The Loafer 124

Publisher

Lisa Durbin

Creative Director

Jon Bill Forrester

Managing Editor

Peggy Gale

Distribution

Herbie Durbin

Jon Bill Forrester

Entertainment Coordinator

Andreax Jarre

Public Relations Correspondent

Lee Lee Williams

Contributing Staff

Andy Ross

Kathie Scalf

Ken Silvers

Wendy Hayden

Ann Hartley The Loafer

Po Box 39

Telford, Tn 37690

423-930-7319

www.theloafer.net

theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com

All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams

Hello Friends!

Are you enjoying Summer so far? I know those out of school kids are eating you out of house and home and making messes for you to clean up. The joys of Summer! What kind of vacation plans do you have so far if any? Make sure to save some of those fun pics to share with us on social media and maybe in a printed issue. I know having the kids at home can be a handful but we (myself included) need to remember to enjoy these years because they will be gone before we know it.

I hope you have made plans to see The Little Mermaid by Theatre Bristol. I was able to attend with some of my grown kids and all of my granddaughters and it was an absolute phenomenal experience! This is a great way to spend a few hours this Summer.

Beyond the Yellow Brick Road: Barter Theatre opens “The Wizard of Oz”

Sometimes our journey in life leads us past places we intended to experience along the way. Other times, it unexpectedly leads us down winding dirt trails and golden inlaid paths toward a destination we couldn’t have imagined. Both paths converge this summer at Barter Theatre in Abingdon.

The Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Yellow Brick Road in The Wizard of Oz both serve as iconic pathways that represent journeys of self-discovery and quests for something deeply significant and potentially life changing. While the Appalachian Trail is a real and palpable physical hiking trail spanning over 2,190 miles up the eastern side of the United States, the Yellow Brick Road is a fictional path created within the recesses of the mind in L. Frank Baum’s classic story. Despite these differences, both paths share thematic similarities in the way they guide travelers on transformative journeys.

Both journeys lead travelers on a search for something bigger than themselves. Many who hike the AT do so seeking personal growth, healing, or a deeper connection with nature – and themselves. The rigorous and lengthy journey provides time for introspection. Hikers often set out to challenge themselves physically and mentally, looking for clarity, purpose, or a sense of accomplishment.

Along the trail, hikers form a community with one another, sharing experiences and supporting each other. This camaraderie often becomes a significant part of their journey, providing a sense of belonging and shared goal. Just the same, Dorothy and her companions follow the Yellow Brick Road in search of the fulfillment of their most longed for desires. Dorothy seeks a way back home to Kansas, the Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tin Man hopes for a heart, and the Cowardly

Lion longs for courage. Their journey becomes a mission for these intangible yet profoundly important qualities.

Ultimately, each character reaches selfrealization. As they travel, all discover that the qualities they so desperately seek are already within them. The journey along the Yellow Brick Road is as much about recognizing their inner strengths as it is about reaching the physical destination of the Emerald City.

Completing the AT is often described as a transformative experience. When hikers return home, they find themselves changed by the journey, carrying with them new insights, resilience, and a deepened sense of self. This homecoming is not just a return to a physical place but a renewed state of mind and reintroduction to the self, cultivated and enhanced by the experiences along the trail. Reaching the end of any obstacle lined path symbolizes the culmination of a long and arduous

journey, often bringing a profound sense of achievement and closure. This sense of fulfillment can redefine one’s sense of home, acceptance, and belonging. This sense of belonging reaches across the pages into the land of Oz, where Dorothy returns home feeling a deeper sense of knowledge and awareness. For Dorothy, the Yellow Brick Road ultimately leads back home to Kansas. Her journey in Oz helps her realize the value of home and the people she loves. The phrase “There’s no place like home” encapsulates the lesson that, despite the wonders and spectacle of Oz, true happiness and security lie in her familiar, humble home. Additionally, the other characters also find that their journey has led them back to their own sense of self. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion each realize that they already possessed the qualities they sought all along, and their journey down the Yellow Brick Road helped them uncover these inner truths.

“Whether they travel on the Appalachian Trail or the Yellow Brick Road, the characters in our plays are discovering who they are and what home means to them,” said Artistic Producing Director Katy Brown. “Journeys teach you about who you are and where you come from, no matter if you travel on the AT or the Yellow Brick Road.”

Both the Appalachian Trail and the Yellow Brick Road symbolize more than just physical paths; they represent journeys of transformation and selfdiscovery. Travelers on these paths seek something significant - be it personal growth or fulfillment of desires. Ultimately, both paths lead back home, but with a renewed understanding and appreciation of what “home” truly means. Whether through the natural beauty and challenges of the AT or the magical adventures of Oz, these journeys remind us that the search for something often brings us back to ourselves, and there’s no place like home.

Come discover home for yourself along the Yellow Brick Road! The Wizard of Oz is now playing at Barter Theatre’s Gilliam Stage through August 18th For ticket information, please visit: bartertheatre.com/big-shows/thewizard-of-oz/ or call the Box Office at (276) 628-3991

Photo:(L to R): Zacchaeus Kimbrell as the Cowardly Lion, Jacob Nuti as the Scarecrow, Libby Zabit as Dorothy, Sean Campos as the Tinman

Bristol TN/Va

WEDNESDAY June 12th

Jazz & Jam: Sam West w/ Will Outlaw, Tom Peterson, and Neal Reid 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

THURSDAY June 13th

From the Edge 7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Sounds of Summer: Sons of Sailors (Jimmy Buffett Tribute) 7:00pm at Downtown Center

FRIDAY June 14th

Bill Dotson 7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Jakob Jovet 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Gents and Liars 8:00pm at Delta Blues BBQ

Damon Heath

8:00pm at The Corner

The Great Big Hug 10:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Dallas Danger 10:00pm at O’Mainnin’s Pub

SATURDAY Jun 15th

The Michael Christopher Band

7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Spotlight

Jared Bentley 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Alli Epperson

8:00pm at The Corner

Ray Belton & BlueMax

8:00pm at Delta Blues BBQ

Cash Crop 10:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

The Buzzards

10:00pm at O’Mainnin’s Pub

MONDAY Jun 17th

Anthony Childress 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

TUESDAY June 18th

Sounds of Summer:

