History of the Shoals Area's Theatre's and Drive-ins

Muscle Shoals, AL Theatre’s and Drive-ins

Marbro Drive-In Theater (1961-1979)

1409 Woodward Avenue Muscle Shoals, AL 35660

Opening Date:

05/26/1961 First Movie: The Alamo

1961 Grand opening 

1979 Final night of operation 

Now occupied by Shoals Plaza Shopping Center, Torn down

closed, 1 screen, 550 cars

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9984

The Marbro Drive-In opened May 26, 1961, featuring “The Alamo” with John Wayne & Richard Widmark. It was built for Martin Theatre and designed by architect Rufus E. Bland. It had a 110 feet x 72 feet screen for showing CinemaScope pictures. It was advertised as the largest screen in northern Alabama. It had a 550-car capacity and had 200 car heaters for a year-long operation. The sound and projection equipment was Ballantine Sound-master and Simplex.

The Marbro Drive-In closed on December 2, 1979.

The Alamo starring John Wayne 5/26/61

Tri-cities Drive-In (Sept 10,1947-Sept 28, 1949)

Second Street and Baker Airway Muscle Shoals City

Operators AD Thompson and JO Hannah
It closed before 1950.

Tri-Cities Drive-In Theatre 

Cinema Twin Movie Theatre’s (1973-1998)

1302 Woodward Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661

closed, 2 screens

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5622

The Cinema I and II Theatre opened in Muscle Shoals on Thursday, May 24, 1973. It was the first twin theatre in the Shoals. One auditorium was decorated in red and the other was decorated in blue. This theatre was the first in the Shoals to feature rocking chairs

The theatre became a second-run theatre in its final years. Management transitioned from Martin to Carmike in 1985 along with the Capri 4 Theatres and the Martin Theatre. The name of this theatre became Cinema Twin Theatre. The theatre’s last night of operation was Thursday, August 6, 1998.

Cinema I & II showing Slither and Judge Roy Bean 

Tuscumbia, Alabama Theatre’s

Strand Theatre (1924-1955)

112 North Main Street Tuscumbia, Al 35674

closed, demolished, 1 screen, 750 seats

The Strand Theatre opened in 1924 seating 750. By 1941 it was operated by Muscle Shoals Theatre, a subsidiary of the Nashville, TN-based Crescent Amusement Co. 
The Strand Theatre closed its doors in January of 1955.

Strand Theater last date of movies that I found was Jan 29, 1955

Tuscumbian Theater (1950-1977)

117 South Main Street Tuscumbia, Al 35674 

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5624

The Tuscumbian Theatre opened on Thursday, October 12, 1950. The theatre was located on Main Street in Tuscumbia.

The theatre was a marble-faced structure and was designed by Marr and Holman of Nashville, and was built by the Daniel Construction of Birmingham. 
The same firm was used for the Colbert Theatre in Sheffield and the Shoals Theatre in Florence. The theatre was operated by the Muscle Shoals Theatre. The theatre has a balcony and pushes back chairs. James Allen Hall was the original manager.

This theatre’s last night of operation was on January 12, 1977.
This building is still standing and being used as an office. The stadium seats were repaired and are being used at the Ritz Theater in Sheffield. Very little remains of the inside of the theater. 
https://www.facebook.com/2468269453205398/photos/a.2468293483202995/2469403296425347/?type=3&theater
Tuscumbia Paint The Town
by artist Clay Allison

The last showing at the Tuscumbian Theatre was Drum 1/12/77

Sheffield, Alabama Theatre’s (1942-1971

Colbert Theatre(1942-1971)

319 North Montgomery Avenue Sheffield 35660

closed, demolished, 1 screen, 900 seats

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9085

The Colbert Theatre was opened in January of 1942. The theatre is located at 900. 
The architects for the Colbert Theatre were Marr and Holman of Nashville. 
The theatre was operated by Muscle Shoals Theatre. The Colbert Theatre closed on Christmas Day in 1971.
https://www.facebook.com/1671435176458517/photos/a.1671436373125064/2298603650408330/?type=3&theater
Sheffield Paint the Town
by artist Clay Allison

Colbert Theatre showing 12/24/1971 The Wild Angels & last showing 12/25/1971 Black Beauty

Liberty Movie Theatre, (Opened in February 1915)

Sheffield, AL 35660 

closed, 1 screen 400 seats
Morris Lightman Sr formed The Sterling Amusement Company and opened his first theatre in a storefront he had rented in Sheffield, Alabama. 

The first theatre was built and operated by Morris Aaron Lightman, founder of MALCO Theatres.

3-Star Drive-in (1952-

South Montgomery Ave Sheffield, AL 

Opened June 8, 1952

3-Star Drive Inn June 8, 1952(not sure if this theatre made a go of it.

