Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
begins TOMORROW, October 3rd and continues through October 5th
at the
Gordon Parks Museum
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW
for special events at the
16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration! Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, cast members in The Learning Tree film by Gordon Parks, will receive “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” at the annual celebration this TOMORROW,
October 3rd, and continues through
October 5th, 2019 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The celebration is in honor of Fort Scott Native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker. This year’s celebration is a special one as we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the
Gordon Parks-directed film The Learning Treethat was filmed in Fort Scott.
The celebration events will take place at the Gordon Parks Museum, located at the Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Museum at Fort Scott Community College,
2018 S. Horton St., in Fort Scott.
There are 3 special events during the celebration that require ticket reservations:
“A Night of Jazz”
“Picnic at the Park”
“Celebration Tribute Dinner”
SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE AND REGISTRATION FORM BELOW
(Tickets also available from the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.)
For a printable copy of the event schedule and the registration sheet, clickHERE
The Chamber of Commerce hosts Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet at a different location for Downtown business owners or representatives, or anyone in the community with an interest in Downtown to attend and share thoughts and ideas related to Downtown, and to stay current on new happenings.
Local youth are invited to attend a royal celebration with all of their favorite storybook heroes at the Royal-Tea Party from 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 5, at the Fort Scott High School commons.
Fort Scott High School Thespians will entertain youth of all ages with special treats and activities and party guests will win door prizes throughout the event. Some royal party hosts set to attend include Cinderella and her Evil Stepsisters, Maleficent and Sleeping Beauty, Moana and Maui, Ariel, Elsa, Princess Tiana, Tinkerbell and Peter Pan, and Jasmine and Aladdin, among others. The party includes tea with the Queen of Hearts, Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the March Hare. Kids can also enjoy Yoda Soda with Princess Leia.
Buddy the Elf from the FSHS production of Elf: the Musical will make a special appearance to build toys with the children.
Tickets are $10 at the door and benefit programs and activities for Thespian Troupe #7365, the Fort Scott High School theatre honor society.
For more information, contact Angie Bin, FSHS Thespian Director at 620-719-9622 or [email protected].
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
begins THIS WEEK, October 3rd-5th
at the
Gordon Parks Museum
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW
for special events at the
16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration! Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, cast members in The Learning Tree film by Gordon Parks, will receive “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” at the annual celebration THIS WEEK,
October 3-5, 2019 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The celebration is in honor of Fort Scott Native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker. This year’s celebration is a special one as we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the
Gordon Parks-directed film The Learning Treethat was filmed in Fort Scott.
The celebration events will take place at the Gordon Parks Museum, located at the Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Museum at Fort Scott Community College,
2018 S. Horton St., in Fort Scott.
There are 3 special events during the celebration that require ticket reservations:
“A Night of Jazz”
“Picnic at the Park”
“Celebration Tribute Dinner”
SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE AND REGISTRATION FORM BELOW
(Tickets also available from the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.)
For a printable copy of the event schedule and the registration sheet, clickHERE
The Prairie Sunflowers, a group of mostly local ladies, will perform on Friday, October 4th, at the Friday night concert.
The concert begins at 7:00 PM at the downtown Heritage Pavilion.
This group performs gospel, bluegrass, and standards.
The Sunflowers consist of dulcimers, a fiddle, an autoharp, and a guitar. Their music is fun to listen to and very enjoyable. This will prove to be a good concert.
Members of the group include Sandy Hemphill, Marilyn Adcock, Jean Strader, Joyce Love, Diane Spencer, all from Fort Scott, and Charlena Burns from Mound City, and Chery Nelson from Columbus.
In addition to the Prairie Sunflower group, the Woods family, from Prescott, will perform. Kevin, Kathy, and Leia Wood will sing some gospel and some country standards. Sometimes Nevaeh, Leia’s daughter, age 3, sings with the family. This is sure to be a very good concert! Don’t miss it!
Please bring lawn chairs because there is limited seating.