Carson Peters & Iron Mountain

7:00pm at Downtown Center

Johnson City

WEDNESDAY June 12th

Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

THURSDAY June 13th

Justin Mychaels 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza

FRIDAY June 14th

Jeff Lane 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza

Citizen Kane Band 8:00pm at Tulip’s Grub & Pub

Clayton Potter 10:00pm at Capone’s

SATURDAY Jun 15th

No Filter Band

9:00pm at Tulip”s Grub & Pub

Donnie & the Dry Heavers with Special Guests 10:00pm at Capone’s

SUNDAY Jun 16th

Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

TUESDAY June 17th

Old Time Jam 5:00pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Company

Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

Kingsport

FRIDAY June 14th

From the Edge 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

Daniel Byrd’s Boogie Machine 7:00pm at Model City Tap House

William Wight 7:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

Little Black Mountain Band 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

SATURDAY June 15th

Dallas Danger w/Special Guest T-Bone 7:00pm at Model City Tap House

Marques Puckett and 8 Second Ride 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

Copper Ridge 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

SUNDAY June 16th

Jason Lloyd 7:00pm at Lakeview Marina

Elizabethton

FRIDAY June 14th

JayP 7:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s

SATURDAY Jun 15th

Powershift 8:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s Abingdon, VA

SATURDAY June 15th

Alli Epperson 3:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards

Logan Fritz 5:00pm at Nicewonder Vineyards

SUNDAY Jun 16th

Josh Bowles & Tom Zeske III 2:00pm at Abingdon Vineyards

Sycamore Shoals

State

The Saga of Sycamore Shoals

Irish, Scottish, and American Fiddle Styles: An Immigration Story

Join us at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on Tuesday, June 11, 7:00 p.m. for our monthly Speaker Sessions with musician Andrew Finn Magill on “The Relationships between Irish, Scottish, and American Fiddle Styles: An Immigration Story.” The traditional dance music of the southern US is inextricably linked with the music of Scotland and Ireland. Andrew was born in the Appalachian mountains into an IrishAmerican family that plays Irish music. Since his earliest memories, the fiddling traditions from both sides of the Atlantic have been ever present in his life and musical career. In this interactive presentation, we will explore how the history of Scottish and Irish immigration has influenced the evolution of traditional southern fiddling. Andrew will demonstrate various fiddle styles, bowing techniques, and repertoires, and the audience can ask questions. The performance is meant to be participatory and inspire larger conversations about immigration, identity, and Irish and Scottish music’s place in the larger tapestry of Southern culture.

Please note: For those attending virtually via YouTube, the live stream will originate on the Radio Bristol YouTube channel after 6:50pm EST. If you load the channel page before 6:50pm, and the live stream does not automatically appear, please refresh the page after 6:50pm.

About Andrew Finn Magill

For twenty years North Carolina-native violinist/ fiddler Andrew Finn Magill has been pursuing parallel careers in traditional Irish music, Brazilian choro, jazz and American fiddle. Magill

learned from the best fiddlers in the world at The Swannanoa Gathering and has gone on to be a performer and headliner at festivals including Celtic Connections in Glasgow Scotland, Malawi’s prestigious Lake of Stars Festival, and Milwaukee Irishfest. He is a Fulbright fellow and North Carolina Arts Council Fellow, and has been featured on MTV, TEDx, and multiple times on NPR.

His 2016 album Roots (featuring Cillian Vallely of Lúnasa and John Doyle) debuted at number #46 on the folk DJ charts and he has released seven

albums since resulting in a record deal with Ropeadope Records. He has performed with everyone from Grammy-nominees John Doyle and Trio Brasileiro to Rising Appalachia. In 2020 he released the EP Half Light with former Paul McKenna Bandmate Seán Gray and full-length album Murray & Magill with Scottish singer and guitar & bouzouki-player Alan Murray (Colin Farrell Band). In 2023 he released The Polaris Project on Ropeadope Records, the follow up to 2021’s Festa! on the same label, and his quartet is represented by Marsalis Mansion Artists.

TRI-CITIES NIGHTLIFE

WEDNESDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Pub Out Back (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Ron at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm

Loudmouth Karaoke at Michael Waltrip Brewing Company - Bristol, VA on Wednesday, April 5th at 7pm

THURSDAY

Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Wild Wings Cafe - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN

Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern - Jonesborough, TN

FRIDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Sports Mill - Kingsport, TN 8pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke with DJ Clyde and Prestige Entertainment at Macado’s -Kingsport, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

TRIVIA BINGO DJ NIGHT

TUESDAY

Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café Johnson City TN

DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm

Trivia at The Corner Bar Bristol, VA 8pm

Trivia at Aubrey’s Johnson City 7pm

WEDNESDAY

Trivia at Tipsy Toad Jonesborough, TN 7pm

Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom

Bristol, VA 7pm

Trivia at Aubrey’s Bristol 7pm

THURSDAY

Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom

Johnson City, TN- 7pm

Trivia at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork

Bluff City, TN 7pm

TUESDAY

Singo at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 6:30pm

WEDNESDAY

Bingo at Tipton Street Pub

Johnson City, TN 9pm

Singo at Holy Taco & Cantina

Boones Creek, TN 8pm

Blazin’ Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN 6pm

THURSDAY

Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm

Singo at Aubrey’s Bristol 7:00 PM

THURSDAY

DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm

FRIDAY

Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY

Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

SUNDAY

DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm

SODOKU CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. William of Hopalong Cassidy fame

5. Unfamiliar with

10. Profit's opposite

14. Home furnishings chain

15. Turgenev heroine

16. Passage out

17. Part of CD-ROM

18. Greek salad ingredient

20. Eve's youngest

21. Home healthcare worker (abbr.)

22. Rutabaga, for one

23. " ___ Was a Lady" (1930s tune)

25. Publicize

26. High-____ (on edge)

28. Special praise

33. "The Thin Man" co-star

34. Empire, to Germans

36. U.S.-Canada mil. acronym

37. Brought into play

39. Come in

41. 1,901, to Caesar

42. "Totally cool!"

