Wordless Wednesday

Old Glory

October Glory

Ruby Tuesday

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The red in the flags above are just to satisfy the Ruby Tuesday requirement of having something red in the photo. The real reason for this post is the building itself. Recently another blogger, Tulsa Gal posted a banner photo similar to the one below. Click to enlarge and enjoy the detail.

The photo reminded me of one of my favorite buildings in Tulsa, the Fairgrounds Pavilion. I grew up in Tulsa and lived most of my life within a mile of this building.

This grand old lady was built in 1931 with a budget of $800,000. A $500,000 bond issue provided the bulk of the funding. Today, you couldn't buy the terra cotta on this building for $800,000 dollars. In fact, I don't believe you could purchase the terra cotta at the main entrance for $800,000! The Pavilion building has hosted Elvis Presley in 1957, the Ice Capades for many, many years as a part of the Tulsa State Fair, Pro Wrestling, and Tractor Pulls. It fell into disrepair in the early 70's. After a several pitiful attempts to "update" the facility, someone finally took the bull by the horns, and did a proper renovation of this architectural jewel. Below is a detail of the terra cotta panels above the windows. There are three themes. The ram, as shown, a horse, and a bull.

Each corner of the building featured an entry shown below. Personally, I find the arch and the terra cotta decoration just stunning! Again, take a look at the terra cotta panel that is at the top of the building, above the arch.


The ram's head corner details at the main entry just might be the most spectacular detail of all.

The interior of the building has always been very utilitarian. After all, it has to be flexible enough to handle a wide variety of events. Currently the seating configurations range from about 4,800 -5,800 depending on the event and whether or not floor seating is involved. Still, I love the honesty and integrity of the original, exposed structure.

Those involved in this renovation should be very proud of what they have accomplished and Tulsans should be very thankful for those who made this project happen. This is a wonderful building and deserves to serve the community another eighty years.

Friday Thoughts

A couple of weeks ago I was headed to Tulsa to see my dad. It had been raining all night and most of the day. As I left Springdale, Arkansas on Highway 412, the rain had stopped. By the time I got on the toll road west of Siloam Springs, the clouds were breaking up and a sunset was in progress. Here are a few photos taken between Siloam Springs and Chouteau, OK.



Okay, enough with the drive-by photography. It's time for this week's installment of an inspirational song. One group that I saw for the first time was the Collingsworth Family. While the entire family is talented and sing great harmony, it is the mother, Kim that is an incredible pianist. Here is a sample of her work. Enjoy. If you really want to hear something special, go to YouTube, type Collingsworth Family and select How Great Thou Art. The embedding tag has been removed or I would have shown it to you here. It is something special. Have a great week-end everyone.

Goodbye Ol' Paint

After 29 years of faithful service, I said goodbye to an old friend tonight. I dismantled my manual drafting table and prepared to put it into storage. I bought the table a couple of years after I graduated from Architecture school at the University of Oklahoma. A contractor friend of mine got a deal on several of these tables and asked me if I wanted one. I jumped on it. Over the years, it has helped produce dozens of house plans, a few churches, and even a funeral home. Our daughter has done her homework on it, and the grandcrew have colored their pictures as well. I don't really do house plans anymore, and the ones that I do get involved with are generated on my computer. I know that I'm "old school", but there is something magic about producing the drawings for a building from the end of a pencil onto a clean sheet of paper. There is a connection to the materials, finishes and details that just cannot be recreated by the computer. Yes, the computer generates photo-realistic 3D renderings, and automates multiple tasks now, but it just all seems a bit sterile.
I'm going to miss that table, but we need the space for other furniture, since my dad will soon be moving in with us. It leaves a hole, that I designed for it, in the corner of the spare bedroom/office, that will soon be filled with an antique wardrobe. The wardrobe is much more attractive, and it's been in the family for 40 years, but it's not my drafting table. Oh well, life goes on. Maybe I'll sneak down to the storage unit some week-end and reassemble the table down there. Then I can visit it from time to time. Hmmm....maybe not.

Ruby Tuesday

This big hearted pony was outside of our hotel in Louisville, KY.
I took this during our vacation at the National Quartet Convention in mid-September.

We DID go to Louisville!

As some of you may remember, we were going to Louisville in September to the National Quartet Convention for Southern Gospel Music. Well, we did go, we had a great time. It was just interrupted by life. You'll have to scroll down several posts to find the details. Anyway, while we were there, I took the opportunity to go downtown to the Louisville Slugger factory. Here are a few photos of the morning.Ya gotta admit, this is cool!

Out side of the building there are a number of these bronze markers. This is a replica of the bat made for Pete Browning. The Pete Browning model Louisville Slugger was the first bat made by the company.Just past the lobby you will find this wall that has the signatures of every major league player that has ever been under contract to Louisville Slugger.

Here are three of my all-time favorites.

Beyond this wall is every model bat that Louisville Slugger has ever made. I didn't have the time to take the full tour. I think I'll do that next year.

I bought the grandson his very own, personalized Louisville Slugger. I'll give it to him for Christmas. Maybe, someday, he'll make to the the big leagues and use this in his first at bat in "The Show". That would mean that his name would be on that wall with all of the other greats. Hey, a grandpa can dream can't he?

Friday Thoughts

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Tuesday I flew out of Northwest Arkansas to Knoxville, TN. I got a rental car and drove to Franklin, NC. That is about a two hour drive through the Smokey Mountains. You take hightway 129 South out of Knoxville to Highway 28 South. Highway 28 South will take you all the way to Franklin, NC. The leaves are just now beginning to change in the Smokies. In another couple of weeks the scenery will be spectacular. It was a winding, twisting, hair-pin turning drive, but it was full of great scenery. I could have stopped a hundred times and taken a thousand photos, but I had to get to Franklin on business. It was an cloudy, overcast day, so there isn't much sky to admire, but I'm sure there are days when it is breathtaking. Anyway, here are a few more of the sights along the way.

Okay, so now what to we do for an inspirational song? Somehow, "Go Tell It On The Mountain" seems appropriate. Here are two versions, one pure gospel, and one up-tempo country, for your listening and viewing pleasure. Enjoy.