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Power Outage Friday Silences Opry; Music Plays On Just A Day Later
05/19/2009 - Even Mother Nature couldn’t put a damper on the long awaited Texas Slim’s Eastland Opry, though she did delay it a bit.
The event, set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, started off as planned but about 10 minutes in, the lights went out, literally, and the music died. A power outage struck the entire city and much of the county and adjoining counties leaving everyone in the dark.
After a delay of about 45 minutes, the some 400 plus ticket holders were given the choice of a refund or rain check for Saturday night, same place, same time.
Most accepted the rain checks with only a very small handful requesting a refund of their $10 ticket price.
On Saturday, the show kicked off on time with Slim, aka Ron Holliday, decked out in his signature red cowboy boots and CacTie, who noted the show would be broadcast ‘live’ and it was important the audience participated by giving loud applause at the right moments. He even made use of his new Pat. Pending Clap O Meter.
Slim introduced his assistant Trixie (Dorothy Kea), who seemed to finally get her best ‘shots’ in during the commercial breaks.
The show presented several favorite country artists who were given a two hour pass by Saint Peter himself to come back and entertain. Such greats as Hank Williams(Tim Dame), Patsy Cline(Alice Holliday), Roy Orbison and Jim Reeves(Richard Rossander), Earl Scruggs and Chet Atkins(Larry Barnes).
Also appearing in live flesh were Willie Nelson(Larry Wesson) and Floydene Cramer(Cyndie Mace), Floyd’s cousin.
The production was produced by Richard Rossander, written by Ron Holliday with music under the direction of Larry Wesson, sound and projection by Larry Smith.
The audience never knew what Slim would be selling next for the nominal fee of $19.95. From Flexible Mirrors to Gerber’s Picante Baby Food, Slim hawked it all.
Providing music for the fund raising event was local Christian band Crosswalk, who played several of their own works, as well as music for the Impostors as each performed.
Crosswalk members are Larry Mace, Larry Wesson, Larry Barnes, Cory Hull, Cyndie Mace and John Yates.
After a short intermission Mace and Barnes brought the audience back to their seats with a session of Dueling Banjos followed by performances from Atkins and then Scruggs. The Eastland Quartet of Wesson, Dorothy Kea, Richard Rossander and Alice Holliday put their vocals together to entertain the 200 plus audience members.
Just before time to leave, the Hillbilly Heaven residents were joined by Crosswalk, Willie Nelson, Trixie and the audience in a rousing rendition of I’ll Fly Away.
Following the finale Rossander told the audience the reason for the show was to help raise funds for the Eastland Centre for the Arts and the Lyric Theatre building fund with all proceeds from the show going to that project. He said ticket sales had raised over $4,000 and much more was needed. He asked each to dig deep and give a little extra as they left to help finish the current renovation of the front of the Lyric and the two adjoining buildings. He must have made an impression because when the collection buckets were emptied that night an additional $1,000 was collected bringing the event total to just over $5,800.
Thanks to everyone who had a part in the benefit show from those who helped build the stage and set up chairs, to the entertainers and musicians, stage hands and a very big thank you to the First Baptist Church for allowing the event to be held in their multipurpose center.
It is hoped, once the revived Lyric has a stage, productions like this will be held on a regular basis.
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