Lunch with Enos and other celebrity stories

In a way, I have been fortunate enough to rub elbows and hang out with some famous people through the course of my life. I never really thought about them being stars; to me, they are just people who are good at what they do. The only person that I guess would make me become "star struck" would be Stephen King, which meeting him is on my bucket list. I also have never been one to scream in town square, "Oh look, I know a famous person." However, in the course of writing this blog, I have had a few people to tell me that they like these stories and that I should post more of them. Therefore, I guess I will.

Legendary actor George Lindsey has been a friend of the family for nearly sixty years. When he was in college, he frequently stayed with my (great) Uncle L.L., or Double L, as George calls him, at my great grandparents' farm in Alabama. When I was a child, and would occasionally attend family reunions. He was "Goober" to millions of television viewers. We just called him, "Uncle George." I have had the great fortune of being able to stay in contact with George through his namesake film festival at the University of North Alabama.

My grandfather, W. L. Whitten, was a commander of the Alabama Highway Patrol, when the department was in its infancy, and made friends with several big stars in entertainment and politics, including Hank Williams Sr., Roy Rogers, Pat Buttram, and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. My grandmother told me stories about my grandfather's visits to the Tuskegee Airfield and hunting trips with governors and world leaders. My mother knew several famous people through the years, including living next door in the dorms to Polly Holliday, better known as 'Flo' from Alice, at the University of Montevallo.

In the 1990s, I worked on a few movies and film projects. One day in 1996 while casting for a project, I was stunned to see Sonny Shroyer come into the room. Sonny was always one of my favorite people on The Dukes of Hazard. His character Enos was probably the funniest on the show. While talking with Mr. Shroyer, he invited me to join him for lunch. Again, I was stunned. It was not an offer that I was going to turn down.

While dining on local cuisine, we discussed films, acting, and regaled each other with stories of Southern culture. After a long lunch, Sonny invited me to visit his beautiful home in Georgia. What began as a moment of Southern hospitality on the job turned into a magnificent experience!

'Can’t Touch This':
Another Celebrity Encounter

I once shared a rather personal moment with M.C. Hammer at Disney World. My nephew and I had the honor of meeting Mr. Hammer while visiting a park restroom. It was an extremely hot Florida day where the heat waves on the pavement could create mirages, and required frequent stops to cool off. I spoke out of common courtesy extended to another person, but my nephew, who was six at the time, recognized him immediately. He was a really nice guy who took time to talk with us, especially being attentive to my nephew. My nephew, being a Hammer fan, was quite impressed with the experience. However, we politely abstained from the traditional handshakes.



Don't forget to check out my Stephen King discussion blog - The King of Castle Rock.

New Blog Announcement

Check out my new Stephen King blog,

The King of Castle Rock.

Read articles about the Master of Horror and his work. Know what new King products are being released. Explore the world that is featured in his stories. Find out why he is the undisputed King of Castle Rock.

No Control, Just Faith

Over the past eleven days, I have been given an opportunity to reflect on life and the burden of having to focus on the future. It is within the moments in our life where we have to surrender ultimate control to someone else, and are left powerless to alter a situation. We must simply trust in others to be successful in those endeavors that have the capabilities of changing our lives forever. Although in our lives, we eagerly look toward the future as a time when we can achieve a personal goal or find the success that seems to be just beyond our grasp. However, there are times in our life when we have to look forward into the future and understand that we will suffer great losses and must carry heavy burdens.

My Mother suffered a stroke on February the Second, and was hospitalized for eleven days. Being in her seventies and in fair health, I had to prepare for the worst and pray for the best. Fortunately, she has minimal physical symptoms of the stroke. She was able to very quickly regain full speech, thought processing and walking abilities. Sometimes the fear comes from worrying about next time.

Being her primary family caregiver, much of my life and schedule revolves around providing for her. A daily schedule of medication disbursements and meal preparations, combined with simple tasks that many of us take for granted, have to be a priority in my schedule. Balancing my roles as a family caregiver and a college student requires precise planning on my part. Sometimes it also requires me to make priority decisions, which includes letting the school work take a back burner to family obligations. However, I do not have to hesitate when determining my priorities.

Check out my new Stephen King blog, The King of Castle Rock.

Elvis, Black Squirrels and the Pony Express

The Day I Played Horsey with Elvis

When I was just a wee lad of about three, I had an opportunity to do something that few people, with the exception of Lisa Marie Presley, can claim to have done. I got to play "horsey" with the King of Rock-n-Roll. Elvis was a frequent visitor to the Shoals area throughout his life, especially earlier in his career. My father was friends with a barber in North Florence who cut the hair of famous singers, wrestlers, and other celebrities of the day. My father found out that Elvis was coming to the barbershop, so we made a trip to the barber that day.

