Exhibit Curator Barbara Wingo gives a tour to David and Nancy Norman
From June 14 through August 18, 2019, the Norman Studios presented an exhibit entitled, Norman Studios Presents The Flying Ace, at the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention in Gainesville, Florida. The exhibition was the result of an exciting collaboration envisioned by Phoebe Cade Miles of the Cade Museum and Barbara Wingo of Norman Studios.
The Cade Museum in Gainesville, FL
The exhibition highlighted the early days of silent films in Jacksonville, Florida, and in addition to The Flying Ace, the only Norman Studios film existing in its entirety, featured vintage movie posters and other vintage items. The exhibit dovetailed with the Cade’s museum-wide themes of aviation and optics, film & photography.
Norman Studios main building in Jacksonville
The Norman Studios complex was founded in 1916 as Eagle Film City during Jacksonville’s tenure as the “Winter Film Capital of the World” and was purchased by Richard E. Norman in the 1920s. Norman Studios was among the nation’s first to produce “race films” showing African-American characters in positive, non-stereotypical roles. Norman’s five-building complex, now a National Historic Landmark, survives in Jacksonville’s Old Arlington neighborhood.
Exhibit Curator Barbara Wingo walked through the exhibit with David and Nancy Norman. David is a grandson of Richard Norman whose portrayals of African Americans in his motion pictures, such as The Green-Eyed Monster, The Bull-dogger and The Flying Ace, challenged the racist stereotypes and mimicry of the time.
Poster for the silent film The Flying Ace
The mission of the Norman Studios Silent Film Museum, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, is to preserve, present and promote the history of silent motion pictures in Northeast Florida and the history of race films through the reunification and restoration of the Norman Studios complex as a museum, education, film and community center. Learn more at normanstudios.org.
James Stephens who gives walking tours through the Antioch Cemetery near Island Grove, FL
Many of the Cross Creek, Florida friends Marjorie Kinnan
Rawlings wrote about in her book “Cross Creek” are buried in the
Antioch Cemetery near Island Grove, FL just east of Cross Creek. James M. Stephens has written what he thinks
many of those friends would say about themselves and their relationship with
the late Pulitzer-Prize-winning author.
Donna Green-Townsend, a board member of the MKR Friends of
the Farm, captured those narratives on video on a couple of James Stephens
walking tours of the Antioch Cemetery in 2018.
The walking tours were sponsored by the Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan
Rawlings Farm organization.
Note: When Jim makes reference to someone “coming here in…” he is referring to when the various folks ended up buried in the Antioch Cemetery.
While there are several of MKR’s friends buried in the Antioch Cemetery, there are several (such as Dorsey, Floyd and Preston Townsend, Ella Mae Slater and Snow Slater) who are buried in the Townsend Cemetery near Grove Park, FL. As of this writing it is not widely known where Marsh Turner or Mr. Martin are buried.
A Florida wild animal exhibit is showcasing the animals made popular in the literary works of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
The colorful taxidermy-mount exhibit features most of the species of wild animals found throughout Florida. Many of these, particularly the bear and deer, were made famous by Rawlings in her many books like The Yearling (Pulitzer Prize 1939), and Cross Creek (1942). Some 40 animal mounts, called “Fodderwing’s Creeturs,” belonging to Cross Creek naturalist, Jim Stephens, are displayed against a spectacular mural setting painted by St. Augustine artist, Gayle Prevatt.
Short video above features photos of the animal exhibit
Yearling Restaurant owner Robert Blauer is inviting the public to come and see this new attraction while also enjoying the old-time dining favorites such as gator-tail, catfish and grits, seafood, and sour orange pie, which have made the short drive from Gainesville a memorable dining adventure.