44. Flogged

46. Cooperstown bldg.

47. "Oh, Lady, Be Good" writer

49. Like some sheets

51. Texas school initials

52. Kind of friend

53. Account of events

57. Saloon

58. Mae of film

61. Teenager

63. Dame of comedy

64. Like much fine wine

65. Legally old enough

66. Shakespearean king

67. Storage unit

68. One who roams about

69. Fort Bliss VIP

Answers to last week’s puzzles can be found on page 09.

Down

1. Auction offers

2. Tom Joad, for example

3. Time not long past

4. Infamous site near Munich

5. Nightgown

6. Marry in a hurry

7. Accustom to solid food, e.g.

8. Tiny colonist

9. Maneuver

10. Lascivious look

11. Plow-pullers

12. Acapulco affirmative

13. Short distance

19. Another name for the Wyandot

24. Patient request (abbr.)

25. Was sore

26. Threw

27. "The better ____ you with, my dear!"

28. Be a part of, as a play

29. Herbert of the "Pink Panther" movies

30. Early calculator of pi

31. Pythias's pal

32. Impart knowledge to

35. "I didn't know he had it ___!"

38. The shakes (abbr.)

40. Turned (to)

43. Frequent site for flight layovers

45. "___ Rheingold" (Wagner opera)

48. Golfer Tom

50. Bathroom hangers

52. "___ Gong (Get It On)"

53. Broccoli ___

54. Innovative and daring

55. Keats, for one

56. Like some shoppes

57. Ceiling support

59. Stumbling block

60. Sour

62. Corp. exec

OF THE WEEK PETS

LIAM

Liam is a beautiful 4 yr old long haired BIG boy. He is a 13.8 lb gentle soul and takes a bit to warm up, but when he does, he’s a very loving kitty who just wants a home and human of his very own. He LOVES treats and enjoys watching cat TV. Liam

There are 5 Summer Sloths hidden in this

FRANKIE

Frankie is a 2 yr old female German Shepard/Husky mix with gorgeous blue eyes and look at those ears!!! She loves to go on walks and is good on a leash, pretty much house trained, is dog selective,

needs to be the only fur baby in the house since we have been told he doesn’t really get along well with other animals. He has been neutered, current on vaccinations and microchipped. Bday 11/28/19 good with kids age 12 and up and probably no cats. Frankie weighs 38 lbs, current on vaccines, spayed and microchipped. Come and meet this beautiful girl !!!

If you are interested in adopting : The Bridge Home No Kill

Last Week's Puzzle Answers Sudoku

Crossword

Cryptogram: "There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate - when he can't afford it, and when he can.."

Dropquote: "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."

ETSU: Expect a Particularly Toasty Summer

The latest weather outlook is a sweltering one: Almost all of the Appalachian Highlands should expect warmer-than-normal conditions this summer.

“While we aren’t projected to be as far above average as the Southwest and Northeast, June, July and August could be quite toasty in Tennessee and Southern Appalachia,” said Dr. Andrew Joyner, Tennessee’s official climatologist and a member of the Department of Geosciences at East Tennessee State University. More rain is likely, too, especially in East Tennessee.

More extreme weather

Potentially blistering temperatures this summer follow a hot 2023 –Earth’s warmest year on record and a time when highs across the region and state were rivaled and, sometimes, shattered.

Earlier this year, experts at ETSU

outlined three troubling takeaways for a warming Appalachia. That includes a spike in heat-related illness.

“A lot of our construction and farm workers and others who work outside during the summer may be at increased risk for heat-related health issues going forward,” Joyner said.

Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2024 is already likely to be among the 10 warmest years ever recorded.

Eye on the seas

Don’t worry – there aren’t any hurricanes forecast for Tennessee.

But Joyner, who plays a key role in managing statewide weather-related issues alongside Assistant State Climatologist and Geosciences lecturer William Tollefson, is monitoring tropical weather.

“There is a possibility of increased

tropical systems coming through our area from the Gulf Coast,” he said. “That means the potential for an increase in rain and storms.”

Because the university houses the state’s climate office, ETSU plays an outsized role in climate research.

THINGS TO DO THINGS TO DO

JOHNSON CITY

SATURDAYS

ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm. Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149

THURSDAY JUN 13TH

Tri-Cities Turtles Run Club

12:45pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Co.

IBN Biz Social 5:30pm at Tennessee Hills Brewstillery

FRIDAY JUN 14TH

Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided)

7:00am at Willow Springs Park

SATURDAY JUN 15TH

Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) 7:00am at Willow Springs Park

Johnson City Farmers Market

8:00am at the Pavilion in Downtown Johnson City

Improv Open Mic

8:00pm at Wallace Theatre

BRISTOL

THURSDAY JUN 13TH

“Bejeweled Snail” Canvas Class

6:00 PM at Kil'n Time Contemporary Ceramics

FRIDAY JUN 14TH

“Dreamy Fox” Canvas Class

6:00 PM at Kil'n Time Contemporary Ceramics

SATURDAY JUN 15TH

Board Game Night 5:00pm at Bristol Public Library

TriPride's Second Chances

Adult Prom: We Are Family 6:00pm at The Bristol Hotel

KINGSPORT

SATURDAY JUN 15TH

Farmer's Market 7:00am at Kingsport Farmers Market

Nature: Wolf Howling 10:00am at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium

Monster Truck on the Loose 9:00am at Tri-Cities DJR

Brunch 11:30am at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

JONESBOROUGH

TUESDAYS

Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The Intl. Storytelling Center

SATURDAY JUN 15TH

Jonesborough Farmers Market 8:00am at Downtown Jonesborough

Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn State Historic Site

ABINGDON, VA

WEDNESDAY JUNE 12TH

Game Night 5:00pm at Abingdon Commons

Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

FRIDAY JUN 14TH

Movies for Adults 2:00pm at Washington County Public Library

SUNDAY JUN 16TH

Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

ELIZABETHTON

WEDNESDAY JUNE 5TH

IBN Biz Lunch 11:30am at Applebee's

THURSDAY JUN 6TH

Shop Late Thursdays 5:00 PM at Downtown Elizabethton

SATURDAYJUN 7TH

Makers Market 12:00 PM at Crossroads Craftworks

BLUFF CITY

SATURDAY JUN 8TH

Bluff City Farmers Market 9:00pm at Bluff City Ball Field

TUES. June 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th

BRIM & MARCI LEAL

WED. June 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th

HB BEVERLY

THUR. June 5th 12th, 19th & 26th

JUSTIN MYCHALS

WOOD FIRED PIZZA. BURGERS. DRINKS. & FUN.