Kansas Energy Efficiency Expo planned in Manhattan on October 2
What: Discover how to save energy and money by making your home more efficient. Demonstrations, displays, drawings, giveaways, activities for the kids and live music add to the fun! There will be something for all ages at this free event.
When: Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Blue Earth Plaza, Manhattan, KS
Background: In observance of the 4th annual Energy Efficiency Day, the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Kansas Energy Program are partnering for a fun outdoor event focused on energy efficiency. The event is sponsored in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Numerous vendors will be on hand with demonstrations, displays and giveaways. There will be live music on the plaza by Chappie, a local Manhattan favorite. Food will be available for purchase. (See attached flyer)
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW for special events at the
16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
October 3rd-5th at the
Gordon Parks Museum
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW
for special events at the
16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration! Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, cast members in The Learning Tree film by Gordon Parks, will receive “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” at the annual celebration this October 3-5, 2019 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The celebration is in honor of Fort Scott Native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker. This year’s celebration is a special one as we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the
Gordon Parks-directed film The Learning Treethat was filmed in Fort Scott.
The celebration events will take place at the Gordon Parks Museum, located at the Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Museum at Fort Scott Community College,
2018 S. Horton St., in Fort Scott.
There are 3 special events during the celebration that require ticket reservations:
“A Night of Jazz”
“Picnic at the Park”
“Celebration Tribute Dinner”
SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE AND REGISTRATION FORM BELOW
(Tickets also available from the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.)
For a printable copy of the event schedule and the registration sheet, clickHERE
The Gordon Parks Museum is celebrating the production of the movie The Learning Tree, fifty years ago, during its annual Gordon Parks Celebration Oct. 3-5 in the museum located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2401 S. Horton.
The movie had Fort Scott residents as “extras” and featured scenes from the town, where Parks lived in his youth.
Some of the movie film’s characters will be highlighted at the annual celebration.
Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp were cast members in the movie produced by Gordon Parks 50 years ago and are the recipients of the “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” for 2019.
The “extras” are being asked to come to a reunion of cast members on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The annual event is in honor Parks- noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker.
This year’s celebration will feature several events to include: presentations, special events, tours, reunions, music performances, picnic cookout and a celebration tribute dinner.
Ticket registration is at the bottom of this story.
All events open to the public.
Please reserve tickets early by Wed, Oct 2, 2019 for all the reserved events.
“We are very excited to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Learning Tree film during The 16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration this year with a wide range of great events and activities for all to enjoy,” Sharp said. “The celebration is for everyone to attend. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the life and work of Gordon Parks.”
The Celebration kicks off on Thursday, Oct 3 with a Fort Scott Chamber Coffee at the Gordon Parks Museum and ends with a Tribute Celebration Dinner at The River Room, 3 West Oak, Fort Scott on Saturday, Oct 5, 2019.
2019 GORDON PARKS CELEBRATION
(50th Anniversary of the film The Learning Tree) Schedule of Events
Thursday, October 3
PHOTO EXHIBIT in the Lunt Lobby of the Fine Arts Center. The Merl Humphrey Photography-sponsored photo contest will be on display with the theme of “My Learning Tree, Life Lessons Learned.” Winners will be announced at the Chamber Coffee.
PHOTO EXHIBIT in the Gordon Parks Museum and Lobby of the Fine Arts Center. The Gordon Parks Mercy Foundation Collection with some of Gordon’s photos and poems will be on display.
PHOTO EXHIBIT in the Lobby of the Fine Arts Center. Some behind the scenes photographs of the film The Learning Tree will be on display.
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Registration open outside of Gordon Parks museum.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee at the Gordon Parks Museum.
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Guided Trolley Tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree Film Scene Locations. Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. See the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. Fee: $7.
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
7:30 p.m. – “Looking Through the Lens at the Historical Greenwood District in Tulsa”
Photographer, Painter, Author and Photo Journalist; Don Thompson will show through photographs and short stories the demise and rise of the Greenwood District during the 1960s and ’70s and the recovery that is now taking place in the 21st century through the faces and spaces he captured with over 50 years of photographic experience. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
Friday, October 4
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Registration open outside of the museum.
