GREENSBURG – Greensburg High School’s Fall Chautauqua is set to kick off November 6 and features a legendary actor, baseball player, musicians, war heroes and more.
The Greensburg Chautauqua is mirrored after the popular movement a century ago. History’s great lecturers and musicians traveled to small towns across the nation to provide unique enlightenment.
Helen Keller and William Jennings Bryan both spoke in Greensburg.
That tradition has been revived thanks to Greensburg U.S. History teacher John Pratt.
This year’s event will feature television legend Ed Asner. He is best known for his role as Lou Grant in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. Asner has won seven acting Emmy’s, more than any other male performer.
The two-term President of the Screen Actors Guild has spent a lifetime on political and social activism.
The theme of the this year’s Chautauqua is “The 1950s.” The arsenal of guests that will be speaking throughout the event include:
- Terrence Roberts- In 1957, nine students in Little Rock, Arkansas, volunteered to break the color barrier by becoming the first African-Americans to attend Capital High School. Dr. Roberts was a member of “The Little Rock Nine” and will share his courageous story which was a key moment in the civil rights movement.
- Gail Halvorsen- Veteran pilot of the Berlin Airlift, he was affectionately known as “The Candy Bomber” for dropping off candy to the children of West Berlin, and providing hope as the Cold War was gearing up. The 93-year-old hero has been the subject of numerous books and documentaries.
- Ron Rosser- A Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War.
- Dodie Stevens- A teen pop sensation that sang the hit “Pink Shoelaces”:
- George Wellington- A founding member of The Wellingtons whose hits included “The Ballad of Davy Crocket” and the theme to television show “Gilligan’s Island”.
- Lauren Chapin- The actress who won 5 junior Emmy’s as Kathy Anderson in the popular ’50’s television show “Father Knows Best”.
- Carl Erskine- A Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher and teammate of Jackie Robinson. He has the distinction of having thrown two no-hitters.
- Terry Johnson- The lead singer of The Flamingo’s “I Only Have Eyes for You”.
- 1954 Milan Indiana State Championship – Members of the team.
Anyone wishing to attend is encouraged to buy tickets early as the cost is only $5.00. Tickets can be purchased at Greensburg High School or the Greensburg Public Library. Questions can be directed to John Pratt at [email protected] or 812-663-7176 (EXT. 1222).
