​Robert Ripley to Speak at Chautauqua – Believe It or Not!
Mount Vernon – “Ripley's Believe It or Not!” comes to the Chautauqua Series this Thursday November 3, 2016. Founded by Robert Ripley, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. The Ripley collection includes 20,000 photographs, 30,000 artifacts and more than 100,000 cartoon panels.  Ripley was a cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, best known for creating the newspaper panel series, radio show, and television show.
Elixir Presents Chautauqua Series, sponsored in part by a grant from the Ariel Foundation, provides a donation based living history program, featuring Jim Stoner as Robert Ripley. Jim will take us into the world of Robert Ripley, his life and world and end the program taking questions from the audience. Opening the program will be regular contributor, musician/historian/entertainer, Bob Ford.
The event will be held at ThePlace@TheWoodward [101 S. Main Street in historic downtown Mount Vernon]. Doors open at 6 PM at this first floor theater and the program will begin at 7 PM. For more information on this and other upcoming programs in the Chautauqua Series, please visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-6102. If you would like a gentle reminder email on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com. 

Chautauqua Features Moses

MOUNT VERNON –   He parted the Red Sea, unleashed 10 plagues on Egypt, introduced 10 commandments to guide people actions, brought forth water from a rock, and  lead his people out of slavery and prepared them to enter the Promised Land of Canaan.

On Thursday October 27, join us at ThePlace@TheWoodward (101. S. Main in downtown Mount Vernon) and meet the man who lead his people out of slavery and is a key figure in many different faiths. Portraying Moses is Ken Hammontree, a popular veteran of the Chautauqua stage. Ken is one of the most prolific of presenters of first person living history, portraying over 30 different characters from early Ohio history like Tecumseh to World War II generals like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Founding Fathers, Civil War and international characters as well.

Opening for the program will be The McManaway’s, a local Gospel group made up of family members and a perennial favorite for their faith filled songs.

This donation based program is presented by Elixir Presents and facility costs are paid for by a generous grant from the Ariel Foundation. 100% of the donations go directly to the performers so for this program all money goes to Ken Hammontree and The McManaways.

Coming in December – FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY concert featuring Chautauqua style Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and Emmy Lou Harris. The concert will collect donations of money and food or the annual Food For The Hungry Campaign. For those of our community in need and can’t afford donations this concert is a Christmas gift from us to you. It is a family friendly event and brought to you by some of the many gifted musicians in our community.

For information on this and upcoming programs call 740-392-6102 or visit www.elixirpresents.com or www.VisitKnoxOhio.org 

If you would like an email the Sunday before each program as a gentle reminder, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com. 

​Mark Jordan to Share Ohio Ghost Stories


Mount Vernon – On Thursday, October 13th at ThePlace@TheWoodward located at 101 S. Main Street in Mount Vernon, Ohio, home of the only monthly Chautauqua/Lyceum Series in the United States welcomes Mark Jordan to share Ohio Ghost Stories. Just in time for Halloween, Mark with share his experiences as writer of the play “Ceely” about an Ohioan who poisoned her family in 1896, “Phoebe”, hermit and eccentric, known for having long conversations with animals. Mark has appeared on the “Ghost Hunters” and “Mysteries at the Museum” television programs and has conducted ghost nights at Malabar Farm. Mark will take you on a journey of some of the interesting ghost stories from around Ohio, with special interest in Knox and Richland Counties.


Opening for the program will be Desmond Wall, a regular to the Chautauqua Stage. He will add an interesting brew of ghoulish delights and beautifully crafted songs and humor as only he can provide.


The Series is supported in part by a grant from the Ariel Foundation and is presented on a donation basis for our whole community and anyone interested in learning more about local, area national and international history in a family friendly entertaining manner.


Doors open at this first floor facility at 6 PM and the program starts at 7 PM. For more information about this or other upcoming programs, please visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or by calling 740-392-6102. In case of any schedule changes we suggest you review the sites listed for any changes. To be included in a friendly reminder email on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com to be included.