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>> female announcer: This is a
production of WKNO, Memphis.
Production funding for this
program is made possible in part
by..
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: Hi, guys!
Welcome to "Local Color."
I'm Mamie Shannon.
Okay, we're in the midst of the
holiday season.
It couldn't get any midst-ier.
And I am at the point now to
where I am getting the fun
gifts.
I've got the "have-to's" out of
the way and I'm getting the fun
gifts.
And to me, the fun gifts are
Mid-South wineries.
Yay ***!
Tasty!
So Old Millington Winery, which
is right around the corner from
my house, they have this
Christmas plum.
You see me?
This Christmas Plum that is
pretty smooth.
Remember the blackberry that we
had this?
You weren't here.
>> Davis: I do remember the
blackberry.
>> Shannon: The Christmas plum-
it gives the blackberry a run
for its money.
Remember you were kind of
smitten with the blackberry.
>> Davis: I like the blackberry
a lot.
>> Shannon: I think you're going
to have to come out.
And maybe one Sunday afternoon
we'll let the kids run around
out in the vineyard.
>> Davis: I'm pretty set.
I'm making hobo wine in my
closet.
>> Shannon: Are ya?
>> Davis: Mhmm.
>> Shannon: You're using those
sneaks.
>> Davis: I'm using, you know,
yeast and apple juice.
Whatever I can find.
>> Shannon: Well, speaking of
apple juice, the Paris Winery
has spiced apple wine.
That does sound kind of good.
>> Dacus: That's a great segue
by the way.
I liked that.
>> Shannon: Yeah, I thought so,
too.
We worked on that for about 45
minutes this morning.
(laughter)
>> Davis: I wasn't kidding
though.
I really am.
Yes, I'm making hobo wine.
>> Shannon: Is that what we're
getting for Christmas?
>> Davis: I haven't started it
yet, to be honest.
But I found a great "how-to"
guide.
It came highly recommended.
So I'm going to try it.
I expect it to be horrible.
>> Shannon: How long does it
have to ferment?
>> Davis: Two weeks.
>> Shannon: That's very-Is that?
I don't know anything about it.
>> Davis: Well, wine is best
when it's fresh.
(laughter)
>> Shannon: Any-who.
>> Dacus: Let's leave it to the
professionals.
>> Shannon: Yeah, I would say
head up to Century Farms.
That's the one that they had and
I've forgotten the name of it.
It was the white wine that they
had.
Gosh, I can't remember.
But anyway, they have cranberry
for the holidays.
And it's unreal.
My husband Bart and I went a
couple of weeks ago and the
cranberry was just released for
consumption and for purchase.
And it's really, it's just I
never thought about making wine
from cranberries.
>> Davis: I'm curious.
Is it blended with grapes?
>> Shannon: No!
>> Davis: It's all cranberries?
>> Shannon: It's all
cranberries.
>> Davis: And it's not bitter?
>> Shannon: Not at all.
As a matter of fact, it is the
smoothest.
You know how some wine is very
acidic and dry and then some is
just too sweet?
You know, a lot of the fruit
wines are just too sweet.
This is perfect.
>> Davis: I'm a big fan of
cranberries in their natural
state.
I don't like to sweeten them too
much but I know they can be a
little intense for some people.
>> Shannon: No, this is really
good.
I'm going to have to get some.
Sorry I didn't.
I'm a slacker.
I didn't have any for today.
And then, you know, the guys
that own Crown Winery in
Humboldt and Her Royal Highness
Vineyards-they have the
Sangiovese.
And remember the Buck Naked?
They have the Buck Naked.
And they also told me that if
you mention WKNO, you get $30
off of case price.
I'm just saying.
Good gifts, good gifts.
I'm talking to Mary Norman today
who I'm really excited about
because she is one of my
favorite artists.
I bought the Memphis in May
poster 110 years ago and it
inspired me to learn about Italy
and to paint my entire house
that color.
>> Davis: I haven't seen her
work, so many pieces in that
small of scale.
It makes my eyes throb just
thinking about it.
>> Shannon: Oh, I can't imagine.
I can't imagine.
They're miniatures.
They're about the size of print.
And there's 90 of them.
Did you see them?
