PRINCESS THEATER - Raising the Curtain

THIS SEMESTER'S ROANE STATE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING THE ARTS AT CHANNEL 15

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Matt Waters, the Channel 15 Manager and Roane State Mass Communications Lecturer, makes this guest post to show his Roane State students editing their stories for a new local Channel 15 TV program called Scenic Backroads.

The students developed the idea, title and topics for the program, which takes a look at fun, unique or interesting people and places in the area. The first episode, which is almost finished, includes; a trip to a local mule farm, an overview of the disc golf course at Roane County Park, a look inside the newly-renovated courtroom at the old Roane County Courthouse, a tour through Fort Southwest Point, and a visit to Live & Let Live Drugstore.

Students divided into teams to cover each topic, and each team was responsible for using video cameras and microphones to get interviews and other footage.

Three students who completed a video editing course last semester are taking the lead on editing the video into news packages, and two students are preparing to do on-camera hosting for this episode.

Students will take turns reporting, running cameras, handling audio, and hosting for future episodes so that everyone can participate as equally as possible. Future topics include Harriman’s noon whistle, a visit to Rugby, antiquing, and the local music scene.

We’re planning at least two more episodes of Scenic Backroads this semester. These future episodes will include, topics like Harriman’s noon whistle, a visit to Rugby, antiquing, and the local music scene.

Part of the original “dream” is being fulfilled through these classes offered by Roane State Community College. The “Princess Performing Arts, Education and Conference Center” is already doing its part...your part is to support the efforts to provide an arts education for our area children.

ENJOY A GREAT MEAL AND HELP THE PRINCESS!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:08:00 +0000

On Feb. 4th and again on March 3rd (2012), just present this flyer to your waitress and Ruby Tuesday (in Harriman) will donate 20% of the cost of your meal to the Princess Theatre Foundation! Just print the following flyer and give it to your waitress...that's all there is to it!

Ruby Tuesday supports local non-profit organizations through it's "Community GiveBack Program". It's a great way to help the Princess raise money to buy things that couldn't be added to the restoration budget.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE PRINCESS PROJECT!

THANK YOU RUBY TUESDAY!

FINISHING TOUCHES BEING MADE

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:59:00 +0000

I hadn't visited the Channel 15 studio in some time, so today, being a beautiful day, I stopped by to see what Matt was up to. The whole studio floor had been replaced with new shiny tile! The place really looked clean and spotless.

Matt has rearranged the place too! There is a large conference table near the front door where he and his students gather for class. The workstations are against the wall on both sides of the studio, and he tells me new chairs are coming any day.

Matt promised to send us photos of the new furnishings, plus of the new "set screen" that has been built, and will be painted. This addition will give the students something to hang articles on for their in-house productions.

The place seems so open now, and I remembered Muse and Gary saying that one day people will be able to walk down the street, look in, and see the studio in operation. You can do that today! There are around 20 students taking classes there now, and more to come.

You may also see these same students while out driving around area. They go out and shoot raw "footage" and then come back to the studio to do their editing. Matt also promised to send us some photos of the students on location, and he says he's already posting some on the Channel 15 Facebook page. Check it out!

I updated this post to include a couple of shots Matt posted on Facebook, showing part of his class during a recent shoot. Looks like lots of fun!

This is the most important part of the dream folks...our children having a place to learn the arts! Do all you can to encourage and support them!

Up at the Princess, I found James and Adam working hard to finish up the marquee. James told me that there will be yellow neon on the red badge; front and center of the marquee. This should add another be splash of color for us to enjoy!

She's looking good folks...everything is painted and cleaned up inside. I think all that remains is getting the new curtain and sound system up! It's just another milestone that I've (we all have) been waiting anxiously on since the beginning.

Oh yeah, one last thing. I found out today...the raggedy old awning hanging out in front of the Channel 15 studio will also be replaced soon. That had been bothering me for some time!

We're getting very close to the opening folks!

HOW DO THEATRES GET THEIR NAMES?

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Ever wonder how the Princess became known as the Princess Theatre? That will be the subject of a WBIR "Why Do They Call It That?" historical segment on this Friday's "Live At 5 At 4" program. Be sure to watch!

It just happens that I too had been wondering that very thing. I found that there are over 5100 girls across the United States with the first name of Princess! There are lots of names used that translate literally and loosely as "Princess". Names like:

ADELA
AIDA

ALMIRA
CASSANDRA
DIANA

IMOGEN

LEIA
MILDRED
MIRA

RHIANNON
SABRINA

SARAH
TALULLA

URSULA

and even SURI (CRUISE)

The name Princess was considered the 901st most popular name out of the top 1,000 names for girls in 2010.

Even back in the 1800s (and probably further back), theater owners looked for names that would purvey a sense of wonder and grandeur. Because Queen Victoria, and even later her fourth daughter, Princess Louise, was so popular worldwide, places where the royals lived were perceived as the grandest places one could possibly live or visit. Therefore, owners tried to put this royal idea into the names of their theaters. People coming to visit them had a preconceived notion that they were about to enter a grand place and expected them to live up to their names.

Princess, Prince, King, Queen, Palace, Royal, Regal, etc. all became popular names of theaters. Even today there are theaters across Canada carry the name "Princess of Wales" for Diana.

Theaters are usually clad in gold, royal reds, greens, and blues, with beautiful artwork and ornate fixtures. It's all about the feel of a beautiful palace where only a king, prince, queen, or princess could live. It makes us feel royal and special just to be there...eating popcorn!

If you search for Princess on Cinema Treasures, you find there are 196 theaters and 1 in England called the Princess. If you search on Cinematour, you'll find 337! It was, and is, a very popular name for movie houses.

