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Texas Tumbleweeds to highlight
Rialto 80th birthday celebration
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Contributed
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The Texas Tumbleweeds will open the show when the Hall-Rialto
Preservation Association hosts the 80th birthday party for the
old downtown theater on Oct. 18 at the Texas Grand. |
- By GARY KENT
Bee-Picayune staff
Those who remember when Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys were on top of
the country music scene with their Texas Swing will want to help
celebrate the 80th birthday of the Rialto Theater on Oct. 18.
For years the Texas Tumbleweeds group has been taking country music
lovers back to those days with its original Texas country music. Members
of the group have played with some of the best musicians over the years,
including Bob Wills, the Light Crust Doughboys, Tex Ritter, Boxcar
Willie, Claude Grey, Ray Price, Hank Thompson and others. They have
entertained in such notable locations as Six Flags Over Texas and in
Branson, Mo.
Dr. John Hester, one of the organizers of the Oct. 18 event, said the
band is scheduled to play its mix of music from 7 until 9:30 p.m. when
the event kicks off at the Texas Grand. Texas Tumbleweeds plays
traditional country music, Texas swing, Cajun and Western campfire
music. It is a mix that is sure to keep everyone dancing or just tapping
their feet and singing along.
A short program is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. but the music will
begin again at 10 p.m. with more modern country sounds provided by
Country Breeze. That popular local group will provide more dance music
until midnight.
Hester said everyone is invited to take advantage of the excellent
musical entertainment that night. There will be no charge for admission
but the Hall-Rialto Preservation Association, organizers of the event,
will be asking for a donation. Hester said a $10 per person gift to the
association’s Rialto Theater restoration fund would be appreciated.
From an artistic and historical point of view, Hester said the gift will
be worth $10 and more. He said nine respected theater architects have
visited the downtown theater in recent years and all have been elated by
what they have found.
“I’ve visited 15 theaters across Texas and this one is a jewel, I
guarantee you,” Hester said.
After the restoration work is completed, Hester said it will serve as a
center for a variety of entertainment programs, like ballet folklorico
performances, local plays, lectures and concerts, and it will serve as a
center for programs held by the Joe Barnhart Bee County Library.
Hester said theaters restored in other communities have been a great
source of income and have brought thousands of visitors and tourists to
those cities. |
