Jefferson, Texas, the Marion County Chamber of Commerce is putting on its 4th Annual Crawfish “Boil on the Bayou” on Saturday. If that doesn’t sound delicious enough, from Eunice, Louisiana, and the South Louisiana festival and concert circuit comes JoJo Reed and the Happy Hill Zydeco Band to add even more spice to the proceedings. It’s all starting at 11 a.m. at Bateman’s Alley, and then the band starts off at noon and the boil rolls until 7 p.m. 

More info: 903-665-2672. 

- Aaron Brand 

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Jefferson, Texas, hosts a big show Friday through Sunday for folks lovin’ cars. It’s the Outlaw Nationals Rod Run and Car Show where about 300 cars (classic, antique, muscle and street rod) will be hanging out looking their best and waiting for the public to peruse, examine and daydream all over them. They’ll be parked in Jefferson’s historic, brick-street downtown neighborhood. Jefferson native Mark Fort will show his Rat Rod, a creation made of the body of a 1940 Chevrolet with parts from other vintage autos. Proceeds benefit the Percy Johnson Burn Foundation and Children’s Camp. Big Cypress Street Rod Association sponsors this event. 

More info: Rudd Key (903) 665-3411; Mark Fort  (903) 665-7595; Bob Wolcott (903) 407-1908. Or you can e-mail ekey998064@aol.com. 

- Aaron Brand

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Time to celebrate Mardi Gras, and you don’t necessarily have to go to New Orleans to do it. From Shreveport, La., to Mobile, Ala., celebrations have already gotten the good times rolling on the way to Fat Tuesday next week. And down in Jefferson, Texas, from Friday through Sunday the folks there will stage Mardi Gras Upriver, and this marks 20 years for a revived celebration of the annual time for beads, parades, and king cakes in the town. Things kick off Friday at 7 p.m. with the Doo Dah Parade, then continue on Saturday with the 2 p.m. Grande Parade and again at 2 p.m. on Sunday with the Children’s Parade. Food, music, arts and crafts, and a carnival are also part of the festivities. More info: www.mardigrasupriver.com. 

- Aaron Brand

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If you’d like to say goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009 in an atypical way, the Rail of Lights New Year’s Train is just down the highway from Texarkana in Jefferson, Texas. All three stream trains on New Year’s Eve (7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 11:30 p.m.) will bring you along the the Cypress Bayou River. Drinks, noisemakers and a simulation of the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball dropping will be included in these rail trips, along with fireworks and stories about many unique ways the nation celebrates the holiday. For more information and tickets, call 866-398-2038 or visit www.jeffersonrailway.com.

- Aaron Brand

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