So, our Princess is not unique in name, but she is unique to us. It is perhaps our fondest childhood memory...the very first time we were given a taste of independence and freedom. For a couple of hours we were our own boss and could make our own decisions, and, in the meantime, we could have a few happy moments escaping into the story playing out on the screen.

Those moments, and later learning how to socialize with the opposite sex, is what makes our Princess unique. To us, there is no other Princess Theatre!

PRINCESS COMPLEX EXTERIOR BEING PAINTED

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:37:00 +0000

Wow, wouldn't it be great if all of Harriman could be painted as pretty as Tim Plemons and crew are making the exterior of the Princess Complex?!

I stopped by today and spoke to Tim, his crew was the only thing that was happening today. His crew has really done themselves proud on the interior and exterior painting. It seems to me Superior Interiors has been on the job everyday.

Inside little has changed other than the addition of the sound board platform and handrails up to the stage.

The Magic of the Princess Theater

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:55:00 +0000

I am proud to present this guest post from Jerry Lemons. Not only does it give insight into what our Princess means to him and others in the area, it also gives us a little understanding of why Jerry loves acting. If you haven't caught him in a Roane State production, maybe you will get another opportunity to see him perform on the stage of this beloved Princess Theatre soon!

A note from the author (Jerry Lemons): The following article was written by me in 1993 while the Princess Theater was still in operation. Given that the Princess has been restored and will soon be opened, I thought it appropriate that the following article be posted...

_____________________

There aren't many of them left: the old-time movie theaters, ornate and adorned, yet muted and intimate, with a stage and staircases leading up to a balcony.

Most movie theaters today are sleek, plastic, sterile affairs, totally lacking style, grace, atmosphere--and a stage and a balcony. They are completely contemporary, possessing no history, no past, no magic.

No, there aren't many of those cinema palaces remaining, and the day will probably come when there aren't any left. But until that time comes, there is the Princess Theater.

For as long as I can remember, I've had a love affair with the Princess. That love affair began in the 1950s, when I was just a little kid. Once a week, on Saturdays, I would make a trip to Harriman and go to the Princess. I would enter that majestic building, and it was as if I had entered another world, a world of fantasies and dreams. I would sit in a soft-cushioned seat with a bag of popcorn tucked between my knees and a Coke in my hand, look up at the big wide screen, and for a few hours I would be transported; I would look through a window upon a magical world.

It has changed but little.

Although I no longer make weekly trips to the movies, when I do go to the Princess I have just about the same feeling I had as a kid.

That's because the Princess Theater is a place of magic, a "field of dreams," a very special, wonderful and unique place. In the whole of Roane County there is only one real magical place--and that is the Princess.

As it is, the Princess Theater is registered with the state as a historical place, and well it should be, for it is one of the few old-time movie theaters still operating.

The origin of the first Princess is shrouded in a kind of mystery. There are different accounts of when a movie theater first opened on the site of the present day Princess Theater.

According to Cecil Johnson, present manager of the Princess, "The first Princess Theater burned in 1938 or '39, and it was rebuilt on the same location. I don't know how long the theater was there before it burned."

According to Mr. Johnson, "There haven't been any major changes in the Princess Theater itself; the changes have been in the movies made and in the number of movie theaters in Roane County. The Princess is the only one left, and even though it's the only movie theater left in the county, we haven't raised our ticket prices in ten years."

When I asked Mr. Johnson if he could foresee a time when there wouldn't be any movie theaters, he answered "No. People will always want to get out, go to a theater and watch a film."

That's probably true, and movie theaters will most likely continue to operate. But I wonder...

Will all those theaters be sleek, sterile, lacking in style, grace, atmosphere, possessing no history, no past, no magic? Will the day come when there aren't any old-time movie theaters--the kind that are ornate and adorned, yet muted and intimate, with a stage and staircases leading up to a balcony?

Probably so.

But until that time comes, there is a place of magic in Roane County, a field of dreams. There is the Princess Theater.

THE PRINCESS OPENS DOORS FOR SNEAK PEEK!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:53:00 +0000

The Princess welcomed hundreds of courteous visitors this past Saturday and Sunday, and created enough buzz to get herself on WBIR's 11PM newscast! Reporter John Henry himself seemed impressed by the positive outlook that beamed from the faces of everyone that came.

People barely looked down long enough to greet each other. The new Princess auditorium even brought tears to some, like long time supporter Freeda Breazeal (on the right below) of Atlanta, Georgia. She's never given up hope and called frequently to keep up the spirits of those working hard to see the restoration to fruition.

The tour seemed to be what the people of the area wanted; an up close look at what all the talk and disruption on Roane Street has been all about. Although, the restoration is only about 90% complete, the progress is at a point that you can see what the finished product will look like.

The marquee was lit for a short time during the tours, but there is still more neon to be added to it and the front of the building. However, the hopes are now for a January/February grand opening.

I almost came to tears myself when I saw Cecil (Johnson) and Dub (Harmon) coming down the aisle! Wow, I was overwhelmed with the emotion of seeing them once again in the Princess. All the days gone by passed again through my mind, and brought back to me the whole reason I agreed to take on the documentation of the restoration. It was because of these men, who have been special to me since 1967! They spent so much of their lives in the Princess and I shared a lot of those special moments and to see them, together, there once again was an emotional moment.

Cecil even said that he would still be there working had he had the $30,000 for a HVAC system in 1999, but the building wasn't his and he didn't have the cash to invest in a building he didn't own. So, he closed shop.

So, there they were, three of the last managers of the Princess in the auditorium together. James W. (Dub) Harmon, Cecil Johnson, and now Megan Anderson. I especially loved this shot of Dub and Cecil standing by the old ticket stub box that they stood by for decades. If given the opportunity, they would do it all over again.

Megan and the other volunteers did a wonderful job of leading visitors through the Princess and telling the Princess story.