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. — “Masters Class of Jazz and Blues” Queen Bey, Kansas City’s Ambassador of Jazz will make a presentation on music and the history of jazz and blues. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Auditorium. This presentation was supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. FREE.
10:05 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. — “A Conversation with Choice of Weapon Honorees.” The 2019 “Choice of Weapons Award” honorees Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium. FREE.
11:30 a.m. —“Remembrance Service of Gordon Parks.” Come and gather at the gravesite of Gordon Parks for a memorial service. Evergreen Cemetery. (If inclement weather, the location will be in the Ellis Fine Arts Center). Buses are not allowed in the cemetery.
12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Grab a sack lunch from the lobby ($8-purchase that day) and join us in the museum.
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — “Gordon Parks Projects Presentation” Students from the Gordon Parks High School in St. Paul, MN will share some of their latest work and projects about Gordon Parks. FREE.
2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. — “Sarah, Ella, and Bessie: The Mothers of Gordon Parks” John Mason, Associate Professor, Associate Chair, and University of Virginia Department of History. Three women, all of them mothers, played crucial roles in Gordon Parks’ life. His own mother, Sarah Parks, profoundly shaped his character. Ella Watson, who resembled Sarah in many ways, was the subject of his first great photograph. Bessie Fontanelle, like Sarah and Ella, was the glue which held her family together and was the center around which one of his finest photo-essays revolved. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — “From The Czar of Black Hollywood to the Oscars: Fiction and Filmmaking from Kansas”. Shayna Israel, Project on the History of Black Writing/Department of English, the University of Kansas and Danyelle M. Greene, Film and Media Studies, University of Kansas. The presentation will focus on three major Kansas filmmakers: Oscar Micheaux (Great Bend) Gordon Parks (Ft. Scott), and Kevin Wilmott (Junction City), comparing and contrasting the contributions of three groundbreaking authors and filmmakers in three different eras of American cultural history. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
5:30 p.m. – 6:30p.m. Guided Trolley Tour Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree Film Scene Locations. Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. See the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. Fee: $7.
7:00 p.m. – “A Night of Jazz” (Social Hour starts at 6:00 p.m.) Featuring, Queen Bey (Kansas City’s Ambassador of Jazz) along with heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar available. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. Fee: $25.00 which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and tea or water. Reserve Tickets by Wed, Oct.2. This performance was supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Queen Bey
Saturday, October 5
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Registration open outside of the museum.
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – “Behind The Learning Tree” Reunion with some of The Learning Tree cast members: Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, along with David Parks, photographer, film director and author, film crew and extras along with panel discussion and presentations. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.— “Picnic at the Park” Come and enjoy a cook-out lunch at Gunn Park, a scene location in the film The Learning Tree. Shelter House #1. (In case of inclement weather, the location will be in the Ellis Fine Arts Center). Please Reserve Tickets by Friday, Oct 4. Fee $8.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Guided Trolley Tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott and The Learning Tree movie scene locations. Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. See the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. Fee: $7
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Showing of the film The Learning Tree in the Gordon Parks Museum. FREE.
7:00 p.m. – “Celebration Tribute Dinner.” (Social Hour starts at 6:00 p.m.) Dinner and evening of tribute; 50th-year anniversary retrospective of the release of the film The Learning Tree and presentation of the 2019 “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” to Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, cast members of the film The Learning Tree. The River Room, 3 W. Oak. This tribute dinner is supported in part by Peerless Products, Inc. in Fort Scott, KS. All seats reserved. Fee: $30.00. (Reserve by Wed, Oct.2)
Sunday, October 6
10:00 a.m. — Breakfast at Nate’s Place. Enjoy breakfast at one of Fort Scott’s finest! Located on the corner of National & 8th Street, you’re sure to find something on the menu to please. Check it out at lyonstwinmansions.com/nates-place-restaurant. (No ticket required-everyone pays for their own)
TICKET PURCHASE FOR THE 2019 CELEBRATION:
Friday, October 4th Night of Jazz -Reservation Only (all other tickets may be purchased on-site). Please reserve by Wednesday, October 2, please!