Ritz Theatre (1928-1951)(1980-present)

103 West Third Street Sheffield, Al 35660

open, 1 screen 350 seats 

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1025

Built as a playhouse, the Ritz Theatre was opened on July 9, 1928, with a production of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”. Louis Rosenbaum was the district manager of Muscle Shoals Theatre, the company that owned the theatre, and C. J. Ross was the first manager of the Ritz Theatre. The Ritz Theatre had a seating capacity of 408 downstairs, 173 in the ‘white’ balcony, and 101 in the ‘colored’ balcony, a total of 682 seats. The theatre had a Wurlitzer organ. It was refitted in 1933 to accommodate talkies and to undergo a sleek Art Deco-style makeover. On Saturday, January 23, 1933, the theatre had another ‘Grand Opening’ when President Roosevelt visited Florence that day. 1941 Muscle Shoals Theatre is a subsidiary of the Nashville Tennessee  Crescent Amusement Co.

The Ritz Theatre remained one of Sheffield’s most popular movie houses until it went out of business on June 9, 1951.

In 1985, the Ritz Theatre was purchased by the Tennessee Valley Arts Association and restored to its 1930s appearance, complete with its unusual auditorium side wall decoration, resembling giant fans.

The Ritz Theatre is now home to the Center Stage Community Theater, which performs both classical and contemporary plays in the setting of a classic small-town movie house.

Ritz Theatre Sheffield, Al

Ritz opened July 9, 1928

Park-Vue Drive-In (1950-1961)

Highland Park Sheffield, Al 

Opening date: 1950/05/11

The first movie is shown: Calamity Jane And Sam Bass

The Park-Vue Drive-In opened on Thursday, May 11, 1950, at 6:30. 

It was located in Highland Park in Sheffield, AL. Admission was originally 45 cents for adults and children under 12 were admitted free. The theatre had individual Ballantyne speakers for each car.

On opening night, the movie "Calamity Jane and Sam Bass" was shown. 

The theatre opened at 6:00 and the first show was started at sundown. Free ice cream and popcorn were given to children on opening night.

This drive-in's last night of business seems to have been March 5, 1961.

Park-Vue Drive-in Showing Calamity Jane & Sam Bass Opening May 11, 1950

Florence, Alabama Theatre’s and Drive-ins

Shoals Theater (1948-1980)Reopened in 2011 and used as live theatre

123 North Seminary Street Florence, Al 35630

open, renovated, 1 screen, 1,344 seats

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5625

The Shoals Theatre opened on Thursday, October 21, 1948. The theatre was located at 123 North Seminary in Florence, at the corner of Seminary Street and Mobile Street, diagonally across from the post office. 
The theatre was in a new building also containing four stores. One store, Brother and Sister Shop, was already open and in operation, but the other three stores opened at the same time as the theatre.

The theatre had 1,344 seats in orchestra and balcony levels. At the time of its opening, it was the fourth-largest theatre in the state and the largest in any town with an under 100,000 population. 
The theatre featured the voice of the theatre sound equipment and had a completely duplicating set that could be activated by a snap of a switch in case of failure.

The theatre was the first in the South to feature Slide-back seats, which could be retracted six inches with the shove of the body, to make it easier for people to walk in front of the other customers. 
At the time there were only four other theaters in the world in possession of these seats.

This theatre’s last night of operation was Thursday, March 13, 1980. 

It was reopened for concerts, and special events and used in a film festival in 2011. By 2012, it was in use as a live theatre.

Shoals Theatre

Shoals Theatre opened on 10/22/1948 with that Lady in Ermine

Regency Square 12, Theatre(2004-March 2016) Bought out by AMC Theatres and is now called AMC Florence 12 (March 2016-present)

301 Cox Creek Parkway Florence, Al 35630 Opened 12 screens, 2,210 seats

Carmike opened the Regency Square 12 on November 11, 2004. 
Seating is listed at 2,210. Amenities include digital projection and sound, 3D capabilities, online ticketing, stadium seating, and first-run attractions.

Regency Square Cinemas 12

Regency Square 12 opened on November 11, 2004 

Joy-Lan Drive-In Theatre (1950-1983)

3155 Cloverdale Road Florence, Al 35632

closed, demolished, 1 screen, 600 cars

Owned and operated by the Martin family

built 1949-1950 (1950-1983)

opening 4/20/1950

first movie: Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby

1950 Grand Opening

1983 Final night of operation

details Now occupied by Christ Church 

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/16288

Joy-Lan Drive-in Theatre opened on April 24, 1950, with Romance on the High Seas

Wilson Drive-In Theatre (1950-1968)

4447 County Road 32 Florence, AL 35632

closed, demolished, 1screen, 536 cars

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/20681

The Wilson Drive-In opened on July 12, 1950. 

It was owned by A. W.  Hammonds, W. W. Hammonds Jr, B. Coss, and E. D. Wells, all from Albertville, AL. 
They also owned the Marshall Drive-In in Albertville. A. W. Hammonds was the manager of the theatre. 
Later in 1959, James A. Duncan was hired to be the manager and A. W.  Hammonds retired. 
It had a 536-car capacity and had a playground for the kids. It also had outdoor seating for people without cars.

The Wilson Drive-In was closed on October 19, 1968. It was still listed in the newspaper ‘Welcome to Florence’ advertisements for 1969 and 1970 as a Martin Theatre. 
There is an electricity substation on the property now.