Still documenting the history of Harriman and Roane County were Dr. Joe Williams, Gary Baker, Gerald Largen, and Lewis Spivey.

Over in the old Dr. Zuckerman part of the lobby Megan had erected a collage of "before and after" photos. Visitors were amazed at the condition of the Princess prior to restoration, and how much it had changed over the course of the project. Many stood there a long time, ate Ruby Tuesday finger foods, and discussed their past lives at the Princess.

Now a new chapter begins, and I have a feeling this one will be the best!

PRINCESS CHOSEN FOR THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:11:00 +0000

The Cornstalk Heights Historical Community Organization holds its 21st annual "Historic Harriman Christmas Tour" this coming Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 10-11). For the 14th consecutive year, the group will make available a commemorative Christmas ornament, and this year the ornament features the Princess Theatre! The shiny orb will be available for $18.50 at the stop #5 on the tour, the "Hospitality House".

Diana Knobloch (center) stopped by the Princess volunteer meeting earlier this afternoon to give me my ornament early; so I could photograph it and show everyone. Isn't it pretty!?

The collector ornament is deep blue with gold lettering, with an image of the Princess created from an original 1939 photo. This piece will long be remembered as the ornament that was issued at the end of the restoration.

Remember too, that the Princess is part of the tour this year, and "Historic Harriman Christmas Tour" ticket holders will be given a sneak peek at the theatre.

Ticket holding visitors at stop #10 on the tour, will be greeted at the old Margrave Drug entrance, shown the new concessions area, complete with a Christmas Tree, the old concessions area, then ushered through one door of the auditorium, down the aisle and around in front of the stage, back up the opposite aisle, and back into the old lobby, and then offered Ruby Tuesday catered refreshments in the west lobby where Dr. Zuckerman once had his optometry office.

There will be a display of "before and after" photos in this area, and you will be amazed at the transition our Princess has made. Visitors may then leave through this lobby door. The main, old entrance, doors will be locked. The only way in is through the "Margrave" entrance (east side of the Princess), and the only way out is through the "Zuckerman" (west side of the Princess) door.

The restrooms will NOT be open, and no one will be allowed in any other section of the theatre on this tour. The theatre is still under construction so it would be dangerous to venture off the allotted path through the theatre, plus you might get paint on your clothes! The tour should take one between 10 and 15 minutes.

Doors to the homes and the theatre open at 12PM on Saturday and 1PM on Sunday. Doors close at 6PM on both days.

Tickets are available for purchase now at the following Harriman locations:

Harriman's Carnegie Library, 601 Walden St.
Rocky Top General Store, 316 Ruritan Rd.
Red Door Antiquities, 505 N. Roane St.

Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour at the following locations:

Temperance Building, 330 Roane Street

Volunteers met this afternoon with Megan Anderson to prepare for the tour, and got their first look inside since the seats and carpet had been installed. They were thrilled at what they saw for the first time.

Jean Penley sat in one of the new sets and told Bill Milburn about getting kicked out of the Princess back around 1957 for dancing in the aisle during a "sock hop" movie. She plans on dancing in the aisle again some 54 years later when the Princess officially opens!

THE PRINCESS TO BE OPEN FOR HARRIMAN'S CHRISTMAS TOUR!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:14:00 +0000

Now that I have your attention, let's talk about the marquee first!

I don't know about you, but for me the project is over when I see the word "PRINCESS" on the marquee again! Of course, the project isn't over, but the light at the end of the stage (so to speak) can been seen from here!

James and Adam put up all the letters in Princess today, and will put up the two "theatre" words tomorrow! The big red letters really looked great and now the only thing better for me will be to see the neon lights against a darken sky!

I stopped in around 1PM today to get the historic hanging of the "P", came back by after a short trip to Wal-Mart to see PRIN up, and then back through this afternoon to see the full word. I must say it was a little emotional for me.

Inside workmen worked hard at installing the beautiful carpet. The carpet is a Regal copyrighted pattern that they let us have, and the streaks of burnt orange will really make the Regal seats pop! It could not have been a better match. I think the carpet was what excited Megan the most, and I almost agree, but the PRINCESS out front just has to be number one for me.

Upstairs, the guardrails have been installed around the handicapped seating area. Pay no attention to that one lone seat...it isn't placed yet and not turned in the right direction!

The Princess will be open for a quick walk-thru on December 10th and 11th during the Historic Harriman Christmas Tour. You must have purchased a ticket for the Christmas Tour prior to entering the Princess.

Saturday, December 10, 12 - 6 pm

Sunday, December 11, 1 - 6 pm

Tickets are $15 for adults; $5 children under 12

Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour at the following locations:
Harriman's Carnegie Library, 601 Walden St.

Red Door Antiquities, 505 N. Roane St.

Please note that the Princess restrooms will not be open, due to construction, and the tour will be limited to a walk down one auditorium aisle, around in front of the stage, and back up the opposite aisle and back to the lobby. Refreshments will be available in the lobby area. Entrance to the theatre will only be through the "Margrave" building to the right of the Princess, and exit will be out the little lobby area on the left of the Princess. The main lobby doors will be locked.

You will be thrilled at the restoration work that has been done!

THE LETTERS ARE GOING UP!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:39:00 +0000

While these aren't the colorful letters we'll see soon, they are the clear plastic backing for the marquee letters. Regardless...it's good to see "Princess" on the front of the theatre once again!

Watch closely as the red and blue letters (shown in the previous post) go up!

HE PUT THE "P" IN PRINCESS!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:34:00 +0000

I stopped by Rocky Top Sign and Neon today and spoke with owner James Ryan. We discussed the Princess project, and how things are getting rushed toward the end, and how much pressure he was to get the marquee up! Naturally, any restoration project is going to be pushing to get it's most visible part up and functioning. In the case of the Princess, it's the marquee that's the most visible!

