Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville/Montgomery County Arts and Heritage Development Council and Roxy Regional Theatre will present during the month of September a series of six videos exploring people and events from Clarksville’s past, present and future.
The series will take place in the Roxy theatre on Sundays and Tuesdays and was made possible by a placemaking grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The showings are free and open to the public.
The videos run about 30 minutes and community members are encouraged to join in the discussion afterward exploring Clarksville’s unique character and how to maintain and enhance a strong sense of place in its citizens.
Clarksville Past
Sunday, September 4th, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Documentary on the 1863-1890 diary of Clarksvillian Nannie Haskins Williams.
Teenager Nannie Haskins began her journal on the anniversary of the fall of Fort Donelson, chronicling life in occupied Clarksville and in the difficult post-Civil War years. Documentary-maker Ken Burns quoted liberally from the diary in his Civil War series as he used “Clarksville on the Cumberland” to discuss Southern attitudes during the war.
After the documentary, community members are encouraged to share stories about their 19th century ancestors, who struggled and triumphed through war, recessions, and changing economies.
Tuesday, September 6th, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Documentary on the life of Montgomery County native, Dorothy Dix, New York Journal crime reporter and internationally renowned advice columnist.
Journalist Dorothy Dix’s syndicate boasted her pioneer advice column, at its height, reached more than 60 million readers around the world. Dorothy Dix, the pen name for Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer (1861-1951), was also at one time the highest paid journalist in America. She often returned to Clarksville to visit family and friends.
Discussion after the video will center around the newspaper’s role in creating a sense of place for the community and what role social media, broadcast media, and internet websites play in community-building.
Sunday, September 11th, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Film of Clarksville scenes from the 1930s taken by Clarksville’s Mayor Charles Crow.
This video features scenes of downtown Clarksville, a snowy Clarksville High homecoming parade and the flood-swollen Cumberland River.
Community members will be encouraged in the after-video discussion to share stories from Clarksville’s more recent past, including the aftermath of the 1999 tornado and the 2010 Cumberland River flood.
Clarksville Present
Tuesday, September 13th, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Black & Jones art video of how current citizens view the city.
The artistic duo of Austin Peay State University art professors Kell Black and Barry Jones have exhibited videos at Festival Pocket Films in Paris as well as at colleges and universities throughout the Southeast. A short version of their video, “Our City,” was shown at a Gateway Chamber Orchestra concert last spring.
After the showing, Black and Jones will talk about what they learned about the city in producing this video, and audience members will be encouraged to give their views of Clarksville’s strengths and suggestions for improvements.
Sunday, September 18th, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Excerpts from a Gateway Chamber Orchestra concert with behind-the-scenes discussion of the orchestra by conductor Greg Wolynec.
Audience members will get insights into the complications of organizing and supporting a city orchestra and an advance look at this year’s concert schedule. They will be encouraged to think about the place of art in enjoying and understanding the city’s heritage.
Clarksville Future
Tuesday, September 20th, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Clips of extraordinary accomplishments of Clarksville’s teens and young adults.
Clarksville’s young people have made some amazing contributions to the well-being of our city and this video highlights a few of these accomplishments.
Discussion after this video will allow audience members to reflect on the place we call home and offer ideas for ensuring a strong future for the city.