Wilson Drive-in Theatre opened on July 12, 1950 

The New Theatre/Norwood Theatre (1948-1968)

1130 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, AL 35630 closed, demolished, 1 screen 600 seats

The New Theatre opened on March 24, 1948, located on North Wood Avenue at Gilbert Court, with seating for 600. Just a month after opening in April the theatre received the new name of Norwood Theatre. 
The Norwood Theatre lasted until the late-1960s.

The building was destroyed by a fire on August 18, 1968, and the remains were demolished.

Sunday, August 18, 1968, at 8:25 AM this theater burnt down.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/15578

Norwood Theatre North Florence (this mural is hanging in Florence Mall)

Norwood Theater Burned down Aug 18, 1968, 8:25AM 

Name Changed to Norwood 4/20/48
Fireman battle the Norwood Theater fire Sunday 
Times Daily Aug 19, 1968
Cause of Blaze probed 
The cause of the blaze which destroyed the 20-year-old Norwood Theater early Sunday morning has not been determined, Florence fireman said this morning.
four trucks answered the call Sunday at 8:25AM but the fireman said the fire was out of control by the time they arrived. The fireman is still attempting to determine what caused the blaze, believed to have started in the area of the stag. The department fought the blaze for approximately three hours. Buildings on both sides of the theater reported some water damage. The theater, presently owned by the Martin chain, was opened in March 1948, and the first owners Dan Davis and HL Bobo first announced it would be a supermarket. About 30 days before opening they announced it would be a movie theater.
Martin officials said today no decision had been made on whether or not to rebuild the structure. Local officials were expected to hear today from the home office in Columbus, Ga,.
The original construction cost of the 564-seat theater was $80,00 and was reportedly sold to the Martin firm in 1961 for $175,000.
The theater was closed for about 3 years after the new owners took over.
Martin officials said they have no estimates of the loss suffered by the blaze. 
The fire collapsed the roof of the structure, although the brick walls were left standing. The Muscle Shoals area is now left with only three in-door theaters. 

The New Theater opened March 24, 1948, with Buck Privates Come Home

Martin Theatre (1970-1988)

Grant Plaza Shopping Center, Florence, AL 35630

closed, 1 screen 450 seats

The Martin Theatre opened at the Grant Plaza Shopping Center 1700 Darby Drive Florence, AL on Friday, December 4, 1970. 
The theatre was the first automated theatre in the Shoals. 
This allowed the projectionist to press a button to start the movies and the automation equipment would dim the auditorium lights and start the show.

The theatre featured X-Eton lamp houses. The screen size for cinemascope was 15 feet by 35 feet and the size for normal features (flat widescreen) was 15 feet by 28 feet. 
Helen Slay was the first manager of the location and Warren Carswell was the city manager for Martin Theatres.

This theatre became a Carmike theatre on October 25, 1985, along with the Capri 4 and Cinema Twin Theatres. 
Martin’s last night of business was on June 9, 1988.

Location of Martin Theater in 1970
Grant Plaza 1700 Darby Drive Florence, Al 
  now The Brass Monkey1816 Darby Drive
          Florence, Alabama

Dirty Dingus Magee staring Sinatra Grand Opening at Martin Theater 12/4/1970

Majestic Theatre (1919-1951)

204 N. Court Street, Florence, AL 35630

closed, demolished, 1 screen, 400 seats

The Majestic Theatre opened on Saturday, August 30, 1919. 
It was located at 204 North Court Street next to the new First National Bank building. 
From the advertisements, it was not clear what was shown on opening day, but the primary advertisements announced a “Paramount Artcraft Special,,"" a motion picture style show with living models and moving pictures called “That Well Dressed Look” for September 1 and 2. 
The theatre seated 400 people. Opened by Morris Lightman Sr under the Sterling Amusement Company.

The last night of operation for the Majestic Theatre was June 9, 1951.

Majestic Theater showing Outside the Law 

Majestic Theatre opens with "Bar 20 Rides Again" and "Fugitive Valley."

Hickory Hills Cinema 6 (1978-2008)

1949 Florence Boulevard, Florence 35630

closed 6 screens 1,350 seats

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9083

Litchfield Theatre opened the Hickory Hill in March of 1978 as a three-screen venue. A year later a fourth screen was added.

The theatre went through another renovation in 1985 and two more screens were added. Stereo sound was added to the auditoriums at this time. United Artists took over operations at this time. Carmike Theatre operated the Hickory Hills from 1989 until it closed in January 2008.

Hickory Hills Cinema opened in March 1978

Hickory Hills Cinema (Now Grace House)

Hickory Hills Cinema sign 

Hickory Hills Sign & Building 

Cinema Theatre (Princess) (1919-1966)

215 East Tennessee Street Florence, 35630

closed, 1 screen, 700 seats

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5627

The Princess Theatre in Florence opened on Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 1919, with a cost of $75,000 and a seating capacity of 1200. The ads referred to the theatre as the “$75,000 Opera House”. 
The theatre was fashioned in a Spanish motif and had a chandelier and a cork linoleum floor.