I just happened to mention how much I wanted to be there when the first letter, hopefully the "P", was hung to take the historic photograph. He said, "Why don't you take it now?"

As my granddaughter would say, "What!"

Yes, there they were, all spread out on his shop floor. I was so happy to see them, and they surprised me too! In my mind's eye I could see dull looking flat letters fastened to the front of the black and white sign that's now hanging there. Nope, they will be raised letters, some 8 to 10 inches deep, and in the most brilliant red and blue baked on paint...just like the blueprints illustrate!

Each letter is outlined in a white stripe about an inch wide. Each letter will have neon that will flash just like the original once did. I know I've spoken about LED, but that's for the lights beneath the canopy. The letters will be fitted with the latest in neon technology.

Look closely at the clear plastic letters laying on the new concessions counter (below) and

you'll see that these plastic letters will enclose the back of each red or blue letter. The clear plastic shapes attach to the marquee, enclosing the backside of each letter, and allow access for the electrical connection that will light up the neon letter shapes on the front of the letters.

The marquee will be as it looked in 1939 (above), which is much more beautiful than what most of us grew up knowing. Double click the photo to see them larger!

CLICK HERE to see what most of us remember.

In the '39 photo, you can easily see that the letters are raised, both the PRINCESS and the THEATRE letters. You will also note that it is correctly "THEATRE".

Well James, I still want to be there when you hang the "P", but I'll have to say this was pretty exciting too! Thanks!

Inside I was pleased to see that all the seats are now in place. It now looks like a theatre!

Also, I can't get over how much the actual photo above looks like the blog header! The drawings were a better depiction of what we were to see than any of us ever thought.

Everything seems ready for the carpet!

To the rear of the stage a strong trap door has been built to cover the stairs down to the basement, giving the stage an extra three or four feet of performance space.

Out in the lobby, the terrazzo has been filled and sanded down, and over in the concessions lobby the elevator doors are on and the lift is operational.

Hang on folks...it won't be long now!

THE PRINCESS RESTORATION CONTINUES TO ATTRACT FAVORABLE ATTENTION

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:56:00 +0000

Just last week the restoration drew praise from those passionate about preservation, the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance, who announced that Harriman’s effort was a winner of the 2011 East Tennessee Preservation Award!

This week, due out soon, watch for an article and photo spread in the Knoxville Metro Pulse magazine.

You'll probably see better photos than I've been providing, so please don't miss it. Pick up a copy of the new issue due out today or tomorrow, or go on line by clicking on the link provided above.

In the meantime, since the "Pulse" is doing an exposé, I might as well post some of my own "full" interior shots!

THINGS ARE CHANGING CONSTANTLY AT THE PRINCESS

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:41:00 +0000

I visited the Princess today and walked into the "concession" area, where Dr. Tappan used to have his practice, and then made my usual rounds through the auditorium, upstairs to the balcony, and back stage. I came back to where I came in and there sat the new concessions counter! It hadn't been 15 minutes!

So, it just goes to show you that things are happening rapidly at the Princess. Most things are on schedule, but there are a few "hard to find" items that are making an opening a little hard to define.

I've decided that I don't care...I want it open, but I want it to be presentable too!

With a project this bold and complex, an opening date has always been a moving target. I'm thinking that a 2011 opening is a bit ambitious, and that January is looking better.

In the meantime, I'll try my best to keep you up to date with all the changes that are happening. Believe me, it is really coming together well and everyone has done a terrific job!

New instrumentation has been added to the "art deco" walls, like these alarm and HVAC controls, but the paint scheme is really looking great. The paint crew is working everywhere it seems; trying to cover up old paint, but mostly trying to stay ahead of the scratches and dents the construction causes.

The elevator is almost ready...I scared the maintenance man today with a surprise flash! You can see here that there are a lot of wires, chains, and other gadgets to install.

The new restrooms are being fitted with vanities and sinks, and these additions are going to mean so much to us later. Remember when there were only 2 to 3 stalls in both old bathrooms? Well, we should not have to wait in line long in the future!

And, if you're as old as me, you can remember the era of segregation when black citizens had separate restrooms upstairs. [Thankfully we don't have to endure that degradation anymore.]

Those spaces are now rooms for part of the HVAC systems. We can now enjoy the new facilities, up or downstairs, together; as it should have been.

The seats are still being assembled and they are working both the auditorium floor and the balcony area.

However, never fear...the opening will be as soon as possible, and we would not want it to be too soon! The Princess needs to open looking her best.

Don't you agree?

BILL LANDRY TO SIGN HIS NEW BOOK AT ROCKY TOP

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:44:00 +0000

For twenty-five years, Bill Landry has been the voice and face of The Heartland Series on WBIR, Channel 10. In fact, retired Knoxville News Sentinel Senior Writer, Fred Brown, describes Landry as “East Tennessee’s favorite uncle, the one with all the good stories that have become so familiar and popular.”

The Heartland Series premiered in 1984 to showcase the 50^th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Landry quickly emerged as host, narrator, and co-producer of the show. Over the twenty-five years, the “Heartland” team produced 1,900 short 3 ½ minute features and 150 half-hour specials. The show received four Emmy awards, two of which Landry won for direction.

Landry grew up in Chattanooga, and earned a degree in literature from the University of Tennessee and a master’s of fine arts degree from Trinity University and the Dallas Theater Center. He wrote and produced a one-man play about Albert Einstein called Einstein the Man and traveled 38 states and two provinces in Canada to give over 1,000 performances, which he continues to do. The book, Einstein the Man was published in 2000 and multiple copies given to every school within the state of Tennessee.

From 1982-1984, he worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority before beginning work on The Heartland Series, one of the longest-running productions in regional television history.