Contact Information:
Mural Artist: Gayle Prevatt, 904-377-7917, gprevatt@aug.com Animal Exhibit: Jim Stephens 352-466-3034, sloughfootcreek@aol.com Yearling Restaurant owner: Robert Blauer, 352-466-3999
In May of 2018, Jessie (Townsend) Armstrong, Lee Townsend, Andy Garfield and David McBrady entertained hundreds of people who turned out for the Island Grove/Cross Creek Blueberry Festival. Proceeds from the festival go towards the local volunteer fire departments which serve the rural communities of Island Grove and Cross Creek. Below are just three of the songs the band performed that day. (To book Jessie and Lee and the band send an email to dgtmultimedia@gmail.com or call 352-672-7550)
The band performing Kentucky Borderline, the song written by bluegrass icon Rhonda Vincent and Terry Herd
Jessie, Lee, Andy and David performing Bury Me Beneath the Willows at the 2018 Blueberry Festival
Jessie, Lee, David and Andy performing Gentle On My Mind, written by the late John Hartford
Just one example of a unique mailbox in Dunedin, FL
In the quaint, coastal community of Dunedin, FL we found a fun, artistic way to display mailboxes. We discovered these while visiting Harriett Meyer’s old hometown.
Elaine Carson Spencer proudly holds a portrait of her father Robert E. Carson (Contact: Elainecspencer@gmail.com)
Robert E. Carson was a professor of Humanities at the University of Florida from 1946-1971. In his youth, he worked as a professional musician playing the saxophone and clarinet in dance orchestras, theaters, hotels and for a brief time, vaudeville.
Robert Carson performing at one of many venues around the community
His first love was the violin which he started playing at the age of 4. Several years later he switched to the viola which he played in the Symphony Orchestra at the University of Florida for 25 years. He often performed at university events, receptions, weddings and other venues in the Gainesville community.
Professor Carson, or “Doc” as many called him, was a self-taught artist who began in watercolors at the age of 35. His works can be found in galleries as well as in other public locations and in private collections.
Carson sketch inside the Frontier Eden book
Carson sketching outside
In 1966 author Gordon E. Bigelow asked Carson to provide sketches for his book, Frontier Eden, The Literary Career of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
Following the publication of Bigelow’s book, the University of Florida asked Carson if he would be willing to provide tours of the late Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings home in Cross Creek.
Estelle and Robert Carson by MKR home in 1968
Carson sharing some of his sketches while sitting on the porch of the MKR home
From 1968 to 1970 Carson and his wife Estelle stayed at the historic MKR home on weekends and served as the first hosts. Sadly, he died following a car accident leaving Cross Creek in 1971.
Learn more about those exciting years giving tours at the late Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author’s home by watching the video below produced by Donna Green-Townsend and Carson’s daughter, Elaine Carson Spencer.
Carson’s legacy is being continued by his daughter, Elaine Carson Spencer, through the sale of his prints and note cards. Primarily she will be offering the prints of MKR’s home and the bridge. At a later date she will offer other Florida sketches from her father.
Pen & ink sketch of the MKR home in Cross Creek
Pen & ink sketch of Cross Creek Bridge
11 X 14 prints are $25.00 and the price of a package of 10 note cards is $12.00.
Sample of Note cards
For more information or to place an order contact Elaine at ElaineCspencer@gmail.com
Winner of the 2019 Will McLean Song Contest Bob Patterson
Bob Patterson’s winning song “Silver Springs”
Bob Patterson from St. Augustine is the 2019 winner of the Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest for, “Silver Springs.” The song has a musical message about the current plight of not only one of the largest artesian springs in the world, but one of the most beautiful springs in Florida located in Marion County. Patterson recalls the day he first saw the spring.
It was in the early 70s when Gamble Rogers showed up at his house in St. Augustine in his old Mustang pulling a boat. Will McLean was with him. The three headed to Gore’s Landing north of Ocala, launched the boat into the Ocklawaha River and headed down to the Silver River and into the headspring.
At the time said Patterson, “It was producing 99.8% pure artesian spring water. Now it’s polluted and it’s getting worse and worse. So there was a sense of urgency about writing that song.”
Patterson didn’t start out writing environmental songs. He recalls a night around 1969 when Will McLean stayed at his house. During a late night music session Patterson sang one of his songs for Will.
“They were kind of those “Baby, Oh Baby” kind of songs,” recalled Patterson. “Will, who was always so ingratiating, would say, “Aww, that’s just wonderful. That’s beautiful Bob. Why don’t you write songs like that about Florida.”