PIG OUT MENU

Available for a Limited Time

HONEY SMOKIN’ PORK TACOS

ULTIMATE FRIED PORK

TENDERLOIN SANDWICH

PIG OUT SANDWICH

PIG OUT NACHOS

PIG OUT SALAD

Bike Nights

sponsored by biker wear

Local Events:

1. Thunder Valley National Drags June 7th – 9th

2. Blue Plum Festival downtown Johnson City, TN

June 7th – 9th

3. Twilight Alive June 14th Kingsport, TN 7pm

4. Bike, Car Truck Show at Black Wolf June 15th

5. 3rd Annual Fiddler’s Convention June 21st – 23rd

Washington County VA Fairgrounds

6. Twilight Alive June 21st Kingsport, TN 7pm

7. Twilight Alive June 28th Kingsport, TN

8. Country Thunder at Bristol Motor Speedway

June 28th & 29th

9. Hillbilly & Vet Pre-Party and Bike show 3pm -7pm July 20th at Wild Wings Café

10. Hillbilly & Vets Show & Shine July 26th – 27th Bike Nights:

Wednesday: 19E Pit Stop

Wednesday: Jonesborough VFW

Thursday: Darrell Waltrip

Thursday: Old Town Tavern

Friday: Tulips

June 22nd Biker Wear Bike Night at Wild Wings Café 7pm Rides:

1. 4th Annual Bryan K. Loan June 1st 9am KSU 10am at Botetourt Funeral Home

2. Hillbilly & Vets Ride to Maggie Valley July 27th meet at Jonesborough VFW 8am KSU 8:30am

Bike Rallies:

1. Ultimate Rally Back of the Dragon June 7th – 9th

2. 22nd June bug Boogie Bike Rally June 20th – 23rd Telco, TN

3. Thunder in the Smokies June 28th – 30th

Rides & Rallies

sponsored by biker wear

Beanz Biker Corner Beanz Biker Corner

Hello friends, how are you today?

The Blue Plum Festival in Johnson City is coming up, so I thought it would be nice to share a little history about the city and its festival. Since 1999, the familyfriendly music festival has brought the community together for local music in downtown Johnson City. This year, they celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Blue Plum Festival! We’ve heard it over and over: Blue Plum Festival is where summer begins. Why "Blue Plum?" The history of the organization’s name. Before Johnson City was a city, this little village was home to a post office in the 19th century called the Blue Plum Post Office. The post office — along with the rest of “Johnson’s Depot” in the village — was founded by entrepreneur Henry Johnson. The Blue Plum Post Office was located near the train stop at what’s now the corner of Buffalo Street and West State of Franklin Road. Johnson was postmaster and would later become the founder and namesake of modern-day Johnson City with its incorporation by the state in 1869. The Blue Plum Gives Back program began in 2020 as the organization was seeking ways to support the arts in Downtown Johnson City. When they were unable to have the festival in 2021

By Anne Hartley

due to COVID-19, they set aside $20,000 to support public programs, events and initiatives that stimulate art, music, and culture in the area. The first Blue Plum Gives Back project was to co-sponsor a mural with Johnson City Public Art, which was completed in late 2022. They also provided funding toward the Downtown Square Breezeway project through this program in 2020. Below are other projects Blue Plum Give Back has sponsored or partnered on!

William Bean, traditionally recognized as Tennessee's first white settler, built his cabin along Boone's Creek near Johnson City in 1769. In the 1780s, Colonel John Tipton (1730–1813) established a farm (now the TiptonHaynes State Historic Site) just outside what is now Johnson City. During the State of Franklin movement, Tipton was a leader of the loyalist faction, residents of the region who wanted to remain part of North Carolina rather than form a separate state. In February 1788, an armed engagement took place at Tipton's farm between Tipton and his men, and the forces led by John Sevier, the leader of the Franklin faction. Founded in 1856 by Henry Johnson as a railroad station called "Johnson's Depot", Johnson City became a major rail hub for the Southeast, as three railway lines crossed in the downtown area. During the 1920s and the Prohibition era, Johnson City's ties to the bootlegging activity of the Appalachian Mountains earned the city the nickname of "Little Chicago". Stories persist that the town was one of several distribution centers for Chicago gang boss Al Capone during Prohibition. Capone had a wellorganized distribution network within the southern United States for alcohol smuggling; it shipped his products from the mountain distillers to northern cities. Capone was, according to local lore, a part-time resident of Montrose Court, a luxury apartment complex now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There is a lot of history in our area. It’s always nice to look back into the past and get a better understanding. Never too old to learn something.

Useless Facts:

1. Cotton Candy Was Invented in TN Almost 120 Years Ago

2. The First Moon Pie Was Made in Tennessee as A Lunchtime Snack

3. Tennessee Is the Birth Place of Mountain Dew

4. Tennessee Is Landlocked by Eight States

5. The First-Ever Tow Trucks Were Made in TN

Full Moons of 2024

1. Strawberry Moon on Friday, June 21 - 9:10 pm

2. Buck Moon on Sunday, July 21 - 6:19 am

3. Sturgeon Moon on Monday, August 19 - 2:28 pm

4. Harvest Moon on Wednesday September 18 - 10:36 pm

5. Hunters Moon on Thursday October 17 -7:27 am

6. Beaver Moon on Friday November 15 - 4:29 pm

7. Cold Moon on Sunday December 15 - 4:02 am

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

JUNE 2024 EVENTS

Spring Knap-In at Fort Watauga

Saturday, June 1

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Knapping – with a “K”– has nothing to do with sleep! Knapping is the art of making stone tools. Watch skilled craftspeople make arrowpoints, spear points and other early survival tools. There will also be demonstrations of bow and arrow and atlatl throughout the day. Free Admission!