>> Dacus: Yes, they're
beautiful.
>> Shannon: They're gorgeous.
Who are you talking to?-Molly?
>> Dacus: Yes, Molly Crosby.
I'm talking about fun gifts.
I love to give books.
She's got a great one out.
And we're going to talk a little
bit more.
The Great Pearl Heist and it
sounds really interesting.
>> Shannon: I know, I know.
And she's a Memphian.
>> Dacus: She is!
>> Shannon: Be local, buy local.
>> Dacus: That's right.
>> Shannon: And you've got Ek
coming in finally!
>> Davis: And we're talking
about "If Scrooge Was a Brother"
which is a very interesting
twist on a holiday classic.
And one that has a very long
history.
>> Shannon: And it's about time
because we've been trying to get
him here for two years.
To Ashley and Chris, looks like
we got some great ideas for
holidays!
Next, Chris will talk with Ek
from the Hattiloo Theatre.
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> Davis: So we're here today to
talk about your play, "If
Scrooge Was a Brother."
But before we get too deep in to
it, I want to congratulate you
on-I don't use the word
"landmark" very often-but I
think it was a real landmark
performance of Katori Hall's
"Hurt Village" at the Hattiloo
Theatre.
A play about a very specific
place and time in Memphis by a
Memphis playwright by a Memphis
company and you guys did it
right.
>> Bandele: Well you know, I saw
that show at the Signature
Theatre on Broadway, 48th and
10th.
This was in January before I
committed to the season and
after seeing it, I said-we have
to do it.
Now as you saw, there's a lot of
profanity in it.
And the script is written almost
to the point where it's
stereotypical.
You've got all these characters.
You know, but, you know, when we
started working on it, I said-
You're not cursing, you're
speaking.
And I said-You're not
stereotypes, you're real people.
I don't know if you picked up
one of the first things that
happened when Cornbread entered
and he realized that-what's the
cat's name?
The main character?-or when the
main character was there?
See, I've already displaced it.
Well, I had them hug because we
seldom don't see black men in
that community embrace.
>> Davis: The two things that
struck me about first is that
because it was such rich
idiomatic language, it reminded
me of Shakespeare.
The second thing that I noticed
about it is as you know, I live
in that neighborhood.
I lived in that neighborhood
when Hurt Village was still
standing and it reminded me of
conversations that I
participated in and overheard on
my porch.
It was very real and alive.
But you know, also, but Katori
isn't our only emerging
playwright.
You have a few plays to your
crate, too.
>> Bandele: "Judas Hands" which
we did last season which is a
tragedy, as you know.
And then, of course, "If Scrooge
Was a Brother."
>> Davis: "If Scrooge Was a
Brother," which is on-stage now.
You've been bringing it back
every holiday season.
In some way the roots of the
Hattiloo are sort of, kind of in
that because this is really your
emergence not only as a
playwright, but as someone who
imersed himself in every aspect
of production.
>> Bandele: Exactly because, I
mean, early on when we were
doing Scrooge at places like
Southwest or LeMoyne-Owen or
something like that, I was doing
everything.
>> Davis: How long ago was the
first?
>> Bandele: You're making me
date myself now.
I don't know.
I really don't know.
I would say it had to be before
my novel so I would say like
'95.
>> Davis: Yeah, it had to be.
>> Bandele: That's like 15
years, 16, 17-now, I'm not sure
of my math.
>> Davis: Some Mid-town art
festival like Counterfest or
Slugfest, one of those, but
getting a flyer for it.
>> Bandele: Under your
windshield?
That was my guerilla marketing.
I used to go around and pop all
the windshield with Scrooge.
But you know what, it has
changed.
And actually, each version of
Scrooge changes with where I am
in my life because back in the
day, you know, Scrooge hated
being black because he saw his
father get lynched.
So there I am in a Christmas
play with these three *** guys
coming on burning a guy in a
Christmas show.
But that's where I was at the
time in the mid-1990s, you know,
coming here from New York.
But now I've really kind of gone
a little bit I would say more
esoteric, more really reaching
to the soul.
>> Davis: And you also are very
protective of the Dicken's story
that you're basing it on.
>> Bandele: I think, you know
why?
Because I think it creates a
framework that's easily
accessible to people.