McLean would be proud of Patterson’s songs today. In 2005 he placed in the top three of the Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest with a song called, “Lullabye of the Rivers.” It’s become somewhat of an anthem around the state. More importantly, it’s been used by educators to teach students about the natural history, geography, ecology and the state of health of Florida’s Rivers.
“The idea is if we don’t teach the kids about the environment, we can’t expect them to grow up wanting to protect it,” said Patterson. He hopes to obtain funding to create a DVD that could be used in schools to teach more educators how to utilize music in their science and history classes.
Patterson, along with the second and third place finishers of the song contest will be featured at the 2019 Will McLean Festival March 8th thru the 10th at the Sertoma Youth Ranch near Brooksville. This year he also tied for fourth place with his song, “Me and Margaret,” a song referring to the longtime Matriarch of the Florida folk scene, the late Margaret Longhill. Longhill died in 2018, just a few days before the 29th Will McLean Festival, the festival she started thirty years ago.
As one of the original founders of the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, Patterson has functioned as the event’s Artistic Director for 24 years. In 2011 the Stetson Kennedy Foundation awarded him the ‘Fellow Man and Mother Earth Award’ for his work in actively keeping folk culture alive in Florida.
Patterson was a 2011 first place winner in the North Florida Folk Network song writing contest in the category of Best Florida Song. In 2014 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Storytelling Association.
He has been a featured performer at the annual Florida Folk Festival at White Springs for more than 45 years and was recently inducted into the St Augustine Music Hall of Fame. In addition to critically acclaimed CDs Patterson has authored two books, Forgotten Tales of Florida, and, Dorothy. Both books are loaded with Florida folk lore and history and have become very popular in the folk community and beyond.
2nd place finisher Paul Smithson
Paul Smithson’s 2nd place song “Ninety-One Days”
Paul Smithson, is the 2nd place finisher in the 2019 contest for his song, “Ninety-One Days” about the late former Governor Lawton Chiles and the way he was known for walking across the state of Florida as he campaigned for office.
Smithson spent his early years in New York. He relocated in his early teens and considers Florida his home. He has lived most of his life (aside from a 10 year hiatus in California) in Lake County, Florida. Smithson, who lives in Eustis, Florida says his first memories of the Sunshine State were the citrus groves that used to dominate the landscape. He watched these groves freeze out in the 80s, to be replaced by strip malls and subdivisions.
At 56, Smithson says he has witnessed the state he fell in love with evolve into something other than what it was, but he also knows that Florida is persistent. There remains the swamps, prairies, and pined forests of Ocala, the Canaveral Seashore, and the numerous lakes of central Florida, to name only a few of his favorite haunts.
He has taught literature and composition since 1998, beginning at the University of Central Florida, sojourning through California, and ending up back in central Florida. He currently teaches AP Literature and AP U.S. History at his Alma Mater: Eustis High School (class of 1980).
Smithson says his musical/songwriting influences include Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, and Steve Earle. His interest in Florida history began with Gilbert King’s The Devil in the Grove, a book documenting the story of political corruption and racial injustice in 1940s-1950s Lake County. Smithson says he was so moved and inspired by the book that he composed, recorded, and released a CD by the same title. The CD contains songs that provide both a narrative and a variety of points of view of the major and minor players.
Smithson’s song, “The Last Train Out of Fernandina,” tied for fourth place in this year’s contest. He currently performs with John French as Smithson & French. This duo focuses on songwriting, harmonizing, and generally simply having a good time doing it.
3rd place finisher Razz Taylor
Razz Taylor’s 3rd place song “Arcadia Cowboy”
Razz Taylor is a singer-songwriter and performing independent recording artist living in Arcadia in south Florida. He was raised along the shores of Lake Okeechobee in South Florida and began singing for friends and family when he was just six years old.
Taylor’s 3rd place song, “Arcadia Cowboy” is about living in a small town in Florida and not wanting to be tied down.
His song, “Okeechobee,” which placed sixth in this year’s contest, is an autobiography about growing up hunting and fishing on the big water of Lake Okeechobee and the yearning of wanting to return to those childhood days.
Taylor says he is deeply influenced by traditional country music with a twist of the Oklahoma and Texas sound of red dirt country music. You can find his music on cdbaby, iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music and You Tube. You can find him on Facebook at RazzTaylor and the Mystic River band.
