Friday, March 29, 2024

‘Old Glory’ music festival a piece of American pie

Posted

The Double Mountain Chronicle in Rotan had such a good article about the Old Glory Musicals I just had to go experience one. I’m glad I went.

I was impressed with the caliber of musicians and the taste of the pie (coconut and chocolate). Like so many small-town musicals, it is a display of Americana.

At Old Glory, the musicals take place the last Saturday of each month and draw a respectable crowd from a wide area. The old school is gone, but the lunchroom/auditorium remains.

“It’s called a cafetorium,” says Mittie Dunham, who organizes the rotation of musicians. The building is now the Community Center and has a stage big enough to accommodate a symphony orchestra. Professional PA equipment provides good sound throughout the building.

“It’s a fantastic venue,” says Murray Bouquet from Abilene, who plays bass. “The musicians on stage are looking for an audience and we can always find one here.”

Sometimes there are as many as 16 musicians on stage. They play 30-minute sets and the night I was there 8 different groups performed.

The event started at 5:30 and lasted 5 hours. The headline groups may have their own songs but other musicians on stage are talented enough to accompany the featured performers.

“This is some of the best classic country and gospel music in West Texas,” says Richard Venable of San Angelo, who has been a regular the past few years, driving the 300-mile round trip to attend. “They play music from the 50s and 60s which most of the audience grew up with.”

I heard Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Crazy Arms. Fraulein, Folsom Prison and a whole lot more.

David Bramlet, a minister who plays several instruments, compares the venue to something you might find in Nashville.

“I love coming here, even though I run the monthly musical in Seymour,” Bramlet said. “There are 5 musicals within a few miles from here and a lot of the same musicians show up at all of them.”

Stonewall County Commissioner Jan Harris says most of the audience comes from outside the county.

“People in Old Glory have always loved music and dancing,” Harris said.

The Community Center has a senior dance once a month. An Old Glory Reunion takes place in the building every 3 years.

People don’t just show up for the music. They go there for supper. There’s a full menu provided by volunteers.

“Pulled Pork or beef brisket on a bun, chicken salad sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches, chili dogs and Frito pie,” says Sybil Kendrick. “For dessert we have brownies, coconut pie, chocolate pie and pecan pie. Where else can you have a barbeque sandwich, chips, a drink, and a piece of homemade pie for 8 dollars? That’s what we have here and sometimes we run out of food.”

The walls of the facility are filled with memorabilia from when the Old Glory school was active. Some of the diplomas display the name New Brandenburg High School. New Brandenburg was the original name of Old Glory when it was founded by German families in 1903. The name was changed to Old Glory in 1917 during World War One.