And so by putting something in
that framework, people come in
kind of knowing the story so
they're coming in with their
guard down.
And so then the language and the
stories and the themes, I think,
has more potency.
>> Davis: You think by giving
them this thing in a very
familiar context, you're able to
present more challenging ideas.
>> Bandele: Exactly, you know,
there's this play called "They
Sing Christmas Up in Harlem,"
which we did in our first
season.
And it's a good show but
because, you know, you're here
in Memphis, you don't really
know Harlem.
When you talk about singing, it
means a musical, which it isn't.
It's a play with music.
So the framework isn't as known
and so, therefore, the audience
isn't as open to come see it and
coming in without judging, you
know.
>> Davis: Our time goes by
really quickly here.
So I want to bring this all
together by saying how
interesting it is that you would
have chosen repeatedly to do new
work, challenging work, and
original work.
You have found audiences for it.
You've been able to do "If
Scrooge Was a Brother" again and
again.
And you're doing more of that
even as you plan to move to
Overton Square.
Can you just address that
quickly?
>> Bandele: Well, we're
definitely going to be doing a
lot more original content at
Hattiloo Theatre when we move to
Overton Square.
And the main reason is because I
thought Tom Lee was a white
confederate general until I saw
the statue downtown.
And so I'm like how many people
aren't aware that he was a black
man.
And so why can't we immortalize
Tom Lee in a play?
>> Davis: That sounds like a
great idea.
I've got to thank you for being
with us Ekundayo.
We're going to be right back in
just a little bit with Mamie and
artist Mary Norman.
Thanks, Ek.
>> Bandele: Thank you, man.
Always a pleasure.
>> (instrumental music)
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♪♪♪
>> Shannon: Mary, thank you so
much for being here.
For anyone who doesn't know,
this is Mary Norman who is
absolutely amazing.
And I hope I don't embarrass you
but I'm going to.
I got the Memphis in May poster
from '92.
I got one of the signed ones.
And I hung it in my bathroom.
And I would get in the tub
filled with bubbles up to my
neck and meditate and your
poster made me fall in love with
Italy, a place that I didn't
know anything about.
But because of your poster, I
took it with me to Sherwin
Williams and had them match all
the colors and painted my entire
house the colors of your poster.
>> Norman: Hard to do because I
think I added every color known
to man in that but it's very
colorful.
>> Shannon: And we started out
with a paint chip and they're
like-None of these match.
And I'm like-You've got to match
that color!
But now, this series is so cool.
These are 90 miniatures and it's
called "A Minute and Half of
Summer."
>> Norman: Right, one for each
second.
>> Shannon: Right, so what was
your inspiration?
>> Norman: The thousands and
thousands of photographs that I
take when I go on vacation.
It could have easily been a
couple of hours of summer if I'd
had the time.
But I didn't have a real long
leave time before the show went
up.
Just I really do take a lot of
photographs, details, you know,
not always of full scenes but I
love details of things.
Like, some things are just, you
know, close-ups of moss and
rocks and mushrooms and dead
leaves, that kind of thing.
The textures and the colors are
so beautiful.
So once I got started, I really,
I just couldn't stop because I
wasn't intending to do that many
paintings when I got started.
>> Shannon: Now which one-the
mist on the eyelash.
What's the title of that one?
>> Norman: I think it's "Sea
Spray."
>> Shannon: I love that.
It's so pretty.
I mean, I was automatically
drawn to it.
And the chandelier at Central
Station, Grand Central Station.
And then, is this a bird's eye
view of Memphis?
>> Norman: It is exactly that,
flying in to the airport at
night, yeah.
>> Shannon: Okay, so you take
tons of photographs.
What gave you the idea of the
three and a half, these three
and a half by fives or three and
a half by sixes.
>> Norman: It was an idea.
Necessity is the mother of
invention, as they say.
I had a lot of lumber in the
backyard.
They're just wooden planks like
you buy at the hardware store.
It's called one by four.
It's really one inch thick by
three and a half inches wide.
And so I just chopped it up in
to little lengths that were
about the size of the
photographs.
The paintings are actually just
about the size of the actual
photographs.
I did that because it was, you
know, easily accessible.
I had it at hand.
