MOUNT VERNON – Don’t call him Davy. He doesn’t like being called Davy. Don’t mistake him for Daniel Boone or Fess Parker either. Crockett grew up in East Tennessee, where he gained a reputation for hunting and storytelling. After being made a colonel in the militia of Lawrence County, Tennessee, he was elected to the Tennessee state legislature in 1821. In 1825, Crockett was elected to the U.S. Congress, where he vehemently opposed many of the policies of President Andrew Jackson, most notably the Indian Removal Act. Crockett's opposition to Jackson's policies led to his defeat in the 1831 elections. He won again in 1833 but narrowly lost in1835, prompting his angry departure to Texas in early 1836. Crockett took part in the Texas Revolution and was killed at the Battle of the Alamo in March.
 
Ken Hammontree will present David Crocket on Thursday September 29 at 7 PM  on a donation basis at ThePlace@TheWoodward (101 S. Main Street in historic downtown Mount Vernon). Hammontree is a Chautauqua favorite, is a former Ohio History teacher and portrays over 30 characters and has been a strong supporter of the Knox County Chautauqua Series, the only year round monthly Chautauqua series in the United States. Opening the program is another Chautauqua musical favorite, Steve Ball, bringing his traditional playing and storytelling and origins of the music he presents.
 
The Series is supported in part by a grant from the Ariel Foundation and is presented for all those who wish to learn about real people, real events and the struggles they faced, giving you a truer vision of who they were. These programs are living history presentations, entertaining, family friendly and a good way to socialize with your friends and neighbors and each program concludes with a question and answer period. So if you have questions for Mr. Crockett, here’s your chance to ask him, but please don’t call him Davy or say he doesn’t even look like Fess Parker.
 
Doors open at this first floor facility at 6 PM and the program starts at 7 PM. For more information on this program and other upcoming programs visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-6102. For a friendly email reminder on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com to be included.

Coming this December – we are proud to announce we will be presenting another Chautauqua Food For The Hungry concert at the Memorial Theater featuring Chautauqua versions of The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt and maybe even an appearance from Emmy Lou Harris.

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Mount Vernon - On December 1, 1955, after a long day's work at a Montgomery department store, where she worked as a seamstress, Rosa Parks boarded the Cleveland Avenue bus for home. She took a seat in the first of several rows designated for "colored" passengers. Though the city's bus ordinance did give drivers the authority to assign seats, it didn't specifically give them the authority to demand a passenger to give up a seat to anyone (regardless of color). However, Montgomery bus drivers had adopted the custom of requiring black passengers to give up their seats to white passengers, when no other seats were available. If the black passenger protested, the bus driver had the authority to refuse service and could call the police to have them removed.

On Thursday September 15, the Chautauqua Series presents Dr. Annette Jefferson portrayal of a black woman who witnessed Rosa Parks small act of defiance that sparked the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Jefferson has been a regular guest at the series and an Ohio Humanities scholar, who has brought Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Mahalia Jackson and Coretta Scott King among others to the Knox County stage.

The series strives to bring the lives of people in all walks of life, Founding Fathers and Mothers, early Ohio, Civil War, Old West, World World II, Entertainers and other aspects of life to give our community the opportunity to learn more about the real people and the struggles and triumphs they faced and extend our knowledge of our neighbors and ancestors. The series is organized by Chris Petee, Gerry Rensel and Mike Petee and supported in part by a grant from the Ariel Foundation and the donations of the audience at each program. All donations at are given to the scholars and opening musical acts.

Opening the program this time will be the all original material of Owl Creek, comprised of Sarah Goslee Reed, Alison Cline, Skip Trask and Mike Petee.

The program is held at ThePlace@TheWoodward [102 S. Main Street in downtown Mount Vernon], a first floor facility on Thursday September 15 at 7 PM. Doors open at 6 PM and Owl Creek opens at 7 PM with Rosa Parks at 7:45 PM. A question and answer period with the portrayer comes immediately after the presentation.
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For more information on this and upcoming programs visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-6102.