Chautauqua Invites Tom Petty Unplugged
 
MOUNT VERNON - He completed the 40th Anniversary Tour with his band The Heartbreakers with a fractured hip (it completely broke during the tour and would require surgery). He also had a knee replaced, had issues with his ankle and still had problems with his left hand that he’d powdered and was lucky to ever use again while recording his “Southern Accents” record. Even in that much pain, Tom Petty never took the love of his fans lightly. Not long after the tour ended he accidentally took an overdose of opioids and died of heart failure.

What was Tom Petty really like? How did he manage to have a career span over 40 years when most rock and roll stars made a splash and burned out quickly?  On May 31 at the Grand Hotel (located at 12 Public Square) find the answers to these questions and listen so Tom (portrayed by Mike Petee) as he tells his story and is joined by members of his band (portrayed by Jeff Putnam and Desmond Wall) to play some of his music as well.

The Chautauqua Series is sponsored in part by Ariel Foundation and the Grand Hotel and brings year round living history to our community on a donation basis. You and your family and friends already have your tickets. Give what you can afford. The money collected is distributed to the performers on stage for all their work in researching and writing and bringing to life real people who you know or don’t know but will always find interesting.

The program will be in the lower level of the hotel at 7 PM on Thursday May 31 with doors opening at 6 PM to accommodate those with special needs.
​
For more information about this program and upcoming presentations, please visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org, or www.wqio.com. You can also call 740-392-6102 or 740-392-3018. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” email on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.
 

Oskar Schindler Tells His Story at Chautauqua
​
MOUNT VERNON –  Many remember the Steven Spielberg movie, “Schindler’s List” bringing international attention to a man who helped save the lives of over 100 Jews from Nazi extermination. In a letter by his former factory workers and signed by the workers they state, “We, the undersigned Jews from Krakow, inmates in Plaszow concentration camp, have, since 1942, worked in Director Schindler’s business. Since Schindler took over management of the business, it was his exclusive goal to protect us from resettlement, which would have meant our ultimate liquidation. During the entire period in which we worked for Director Schindler, he did everything possible to save the lives of the greatest number of Jews, in spite of the tremendous difficulties, during a time when receiving Jewish workers caused tremendous difficulties with the authorities. Director Schindler took care of our sustenance, and as a result, during the whole period of our employment by him there was not a single case of unnatural death. All in all he employed more than 1000 Jews in Krakow.”

On Thursday May 17, Ken Hammontree, grand master of the Chautauqua format will be portray Oskar Schindler as he talks to us the audience as if we were his factory workers just prior to the Allies coming to close down his factory and taking him prisoner.  The Chautauqua Series with support from The Ariel Foundation and The Grand Hotel, bring year round living history to our community on a donation basis. The series spotlights the lives of historical figures in first person living history bringing the person to life and showing the audience the person behind the history and the times in which they lived.

Opening the program will be Vernon Town making their Chautauqua debut and featuring a mix of music to set the mood for the Oskar Schindler program.

The program will be in the lower level of the hotel at 7 PM on Thursday May 17.  Doors open at 6 PM to accommodate those with special needs.

For more information about this program and upcoming presentations, please visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org, or www.wqio.com. You can also call 740-392-6102 or 740-392-3018. If you would like to receive a “Gentle Reminder” email on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.