“All the excitement about the newly-released movie “Creed II” starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone brings back thoughts about one of the most memorable days of my life in Hollywood as an extra in the filming of “Rocky III.”
Sylvester Stallone at filming of Rocky III in 1981 (photo by Donna Green-Townsend)
The first “Creed” movie garnered Oscar buzz for Sly Stallone as Best Supporting Actor. Though he didn’t win the coveted golden statue, the film did well in the box office. “Creed I” featured an older version of Stallone’s character, “Rocky Balboa” who decides to help Adonis, the son of his old nemesis Apollo Creed played by actor Michael B. Jordan.
In “Creed II” light heavyweight contender Adonis Creed, once again under the tutelage of Rocky Balboa, faces off against Viktor Drago, the son of Ivan Drago, the Russian boxer who battered Adonis’ father so badly during the fight decades before that Apollo Creed died in the ring.
It was in 1976 when a much younger Stallone captivated the country with his debut as Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer who went on to become the heavyweight champion boxer of the world.
The rags to riches boxing tale became the highest grossing film of 1976. ‘Rocky’ received 10 Academy Award nominations. The film knocked out heavyweights ‘All the President’s Men,’ ‘Network’ and ‘Taxi Driver’ to win Oscars for Best Picture, Director and Editing.
Thus began a long-running series of ‘Rocky’ movies.
All the anticipation about the lastest “Creed” movie stirs up interesting memories for me about the day I found myself working for free as an extra during the filming of “Rocky III” while visiting Hollywood, California.
Sylvester Stallone and Mr. T preparing for a scene in Rocky III in 1981 (photo by Donna Green-Townsend)
I was in California in 1981 attending a National Public Radio Conference and decided to stay a few extra days with a friend since I had never been to the Golden State. One day on the trip while walking along Venice Beach my friend and I came across a guy looking for extras for the filming of the fight scene between Rocky and “Mr. T” for the film “Rocky III.” Since my friend had to work the next day I thought, “why not….this could be very interesting.”
My friend dropped me off at Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles. Hundreds of other extras like me were ushered into the seats around the arena and given instructions on what was expected from us.
It was very exciting to see Stallone up close dressed in his boxing attire. I can still visualize the atmosphere of the place. Some type of foggy-looking mixture was piped in to make the arena look smokey. I remember how I expected to see some real fight scenes. But, alas, this was Hollywood and that’s not the way it’s done. Scene after scene demanded retake after retake. Videographers shot the same scenes from various angles, even from the ceiling.
Donna with Mr T at filming of Rocky III in LA 1981
It was long day. The film crew served boxed lunches and handed out raffle tickets for a few prizes to keep the arena extras calm. But it was “Mr. T’s” willingness to go out into the crowd on a meet-and-greet that made the day fun for many.
What surprised me was how the movie crew wanted the crowd to cheer wildly during the fight scenes, but in gesture only. We weren’t allowed to make any noise. All of the sound would be added later. That’s more difficult than one might think, especially for a broadcast girl like me.
I took along my little pocket camera for the day. Surprisingly, no one seemed to mind that I kept taking a lot of pictures of the action all around me. I did get pretty close to Sylvester Stallone at one point. I remember he stared straight at me with what seemed like a look that said, “Hey lady, haven’t you taken enough pictures yet?” Just as I snapped the picture he turned his head to the right. It made the picture even better. Fake blood dripped from his face. His torso had a shine to it from the baby oil the crew had sprayed on to make it look as if he was sweating. Awww Hollywood.
I’m told the crew filmed two separate endings so the extras and others wouldn’t know who actually won the fight until the final picture came out. Here are some of the photos I took that day.
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I’m often asked if I can spot myself in the actual “Rocky III” movie. I have tried to pause the tape when I see shots that I was there for, but it’s so hard to see individual crowd members in all the fake smoke. Plus, the edits are all so quick. That’s what makes the ‘Rocky’ series of movies so exciting.
My favorite moments included getting the chance to stand right behind Rocky’s fight corner during some of the scenes as he was being pummelled by Mr. T. It seemed so real.
When I returned back to my job as News Director of KHCC-FM in Hutchinson, KS after my vacation, the local newspaper there wrote a little feature article on my experience. I still feel a little guilty that the headline they came up with gives the impression I didn’t enjoy being an extra in the movie.