And I was so inspired to start
painting.
It's been about 12 years since
I've painted.
>> Shannon: No way!
>> Norman: I stopped when I had
my son.
>> Shannon: That right there's a
sin, sister girl.
>> Norman: Well, I knew I would
get back to it someday but one
thing after another.
As they say, life happens.
And it just hadn't happened.
But this summer was magic.
And got back from vacation and
just really needed something I
could start painting on
immediately.
So there was this lumber in the
backyard and that's what
happened.
>> Shannon: I don't know if you
can really see it on camera but
the grain gives it a whole
dimension that makes them so
special.
I mean, I love that.
And if it was a mistake, it was
great.
If it wasn't just like some
preconceived notion that you had
to give it that.
They're gorgeous.
So Chris's favorite is the Off
bugspray.
My favorite is the Sea Spray and
the eye lash.
Do you have one that just?
I love the Holly Hawks, too.
>> Norman: The cat-I used to
paint cats a lot dressed up in
odd little costumes.
And I will get back to that
again.
But the ones that are dearest to
my heart are ones that my son is
in.
And you don't really see his
face very much.
He's usually in silhouette or at
a great distance.
But there's pictures of him
sitting on the rocks in the
sunset, things like that that I
like.
But I also like the Off bottle.
That was really some of my
favorite colors and vintage
items.
>> Shannon: Well, and you can
see these at WKNO studio at
Gallery Ten Ninety One through
January the 17th, Monday through
Friday, 9:00 to 5:00.
>> Norman: I'm really honored to
be here.
This is a gorgeous space.
>> Shannon: It is, It is.
Isn't it beautiful?
I hope so, too.
So tell me, what is next on the
horizon?
>> Norman: Oh my gosh, just a
lot more painting.
I'm going to do some marbles.
I used to do these big marbles.
I just, I've got a lot of things
that I want to do.
>> Shannon: You did like a
chrome.
You did something that had a
chrome marble or something in
it.
>> Norman: We had Aggies, and
steelys and cat's eyes and all
that.
>> Shannon: Gosh, I don't know
why I remember that.
>> Norman: You've got an
excellent memory because that
was a long time ago.
>> Shannon: Can you tell I'm a
fan?
(laughter)
Am I embarrassing you yet?
So are you going to do like some
cats with fruit on their heads
and things like that?
>> Norman: A Carmen Miranda cat
would be excellent.
Okay, you got it.
Give me just a little bit of
time.
>> Shannon: I've got five cats.
You are more than welcome to
pick one.
>> Norman: Oh, okay.
Maybe all five.
>> Shannon: But now look, I know
you can't see the detail but you
guys, you've got to come see
this exhibit.
The detail is magnificent.
>> Norman: And some are more
finished, I would say, finished
than others.
I mean, they're all finished in
my mind.
But some of them are more like
sketches or studies and other
ones are, as you mentioned, very
highly detailed.
>> Shannon: And this was your
vacation from last year?
>> Norman: This past summer and
the two previous summers going
to New England with a dear
friend and my son.
And it's absolutely gorgeous up
there.
>> Shannon: So how long did it
take you to do these 90
paintings?
>> Norman: I only started
painting in August, the end of
August when we got back.
And, so, what is it?
This is December.
>> Shannon: you're an over-
achiever, Mary.
>> Norman: Well, it was because
the concept.
I wasn't planning on painting
that much, that quickly.
Well, we had a cancellation for
the December show.
I was thinking I would have
about a year to work on these.
>> Shannon: Promise me you'll
come back.
>> Norman: Oh, I would love to.
>> Shannon: Thank you.
>> Norman: You'll have to try
pretty hard to keep me away.
>> Shannon: Thanks, Mary.
Ashley's coming up next with
author Molly Crosby.
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> Dacus: Molly, it's so good to
have you here.
Now, you are here for a new
book, The Great Pearl Heist,
which is a little bit of a
departure for what most
Memphians might know you for.
Which your first two books were
medical mysteries.
You had The American Plague
which was about yellow fever
here in Memphis.
And then Asleep .
But now you've kind of done
something really exciting.
Tell me more about this book and
first of all, how you even
discovered this topic.
