Classic film clips gleaned from home movie collections of prominent families are the centerpiece of the second annual “Vintage Views of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains” film premiere on Saturday, September 25 at the Gatlinburg Inn.
The world debut screening will be presented at 7 p.m. in the John Sevier Room. A wine and cheese reception with live mountain music will precede the public screening starting at 5 p.m. on the grounds of the historic Gatlinburg Inn.
Terri McCarter Waters, whose family played an instrumental role in the early years of Gatlinburg, will be the featured artist, displaying many of her works depicting the area in the Pioneer Room.
Local Smoky Mountain history writers and experts will be on hand during the reception for a “Meet the Author” session in the John Sevier Room of the Gatlinburg Inn, the City’s third major hotel built in the late 1940s by Rell Maples on the downtown Parkway and is still operated by his widow, Wilma. A program featuring the authors will begin at 6 p.m.
The “Vintage Views” film is a carefully edited montage of mostly 16-millimeter film clips gathered from the private family home movies of residents of the Smokies and Gatlinburg area, including the E.E. Maples family and Wiley Oakley kin.
Those clip collections have been donated for this project which is being coordinated by City Videographer Kevin Tierney and Special Events Manager George Hawkins.
Sponsors of the premiere screening include the City of Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg Garden Club, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Food City, Knoxville Coca Cola, Smoky Mountain Winery, and the Gatlinburg Inn.
Copies of the film will be available the night of the showing and through Lorelei Productions.
Call the Special Events Office at 865-436-0500 to reserve your seat. Tickets are $10 at the door, with reservations required. Valet parking will be available. Seating is limited.