On Monday, April 13, 1925, the theatre was reopened after remodeling and replacement of the roof. 500 balloons were thrown from the top of the theatre, each containing a pass. Professor George E. Hatch played the Wurlitzer organ for the opening that day. 
By 1941 it was operated by Muscle Shoals Theatre, a subsidiary of Nashville, TN. Based Crescent Amusement Co.

On Wednesday, April 30, 1958, the theatre was again remodeled and reopened as the Cinema Theatre. It had new seats and was reconfigured with a total seating capacity of 700 and new decorations. Restrooms, carpeting, lobby, and cry room. The theatre was operated by Rosenbaum Theatre at this time, which also operated the Shoals, Tuscumbian, and Colbert Theatres at this time.

The Cinema Theatre’s last night of operation was September 24, 1966.

Princess Theatre Opened Sept 1, 1919 

Cinema Theater opened on April 30, 1958, with The Long Hot Summer

Princess Theater opened  September 1, 1919

Capri Theatre opened in July 1978 with Star Wars and The End 
Capri Four (1978-2004)

301 Cox Creek Parkway Florence, Al 35630

closed demolished, 4 screens 865 seats

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9084

The Capri Twin opened in July of 1978 and was operated by Martin Theatres. 

It was located behind Regency Square Mall. The theatre was remodeled in 1983 and two screens were added.

Carmike took over operations in 1985. 

The last day of operation was September 19, 2004. 

The building was demolished to make way for more parking for the new Carmike that was built next to where the Capri sat.

Wilson Theatre at Wilson Dam 9/5/1919
Wilson Theatre at Wilson Dam advertised on September 5, 1919, not sure when it opened 

The Wheeler Drive-inn Theater

Elgin Cross Roads 

A now wooded area was once a drive-in theater, located on Highway 72, just east of Highway 101, the Southeast corner of that intersection. It appears to have been in business by around 1955, according to aerial photography, closing in 1971. One of the entrance trails is barely still visible at the edge of Highway 72. While this is usually referred to as Elgin (Crossroads), it appears to now be considered Rogersville city.

The Mary Drive-In opened on July 12, 1953, featuring “Meet Captain Kidd” starring Abbott & Costello & Charles Laughton. It was a small drive-in with a 200-car capacity. It was closed on October 30, 1961. The last show Ferry to Hong Kong with Orson Welles, Curt Jurgens

It was re-opened on July 2, 1966, as the Fox Drive-In. It closed in 1970.
Hwy 72 Cherokee, Al

The Opera House Florence Feb 3, 1911

The Florence Theater on April 28, 1918
Could not find the Location of this theatre

Theato in Florence, Al  Jan 9, 1914
Not sure of the location or opening date

The Theato Under new management Dec 5, 1913
It appears to have opened previously.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ie8Y0QrpMWAC&dat=19131205&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Frontpage along with Florence Opera House

Theatres listed in Florence Times Jan 9, 1912
The Ritz Sheffield
Princess Florence
Strand Tuscumbia
Majestic Florence 
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ie8Y0QrpMWAC&dat=19120109&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

Bijou before the awing was added

The Bijou Silent Theater opened at the turn of the 20th century in Tuscumbia
opened Sept 30, 1919, and closed on April 13, 1920
https://www.timesdaily.com/news/group-wants-to-save-restore-tuscumbia-theater/article_ff22b64d-86d4-5cef-a9e4-3d86f5451a8b.html

What remains of the Bijou Silent Theatre
Built at the turn of the 20th Century.
https://www.facebook.com/2468269453205398/photos/a.2468293483202995/2600001066698902/?type=3&theater
Tuscumbia Paint the Town
by Artist Clay Allison

The newspaper clippings came from the Florence Times/Times Daily.

The pictures of theatres, storefronts, and signs were taken by me.
Links to FB Sheffield, & Tuscumbia Paint the Town by Clay Allison
Links & information at Cinema Treasures

Theaters were owned by the Rosenbaum family in 1951 

Muscle Shoals Theaters

    Louis & Stanley Rosenbaum

Princes, Majestic Theaters, Shoals located in Florence, Alabama

Colbert, Ritz Theaters, located in Sheffield

Strand, Tuscumbian Theaters, located in Tuscumbia, Alabama

Ritz, Plaza Theaters located, in Athens, Alabama 

 

 

 

 

2016 Friday May 20 & Saturday May 21, Jake's and Lindsey's Wedding and Rehearsal

My grandson's Wedding

Friday at 6:00PM everyone that was at the wedding had to line up to walk down the aisle at Oliver’s Barn. 

Jake’s grandfather and step-grandmother on his mother's side of the family, they were the first in line. 

Next was Jake’s grandmother on his father's side (me and hubby).

The grooms

Bridesmaids

Bride and Groom

Lindsey’s grandparents were next, then the parents, bridesmaids escorted by grooms, the flower girls, and ring bearers. 

After one practice runs everyone left to go to the rehearsal dinner at East Florence Depot.

Where we enjoyed a delicious meal of shrimp, potatoes, sausages, and corn on the cob.

 mini cheesecakes,

Hannah and Me

Jakes's grandparents

Shrimp, corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage

There was an open bar for anyone but each had to pay for their own liquor. 