>> Crosby: Sure, this was a nice
departure especially since I had
spent so many years researching
these sort of tragic epidemic-
type stories.
This was a nice break for me,
too.
While I was researching Asleep ,
I ran across some references in
the London Times.
I was looking for cases of
sleeping sickness from that era.
And there was a detective who
had joked that this missing
necklace would be found around
the neck of the Mona Lisa which
had been stolen in 1911 and was
still at large.
And so it just peaked my
interest and I started
researching it and was amazed
really that this story had never
been told because one of the
rarities in writing about, you
know, history or non-fiction is
to find a story that people
don't already know the ending
to.
So this was a great find.
>> Dacus: Well, when I'm reading
the material about this book,
like you say, it's kind of
surprising that this already
isn't a known story.
And it's also surprising that no
body's made a movie about this.
This sounds like a total like
Robert Downing Junior action
flick.
>> Crosby: That's what everyone
says.
>> Dacus: You've got these two
like totally likable characters,
Grizzard, who is the thief,
right?
And then, the man from the
Scotland yard.
I forget his name.
>> Crosby: Yes, Alfred Ward.
Yeah, and Joseph Grizzard is
this very likable.
He had very-He grew up in poor
circumstances in White Chapel
during the Jack the Ripper era.
But he rose to the top of the
crimes to get here in London.
And he's a good guy though.
He's married.
He has a son.
He has a huge gang that works
for him stealing jewels that he
later sells.
But if any of them want honest
work, he'll find it for them.
If one of them gets put away, he
will pay for their defense and
he'll support the family while
the man is put away.
>> Dacus: So he's completely
likable.
I mean, you almost root for him.
>> Crosby: And kind of, yeah,
and funny.
He would buy rounds of drinks
for the plain clothes detectives
who were supposed to be
shadowing him.
So he had a good sense of humor
about all of it, too.
>> Dacus: But there's mutual
respect there.
Like the Scotland Yard, they're
pursuing him and he's their go-
to.
When things go wrong, as far as
jewelry heists in London,
Grizzards on their list.
But when this happens, they're
kind of trying to track him and
there's all kinds of subversive
tactics.
Tell me more about this mutual
respect.
>> Crosby: Well, the detective,
Alfred Ward, he is one of the
top detectives at Scotland Yard,
what became known as one of
their best detective units ever.
And the idea of the detective
was still pretty new.
The metropolitan police were
actually just formed in 1850.
So this is 1913.
It's not that long after.
And this group of detectives is
really trying to get a better
hold of crime in London.
The population was exploding.
And he was a really brilliant
detective.
What he did best was think like
a criminal.
And so when is assigned to this
particular case, he knows
immediately who Joseph Grizzard
is.
He's, you know, been unable to
arrest him on a number of
occasions when he knew that
Grizzard was behind a heist or a
jewel theft.
So they're very well matched and
they have a mutual respect for
each other.
It's really just like two good
guys and this is their chosen
profession on opposite sides.
>> Dacus: So I can imagine the
research for this one.
Not that The American Plague and
Asleep -they're wonderful
stories.
You've been able to take pretty
dry material-and we're talking
about medical records-and build
a narrative around them to make
these really kind of
compulsively readable books.
But I can imagine the research
for this one might have been a
little bit more fun.
>> Crosby: It was a lot of fun.
It was because it was really
just sitting in the Scotland
Yard archives and reading the
old case files.
And these detectives, when they
weren't going after jewel
thieves, they were going after
the old Victorian and Edwardian
murderers and, you know, the
sort of fascinating stories.
So it was a lot of fun.
And researching London in that
time period was a great aspect
of this, too, because it's 1913.
It's just on the cusp of World
War I.
And I think in large part,
that's where I became lucky.
This story really did get lost
in the shuffle of the war.
>> Dacus: Kind of the pre-war.
Everyone kind of forgot about
this.
>> Crosby: Yes because really in
1913, this dominated the news
and the dailies.
And I think people were sort of
looking for a distraction.
They knew war was coming.
They could see it on the horizon
and this was a great summer
distraction for them.
>> Dacus: And like you described
to me, this is the same time
period as the Downton Abbey.
So for all the fans, there are
clearly a lot of fans of the
show.
So this is that time period.
