Third annual cruise-in returns to Roxy Sept. 13
Downtown Russellville will be buzzing again soon when classic cars and old memories cruise back to the historic Roxy Theatre for the third annual cruise-in. This event will highlight the old days, when downtown Russellville was the place to be for music, visiting with friends and cruising the strip.
Car enthusiasts will be coming not only from Franklin County, but also from Haleyville, Moulton, the Shoals and Belmont, Mississippi.
Tim Vandiver suggested the idea to the Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council, the group that manages the Roxy, noting how popular cruising the strip has always been here.
Vandiver continues to be involved and uses his contacts with other car owners to help the event keep growing.
Any avid collector is encouraged to participate and show off their classic automobiles. The entry fee is $20 per car with registration at the north end of Jackson Avenue in front of the Franklin County Courthouse.
Giveaways will include tool sets, cash and gift cards.
Over the past two years, the cruise-in has grown steadily with more cars being entered and more spectators lining Jackson Avenue. Participation usually runs 80 or more vehicles, depending on the weather.
The event has turned out to be very successful, and I look forward to it each year.
Community members have shared fond memories of the tradition of cruising the strip.
Patsy Cox recalled it has deep meaning for her family, noting she met her husband while cruising in 1973. This November, they will celebrate 52 years of marriage.
Brenda Fretwell remembered cruising in the mid to late 1970s and making friendships that have lasted to this day.
Brent Elliott described cruising the strip as “the place to be — so much fun. I miss it.”
Connie Garrison Maggerise recalled that cruising in 1968 and 1969 meant “good clean fun” with friends — waving out car windows, meeting up in the A&P parking lot, and stopping at King Frosty for milkshakes. She and her friends sometimes caught a movie at the Roxy before riding the strip again.
Jason Swinney noted that in the early 1990s, before cell phones, cruising the strip was how you found people.
“We didn’t go downtown to cause trouble,” he said. “We went to see friends and make new friends and for the most part, everyone got along.”
In the week leading up to the cruise-in, a Facebook trivia contest will be offered, with names entered in a drawing for each correct answer.
Cars will also be hidden around town for a scavenger hunt. When one is found, participants can tag the Roxy’s Facebook page with #thehistoricroxytheatre to be entered into the drawing.
A dinner will be served in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Building from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The menu will include homemade chicken stew, chili, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, dessert and a drink. Plates are $10 with registered cruise-in participants receiving a discounted price of $8 for up to two plates each.
Art prints of the Roxy, painted by Ronnie McDowell, will also be available for sale as a fundraiser for the theater and in recognition of its 75th anniversary. Proceeds will go toward the Roxy’s upkeep.
Music and dancing in the street will round out the evening in recollection of the days when the Jaycees sponsored downtown street dances as fundraisers for their projects.
The Roxy ticket booth will feature a display of the dress worn by Lila Hovater, who worked as a ticket seller when the theater opened in 1949. Although she was paralyzed from polio, she loved the Roxy so much she still worked there until her death in 1962.
At 8 p.m., the city will block off the street for about half an hour so drivers can make a loop through downtown. Horns will sound, cameras will flash, and people will cheer from the sidewalks as the cars roll by.
Whether you’re driving your favorite automobile or just enjoying the sights, everyone is welcome to share in this free community event.
For information, call 256-810-4751.
