Puttin' on the Ritz: Cheaters?

 

Cheating, Regardless of 'Reason," is Still Cheating...

...as children discovered at the Ritz Theater in Sheffield Tuesday night.


What was, by all accounts, a hilariously funny cabaret-esque tribute to Tim Burton, was marred at the end when costumed patrons (mostly children) were asked to participate in a contest to determine 'winners' for best costume. The lone 'judge' asked for the audience's help three different times in selecting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners. Even for someone admittedly hard of hearing, it was clear that the 'judge' was anything but impartial and fair. After the third go-around failed, once again, to produce the results desired, the solitary judge 'went rogue.'


So much for a fun evening at the theater.


As always,

The Ritz Theatre--A Sheffield Treasure

We hope many of you were able to attend the latest Ritz presentation, Rejoice, Dear Hearts. If you did, you saw that the theatre's facade and adjacent sidewalks are in the middle of a massive renovation. Much of the funding for these improvements comes from the semi-annual Ritz yard sale.

The sale will again be open the first Saturday in June, with merchandise featured at half-price. Located in the Foodland Shopping Center, the sale will be open from 9:00 until 1:00.

While in Sheffield, be sure to detour past the theatre itself, located on West 3rd Street just off Montgomery Avenue. With the exception of the marquee, the building again looks much as it did in the above 1939 photo.

During its grand days, the theatre was owned by Louis Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum's grandson Jonathan showcased many of the Shoals' early movie houses in his book Moving Places, now available to read online at: http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=ft3s2005n8&brand=ucpress

Now, if we could just bring Sparky back to the Shoals Theatre, we'd be in business...


What's up with this: Anyone know what happened to the new twin theatres announced two years ago for Sheffield's Hatch Boulevard?

Rejoice Dear Hearts!

If you think of Lewis Grizzard as the original Southern comic, then you have never heard of Brother Dave Gardner. Brother Dave was a native of Columbia, Tennessee, later calling Jackson home. His career was tragically cut short by a heart attack at the age of 57, but if you missed him the first time around, you can catch his current incarnation at Sheffield's Ritz Theatre on March 31.

Originally studying to be a Baptist preacher, Dave Gardner first entered show business as a drummer and aspiring singer. After some modest success as a vocalist, he was asked to perform on the Tonight Show where he peppered his routine with jokes about the Southern way of life.

Gardner's star shot to the top, but only briefly. After suffering serious injury in a plane crash, Gardner lost most of his fortune to the IRS. The death of his wife Millie brought him to the edge, but a chance meeting with an old friend turned his life around. Not only did the old friend help resurrect his career, she became his second wife. With Judy's help, Dave was soaring to a comeback when he suffered sudden cardiac arrest while on tour.

Playwright David Wright was so taken with the story of Gardner's life that he developed and performs in the one-man tribute to the late comedian. Wright will bring his play to the Ritz for one night only at 7:30, March 31st. Tickets are $10.00 in advance or $12.00 at the door.

Not only will you be supporting the Ritz, you'll have a chance to step back into the 1950s. Brylcreem and pony tails are optional.


What's up with this: Don't forget the special Ritz yard sale on April 4th. Located in the Foodland Shopping Center, the semi-annual sale makes productions like Rejoice Dear Hearts possible.