National Trails Day Hike

Saturday, June 1

10:00 PM

Admission: Free! Max: 12

Registration requiredwww.tnstateparks.com/parks/ events/sycamore-shoals

Join us as we celebrate National Trails Day with a hike! Please dress accordingly for weather and bring a water bottle. This hike will begin in the picnic area beside the Visitors Center. Program is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Portions of the walk will include ground that may not be flat or solid for people with mobility challenges. Meet in the picnic area beside the Visitor Center.

English Country Dancing with the Sabine Hill Social Society

Sunday, June 2

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Dancing was a very popular social pastime in early America. Beginners

and seasoned dancers alike are all welcome to learn early 19th century dances. Open to anyone, with or without experience or a partner. Free admission! Meet in the Visitor Center Gathering Room.

Carter Mansion Guided Tours

Tuesday – Saturday, June 4-8, 18-22 10:00 AM

Tuesday – Saturday, June 11-15, 25-29 1:30 PM

Cost: Adults - $10.00; Seniors: 65 & up, Veterans, & Active Duty - $8.00; Ages 17 & under - $5.00 Tax included Max:12 per tour

Registration requiredwww.tnstateparks.com/parks/ events/sycamore-shoals

Join Seasonal Interpreter Miguel Parrilla for a tour of Tennessee’s oldest frame house! Enjoy the beauty of this elegant frontier home and learn the history of the Carter family who built it between 1775 and 1780.

The John and Landon Carter Mansion is located at 1031 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643.

Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase.

Sabine Hill Guided Tours

Tuesday – Saturday, June 4-8, 18-22 1:30 PM

Tuesday – Saturday, June 11-15, 25-29 10:00 AM

Cost: Adults - $10.00; Seniors: 65 & up, Veterans, & Active Duty - $8.00; Ages 17 & under - $5.00 Tax included Max: 12 per tour

Registration requiredwww.tnstateparks.com/parks/ events/sycamore-shoals

Join Seasonal Interpreter Abby Hikade for a guided tour of this stately home built by Mary Patton Taylor, widow of Brigadier General Nathaniel Taylor. The site has been described as one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the State of Tennessee. During your tour you will have the opportunity to take in the colorful and architecturally detailed interior while learning about the influential Taylor family who called Sabine Hill home in the early 19th century.

Sabine Hill is located at 2328 West G Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643.

Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. Please note, only portable toilet facilities are available.

Liberty: The Saga of Sycamore ShoalsOur 45th Year!

Friday & Saturday - June 7-8; 14-15 8:00 PM

Thursday, Friday, & SaturdayJune 20-22; 27-29 8:00 PM

Tennessee’s official outdoor drama presented by local performers against the backdrop of Fort Watauga. See the Revolution through the eyes of the Overmountain Men: colonists who defied British law and settled west of the blue ridge. These settlers formed an

independent government, made treaties with the Cherokee, defended their homes, and fought the epic battle of King’s Mountain. Presented in the Fort Watauga Amphitheater, bleacher style seating. Sponsored by Friends of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park. Admission Charge. Purchase tickets online at friendsofsycamoreshoals.org/Liberty

Artisan in Residence Series: Hooked Rugs with Karen Keyworth

Saturday, June 15 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Hooked rugs were introduced to America by early colonists and are created by pulling loops of fabric or yarn through a firm woven base such as linen or burlap. It was a popular home craft for many and provided a use for fabric scraps and usable bits of worn-out clothing. Designs ranged from uncomplicated geometric shapes to intricate bird and tree motifs. Join Karen Keyworth in the Visitor Center lobby to learn more about this early American tradition. Free Admission!

Old Time Music Jam

Sunday, June 23

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Enjoy the rich musical traditions of our region. Old time musicians of all levels are welcome. Don’t play an instrument? Come on over, kick back, and enjoy the tunes. Free Admission! Visitors Center Hours:

So You're In An Elevator...

Social Sentiments

By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments @outlook.com

You have one floor to explain your business. What do you say?

Attention spans have shortened over the years, but your business solves a myriad of problems that can't be explained within seconds. So how do you sell your business before a potential client reaches their floor?

A 30 second pitch works wonders to sell your business before boredom sets in. 60 words are all you need to promote the highlights of your business and how helpful they can be in solving

potential problems. With an average attention span of 10 seconds, creating a captivating pitch is necessary to avoid loss of attention.

How would you like to be approached in an elevator? Think about how you would feel listening to a boring spiel about "benefits" that don't benefit you. If you would be antsy to reach the next floor after hearing your pitch, change your approach.

Saturday May 11

Saturday June 22

Adapted for stage by David Birney

Directed by Chris McVey

On the Road but Falling off Track

Having spent a great deal of my life in the service industry, a lot of the clientele I serviced were traveling for business. Spending my evenings grinding away behind a bar, ankle deep in spilled drinks and growing increasingly numb to the theatrics of under-socialized and over-served patrons, I would daydream about how glamorous the lives and jobs of these on-the-go folks must be; working in a different city every day, meeting new and exciting people along the way from all over the world and bedding down every evening to the turn-down service and freshly fluffed pillows of fancy hotels. It seemed like the perfect opposite to the monotony of my own hum-drum existence, slinging the same drinks to the same faces in the same town I’d woken up in every day of my life. But the old adage of “careful what you wish for” is ringing quite true in my ears these days, as I’ve finally achieved my goal of a career in motion and it’s not exactly the globe-trotting, fast paced existence of glitz and glamour that I’d imagined. In fact, the more I’m on the road, the more I seem to be falling off track.