Today, Bill and his wife Becky live in a log cabin built in 2007 in Blount County, Tennessee. Appropriately, it sits adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Bill will be at David Webb's Rocky Top General Store, in South Harriman, on Saturday, November 12, 2011 to sign copies of his new book, "Appalachain Tales & Heartland Adventures."

It's from 12:00 -- 3:00. There will be hot cider and warm fellowship!

See you there!

GET READY TO TAKE YOUR SEAT!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:41:00 +0000

No, the Princess isn't quite ready for you yet, but your seat is being stalled this week, and one will be reserved for you on opening night! The new seats, which were donated by Regal Cinemas, are being assembled, piece-by-piece...literally (see photo), this week and are being install according to Frank Sparkman's engineering drawings. It appears the seating will be five abreast on each side, with 10 in each of the middle rows. This configuration promises the most seats for the floor space, but until they are all in, the exact count can't accurately be determined.

The six seats shown are in each of the back corners of the main floor auditorium and offer space for a wheel-chair bound patron and three companions at each of these four rows.

The comfy cushioned seats look brand new, and are burnt orange with black trim. The burnt orange will probably match a pattern in the carpet yet to be installed.

I was also pleased to see that the cracks patched in the terrazzo had dried and been ground down, and it appears to be a perfect match! Again, I can hardly wait to see it all polished and sealed, and looking like new again.

Out front, Tim Plemons and crew, have painted over the weather-proof paneling beneath the marquee, and gives us hope that soon the entire Princess will be "spic'n span" and inviting us in.

However, one of my greatest finds today was this scene in one of the upstairs rooms of the Tappan building. The ceiling has been repaired, but the walls and everything else still awaits further work. These upstairs rooms will not see full restoration until much later down the road, but will be important to the Princess Complex in the future.

But, I couldn't help but try and capture the lighting that streamed in from outside and played on the old wooden floor. We should remember, that these old 1890's buildings are treasures in themselves, and we should be appreciative of the second chance we are getting to see and use them in our live time. Roane Street is full of such treasures, and they all stand waiting for someone with vision to turn them into useful spaces for a new generation.

PROGRESS REPORT FROM THE PRINCESS

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:53:00 +0000

It used to be that I'd have to wait a month to see real change in the progress at the Princess. Now, if I don't go every few days, I can miss out on lots of little changes. Things are really, happening at a fast pace now, and it won't be long before you will see a notice posted here for a grand event!

James Ryan and Adam (forgive me I forgot his last name), of Rocky Top Sign & Neon, are busy most days putting on the metal face of the marquee. He begins this week finishing up the neon at his shop, and I plan on dropping by to capture a few great moments in neon for history.

I was under the misconception that the marquee was going to be a giant one-piece sign that a crane would have to hoist into place. Not so! The frame of the marquee is all wood, some having to be molded into a curved shape that goes up first. It is then wrapped in black and white metal, which has a plastic shield on the outside to protect it from scratches during installation. That will be peeled off once the sign is completed covered.

The metal will protect the wood from the weather and keep the marquee sturdy and shiny for years to come. Over this will be the neon...more on that later.

Inside, Tim Plemons and crew are still painting the vast interior, which has included the auditorium floor. Some time next week the burgundy seats donated by Regal Cinemas will be bolted into place. It will then look like a theatre inside as well. I'm not going to publish any more wide shots of the interior until after the grand opening. We want it to be a total surprise to you when you walk into the auditorium for the first time!

However, I will post a close shot or two of the seats just to tease you!

The new bathroom additions are being completed, and the ladies will happy to know that there are six new stalls in the Princess, besides the original ones. The men too will have new extra facilities to enjoy, and there will be drinking fountains conveniently located throughout the lobby area.

The elevator lift and loading platform are in place, awaiting the actual elevator compartment. This will make seats in the balcony more convenient to everyone, including the handicapped.

Almost unnoticed under foot in the lobby is the work being done to restore the original terrazzo flooring to its original shine. The breaks in the beautiful old flooring are being properly filled, ground, sanded, and buffed to bring it back to life, and give it at least another 70 years of life! I can hardly wait to see this floor returned to even better luster than I remember from my time in the sixties.

Put it all together and you have a reborn venue; perhaps a transformation from a mere theater to a grand theatre. She will be ready again to receive the title she was once given by newspapers and newsreels as a "temple to the arts"!

WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT WHEN THE PRINCESS OPENS?!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:36:00 +0000

If you have been waiting for the Princess Theatre to open before volunteering to help, here's what you need to do ASAP!

We expect the Princess to formally open with a grand fanfare sometime within the next two months. With any restoration there are always going to be unforeseen circumstances that prevent a specified opening date to be met. That's why there has been no firm date committed as yet. It's better to get things "ship shape" before opening the doors to disappointment and complaints. So, the actual date will be announced here, and through other resources, as soon as the architect and manager deems things are definitely ready.

However, if you want to be on the team of folks doing whatever is required to ensure a great theatre experience, then stop by Harriman Jewelry, H.G. Furniture, or Rocky Top General Store and pick up a "Princess Volunteer Form", and get it mailed to Megan Anderson, or just returned to the store, ASAP!

The form gives you several ideas where help will be needed, or you can describe something else that fits your expertise or interest.

What are you interested in volunteering for at the Princess (check all that apply):
o    Usher (seating people & taking tickets)
o    Greeter
o    Ticket Office
o    Sound
o    Lights
o   Lobby Supervisor (supervising lobby during trailhead hours & greeting people as the enter)
o    Help clean up after events
Other _____________________________________________

If you are on the Princess mailing list, then a copy of this form will be emailed to you soon. If not...look for the email address for the Princess in the right sidebar and let me know if you want to be included.

If you have volunteered for other events in Harriman, such as "Crusin'", you will still need to fill out another form. Once the forms are received, Megan Anderson and Wilma Mullins will be setting up meetings.

