In September of 2002, the SJO was privileged to perform in concert at the historic Langdale Theater in Valley, Alabama.
The Langdale theater opened for business on May 6, 1937. Between the first and second showing of that opening day's feature, "The Hit Parade" (a Big Band feature!), the German dirigible Hindenburg exploded in Lakehurst, New Jersey. It was a day local residents would remember for years to come!
In 1936 the West Point Manufacturing Company announced plans to spend $40,000 for construction of the "finest motion picture house between Atlanta and Montgomery." It's builders boasted that the new theater's equipment and design surpassed all in the south and equaled any in the nation!
Movies were not the only entertainment offered at the new Langdale Theater. A week after it opened, The Manhattan Serenade Band starring Arthur La Fleur became the first of many stage shows presented there.The stage floor of the Langdale Theater has been trod by untold numbers of magicians, hypnotists, opera singers, evangelists, pianists, beauties, musicians and thespians.
The decline of the movie industry accompanied the burgeoning success of television in Alabama as elsewhere in the nation. On February 27, 1954, after a showing of "Easy To Love" starring Ester Williams, the Langdale Theater closed it's doors.
Finally, in 1987, a group was formed to restore the theater. After expending contributions totaling six times the original construction, and countless hours of volunteer labor, The Langdale Theater reopened its doors on May 22, 1993. No longer a movie house, the Langdale's stage serves the community with live entertainment, including the orchestras of Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, Sammy Kaye, Jimmy Dorsey, Russ Morgan, Tommy Dorsey, and Artie Shaw as well as individuals headliners such as Floyd Cramer, Myron Floren, Boots Randolph and Jerry Clower.
On September 28, 2002, the Sentimental Journey Orchestra proudly filled this selfsame stage before a capacity crowd of 620 enthusiastic Alabamans! Their reactions throughout the concert spurred the musicians to "kick it up another notch!" If the audience had half as much fun as we did then they had a GREAT time! Read these comments by the manager of the Langdale Theater as well as those of the gentleman who recommended the SJO:
September 30, 2002
The Sentimental Journey Orchestra
Post Office Box 54101
Atlanta , Georgia 30308
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I wanted to pass along some of the comments about your performance last Saturday night at the historic Langdale Theater.
They range from outstanding to best ever and many in between, all very complimentary.
I enjoyed working with all of you. The music was wonderful and the vocals were superb. I now can understand why my friend Phil Harrison in Atlanta was so glad to recommend your group.
I am still receiving favorable comments today and we hope to invite you back again. In the meantime, if anyone in the promotion business needs a recommendation, please ask them to give me a call.
Good luck to you all and thanks again for an evening of good music, good times and good memories.
Sincerely,
Bill Gilbert
September 30, 2002
Owen
You may recall I'm the person who originally contacted you about the
possibility of the Sentimental Journey Orchestra playing at Langdale
Historical Theatre as part of its on-going series of musical
presentations. I put you in contact with Bill Gilbert and, as they say,
the rest is history, because the performance that took place yesterday
(Saturday, Sept., 28, 2002) was truly a sensation!
I've been a big band lover for years and not only have attended most of
the 42 concerts held at Langdale Theatre, but for years now have gotten
together a regular group of out-of-town attendees (dubbed as the Langdale
Concert Gang) and we regularly bring a dozen to two dozen down to the
Valley - first for "supper" at some nearby location and then we have a
block of seats at the concerts.
I review all this simply to say our gang's response to Sentimental Journey
topped any reaction we've ever had and all have been positive, I must
say. Talking with an estactic Bill Gilbert afterward, I certainly didn't
have to encourage him to re-book your band - he was already convinced from
the overwhelming reaction of the crowd - as it seemed your band members
were too.
Please pass along to every one associated with your fine organization our
sincere appreciation for a most enjoyable evening! I am proud to have had
a modest part in making this beneficial connection!
Regards,
Phil Harrison,
Atlanta
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