
Ozarks At Large


Becca Martin Brown of NWA Newspapers says that one of the local stories that changed the state of the local entertainment scene this year was the closing of the Goodfolk House, but the familiar concerts will be reborn as the Pickin' Post Concert Series, beginning December 29 with Fred Eaglesmith.
For well over a century the Gibson family has been making baskets in northwest Arkansas. We recently spent an afternoon with Terry Gibson, a fourth-generation artisan, learning how the baskets are created.
Last month, the relatively new University of Arkansas Ballroom and Latin dance club took to the floors of the Ohio Star Ball, the largest ballroom dancing competition in the nation. Christina Thomas attended one of the clubs meetings. She spoke with members of the team, including one who won best newcomer international in waltz and tango.
The Last Night celebration will send the old year out with fireworks and a pig drop. Yes, a pig drop.

Two of Ozarks at Large’s own go into the Firmin Garner Performance Studio to send us into the weekend with holiday cheer.
Our history doctor, Bill Smith, is back for another edition of We’re History. Today he examines the lengthy relationship between aviation, daredevils and advertising. And, yes, he has a northwest Arkansas connection.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, August 23, 2013
On this special Roots Festival Edition of Ozarks from the Fayetteville Public Library, the Del McCourry Band, Iris DeMent and Joe Crookston play some tunes for our live studio audience. And we learn about the burgeoning craft brewery scene in NWA and more.
Becca Martin Brown says that the unique work of art will be installed at Crystal Bridges this week.
Surf de Soleil is one of the bands performing at a benefit for Guatemala tonight at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville. Earlier this week, they stopped by the Firmin-Garner Performance and played their song "It's You and It's Me."
Emily Chase recently received a national honor for her thesis work at the University of Arkansas. She told us about the creation of her paper gowns.
To see pictures of some of Emily's work, click here.
The fifteenth-annual living history tour of Oak Cemetery is Sunday. Portrayals of Fort Smith's past residents, prominent and not, all tell a story of the city's history.
Here is the key to our clips heard in this morning’s montage of famous cemeteries, graveyards and funerals in pop culture:
Thriller by Michael Jackson. The most famous dance routine set in a graveyard.
Opening moments from the original Night of the Living Dead.
The original “graveyard smash”, "The Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett.
A wonderful Lee Marvin stumbles into a funeral in the underrated comedy, Cat Ballou.
Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman have a rough night in the cemetery in Young Frankenstein.
Opening moments from a 1940 film version of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.
Abe Vigoda and Al Pacino is a pivotal scene at Don Corleone’s funeral in The Godfather.
Theme from the HBO series Six Feet Under.
Reginald Owen as Scrooge in the 1938 film A Christmas Carol as he sees his own grave.
The Crypt Keeper from an opening episode of the HBO series Tales From the Crypt.
Apologies to: that wonderful scene with Eli Wallach in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Dick Van Dyke’s narration in the opening of the movie The Comedian, all those vampire movies, about 1000 metal songs and the still-creepy ending to Carrie. Maybe next time.