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Texas Slim’s Eastland Opry Set For MAY 8th
04/06/2009 - After much pestering and negotiating, Texas Slim, aka Ron Holliday, has agreed to present his Eastland Opry, a live (or not) ‘radio broadcast’, in full production to help raise funds for the building project of the Eastland Centre for the Arts.
Slim and his cast of talented tribute artists, will perform an extended version of the same show performed at the First Baptist Church a few weeks ago. The show was as knee slapping success and organizers have “worked the deal” for this second event.
Slim, joined by side kick Trixie( Dorothy Kea), will emcee the production that will feature such talents as Willie Nelson (Larry Wesson), Jim Reeves & Roy Orbison (Richard Rossander), Chet Atkins & Earl Scruggs (Larry Barns), Floyd(ene) Cramer (Cyndie Mace) and Patsy Cline (Alice Holliday).
Providing additional music will be local music group Cross Walk featuring Larry and Cyndie Mace, Richard Barron, Larry Barnes, Corey Hull, John Yates and Larry Wesson.
Tickets for the special event will be $20 each with all proceeds benefitting the current building project at the Art Centre facilities on the west side of the square. This Phase I project will see the current facades demolished and rebuilt as shown.
Richard Rossander, who has personally undertaken the task of putting this fund raiser together, feels it is time for the people of Eastland to help.
“There currently is very little, if any money out there for projects like this,” he said, “so WE the people of Eastland need to pull together and help get this project off the ground.”
He will also be asking for help from all civic organizations with promoting the event and ticket sales.
The Eastland Centre for the Arts was formed in late 2006 by an idea from Nellie Chalmers and Terry Simmons. They were given permission by the Eastland Community Foundation to use the facilities the foundation owned on the west side of the square for their project. After forming an organizational board of Chalmers, Simmons, Stephen Storm, Vicki Smith and Shelley Rinehart, and with the assistance of Attorney Jim Farrar, the organization was chartered as a Texas nonprofit corporation in July 2007. In September of that same year a 501(c)(3) exemption was received from the IRS.
Since then this group has diligently attempted to raise funds for work to the buildings and in June of 2008 the Eastland Community Foundation presented the deed transferring ownership of the properties to the Eastland Centre for the Arts, Inc.
Continually working with architects, contractors, craftsmen, etc., the current ECA board, made up of Rinehart, Simmons, Norm Logan, Phyllis Edwards and Alice Holliday have a plan to replace the facades to help the appearance of the property, and to enhance the downtown square.
“With their current status,” said Board Chair Terry Simmons, “we have a very large eyesore right in the heart of Eastland. By replacing the fronts, as is happening with the McCloud Court Museum two doors down, we can make that side of the square, as well as the entire downtown area, look so much better.”
Estimates have been gathered by the board on the costs for the facade work and funding proposals are currently being worked up. Contractors are standing by waiting for the ‘go ahead’ to start the project. Additional funding is always necessary and the entire board of the Eastland Centre for the Arts appreciates the work of Rossander and all others who are working to help.
Additional ticket information will be released soon.
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