There were mini cheesecakes, chicken fingers, and drinks of water and tea. 

We sat with Jake’s grandparents, parents, and sister. 

On Saturday we had to be at the wedding at 5:00PM. We were in line and ready to walk down the aisle at 5:50PM. It was a beautiful wedding, Lindsey wore a beautiful white wedding gown. 

The bride and groom, the groom's parents and sister 

Exchanging rings

The groom and the groom's men 

Bridesmaids

They said their vows, kissed, and then everyone that had walked down the aisle had to return.

The wedding was over but not the partying.

Cutting and eating the cake 

There was a meal and dancing. 

We ate barbecue, baked beans, and Coleslaw. They cut a red velvet cake. We left at 8:30PM by that time a beautiful full moon appeared. 

Don’t know when the party ended.

Full Moon for the wedding night

2016 Saturday, May 21, UNA Front Porch Storytelling Festival @UNA

Arrived early and got a seat in the front row.

9:30-10:00 We listened to Geraldine Buckley she talked about her life in Spain and giving spirits to a bunch of nuns.

10:00-10:30 We listened to Tim Lowry 

He talked about teaching Russian Immigrants and Gullah children English & their use of punctuation. 
He told us about how he introduced the Gullah children to the older Russians.
He told us about how a Russian woman changed the life of one of his students, and how he went from hating school to wanting to learn. 

10:45-12:00 We listened to Dolores Hydock tell her experience with meeting Doctor Ruth & Kathryn Tucker Windham.

12:00-1:30 Lunch

We ate lunch-I brought two peanut butter crackers, an orange, a banana, a box of cranberries, and bottled water.

My friend and I had a couple of women from Colorado sit with us.

They had traveled from Colorado, stopping in Arkansas to visit a friend, then traveled to Florence to listen to the storytellers. They were staying at Express Holiday Inn.

They had been to every show, including the evening events.

They were traveling to Birmingham where one of the women was taking the plane to Chicago. The other woman was driving to Atlanta to visit family. She was giving the car that she was driving to her grandson, then she was flying home to Colorado.

Dolores Hydock joined us for lunch. I gave her a peanut butter cracker and a box of cranberries. One of the other women gave her some fruit. We had a great time getting to know one another.

1:30-2:00 We listened to Geraldine Buckley talk about hitchhiking in Canada

2:00-2:30 We listened to Minton Sparks use Bayou singing to tell stories and she told a story about her grandmother. She was accompanied by John Jackson a guitarist.

2:30-3:00 We listened to Bil Lepp talked 

Both my friend and I had to leave during the 3:00PM break.

I had to be at my grandson’s wedding at 5:00PM.

2016 Friday, May 20, UNA Front Porch Storytelling Festival

Nick Foster and his grandmother performing Doug’s Tune

Friday, May 20, 2016 

9:00-9:30 

The introduction was a performance by Doctor Foster's grandson, Nick Foster, who played the banjo. He played a tune familiar to everyone that was played on the Andy Griffen Show, by the Darlings, called Doug’s Tune,” and he was joined by his grandmother.

Next, we watched a video about Katheryn Tucker Windham, she talked about going to the funeral home to make her final plans. She was now in her 90s. The funeral director asks for whom was the coffin and she replied for me. He showed her several coffins starting with the most expensive. That was more than she wanted to pay so she kept asking for a cheaper coffin. Katheryn thanked the undertaker and left. She decided that she was going to ask her friend, John, to make her a coffin. John said Kathryn I have never made a coffin. Katheryn said I want a solid pine box, the old fashion kind, with six sides. John measured Katheryn before the built the box to make sure she would fit. 

When John finished the coffin, Katheryn had him bring it to her house and put it on top of about twenty boxes full of insulators she had collected over the years. She said I don’t know why I collected the insulators but when I saw one, I got it and took it home. 

She also told me about collecting insulators. She said when I die to wrap me up in a quilt, put me in my coffin, and bury me, I do not want a funeral or anybody fussing over me. Then she read a poem by Jan Strutters 

“She was twice blessed: she was happy: she knew it. “

Kathryn Tucker Windham died June 12, 2011, and she is buried at New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Dallas County Alabama. 

9:30-10:00 Donald Davis from Waynesville, North Carolina

Donald said I was the eighth of thirteen children from Haywood County.

He said the worst month of the year was February by April the family was out of food, with only half-year of the growing season. 

His family had two large gardens where they grew four rows of corn and four rows of beans. He said the family grew every vegetable in the alphabet from A to Z. He said his mother’s sisters would come for a visit and they would always get the best can vegetables. His mom would order her chickens from Sears Catalog. 

His side mom would not watch the chickens being killed but would listen. 

He said when his dad chopped off the head of the chicken that his body would leave its head, his body would end up under the smokehouse. He would have to crawl under the smokehouse to retrieve the chicken. He said then his mom would cut up the chicken and then fry it up in a skillet. He said we recycled everything, we did not eat, we would give it to the pig, then we would eat the pig. 