Saturday, October 5th Picnic at the Park -Reservation Only (all other tickets may be purchased on-site).
Please reserve by Friday, October 4, please!
Saturday, October 5th Tribute Dinner-Reservation Only (all other tickets may be purchased on-site).
Please reserve by Wednesday, October 2, please!
A Night of Jazz: I would like to purchase _______ tickets at $25 each for a total of $ ________.
Picnic at the Park: I would like to purchase _______ tickets at $8 each for a total of $ ________.
Celebration Tribute Dinner: I would like to purchase _______ tickets at $30 each for a total of $ ________.
Total Registration Cost………………………………………………………………..$________.
Name, Address: __________________________________________________________________________
Phone # & Email: _________________________________________________________________________
__________CHECK ENCLOSED payable to the Gordon Parks Museum or
__________Bill to my _________VISA or ________ MasterCard. Card #______________________________
Exp. Date______________ 3-digit Security Code ______________
Questions? Call us at 620-223-2700, ext. 5850 or email: [email protected]
This 16th annual celebration was supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Thank you to Peerless Products, Inc. for their generous support to our Celebration Dinner at the River Room.
###
Amy Bockerstette from Phoenix Arizona is a golfer and a Special Olympian, who will be the special guest this weekend of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office. Submitted photo.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run to fundraise for Special Olympics of Kansas.
Special Olympics Of Kansas has a mission statement of providing individuals with intellectual disabilities opportunities to thrive in sports, health, and leadership, according to its’ Facebook page.
“Torch Run leaves it up to the agency as to what (that agency) wants to do to help,” Cole said. “It was my decision to put on a golf tournament with the help of Steve Anthony. With ALL funds going to Special Olympics Kansas.”
“The special guest for this year’s tournament is Amy Bockerstette, from Phoenix, Arizona,” Ben Cole, Bourbon County’s Undersheriff, said. “Amy is 20 years old with Downs Syndrome. She is the first special needs athlete to receive a full-ride scholarship to a junior college to play golf.”
The tournament is September 28, 2019, and
Sheriff Bill Martin, Cole and several of the other staff members volunteer their time for the event.
“We encourage the community to come out and meet Amy, enjoy the day with us, maybe eat lunch and participate in the raffle items,” Cole said.
The opening ceremony starts at 8 a.m. with Sheriff Martin deputizing Amy as an honorary BBSO deputy.
Tee off begins approximately 9 a.m.
“The event is open to the public we have several items up for raffle,” Cole said. “We are selling chances for a golf cart that will be given away, selling chances for a gun that will be given away, as well as we are having a live auction for approximately 6-10 items.”
Each Friday evening the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce features a musician or musicians at Heritage Park, at 1st and Main Street at 7 p.m.
“The featured band this Friday will be the Thompson Trio,” Ralph Carlson, event coordinator said. ” The group has been one of our favorites. They will do a mix of big band , old standards and popular music. It amazes me that they can do the music of these big bands with only three instruments.
In the event of rain we will move into the common grounds coffee shop. Come early and bring lawn chairs as seating is limited.
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW for special events at the
16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
October 3rd-5th at the
Gordon Parks Museum
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW
for special events at the
16th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration! Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Film The Learning Tree
Karole Graham, Stephen Perry and S. Pearl Sharp, cast members in The Learning Tree film by Gordon Parks, will receive “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” at the annual celebration this October 3-5, 2019 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The celebration is in honor of Fort Scott Native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker. This year’s celebration is a special one as we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the
Gordon Parks-directed film The Learning Treethat was filmed in Fort Scott.
The celebration events will take place at the Gordon Parks Museum, located at the Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Museum at Fort Scott Community College,
2018 S. Horton St., in Fort Scott.
There are 3 special events during the celebration that require ticket reservations:
“A Night of Jazz”
“Picnic at the Park”
“Celebration Tribute Dinner”
SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE AND REGISTRATION FORM BELOW
(Tickets also available from the Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.)
For a printable copy of the event schedule and the registration sheet, clickHERE
