​MOUNT VERNON - In 1955, at the age of 67, an Ohio woman become the first woman to walk the length of the Appalachian Trail in a single season. Emma Gatewood, affectionately called Grandma Gatewood, is the subject of a documentary film released in 2016, shown on many PBS channels and several theaters nationally. The film, "Trail Magic: The Grandma Gatewood Story"  was  nominated for a regional Emmy and now will be shown in Mount Vernon as a joint project of the Chautauqua Series, the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, the Grand Hotel in Mount Vernon and the Ariel Foundation, and will be held at the Grand Hotel Meeting Room, Thursday, September 28 at 7 PM.
The event is by donation and all proceeds go to support of the Ohio based film and opening musical performance by Joe Rollin Porter.
The film project was started nearly 10 years ago by Bette Lou Higgins and filmmaker Peter Huston and includes music composed oand performed by Chautauqua organizer Mike Petee, a musical consultant on the film.
This special Chautauqua will include period music performed by Joe Rollin Porter, a viewing of the 51 minute documentary style film "Trail Magic: The Grandma Gatewood Story" and a question and answer period discussing Emma Gatewood and her legacy lead by Bette Lou Higgins.
Doors open at the Grand Hotel event at 6 PM and program starts at 7 PM.
For more information on this and upcoming Chautauqua programs, visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-6102. To receive a gentle reminder on the Sunday before each program via email, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.

Chautauqua Moving to the Grand Hotel with Mark Twain

Mount Vernon – With the restoration of the Woodward Opera House going into full swing, the Chautauqua Series is moving to a temporary home, The Grand Hotel, right on Public Square. There will be ample parking available and programs will be held on the lower level in the conference room beginning this Thursday, September 14, with the return of America’s greatest humorist, Mark Twain.

Ken Barnett, a veteran Chautauqua portrayer and Twain impersonator for over 40 years will bring an evening of laughs and thoughts to the Chautauqua stage.  What’s not to love about Mark Twain? Ken will bring an evening just right for family, friends, older and younger audiences and especially for school age and home schoolers.

Opening this donation based program will be FolkTails, bringing a lively mix of music from the era. The doors open at 6 PM, FolkTails will play from 7 to 7:30 and then Mark Twain will speak at 7:45, followed by a question and answer period with the audience.

The Chautauqua Series, now in its 11th season, is organized by Elixir Presents and supported in part by the Ariel Foundation and the Knox County CVB and is now presented at The Grand Hotel [12 Public Square, Mount, Vernon, Ohio], a first floor theater that is accessible to those with special needs. FYI – Season 12 is in the works and guaranteed to raise a smile.
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For more information on this program and upcoming programs in the series, visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-6102 or 740-392-3018 or email elixir_petee@hotmail.com. To receive a gentle reminder email on the Sunday before each program, send request to Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.

With the construction of The Woodward Opera House moving into full swing, the Chautauqua Series is re-locating to the lower level conference room Grand Hotel located one block from where the current Chautauqua’s have been held. The address for the Grand Hotel is 12 Public Square, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 and there will be signage to assist in locating the Chautauqua theatre room in the hotel. Doors will open at 6 PM and shows start at 7 PM and will be presented on donation basis. The first program at the Grand Hotel will be Mark Twain, Thursday September 14.       

                                    
The remaining schedule for 2017 is below and these shows will be presented at the new Location.
SEPTEMBER 14 – Ken Barnett as Mark Twain (humorist, definitive American writer)
Opener – FolkTails – Chris & Mike Petee selection of folk music
SEPTEMBER 28 – GRANDMA GATEWOOD MOVIE – TRAIL MAGIC (1st Woman to solo walk the Appalachian Trail)
Opener – Joe Rollin Porter – music of the era
OCTOBER 12 – Tammy Souhrada as Mary Shelley (author of “Frankenstein”)
Opener – Folktails – blending folk music of the era
OCTOBER 26- Mark Jordan - Ohio Murder Mysteries (Interesting cases from this area)
Opener – Bob Ford – music to fit the show – always challenging Bob
NOVEMBER 9 – Raylene Hlavaty as Kate Luther (wife of Martin Luther)
Opener – Tim Noble – amazing pianist/vocalist
NOVEMBER 30 – Ken Hammontree as George Washington (Father of our country)
Opener - Skeptikells early colonial music with harpsichord, flute.
 
For more information on programs visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-3018 or 740-392-6102 for further details.

The annual Chautauqua Food For the Hungry concert will be held at The Memorial Theater December 9.