And you've got that kind of
Sherlock Holmes angle and the
Downton Abbey time period.
>> Crosby: Edwardian London,
Edwardian England is just a
great, great era.
It was a golden age for a lot of
places, the US included but
particularly in England and you
know, just on the verge of war.
>> Dacus: I've got to admit and
I told you this earlier, I don't
read a whole lot of non-fiction.
But I'm really excited about
this one.
And this is totally one of those
things that seems made up like
the cast of characters and the
way this plays out so I'm
anxious to read this.
In fact, I'm going to by a
couple of copies.
You can find it at the
Booksellers at Laurelwood and
lots of local independent
booksellers.
And you recently had a signing
event.
>> Crosby: I did just a couple
of nights ago.
>> Dacus: So you can pick up a
signed copy for anybody who
loves to read, anybody who loves
great stories, great story-
telling, of course.
This great time period that
seems to be especially popular
right now.
I'm going to get one for my dad
and my brother.
>> Crosby: Oh, good!
>> Dacus: So, thank you so much
for coming on today to talk with
us.
I'm excited to read it.
>> Crosby: Thank you.
>> (instrumental music)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> Shannon: I'm really glad we
finally got Ek in here.
That was a cool interview.
>> Davis: I am, too.
He's a good guy and is just
doing great things with the
Hattiloo.
Can't wait to see what it's
going to be like when it moves
to Overton Square.
>> Shannon: Yeah and I can't
wait to read Molly's book.
Now she's got me really jazzed
about finding out what the end
is.
>> Dacus: I know.
Me, too.
And you can't Google this.
This is one of those stories no
body knows!
>> Shannon: I know!
And it's a non-fiction.
That's really cool.
And Mary Norman, I can't believe
that she has not painted in 12
years.
That, to me, is totally insane.
She's one of my favorite
artists.
Have you guys gone and seen
Christmas lights?
>> Dacus: I need to.
I need to pack up the family
sled and go.
>> Davis: We drove around the
neighborhood a little bit.
>> Shannon: Well, I drove to
Walgreens, I think it was.
>> Davis: They have those on a
whole aisle.
>> Shannon: I know, I know.
They're not lit but you can push
that little button, you know,
and they light up.
I kind of just put blinders on
and acted like it was on a
house.
Southaven has Southern Lights in
Central Park through December
31st.
You know, it's just like our
Starry Nights.
You drive through and pay per
car.
And that's on Stonegate.
And it's Sunday through
Thursday.
That's not right.
It's got to be Thursday through
Sunday at 6:00.
And then, have you guys heard
about Christmas City?
>> Dacus: I think we might have
talked about this a little last
year.
>> Shannon: Okay, Christmas City
is in Burlison, Tennessee which
is like down Highway 51 toward
the river near Randolph Landing.
>> Davis: Are they incorporated?
>> Shannon: No, they're not.
They are not.
This is on Candyland Lane.
But they have through December
31, as well.
Theirs starts at 5:30.
It's at the Rose of Sharon
Campground.
They've got hot chocolate and
you can do the s'mores and all
of that.
But I would love it if some
folks would send us.
I love looking at lights.
And you know, I don't know
whether people just don't have
time or we're just not in to it
as much but people just don't
seem to put the lights out like
they used to.
>> Dacus: Yeah, I want more
Griswold action.
>> Shannon: I do, too.
I love the over-the-top lights.
>> Dacus: Yeah, I do, too.
I don't have the energy to do it
but I want somebody else to.
>> Shannon: Exactly, exactly.
>> Davis: I prefer them in
August.
>> Dacus: Where they really make
a statement!
>> Davis: Yeah.
>> Shannon: I keep Christmas
lights up in my house all year
long because I like the glow.
But outside, not so much.
I'm not one of those.
>> Dacus: You have a
neighborhood association to
think of.
>> Shannon: Well, you know, we
are the artists on the block.
But it kind of takes away from
the neighborhood generosity.
Thank you guys so much.
Come back and see me sometime,
Ashley.
I miss your face.
>> Dacus: I know.
I miss you.
>> Shannon: Thanks, guys, for
joining us.
Please come back and see us
again next week.
And go out and enjoy your local
color.
And send us information on
Christmas lights!