While I’ve never been more satisfied or motivated career-wise, I unfortunately feel like I’ve not been this physically unhealthy in almost a decade. When it comes to matters of diet and fitness, I definitely thrive in monotony, only maintaining consistency in routine. It’s far easier to get in daily workouts when I’m waking up and going to sleep at the same time every day, just as it’s far less stressful to meal plan and prep when my weekly schedule never changes. And it’s always easiest to

manage life from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

These days I’m lucky if I’m home in Franklin for more than 6 days at a time. My territory covers the entirety of Kentucky and 2/3 of the state of Tennesse (basically everything east of Jackson), which keeps me on the road at least half the month. And the reality is, instead of visiting famous landmarks and seeing the best each city has to offer, I take in a lot of ugly evergreens dotting the side of the interstate while I try not to be killed by 18 wheelers or pulled over for responding to emails while speeding. And the only siteseeing I’m doing mainly consists of observing local wildlife browsing the shelves of various liquor stores in their natural habitats across the South. Those “fancy” hotels are actually the best money can buy at a corporate rate that fits my company budget while still featuring a bar, and the “new and exciting people to meet” are few and far between. For the most part once I make it to a bar at the end of the day, famished and exhausted from 8-12 hours of selling and managing a team of 5 across a 500+ mile radius, the last thing I want to do is make small talk with a stranger, and even if I wanted to, they usually have their eyes glued to their cell phone scrolling on social media which makes it impossible. So instead I have a drink on an empty stomach, which instantly drops my inhibitions regarding dietary discipline or sticking to “just 1 cocktail,” order way too much greasy, carby food, and immediately hit the bed after, giving my body no opportunity to burn even a single calorie I just took in. I have to wake up entirely too early due to maximizing my time in the market, so instead of being able to set my alarm an hour early to get

in my usual morning cardio, I lie there hitting snooze until the last possible moment. I’m eaten up with heartburn and indigestion and trapped in a seated position the majority of the day which makes my hips, neck and lower back ache. The stress of nonstop communication with my team while simultaneously executing tastings and events keeps me in a constant elevated state of anxiety and now that is causing me to experience panic attacks. High stress increases cortisol production which leads to fat retention, making the weight thing practically impossible to combat.

But even as I’m typing all this, at the end of the day I know regardless of how busy I am it’s still just excuses. The fact of the matter is, I’m not making my health a priority and it should be the top one. I already know how chaotic the scheduling on the road is and should prepare accordingly. Instead of worrying about whether or not the hotel features a bar and restaurant, I should check to see if there are inroom refrigerators and microwaves and pre-pack as many portioned meals as I can fit in a cooler. That way I’m able to eat on the go during the day and not starve myself until 7pm. And instead of ending my evenings with a cocktail, I need to be moving my body and getting my blood flowing after a long day of sitting in the car. Every hotel has a gym, so there’s no excuse for missing cardio at the very least. And most of all, if I’m lonely at the end of the day and really feel desperate for human connection, I have to remind myself that the chances of meeting someone new and exciting are just as good on my days off or while I’m working events and opt for a good night’s sleep instead.

Life on the road isn’t all bad. It’s definitely never boring and I

by Kathie Scalf

work for an amazing company representing a product I love that practically sells itself. The connections and experiences I’m making within the industry will last a lifetime and at the end of the day, I’m selling booze not curing cancer; it’s not that serious. It’s a fun job where we reward working hard with playing even harder. I just need to ensure I’m managing myself as much as I am other people, and holding myself to the same high standards and no BS excuses. Money is great, but it means nothing when you run your health into the ground.

Here’s to looking toward a better few weeks ahead, as I’ll be trying out my new healthier road life from the 6th-16th everywhere from Louisville to Lawrenceberg to Loudon and beyond. Hope you have a healthy, happy, productive week guys!

XO - Kathie

Unearthing East Tennessee’s Ancient Secrets at Gray Fossil Site

Every summer, paleontologists at the Gray Fossil Site and Museum dig into the sediments of an ancient pond and uncover the five-million-year-old remains of plants and animals from the deep history of East Tennessee. Since the site’s unexpected discovery in 2000, scientists have identified thousands of fossils of rhinos, alligators, sabertooth cats, red pandas and even a bone-crushing dog.

The 2024 field season officially began earlier this month. Throughout the summer, a team of East Tennessee State University staff, students and volunteers will discover and preserve fossils on the site and in the museum labs.

This year’s excavation will focus on two areas of the site.

First is a new pit that the field crew often calls the “Mystery Pit” since it isn’t yet clear what fossils are waiting to be found there. This pit is located next to the museum, where visitors can walk up and peek in on the excavation. Second is the “Micro Pit,” an area known for wellpreserved remains of small fossils.

“We’ve already found a partial salamander and bird eggshells in the Micro Pit,” says Lab and Field Manager

Shawn Haugrud. “I’m excited about the chance to find more exquisitely preserved material.”

Preliminary excavations this year have already produced fossils of red panda, alligator and tapir. Each member of the field crew has a personal wish list of what fossils they most hope to find this year.

This year’s summer crew includes many students currently enrolled in the paleontology program at ETSU. These students are trained on-site by experienced museum staff, and they work alongside museum volunteers who participate both in the field and in the lab.

“It’s exciting for me because I’ve never dug for mammals before. I’ve never dug in this part of the country,” said Johannah Orendorff, an ETSU paleontology master’s degree student.

“I’m excited to see what the process looks like at Gray. It’s always different wherever you go,” said Derek den Ouden, another graduate student at ETSU.

Every year, excavation and sedimentscreening produce hundreds of new fossils. Last year’s excavation focused on a juvenile rhino skeleton affectionately

nicknamed “Puddin,” and a few years before that, the crew excavated the entire skeleton of a mastodon. All fossils are processed through the museum’s preparation lab before moving to the collections room, where they will be available for scientific research.

“We are acting as stewards of these fossils,

enabling them to be preserved for future generations,” said Collections Manager Matthew Inabinett. “The Gray Fossil Site is a truly ‘lost world,’ our first window into this part of Tennessee’s deep history.”

The site is overseen by the Don Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology at ETSU.