He said we had a cow named Helen, our neighbor's name was also Helen, she was a right fleshy woman. When the cow would get out papa would holler for the cow, and he would say, Helen, I am nearby! Mom would say papa why do you do that? Papa would reply I cannot help it if she knows her a cow. 

He also told a story of when he and his brother went with his mother to can soup mix and apple sauce at the Cannery.

He and his brother played outside, throwing rocks, while his mother canned the soup. She asked Donald if he wanted to label the soup, and he said yes. He said when mom went back inside that he and his brother continued throwing rocks. 

She came out a little later and ask if he had finished labeling the soup mix, and he said yes. His mom said I am ready for you to label the apple sauce. 

He and his brother went inside to label the apple sauce but to his surprise, all the cans looked the same. 

He said to his brother you label half apple sauce and the other half soup mix. They had no clue what was inside each can. 

Everything was fine until the company came for supper and his dad wanted dessert. When we went to open the apple sauce, we got a soup mix. We open at least six or more but all was soup mix. Papa never asked the preacher over to dinner. 

10:00-10:30 Tim Lowery from Summerville, South Carolina 

He loved sweet tea, loved school and he grew up in Kentucky

He said he learned to drive a stick shift in the first grade. He was the first child the bus driver picked up. The bus driver had a cast on his arm and could not shift the gears. He asks him if he knew his ABCs. He said the gear shift was like the letter H. 

He said his first-grade teacher was a woman with a mustache and she carried everything she needed, her money, spoon, makeup, and reading glasses, up there. 

He said in first grade we learned to read from Dick and Jane Books. 

See Jane, run Spot run.  

He said one of the boys in my class was tired of Spot so he said died Spot die. His teacher took out her spoon, from up there and put it in his mouth. Everyone can remember having the spoon from up there put in their mouths.

10:45-11:15 Dolores Hydock from Redding, Pennsylvania 

Dolores talked about her parents and how they loved to dance. She said when her mother was cooking, she would dance. She would take her in her arms and dance. She said every Saturday night her dad would take her mom out to dance the polka. She said I would shine my dad's shoes. My mom would wear a Cherry Red dress, and fog up the room in perfume. She said that she and David Doggett taught ACME dance for twenty years. She said that she learned three lessons. Never take up more than your space. Always wear comfortable shoes and I didn't write down the third.

She said that she was from Redding Pennsylvania. When she was in high school that they were going to use a computer to hook everyone up with their perfect match. There were to answer twenty questions about the type of person that would be their perfect match. But the computer program backfired on them giving them the least perfect match. Everyone had to dance the first dance with their perfect match but after that, they were free to dance with other people everyone was relieved. 

11:15:11:45 Bil Lipp from South Charleston, West Virginia 

Bil’s father was a Methodist preacher and their church never got excited. All the kids went to a Baptist church 

11:45-12:15 We listened to Geraldine Buckley

12:15-1:30PM we ate our sack lunch. Peggy brought three of her friends, with her to the festival. Everyone shared what they brought. We sat at one of the tables in the hallway to eat our picnic lunch. 

After lunch, Peggy and two of her friends went back to the Performance Center. 

My friend and I went to the loft.

1:30-2:00 We listened to Rev Robert B. Jones from Detroit, Michigan he performed to praise and protest songs.

2:00-2:30 We listened to Donald Davis talk about his trip down into the Grand Canyon riding a Mule.  

3:15-3:45 We listened to Bil Lepp talked about the Baptist and Methodist Churches. About visiting the Baptist church and wanting to see the baptism waters. The preacher catches them and tells them they were going to hell for disobeying him. He talked about how the girl and boys were trying to raise money. They were using tin cans that were balanced and the one who put in the heaviest money would win. He and his friend brought a large bag of pennies.

He talked about bats in the attic.

He talked about being caught in a vacuum while watching a train come through a tunnel. 

3:45-5:00 We listened to Dolores talk about a true story of friendship, feeling, foreign, and finding your way home. 

How she and a friend went to Europe thinking they could live on five dollars a day. How her friend fell in love with a German boy and did not want to continue on their journey.

How she learned several different languages and took a job as a nanny for 3 French children. 

I had to leave at 4:30PM to be at my grandson's Wedding Rehearsal. 

2014 May 14-May 17 Storytellers visit the Shoals and UNA Front Porch Storytelling Festival

UNA Front Porch Storytelling Festival 

Thursday, May 15, 2014 

Storytellers visit Shoals 

2014, May 14, 8:30-11:30 AM

Free Storytelling Workshop UNA front porch storytelling festival with Dolores Hydock

