A long path

Back to the beginning

As I sit here this morning, I am prepping to drive 70 miles west to Hagerstown with my lovely soulmate to participate in the Maryland International Film Festival where I will receive the Nora Roberts Foundation award for the collaborative work I have been doing… telling stories with a camera for about 50 years. Nora and I have both lived many years in Washington County Maryland. It was a good place to grow up for me and apparently a good place for her to live and express herself. It’s a real honor to be singled out as a storyteller, from a storyteller that has the kind of career she has created.

( photo by Dale Swope…a good friend and collaborator for many years )

The award presentation will happen on the stage of the venue I managed in 1978-79. The Maryland Theatre, built in 1915 by visionary business people who hired renowned Theatre Architect Thomas Lamb to design this place to entertain and tell stories. The 1400 seat theatre was the biggest and grandest in town…and is a smaller sister to the famous Beacon Theatre in NYC. It had a wonderful career but in the mid 1970’s had fallen into disuse because of TV and was ready to be destroyed by the wrecking ball…but another group of people with vision, raised awareness and the money to save it and start to renovate it.

( taken by Linda on Broadway in 1977-78 as we were going to a show)

That’s where I came in. Because of the experience I had gained at college, they trusted me to help breath life back onto it’s stage. ( It was the only job in Hagerstown I would have returned to do ) We did that for about a year…it was a wonderful experience…65 shows and included a performance by Bob Hope. I would not trade that time for anything…

But the Universe conspired and I left that work and started a video production company. First in Hagerstown and then eventually back to Baltimore where I had gone to college.

It’s been a long winding path back to that same stage…and I have to figure out what to say tonight…especially to the many young film makers in attendance. This festival screens over 100 films in 4-5 venues between tonight and Sunday.

If you want to join the party, the VIP reception starts at 5:30 tonight in the Theatre lobby. A lot of friends and family will be there….and there’s an after party…

So Friday or Saturday I will let you know how it goes tonight.

I have one quote that I keep on my desk, that I know I intend to share with them…

“Do what you love, and own who you are.

Time is precious and death is real

So is Art…it defies them both…”

The quote is from Galadrielle Allman’s book, “Please be with me: A song for my father, Duane Allman.”

It came to her as a voice in a sort of dream state. Duane had a short career…but his musical legacy lives on.

Peace