The character of Willy Wonka has appeared on the big screen in two films, one released in 1971 and the other in 2005. The character is back in "Wonka", starring the actor who has taken the box office by storm, Timothee Chalamet. The new film is described as a musical/fantasy/comedy, and it certainly fits the bill. The film is the story of Wonka's early days before his chocolate factory, and he is presented as an aspiring inventor, chocolatier and musician. Wonka arrives at the Galeries Gourmet, full of businesses selling chocolate, with the desire to start his own house of chocolate. After he arrives, Wonka and his small savings soon depart, and he is taken to Mrs. Scrubitt's (Olivia Colman) boarding house by a henchman. As he is signing a contract to stay at the boarding house, Wonka is warned by an orphan named Noodle (Calah Lane) that he should read the fine print on the papers. Wonka signs on without reading the contract, and will pay the price. When he is able to leave

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint

WONKA

the boarding house, he goes to the area of city where the chocolate store are to introduce "hoverchocs", a chocolate that causes people to float. After the demonstration, Wonka sells out of the magical chocolate, but has his earnings taken by rival chocolatiers Slugworthn (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas) and Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton). The rival chocolatiers are so jealous and threatened by Wonka they have the corrupt Chief of Police (Keagan-Michael Key) aid in the confiscation of Wonka's earnings. After all his earnings are taken, Wonka is unable to pay the high fees of staying at the boarding house, and is forced to work in Scrubbitt's laundry with Noodles and several other captives. While working in the laundry, Wonka reveals his late mother was the inspiration for his chocolate, and believes his creations are being stolen by a mysterious little orange man, which is discovered to be Lofty (Hugh Grant), an Oompa Loompa, mischievous small humans who love cocoa beans and love to play practical jokes. Meanwhile, the city's "chocolate cartel", threatened by Wonka's more affordable and better chocolate, uses the chocolate loving Chief of Police to intimidate Wonka. While in the boarding house, Noodles has been teaching the illiterate Wonka to read, and the two devise a plan to take down the cartel and the corrupt police chief. Of course the plan is successful and Wonka and his friends open the chocolate store he has always dreamed

of. However, unable to use the police to continue to intimidate Wonka, the cartel sabotages Wonka's chocolate, resulting in the destruction of Wonka's store, and his forced departure from the city. Despite being forced out of the city, Wonka and his boarding house friends devise a plan to take down the crooked cartel, which proved successful, even resulting in a reunion between Noodles and her long lost mother. After his success, Wonka is able to turn an abandoned castle into his soon to be famous chocolate factory, with Lofty as

his tasting chef. While the film does contain musical numbers, they are not overused, and add to the colorfulness of the film. The film is magical, has plenty of humor and heart in revealing Wonka's origin. While Chalamet isn't the best singer in the world, he is fine in his vocal efforts and makes the film flow with his charm and charisma. "Wonka" is a blast of eye candy the entire family can enjoy. (Rated PG)

Bristol

CONCERT SCHEDULE CONCERT SCHEDULE

GREENVILLE

BRISTOL TN/VA GREENEVILLE TN

PARAMOUNT

Jun 1 Mac McAnally (sold out)

Jun 20 Steve Earle

Jul 18 The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Aug 2 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

Aug 17 Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Sep 28 Dusty Slay (two shows)

Oct 4 Destination Soultown featuring the Sensational Soul Cruisers

COUNTRY THUNDER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jun 28-29 Cody Johnson, Hardy, Bailey Zimmerman, Lonestar, Trace Adkins, Priscilla Block, Shenandoah, Travis Denning, Jake Worthington, Josh Ross, Emily Ann Roberts.

BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION

Sep 13-15 Ashley McBryde, The Wallflowers, The Red Clay Strays, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Steeldrivers, 49 Winchester and more.

JOHNSON CITY

JOHNSON CITY TN

MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Aug 17 The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA

Spp 28 Black Jacket Symphony will perform will perform Elton John’s Madman Across The Water

Oct 7 Ben Folds

FREEDOM HALL

Aug 16 Jamey Johnson

Oct 20 Whiskey Myers

Kingsport

RED WHITE AND BOOM

Jul 6 The Marshall Tucker Band and The Cleverlys

FUN FEST AT J. FRED JOHNSON STADIUM

Jul 25 Crowder

Jul 26 Tyler Hubbard, Emily Ann Roberts & Carson Peters

Jul 27 Goo Goo Dolls with Phillip Phillips

NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Jul 19 Dugger Band

MARION VA

THE LINCOLN THEATRE

Jun 15 Mark Lowry & Friends with Endless Highway and The Sound

Jun 21 Zach Rushing with Cletus T. Judd

Jun 22 The Piano Men Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John

Aug 24 Landslide: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Oct 19 & 20 Gene Watson

Nov 8 Killer Beaz

Nov 16 Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Knoxville

KNOXVILLE TN

BIJOU THEATRE

Jun 14 Kevin Smith

Jun 21 Lucinda Williams

Jul 13 Rob Schneider

Jul 14 Tab Benoit & Anders Osborne

Aug 9 Sister Hazel

Aug 16 Kimberly Perry & Tanner Adell

Oct 26 Henry Cho

Oct 27 Robin Trower

Nov 8 Gaelic Storm

TENNESSEE THEATRE

Jun 8 Brad Williams

Jul 9 Brit Floyd: P.U.L.S.E.

Jul 13 1964 The Tribute

Jul 18 Ben Folds

THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA

July 14 The Doobie Brothers with Robert Cray

Aug 24 Heart and Cheap Trick

Sept 12 Hootie and the Blowfish with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain

Oct 5 Aerosmith and The Black Crowes

Oct 25 Jelly Roll

Nov 19 Justin Timberlake

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM:

Jun 12 Josh Gates

Jun 13 Matt Rife

Jun 29 David Spade

Oct 10 Air Supply

Oct 26 Dusty Slay

KNOXVILLE CIVIC COLISEUM:

Jul 25 Jordan Davis

Oct 3 Brantley Gilbert

GATLINBURG

GATLINBURG TN

THE MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL AT GATLINBURG CONVENTION CENTER

Aug 23-25 Joan Jett, Tesla, Night Ranger, Foghat, Aldo Nova, Slaughter, Quiet Riot, Lynch Mob, Great White, Dangerous Toys, Vixen and many more.