Though it wasn’t as exciting as one might expect, it was still interesting to see how movies are made. More than that, it was exciting to share an arena with Rocky Balboa….even if I had to share it with hundreds of other people.
On March 3, 2018 Carol Fiddia Laxton toured the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Home in Cross Creek, FL. She had last visited the home when she was 18 years old many decades before. Her father wanted her to talk to Marjorie about what she was going to do after high school. Marjorie encouraged Carol to go to college for at least two years.
Carol’s father and grandmother were close friends of the late Pulitzer-Prize winning author. Before writing “The Yearling” which won the Pulitzer, Marjorie wrote “South Moon Under.” The inspiration for the characters and setting for both books came from living with Carol’s family back in the scrub of Marion County. There Marjorie learned the ins and outs of making moonshine, hunting, fishing and the “cracker ways” of early Florida.
Carol’s father and grandmother were good friends of Rawlings. The late author lived with the family for a time to gather information for the books she was writing, including, “South Moon Under” and “The Yearling.”
See highlights of the 121st and 122nd birthday celebrations for Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings at the MKR Historic State Park in Cross Creek, FL.
Visitors who attended the 122nd Birthday Celebration for Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings in Cross Creek, FL in August of 2018 were treated to recipes from her Cross Creek Cookery book, music and tours of the farm. Volunteers with the Friends of the MKR Farm and staff from the MKR Historic State Park served up watermelon sherbet, mango ice cream and black bottom pie as well as birthday cake. Music was provided by Eli Tragash and Virginia Carr.
More than 120 people turned out to help celebrate Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings 121st birthday in Cross Creek in August of 2017. Guests were treated to a fish fry with all the fixings including fried fish, grits, hush puppies, coleslaw, cake and sherbert made from tangerines and oranges from Marjorie’s grove on the farm.
See video highlights of the event below:
The Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm and the staff of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park sponsored the event with support from Visit Gainesville/Alachua County. Northwest Seafood in Gainesville donated and fried the fish.
Meanwhile, at the Yearling Restaurant in Cross Creek, visitors can see a Florida wild animal exhibit which showcases the animals made popular in the literary works of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
Owner of the Yearling Restaurant, Robert Blauer, has recently added the colorful taxidermy-mount exhibit featuring most of the species of wild animals found throughout Florida. Many of these, particularly the bear and deer, were made famous by Rawlings in her many books like The Yearling (Pulitzer Prize 1939), and Cross Creek (1942). Some 40 animal mounts, called “Fodderwing’s Creeturs,” belonging to Cross Creek naturalist, Jim Stephens, are displayed against a spectacular mural setting painted by St. Augustine artist, Gayle Prevatt.
Blauer is inviting the public to come and see this new attraction while also enjoying the old-time dining favorites at the eatery such as gator-tail, catfish and grits, seafood, and sour orange pie, which have made the short drive from Gainesville a memorable dining adventure.
Contact Information:
Mural Artist: Gayle Prevatt, 904-377-7917, gprevatt@aug.com Animal Exhibit: Jim Stephens 352-466-3034, sloughfootcreek@aol.com Yearling Restaurant owner: Robert Blauer, 352-466-3999
When I returned back to my job as News Director of KHCC-FM in Hutchinson, KS after my vacation, the local newspaper there wrote a little feature article on my experience. I still feel a little guilty that the headline they came up with gives the impression I didn’t enjoy being an extra in the movie.
On March 3, 2018 Carol Fiddia Laxton toured the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Home in Cross Creek, FL. She had last visited the home when she was 18 years old many decades before. Her father wanted her to talk to Marjorie about what she was going to do after high school. Marjorie encouraged Carol to go to college for at least two years.
See highlights of the 121st and 122nd birthday celebrations for Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings at the MKR Historic State Park in Cross Creek, FL.
More than 120 people turned out to help celebrate Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings 121st birthday in Cross Creek in August of 2017. Guests were treated to a fish fry with all the fixings including fried fish, grits, hush puppies, coleslaw, cake and sherbert made from tangerines and oranges from Marjorie’s grove on the farm.