Remember, you can mail the form to Megan (address is on the form), or simply return it to the store where you got it.

Volunteering is what we "Tennesseans" do! It will also give you great personal satisfaction, and let you be part of a history making event; the rebirth of our Princess!

WHAT ROANE COUNTY NEEDS IS MORE INVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:35:00 +0000

I introduced my son Corey Mashburn, Harriman High School's Guidance Counselor, to Megan Anderson, the new Princess Theatre Manager, Friday. They seemed to hit it off right away and began discussing Corey's memories of the Princess, what the Princess wants to offer area schools, and generally what the Princess will mean to our children that want a career in the arts, media, and communication.

But, all I could think about how much Roane County needs young people like this! While listening to their youthful ideas from these two "go-getters", I was thinking "how do we get young people involved". We need their youth, their ideas, their determination, and new vision of the future so much!

Megan and Corey talked about getting together with the other area counselors, and interested teachers, to brainstorm ideas for classes and hands-on involvement. They think that the high schools could offer "dual enrollment" credit courses in partnership with Roane State, which would be wonderful for everyone involved. These courses would be in the catalog under THEATRE.

That's it, we need to find ways to get them together and let them think out of the box with their young minds. I'm afraid we may have become to set in our ways to see past the past and into the future!

The Princess Dream is to make the Princess a unique educational tool that will prepare students who are interested in stage, sound, film, television, radio...all of the "media/theatre arts". The Princess, and the Channel 15 studio, will be a hands-on tool students can use as they do class study.

Did you know that Harriman doesn't have a drama class or club? I found that so sad. The Princess will be able to stir up interest again in the arts in all our schools. Not only could those interested students act in a play, they could also learn to do the stage preparation, the direction, the producing, the lighting, the sound, and how to record the performances on film for broadcast. Man, how I could have gone for something like that when I was in high school!

My suggestion to any parent or student reading this post is GO to your school's guidance counselor, or any teacher, and tell them you are interested in pursuing your interest in the arts! And how much your school offering such classes would mean to you.

Dual credit courses could be available to any student scoring a 19 on the ACT test. The PLAN test is given during a students sophomore year, as a preliminary to the real ACT given the junior year. Therefore, a student could be potentially be eligible for the "dual enrollment" courses for the last three years of high school!

The English portion of the test is probably the portion in which a 19 will be required. It's seems to be the best fit anyway.

Even if a student fails to make a 19 in that area of the tests, they could still pay Roane State for the courses. But, if the grade is made, then it's all free!

Going to a community 2-year college program next year may even become more possible for more Roane County students. A new program call tnAchieves will provide up to $3,000 dollars annually for tuition to students who meet the criteria and maintain a 2.0 GPA. This is on top of any Lottery Scholarship and/or PAL grant monies!

All this simply means, that you may be able to go to Roane State FREE! So, look into it today!

Oh yes, everyone needs to see how they can get involved at the Princess too! If you would like to volunteer, contact Wilma Mullins right away!

A LIGHT TRANFORMATION AT THE PRINCESS

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:15:00 +0000

Several months ago, James Ryan's "Rocky Top Sign & Neon" company took on the task of refurbishing the Princess lights. They were in pretty bad shape, having gotten wet many times from the leaky roof, but today they hang proudly from the Princess auditorium ceiling!

The lights began a slow transformation, back to near perfect condition. First everything had to be removed from the fixtures, then primered, and repainted. The electrical parts had to be completely replaced, which included some purple neon fixtures, which Ryan's company made. This neon will give the auditorium ceiling a special glow that will reflect off the painted ceiling.

"Rocky Top's" work continues outside on the marquee frame too. They expect to be attaching the actual marquee pieces very soon.

With the ceiling complete, "Superior Interiors" continues painting the rest of the Princess, and let me tell you, it's looking great! And wait until you see the proscenium! The old fir wood is so soft to the touch, and it really soaked up the paint that was applied. It looks fantastic and any actor would be proud to stand between them.

I won't be showing you anymore wide-angle shots of the auditorium for now. I want the completed job to be a total surprise to you as you walk in the Princess, and for some, it will be for the first time. You'll love it!

However, suffice it to say that the work continues. The new bathrooms have been tiled to match the original pattern and color of the old restrooms on the mezzanine level.

The elevator shaft work progresses with steel rising to the balcony level.

And, of special interest to me is the work being done to bring back the shine of the terrazzo floor in the lobby and at the entrance to the Princess outside. Even us old timers have never seen it shining with its original luster!

So, it can't be long until you get the call to come she her!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE "CRUISIN'" CREW

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:59:00 +0000

Last evening, at Harriman Steaks And Diner, Roane Street in Harriman, the city put on a special celebration in thanks to all that help make the annual "Crusin' Harriman" better than the previous year. This group puts out a special effort and make family sacrifices during the 2nd Saturday of April through August each spring and summer.

The group enjoyed being together to relax, eat, and fellowship without having to plan an upcoming event. However, their efforts will begin all over again come next March!

"Doc" and Wilma Mullins were presented with a commendation plaque for their combined coordination work over the years since the event began in 2003. Other members, besides Doc and Wilma, of the original committee in attendance Thursday evening were: Beverly Clough, Bobby and Lois Wilder, Jim Thornton, Sandy and Tom Hooks, and Gary Baker.

People don't realize what it takes to put on an event. It takes lots of planning, and lots of volunteers working behind the scenes and at the event to make it happen. There are never enough volunteers to make each person's job/s easier, so many have to pull multiple duties in order for the event to be successful.

There is lots of room for more volunteers, so it you would like to be involved in next year's event, call "Doc" and Wilma Mullins (865-717-2818) right now...before you forget it!

It's never too early to get ready for April 14, 2012!