Nashville

NASHVILLE TN

RYMAN AUDITORIUM

Jun 13 The Del McCoury Band

Jun 15 Hauser

Jun 21 & 22 Blackberry Smoke

Jun 30 The Alan Parsons Live Project

Jul 10 Dave Barnes

Jul 17 Asia

Jul 20 Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

Jul 24 Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks with special guests The Return o Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Jul 25 Ricky Scaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Jul 29 Donnie Osmond

Aug 9 America

Aug 16 Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Aug 18 Joe Bonamassa

Aug 22 The Turtles, The Cowsills, The Association and others

Aug 28 Steve Earle

Aug 29 Terri Clark

Aug 30 Passenger

Sep 4-6 The Red Clay Strays

Sep 23 The Beach Boys

BRIDGESTONE ARENA

Jun 14 Luis Miguel

Jun 23 Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett & Morgan Wade

Jul 19 Alabama

Jul 21 Sebastian Maniscalco

Jul 27 Hootie and the Blowfish with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain

Aug 6 Future & Metro Bloomin

Aug 9 & 10 Chris Stapleton

Aug 14 Five Finger Death Punch with Marilyn Manson and Slaughter To Prevail

Aug 20 Earth Wind & Fire with Chicago

Aug 27 Glass Animals

Aug 28 Sammy Hagar and Loverboy

BROOKLYN BOWL

June 16 Kings X

Aug 6 10CC

NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM

Aug 9 Bush with Jerry Cantrell and Candlebox

Sep 28 Megadeth with Mudvayne and All That Remains

Oct 26 Judah & The Lion

ASCEND AMPHITHEATRE

Jun 6-8 2024 CMA Fest

Jun 22 Cypress Hill

Jun 29 Sarah McLachlan

Jul 12 Styx, Foreigner and John Waite

Jul 13 Lake Street Dive

Aug 2 Boys II Men

Aug 3 Thirty Seconds to Mars

Aug 6 Tate McRae

Aug 13 Creed with Tonic and Finger Eleven

Aug 20 Wallows

Aug 31 King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

GEODIS PARK IN NASHVILLE:

Aug 30 Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid & the Linda Lindas

BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER

Jun 2 John Anderson acoustic

Jun 16 Bachman Turner Overdrive

Jun 22 Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs

Jul 27 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

Aug 1 Night Ranger

Aug 2 Taylor Hicks

Aug 22 Cinderella’s Tom Keiger Band

Aug 24 & 25 Aaron Lewis Acoustic

Aug 30 Crowder

I’ve been trying to remember where and when I first saw Michael Powell’s 1960s horror thriller “Peeping Tom.” I think it was around 2016 or 2017, and I feel that maybe it was when it ran on Turner Classic Movies. I do remember it being an appointment viewing as I was texting with a friend who was also watching it, it was her suggestion to watch it when she found out I had never seen the film “You have to see this, it’s amazing and ruined Michael Powell’s career” she said.

Powell was best known for his collaborations with Emeric Pressburger, the two making some of not only the greatest films of all time but films also among the most cherished and revered of British Cinema. The week before I dove into the new Criterion Collection edition of “Peeping Tom” I had revisited my favorite of the pair’s films, the truly transcendent “A Matter of Life and Death.” "Peeping Tom" is wholly different than that film. The British press despised “Peeping Tom” upon its release in 1960, Powell took a raking over the coals and never directed again in his home country.

“Peeping Tom” has a certain kinship to another thriller from 1960, Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”—but more on that later. “Peeping Tom” is about

Batteries

Not Included

By Andy Ross

Peeping Tom

a young man, Mark Lewis (played by Carl Boehm), who is a hobbyist photographer and aspiring filmmaker. Mark’s two-day jobs are working as a focus puller at a motion picture studio in London and doing pin-up photography for a man who runs a tobacco shop that also sells “specialty pictures.”

Mark struggles with the traumas of his childhood, experiments in fear his professor father forced upon him. How does our young man deal with these traumas? By engaging in his own experiments in fear, murdering women, and filming their deaths with his camera. When Mark hits it off with one of his downstairs neighbors, he struggles against his impulses.

“Peeping Tom” is a disturbing movie, and at over 60 years old it still manages to shock. Not to mention having one of the creepiest endings to a movie I’ve ever seen.

But it is fascinating to think of how this film plays along with “Psycho,” they both land in a very similar ballpark.

“Psycho” was in black and white, and one of the most successful films of Alfred Hitchcock’s storied career.

“Peeping Tom,” however was shot in color and was allegedly pulled from theaters after five days due to the reaction the public and British press had to the film.

Yet over time the reputation of "Peeping Tom" has grown to one of a classic of British cinema, and now it’s a celebrated film. I can’t help but wonder if the film being in color has something to do with that original revulsion to the movie. Hitchcock purposely chose to not film “Psycho” in color saying it would be “too gory.”

In a collaboration between The Film Foundation, The BFI National Archive, and StudioCanal, “Peeping Tom” has been restored in a new edition that has been released on 4K UHD and regular blu-ray by The Criterion Collection. The new restoration and disc are stunning. When I first saw the film I remember it looking fine, but a little dingy. Here, the colors are bright and vibrant, and at times recall the trademark type of “hyper-color” that Powell was known for in his films

with Pressburger.

The film is given plenty on room on the 4K disc, with an average of 85mbps. The original mono soundtrack comes from the 35mm optical negative. It sounds clear and sharp, with no distortion. The bonus materials, except for the two commentary tracks are all on the blu-ray disc and are a healthy mix of archival bonus features. One of the two commentary tracks comes from Criterion’s first release of the film on laserdisc in 1994.

We also have an introduction by Martin Scorsese, who is a big fan of the film, plus a documentary about the film’s writer and another about the film’s history, together they both make up a healthy running time of almost 90 minutes. We have an interview with film

editor and Powell’s widow Thelma Schoonmaker, plus a program on the film’s restoration. It’s a very healthy and nice collection of features which helps to make one of the best releases of the year.

When Criterion announced they would be releasing “Peeping Tom” on 4K there was much excitement, this disc set lives up to that excitement and after being a film that was hard to track down for a while, it’s now been released in what is easily the definitive edition of the film on home video. “Peeping Tom” is a movie that will stay with you, haunt you, and leave you asking lots of questions even after the creepy ending rolls. This disc is highly recommended by yours truly. A fantastic release all the way around. See you next week.

Fridays at 7:30 Fridays at 7:30

Saturdays at 5:30 Saturdays at 5:30

Sundays at 2:30 Sundays at 2:30

Adults - $16

Students/Seniors - $1 plus ees

Based on the Hans hristian ndersen story and the Disney i m produced by Howard shman & ohn usker and written & directed by ohn usker and on ements Ori ina y roduced by Disney heatrica roductions

Lyrics by Howard Ashman & enn ater Music by Alan Menken

Book by Do g Wright