Everyone was treating this guy with a lot of attention. I was not yet at an age where I had developed an appreciation for music. While talking, Elvis turned his attention toward me, a little blonde-haired rugrat. He picked me up and sat me in his lap while the adults continued their talking. Somehow, I ended up straddling his knee and playing "horsey", maybe even the Lone Ranger. It would take me about ten years before I could truly appreciate the magnitude of what appeared at the time to be nothing more than a minor event in a little boy's life.

Maybe later, I will post the story about the time that I was babysat by the legendary college football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Facebook Status of the Week:

(From my Facebook page)

Time held in captivity = 3 months.

Ransom demand from terrorists = $1 million.

Twenty well-trained US soldiers +

$6 worth of ammunition = freed hostages.

Returning home to America = priceless.

Seal Team Six -

When cash just won't fix the problem.

My Travels of America's Roads

Episode 2 - Marysville, KS

As I prepared for our trip to the West in 1998, there were two destinations on the agenda: Yellowstone National Park and Eugene, Oregon. I knew that to travel to Northwest U.S. that we had to follow, at least partially, the Lewis and Clark Trail. After studying maps and doing research, I discovered that we could follow the original trail for the majority of the westbound trip. To prepare, I read The Journals of Lewis and Clark, which is the actual journal kept by the explorers, and Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage.

What was once a trail blazed through wilderness now runs through many cities and towns. Marysville, Kansas is one of those towns. Marysville is a quaint little town in the northeast region of the state, which lies in the middle of the seemingly never-ending plains with an equally vast skyline. Although it is a small western town, Marysville is distinguished among all U.S. cities and towns by its history and native species. Marysville is located on the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the St. Joe Road, the Overland Stage, the Militry Road, the Otoe-Missouria Trail, and the route of the legendary Pony Express.

The Pony Express operated from January 1860 until November 21, 1861, delivering mail to the settlers that were expanding across North America. It was the Pony Express that proved to officials that the United States really could span from "sea to shining sea" and still remain intact as a society. These young riders could travel from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacremento, California in eight days, which was an extraordinary feat for the time.

Marysville, KS was one of the stops on their route. Today, the town holds the distinction of being the only place in the U.S. where the original Pony Express Station still stands. The station now serves as a museum of the Pony Express and also contains cultural displays from the early days of Kansas. In the museum, a buffalo gun hangs on one of the walls. Without a doubt, it is the biggest gun that I have ever seen in my life, and I have seen a lot of firearms. This weapon was approximately six to seven feet in length. Other Pony Express stops have been lost to history.

Another unique distinction of Marysville is one of its native species, the black squirrel. Although there are some disputes about the origin of the black squirrels that now inhabit Marysville, the most interesting legend credits a traveling circus that came through the town in the late 1800s. The legend states that the circus had a cage full of the exotic black squirrels and a group of local children opened the cage, releasing the squirrels and changing the town forever. Whether it is true or not, the legend has stuck with the local people.

Pony Express Oath

"I,......., do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God,

that during my engagement, and while I am an employee

of Russell, Majors and Waddell, I will under no circumstances,

use profane language, that I will drink no intoxicating liquors,

that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the

firm, and that in every respect, I will conduct myself honestly,

be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win

the confidence of my employers, so help me God."

From the Official Pony Express History

Welcome Back! We are now open for business!

Welcome to the new re-grand opening of And That’s the Way It Blogs! In the past, I have posted complete articles on various topics as required by a class assignment. This time, I have decided to peel back the roof on the world and look inside, then share that peek with you. I might do a little ranting, or just muse on topics; but I hope, at the least, that you will find it entertaining.

That’s Why They Call It “The Boob Tube”

The so-called “reality stars” of television today never cease to amaze me. Now the “internet star” is starting to rise in popular culture to a disturbing degree. The traditional stars of television were mostly skilled actors with talent. However, stars of today are not required to possess talent or sense in any form. Straight from a laundry mat in New Jersey comes “The Situation”, a man who is dumb enough to get on national television and make tasteless jokes about Donald Trump. The Situation might find himself in a sticky situation.

The problem with these reality and internet “stars” is they actually think that they are famous. Snooki, also from Jersey Shore, was recently on a talk show where her appearance was almost as disastrously as The Situation on the Donald Trump Roast. A Huntsville, Alabama man became an internet star after going “ghetto” on a local newscast, which was viewed by millions of people around the world. He went on to make appearances on national television programs including The George Lopez Show. Need a look at how reality fame can overinflate a person’s ego? Just watch Dance Moms or Toddlers and Tiaras.