"SUPERIOR" PAINTERS ENLISTED TO REPRODUCE PRINCESS PAST

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:32:00 +0000

Tim Plemons, Jaycen Roberts, Grey Mead, and Jerry Roberts (yes, they are related), of Superior Interiors were hired to reproduce the Princess' "Art Deco" color scheme. I stopped their work Wednesday to take this quick photo. I apologize to them for this photo being slightly blurry, but it is very difficult to get "auto focus" to work in the low light conditions of the Princess. I'll try and get a better shot soon, and replace this one. However, I wanted to get them and their work documented for history on the Princess blog as soon as possible.

Tim Plemons, Jaycen Roberts, Grey Mead, and Jerry Roberts

The team has been doing an outstanding job of recreating the original paint scheme. They are constantly referring to Sparkman's engineering drawings, and looking at an old post card to match the colors and design as closely as possible.

"Art deco" may be strange to most people, especially those not old enough to remember the inside of the Princess Theater prior to the 70's, but what you will see on the ceiling, the walls, and the front of the balcony is what you would have seen if you walked into the Princess on or after the 1939 reopening of the theater after the devastating fire. The Princess was intended, and will be, an "art deco" temple to the arts!

Our thanks to Tim Plemons and crew for their dedicated, and often hard, work. It's not easy painting on your back, or balancing on one foot from a scaffolding brace! Walking into the auditorium now makes people who are old enough to remember, like me, feel so good. You can almost sense that the Princess is smiling herself! She's coming back to life!

Outside, the marquee is now ready to support and light up the new marquee, which is expected within the next week or so. You can see all the right curves on the fade of the support structures, which will match the shapes of the new banner.

No matter where you go within the Princess complex, you will see some type of working going on. The process of cleaning up has began too. The scaffolding should come down this Friday, so the last coat and touch-up paint should then finish up the auditorium. Then, another milestone will begin, and that's the placement of the new seats!

This week the main air conditioning units were successfully tested, which may not seem that important on these cooler fall days, but next summer when you are being entertained inside the Princess, you'll be happy it all works!

Again, let me caution you not to ever take our Princess for granted again. We didn't fully appreciate her until we no longer had her, so we need to remember that good things sometime slip from our grasp. We need to work hard in supporting the activities there, and to treat her like she was our own home.

I'm thankful for having had the privilege of watching the Princess come to life on a daily basis. The only drawback from this is almost bursting inside from the anticipation of seeing your face as you again walk into the Princess. I can't wait for us to again enjoy being together at the Princess. So, when you see me with my camera pointed at you...give me a big smile!

THE PAST MEETS THE FUTURE OF THE PRINCESS

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0000

What a wonderful historical event I was privileged to witness Wednesday - James "Dub" Harmon, manager of the Princess from 1951 until 1964, met Megan Anderson, the fifth and newest Princess manager, for the first time!

I think they hit it off immediately, and the first meeting ended with a warm "welcome/thank you" hug! This can only mean there will be more such meetings. Meetings where Megan will soak up all the Princess and Harriman history she can.

Dub began by telling us what the Princess meant to Harriman and the surrounding area. People used to fill the fifteen-foot-wide sidewalk (before the four-lane), all the way back to where Chase Drug is now, waiting to get into the Princess. This is evident is clearly shown in the 1939 grand opening film clip!

One 4th of July years ago, Dub related, they ran 3900 people through the Princess between 10AM and 11:30PM! At that time there was a city park where the American Legion is today, and people came there to celebrate, and then would come to the Princess.

There was always something going on at one of the theaters in town. The Princess used to have a special "Academy Award" promotion, where patrons attempted to match up the actors to the awards, and the closest won a living room suite!

Dub began working at the Princess in '41 or '42, time gets away from him a lot today, so he couldn't be exact, and Crescent thought he did such a great job they wanted to make him manager. However, it wasn't until 1951 that he became old enough to be "bonded", which was a requirement of the manager position.

As Dub remembers it, when the Webbo closed, O. L. Pritchett came to the Princess to replace outgoing manager L. W. Bevel. That was about the same time Mr. Harmon began working there, at about the age of 15 or 16.

About the only thing that did not burn when the Princess was destroyed in 1938, was the marquee. He remembers they cut the "SS" off the end of the Princess, and moved it down to where the Roxy was located, which was where Hall's 5 & 10 used to be located. It was not in a separate building, as some have speculated on Facebook. So, the Roxy/Prince building still stands in Harriman today.

The Roxy/Prince had only about 200 seats, and if you are old enough, you remember how narrow Hall's was!

One Halloween, the Roxy sold so many tickets to the scary movie, that they had to run a second movie up the street at the Webbo.

I asked Dub if he remembers a theater standing where the Princess is today and he said no. I asked what about the "Gay"? He thought a long time and then said that the Gay Theater was located on Clinton Street, somewhere on the block that H. G. Furniture is on, but on the opposite side of the block facing Clinton. I followed up by asking if the Gay was ever located where the Princess was built. He says the Gay may have moved to Roane Street, but isn't sure about where, or if that happened at all. Way before his time!

I plan on asking Lewis Spivey about this history next week. Megan also wants to meet this great Harriman historian, so I'll tag along!

So, when Cecil Johnson, the last Princess manager, got back from Korea in the early 50's, his brother-in-law, Dub Harmon, gave him a job as projectionist at the Princess. Cecil had experience at this job from his younger days at the Roxy. However, it wasn't long before Dub brought Cecil downstairs and began teaching him the managerial job.

Sometime in '64, Mr. Harmon and Junior Ballard began managing H. G. Furniture Company, which they later bought. Dub still works there today!

Cecil became the fourth Princess manager. Dub kept working in the theater business, except it was at night, after his day job, at the Midtown Drive-In. By then Martin Theaters had bought Crescent, and all sixty some theaters. So, Dub and Cecil had new bosses!

