Roxy holds Cruise-In

The Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council is venturing into a former era by sponsoring its first Cruise-In at the Roxy to highlight the “good ol’ days” Sept. 16 from 4-8 p.m. Admission is free.

Collectors will enter automobiles from across the generations. Those wishing to take part may complete entry information at the north end of Jackson Ave. in front of the courthouse. The cost is $20 for the first car entry and $15 for each additional entry.  For the participants, there will be giveaways, including tool sets, cash, gift cards and other items.

Facebook trivia will be offered daily for names to be entered into a drawing (for each question answered correctly). Toy cars will be around town for a scavenger hunt. When a car is found, tag the Roxy on Facebook with #thehistoricroxytheatre to be entered into drawings. Follow instructions on each individual car.

The Historic Roxy Theatre will open its doors at 6 p.m. for the movie “Grease.”  People are encouraged to dress as their favorite actor or actress in “Grease” or during that era. There will be Coke floats, popcorn, candy and soft drinks available to purchase in the Roxy.

Tenns in poodle skirts and other period attire will serve dinner in the First Baptist Church fellowship building. The menu will feature homemade chicken stew, beef stew, chili, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, peach cobbler and a drink.

There will be music and dancing in the street. A display in the Roxy’s ticket booth will feature an outfit that Lila Hovater wore as a ticket seller for the Roxy when it first opened in 1949. She was paralyzed from polio but managed to work at the Roxy, a place she loved, until she passed away in 1962.

There will be Roxy prints available for sale. The original painting was done by Ronnie McDowell as a fundraiser for the Roxy.  The print features Lila Hovater and Lee Gault, manager and overseer of the Roxy from the time it opened in 1949 until his death in 1963.

At 8 p.m., the streets will open for Cruising the Strip as was done in the “old days.”

For more information, call 256-810-4751.