UNA George Lindsey Theater

2014, May 14,12:30-3:30 PM Florence Library Bill Huddleston

Using Storytelling for Adults Storytelling anywhere for anyone

2014 May 15,11:30-12:30PM Florence Library Dolores Hydock 

Footprints on the sky Memories of Chandler Mountain 

2014 May 15,1:30-2:30PM Keller Library Dolores Hydock 

Norman Rockwell every picture tells a story 

Friday, May 16, 2014

9:00-9:50AM Walt Aldridge talked about his writing 

10:00-10:50AM BIL LEPP talked about I love my dentist

11:00-11:50AM Dolores Hydock-told story about Sallie Independence Foster

12noon 2:00PM Lunch

2:00-2:50PM Donal Davis-

3:00-3:50PM Diane Ferlatte-told story about Burr Rabbit

4:00-4:50PM Barbara McBride-Smith

7:00-9:00PM Olio, Aldridge, Davis, Ferlatte, Hydock, Lepp, and McBride-Smith (I did not attend the evening performances)

Saturday, May 17, 2014

9:00-9:50AM Barbara McBride-Smith 

10:00-10:50AM Donald Davis-cripple Joe

11:00-11:50AM Diane Ferlatte-Talked about her mother

12noon-2:00PM lunch

2:00-2:50PM Dolores Hydock-Talked about her mom & her cat and women of the west

3:00-3:50PM Bil Lepp-Talked mountain lions

4:00-4:50PM Walt Aldridge-Talked his music

5-7 dinner

7-9 Olio, Aldridge, Davis, Ferlatte, Hydock, Lepp and McBride-Smith

This was my first time attending the festival.
I loved every minute and every story told.
I attended the workshop at UNA, the workshop at Florence Library, and the storytelling at Florence and Keller Libraries.  
I wish I could perform and tell stories like the storytellers. 

I spent the whole day at Performance Center in the Guillot building at UNA listening to GREAT Storytellers.

I don't think that Barbara McBride-Smith came to the festival because I wrote everything down. I think someone in her family was sick and she could not attend. The schedule above was changed. 

The first storyteller was Walt Aldridge he sang & played his guitar for several songs that he wrote, "I loved her first,” "No getting over me,” and "Modern day Bonnie and Clyde." He talked about songwriting and getting his songs produced. I think he works at UNA in the Department of Entertainment Industry. He brought along with him his mother and fiancée.

Bil Lepp told the story "I like my dentist"! Bil’s first trip to the dentist was to get a tooth pulled but the funny part was when he went back to the dentist to get his teeth cleaned. The hygienist left the room and told Bil not to get out of his seat. She should have told him not to touch anything. I thought I would laugh my socks off as he told the story. Bil is an older version of Dennis the Menace.

Bill told a story about when he was just a small boy and how his dad was going to shoot Santa Clause’s reindeer, Rudolph. One day he asks his dad how he got the bald spot on the top of his head and he replied, Rudolph, shot over it leaving me with this bald spot. Dad is going to kill Rudolph! I thought this is going to be the worst Christmas ever! So many things happened that year and just before Christmas morning I decided to unwrap, my presents under that were the tree. I re-wrapped my presents, put them back under the Christmas tree, and went to bed. The next morning Rudolph was not dead and I rushed to open my presents but to my surprise!!!! My presents were different instead of a football I got a rag wrapped up in a football. I hurried to open another present only to find a can of soup. Mom knew I had opened my presents and rewrapped them, she was teaching me a lesson!!!!!!

Dolores Hydock brings to life the story of a 12 years girl named Sallie Independence Foster who has three brothers that fought in the Civil War. 

Sallie's life after she marries, the birth of her children, the death of her mother, the death of her oldest daughter, the death of her husband, and then her own death. 

These stories are from Sallie's journals, and letters written home from her brothers during the Civil War.

Bobby Horton softly played and beautifully sang supporting songs.

Diane Ferlatte a storyteller along with Eric Swinderman performed by singing and telling many stories. She told a story about a tiger who had all the food and would not share it with the other animals and how he was outsmarted by Brer Rabbit. She told a true story about Fannie Lou Hamer and her famous quote: “All my life I've been sick and tired. Now I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired."

Donald Davis's storyteller told the story about his mother, a schoolteacher, who did not want to learn to drive. Another story is about riding the octopus at the fair and how the two kittens unfortunate and pitiful came to be part of their family. Very funny and I could not stop laughing. 

Donald told another story about his family as a one-car family and how his mother learned how to drive. My dad was a banker and my mother was a teacher one day my dad said to my mother you need to learn to drive so I won't have to take you to work and the kids to school. Finally, she learned to drive but when my dad said we need two cars that were where she drawled the line. Therefore, for years we were a one-car family, dad tried and tried to talk mom into getting another car. 

Finally, one day it worked! We drove by this car lot and dad told mom, I need just half a car, just one that will get me to work and back. Mom said, for dad and me to get out of the car, we did, and then she slid over to the driver's seat and drove off. 

The salesperson came outside and said can I help you and my dad said I just need a car to get me back and forth to work. Therefore, he took us around to the backside of the car lot where the cars were parked on the gravel. He said just today you can have any car back here for just $100, so my dad thought, I am going to get the biggest one back here. My dad said how much for this one and the salesperson said today you could have it for $75.00. The salesperson said every time you fill up with gas, you fill up with oil, so my dad paid the salesman. We started home and that new car sputtered and sputtered I said, dad, what is wrong with the car dad kindly replied the car has a mind of its own. Our new car changed its mind over forty times on the way home. I said, dad, what is that smell inside the car and dad kindly replied a new car smell but to me, it smelled like mothballs and urine.  