Cecil remained the manager until 1999, when he finally closed the theater, after having leased the business from Martin Theaters for a couple of years.

Folks, again I see in Megan Anderson someone that can and will carry the flame forward. She hung on Dub's every word, as he answered her tough questions. You can see the pride building in her for our Princess and Harriman. She has already made many contacts for support, for historical answers, and for thoughts on what the Princess should bring back to Harriman.

We gave her a t-shirt, after she admired the one I was wearing the first time we met. It was kind of a "we believe in you" gift, and she beamed when it was given to her.

Please get behind her and support her in her highs and lows folks, and let's keep the interest in this project and revitalization going. She will really mean it when she wears her "turning the lights on" t-shirt around campus and town. She wants to succeed in her new job and she wants the Princess to succeed!

OLD MEMORIES REKINDLED BY PRINCESS VISIT

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Long time supporter, Jim Henry, who has worked tirelessly in the background for the Princess cause, his son John, and brother-in-law David Arp, a 1964 graduate of Harriman High, visited the Princess restoration site Saturday afternoon.

John and Jim Henry, Kathy and David Arp, and Gary Baker back stage.

Taking an hour out prior to attending the Class of '64's 65th Birthday Party, the group walked through the sheet rock dust to see how things are progressing. The most impressive part of the tour was seeing the "art deco" ceiling taking shape above the auditorium floor.

Tim Plemons took a few moments out to tell Jim, and his party, how well things were coming out, and how honored he was to be part of history. The original painter was not fortunate enough to have a "blogger/historian" like me follow his progress as closely as Tim does!

Working from the engineering drawings, shown in the previous post, Tim is progressing on schedule and hopes to be painting the ticket booth entrances soon. When this happens, along with the long awaited hanging of the new marquee, we will know our Princess is just about ready to receive a new generation of happy patrons! I'm hearing mid-November, but restoration projects often hit pot holes along the way. Let's cross our fingers that this does not happen to us.

Jim Henry is confident that the Princess will make a huge impact on Harriman, Roane and surrounding counties, as well as, the entire East Tennessee region. The Princess will never be a "first run" commercial theater like before, but she will be a grand "theatre" showing classic movies, music shows and festivals, movie and art festivals, stage plays, and just a grand place to have meetings, dances, marriages, business shows, and other informative and educational events.

Most of all, children will once again have age appropriate things to do on Saturdays. They too will begin to build memories of the Princess. They will have a TV and radio station, and stage with/on which to learn the arts, communications, and media skills. This complex of "hands-on-tools" will enhance their education experience at Roane State and area high schools.

David Arp, his wife and mom, along with Julian Ahler at the Princess.

David Arp, a long time friend and classmate of mine, was also impressed with the transition the Princess has made during the restoration. He remembered his days of coming to the Princess, and "sneaking into the balcony", like most of us did! Those are memories that only small-town America can offer!

I'm getting so excited! I get more excited each time I visit the site, and especially when I'm there with someone my age, or older, and hear their memories, and see the excitement in their eyes as they see the fresh paint for the first time!

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A COUPLE OF YEARS MAKE

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Well, truthfully it hasn't been quite 2 years, but in November 2009 I took photos of the inside of the Princess before any restoration work began. I wanted to document the project from beginning to end.

The old leaky roof was still in place and water poured in every time there was inclement weather. Knowing this, made my heart ache whenever there was snow or rain for 9 months. Everything below was wet, moldy, and rusting in place! The new roof was constructed in August of 2010.

I shot this light fixture that day, and since there is no shiny new metal above it, I know the new roof was not yet in place. Real restoration work didn't really begin until around July 2010 when the old seats were removed and hauled away. They were in very sad shape; mold, rust, rot, and more rust was devouring them!

The new fixtures are going up, but they are not yet complete, because, if you look at the blog header (above) you can distinctly see that there is glass between the second and bottom tier, and also attached to the bottom of the last tier.

Against the new paint, being added by Tim Plemons, we can get a little glimpse of the finished product. The restored 1939 fixtures hanging from a beautifully restored "art deco" painted ceiling will greet us at the grand opening. It will bring to mind the days when the Princess still showed its true colors; from the ceiling to the floor.

Tim Plemons is following Frank Sparkman's architectural drawings in order to recreate the paint scheme as closely as possible. All the colors, shapes, and measurements are recorded for him to follow. Does that make it easy? Think about it...he has to take a little rendition the draftsman created on paper, and make it span exactly on the huge Princess ceiling! He does it all either crouching or laying on his back while doing it!

Tim taking a rare break. It's rare to actually sit or stand doing this work.

Around the old fixture photo above, you can see a little of the original paint. This was just one of the clues Sparkman had when he had to recreate the paint scheme and colors for the restoration. Without this, and a couple of other clues, the work could have never matched the original intent of the original architect, Joe Holman, and Crescent management.

As my project work t-shirt says, "We're turning the lights on!"

THE PRINCESS IN 1978!

noreply@blogger.com (Mushy) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:02:00 +0000

My friend Jim Young just forwarded me a photo that his friend, James Finch of Oak Ridge, took back in 1978 of the Princess. It was taken a night, so the lighting isn't the best, but you can see the Acme (where Channel 15 is today) and Margrave Drug (where the extended lobby stretches today) stores on either side, and a couple walking in front. It is possible they are waiting to by a ticket, but there just isn't enough detail, and the perspective is not that advantageous.

However, it still brings back memories of a time gone by when people walked Roane Street at night, and when seeing someone standing buying a ticket was not uncommon.

There is a time coming when seeing people standing in the same position will again be taken for granted. However, I hope we never again take the Princess for granted. I hope we remember the recent past and know that good things can be taken away from us. Maybe that way we will work harder at preserving and protecting the things that give our lives meaning.

Thanks Jim and James for sharing this photo with us Princess lovers!