BANKHEAD HIGHWAY DRIVEN
FILM FESTIVAL (September 9-10)----------This April (2016), the Optic-Herald
reported approximately 40 vintage cars took time to circle the Mt. Vernon
plaza, stopping 30 minutes before continuing on their trip commemorating the
100th Anniversary of the Bankhead Highway. That was 15 minutes more than was reported SEVENTY-NINE
years ago in May of 1937. The
Optic article at that time titled “Goodwill Caravan Welcomed by Band.” reported
the time as exactly 2:49 Sunday afternoon. Music blaring, a group of boosting townsmen welcomed the big
Broadway of America Caravan of 35-40 automobiles. The 2016 group was on its way to Odessa, Texas but the 1937
group was going across the country from San Diego, California to New York
City.
The Bankhead/Broadway
of America traversed Mt. Vernon’s Main Street and was an early transcontinental
highway. Drivers and passengers in
the mobile contraptions of the early days traveled at 10 miles an hour and
watched in amazement as the fence posts flew by. The Bankhead was a major reason for small town prosperity in
its heyday. Today, bypasses leave
merchants fretting, but the Texas Historical Commission and Texas Tourism are
working to reestablish the route’s former glory and increase traveler awareness
of small town Texas.
The DRIVEN Film
Festival at the FCAA Cultural Arts Center in Mt. Vernon kicks off Friday,
September 9th at 6 p.m. with a Tallulah Bankhead Glitz & Glamour
Soiree. Saturday, September 10th
begins with films at 2 p.m. to include the Texas Historical Commission Bankhead
Highway‘s competition videos collected to promote tourism and awareness of the
Bankhead’s role in early Texas prosperity.
Film personality both
in front and behind the camera, Brad Maule will be speaking and showing a
student film he directed. The
evening focuses on Jazz Fusion music by the Convivial Society and closes with
Maule’s entertaining expertise.
Please call Jean at 903-305-8023 or Christian at franklincountyarts@gmail.com for more information about the film
festival. Sorry, website not
current.
No comments:
Post a Comment