(photo courtesy of Hannibal Visitors Center)

Traveling America’s Roads

In my years, I have had an opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States and North America. In 1998, I had the great honor of taking an extended trip across the northwestern portion of the US with my mother and grandmother. My grandmother’s last wish was to travel through the mountain states and visit as many national parks as possible. In order to fulfill her last wish, we packed a van and hit the open road with only a basic outline of a travel itinerary. The trail that we decided to take had been blazed nearly two hundred years prior by the great American explorers Lewis and Clark.

The first city that we visited was Hannibal, Missouri. Hannibal is a small town nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River. Hannibal is the birthplace to one of America’s greatest writers, Mark Twain. Visitors to Hannibal can see the home where Mark Twain grew up, and roam the same pathways that he once strolled as a child. After visiting Hannibal, it is easy for one to see where Twain’s inspiration for his stories was found.

(Photo courtesy of US Dept. of Transportation)

The river provides a special connection between Hannibal and the Shoals in Alabama. A mighty railroad life bridge that once spanned the Tennessee River in the Shoals was disassembled and moved to Hannibal, where it once again provides a safe crossing for trains. The rivers of America have always been important transportation routes, but Twain has shown us in his writing how these rivers can also provide a doorway into a child’s imagination. TJB

Focus of the Alabama Film Incentive Bill

The House passage of the Alabama Entertainment Incentive Act of 2008 has gained a moderate amount of press coverage. Some of it has been very good for the industry. Some of it has missed its mark on the importance of the film bill.

There have been stories that sparked the imagination with dreams of Hollywood productions and red carpet affairs. There have been stories about what filmmaking is from a director's standpoint. Images of the excitement of cameras and actors filling the communities have been covered by the press corp.

The stories that need the most attention are the ones that I have seen the least.
America is in one of the worst economic times in our history. The times that we are living in today will be in the history books tomorrow. There are millions of people out of work and more losing their jobs everyday.

States have suspended income tax rebates, laid off thousands on their own payroll and closed or consolidated schools to save money. Alabama is still moving forward even in these difficult times. But people are suffering in our state too.

The film incentive bill is more about developing a new source of income for our economy. It is about providing new jobs and new careers opportunities. It is about stopping millions of dollars of projects by Alabamians and/or covering Alabama stories from leaving the place that inspired these people and stories in the first place.

Representative Joseph Mitchell summed it up best when he told me that it is "about the electricians, the capenters, the sandwich vendors, the dentists, the mechanics and all the other vocations that go into making the industry".

He is absolutely right! It is all about these people that will benefit from the productions that are made here.

We don't see these people on the news or mentioned very often in the press stories. These are the aspects that we should be promoting and opening a dialogue about in our communities across the state.

In order to be successful, we have to let all vocations know that they can be a part of the industry in some way. We have to gain the support of the community leaders and all Alabamians. People have to know that the film industry cares about them before they will care about us and understand our dreams for Alabama. TJB

Michigan Setting Example for Film Development

10 February 2009

Michigan Setting Example for Film Devlopment

Film incentive legislation has been an issued considered by many states over the past few years. Michigan has been one of those states. But they want to do more than just offer incentives. Michigan wants to bring the film industry to them in a collective effort.


In 2008, Michigan passed film incentive legislation that pays as much as 40 percent or more for film productions with a budget over $50,000. The film incentive includes rebates and tax credits. Their effort to draw the film industry to their state has paid off for them. There were 38 projects filmed in the State of Michigan last year.

Michigan’s struggling economy over the closing of the auto industry has found new life with the development of the film industry in the state. There are plans underway to build a $54 million dollar studio at a closed GM plant in Pontiac. The studio will employ 3,600 people when it is completed.

The development of the Michigan film industry has drawn the attention of some major players. Clint Eastwood moved the production for his critically-acclaimed and award-winning film, Gran Torino, from Minnesota to Michigan. Lifetime Network recently filmed one of its MOWs in Michigan. Prayers for Bobby was a recent Lifetime weekly featured film which employed people from the industry, community and universities. Reports show that George Clooney and Brad Pitt have movies lined up to be filmed in Michigan. Michigan’s Film Office announced that 65 films have been approved for the tax incentives as of October 2008. These films are projected to spend $440 million locally. Less than a third of the approved films have been completed. With more than 40 projects already planned, Michigan is actively seeking new ones to boost their economy and develop a new industry.

Michigan has an advantage in their pursuit of a working film industry. The government, the people, the schools and the businesses are working together to advance their development. State colleges and other schools have added programs to their curriculum for future infrastructure. They have established training programs to train out-of-work citizens how to perform jobs within the film production industry. The state is working hard to promote its capability to large productions. Some opponents of the Michigan film project state that the enormous incentives will create a future problem with millions of dollars to be paid out in rebates. The expenditures will mount to more than the state can afford. They also fear a temporary status for the portable film industry will leave the state in a worse situation than it is currently in. TJB