Well, we drove that car for about three years. I reached the age of sixteen and shared driving the old car with my dad. One day I borrowed the car to pick up my friends because we were going to the bowling alley and they replied can this car go faster, we could get there faster if we walked. Therefore, I gunned it! It went twenty-five to fifty-five when we heard this awful sound, it just stopped, and we just laughed not thinking we would have to walk back home. I called my dad and told him, he got our neighbor to bring a rope and pull the old car home. Dad had told our neighbor who was the principal of the school where mom worked not to tell her anything about the car.

Mom was not home so my dad parked the car in its regular spot and hung the keys where he always hung them. At supper that night, I waited for dad to tell mom about the car but he never did. He just said maw tomorrow I will need your car to go across town and you can drive the old one. That was the end of that!

The next day mom, my brother, and I loaded into the old car and mom tried to crank it. It made an awful sound and I said mom you flooded it! Therefore, she tried again and it still would not crank. Mom said to go next door and get our neighbor, so I did. He came overlooked at the car and said to mom I think you have broken it. He took us to school that morning and brought us home that evening. Mom set into making the best supper ever for dad. We sat down to supper that night and not a word was said about the old car except mom said, I have talked to your uncle about getting a new carboy was my daddy happy but he did not let on to mom. Therefore, the next day we drove over to my uncle’s car lot and bought a new car and that is how we became a two-car family.

Day 3: Saturday, May 17, 2014

The first storyteller was Dolores Hydock – she told a story about her niece getting prepared for college, taking her shopping in the malls of Birmingham, and just spending quite a time with her on the sofa talking. She told the story about her very independent mom who came to live with her. 

The white independent cat knocked on her door could this be her dead mother.  

Could this independent white cat be her mother reincarnated? 

Dolores can bring to life even the dullest stories. She is funny, inspiring, smart, creative, and a great storyteller.

Bil Lepp told the story about hiking in a state park in California and his encounter with a mountain lion. How he baptized the mountain lion nine times because cats have nine lives. Bill has a great imitation and is a great storyteller. On both days he brought with him his wife, his two children, his mother, and his father-in-law to support him. Bil reminded me of Jeff Foxworthy. 

Donald Davis told the story of how his father became known as cripple Joe. Donald said if my dad had not been a cripple, his life would have been so different. He said my dad always said to make the most of what life deals you

Donald is funny, smart, and very down-to-earth. I could listen to him all day.

Diane Ferlatte with Eric Swinderman sang and told stories about her mother growing up in Louisiana, marrying, and moving to California, traveling on an airplane, living with her, and her grandchildren, and her death. She sang several spiritual songs. Diane puts her soul into songs and storytelling.

Walt Aldridge told stories about songwriting. His first song was “Holding her & Loving you,” recorded by Earl Thomas Conley. Walt sang a song about a spiritual prayer of a child and somehow that prayer filtered through into heaven to be answered by GOD! Walt is funny, smart, wise, a great storyteller, and a very down-to-earth person.

Dolores brought to life the true stories of strong women who settled in the West. Thank God, I did not live in the good old days of the Wild, Wild West where they traveled up to five months to reach California. She told how hard it was for a woman to make a living during the 1800s and how women even then could be bold, and willing to take a risk to be different. 

Day 1: I spent the day at UNA in a workshop with Dolores Hydock and several other women who were given new names.

Day 2: I spent the day at the Florence Library listing to Dolores telling her story about Chandler Mountain and then I traveled to Keller Library in Tuscumbia to listen to Dolores tell the story of Norman Rockwell. Drove home only to come back to Tuscumbia to see the Wild West Rodeo Stampede Parade and hear the Pine Hill Hiank’s sing.

Day 3: I spent the day entire at the UNA Storytelling Festival sitting beside my friend Wanda listing to Walt Aldridge, Bil Lepp, Donald Davis, Diane Ferlatte with Eric Swinderman, Dolores Hydock, and Bobby Horton

Day 4: I spent the day entire at the UNA Storytelling Festival sitting beside my friend Wanda listing to Walt Aldridge, Bil Lepp, Donald Davis, Diane Ferlatte with Eric Swinderman, Dolores Hydock, and Bobby Horton

I had the best time ever and next year 2015 Friday, May 15, & Saturday, May 16 I hope to repeat it again.

2015 May 16 What door do I use?

A funny thing happened to me today
At the performance center, I had to go to the restroom
Was not sure where it was and ask my friend sitting next to me
She said I don't know,
But when you find it let me know.
I open the double doors leading outside the performance center
The restroom was straight
In front of me.
I used the restroom and started to return but, was not sure what door I came thru

I tried the door in front of me. It would not open!
I looked at the two kids sitting next to the door and said,
"Did I come thru this
Door?"
The 2 kids had this puzzled look on their faces.
I tried the door again.
I looked back at the 2 kids and said, "I guess u have to use the latch
to open the
Door.!
As I walked inside they probably
said,
"What was wrong with that woman!"