Koco with New Members Robin Subicao and Anthony Barcelo
Koco, featuring, from left to right standing in the back row, David White, Terry Bollea, and Mark Keur. Robin Subicao and Anthony Barcelo sit on stools in front. Koco was the second of several bands that Terry Bollea, known commonly as the professional wrestler, Hulk Hogan, performed with during the early to mid-1970s in Tampa, Florida. Bollea, who played the bass guitar, left his band, Infinity's End, and formed the group, originally called Magic, with David White on the keyboards, Mark Keur playing the drums, and Stephen Griggs as guitar in 1973. After Koco, Bollea performed with the band Ruckus, before going on to a career in professional wrestling. Bollea was replaced with Brad Prince and eventually Pete McKay. The band changed their name to Freebird, but when Lynyrd Skynyrd released a hit song of the same name, they changed the name one last time to Firebird. The group attributed their disbanding in 1976 to the rising popularity of disco music.
Original black and white photograph: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society
Koco, featuring, from left to right, Brad Prince, David White, Stephen Griggs, and Mark Keur. Koco was the second of several bands that Terry Bollea (1953-), known commonly as the professional wrestler, Hulk Hogan, performed with during the early to mid-1970s in Tampa, Florida. Bollea, who played the bass guitar, left his band, Infinity's End, and formed the group, originally called Magic, with David White on the keyboards, Mark Keur playing the drums, and Stephen Griggs as guitar in 1973. After Koco, Bollea performed with the band Ruckus, before going on to a career in professional wrestling. Bollea was replaced with Brad Prince and eventually Pete McKay. The band changed their name to Freebird, but when Lynyrd Skynyrd released a hit song of the same name, they changed the name one last time to Firebird. The group attributed their disbanding in 1976 to the rising popularity of disco music.
The Outlaws sometime between 2005 and 2006. From left to right, the photograph features guitarist Chris Anderson, drummer Monte Yoho, guitarist Hughie Thomasson, drummer David Dix, and bassist Randy Threet. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
Original color photograph: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Monte Yoho, Henry Paul, Billy Jones, and Hugh "Hughie" Edwards Thomasson, Jr. of The Outlaws
The Outlaws sometime between 1972 and 1977, featuring, from left to right, drummer Monte Yoho, an unidentified member (possibly bassist Frank O'Keefe), guitarist Henry Paul, guitarist/keyboardist Billy Jones, and guitarist Hughie Thomasson. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
Monte Yoho, Harvey Dalton Arnold, Hugh "Hughie" Edwards Thomasson, Jr., Billy Jones, and Henry Paul of The Outlaws
Two of John Gellman's classic 1 black and white photographs of The Outlaws, taken in late 1974 in a field outside Athens, Georgia, while the band was in town for a week playing a club called Between The Hedges. The first photograph features all five members wearing cowboy hats. From left to right, the photograph features drummer Monte Yoho, bassist Harvey Dalton Arnold, guitarist Hughie Thomasson, guitarist/keyboardist Billy Jones, and guitarist Henry Paul. From left to right, the second photograph features Jones, Thomasson, Paul, Arnold and Yoho. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
Original black and white photographs: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Outlaws at the Winterland Ballroom, 1975
The Outlaws performing live at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California, on October 10, 1975. From left to right, the photograph features Harvey Dalton Arnold playing bass, and Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones, and Henry Paul playing guitar. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
Original sepia photograph: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California
Hugh "Hughie" Edwards Thomasson, Jr., Monte Yoho, Frank O'Keefe, Herbie Pino, and Billy Jones of The Outlaws
The Outlaws sometime between 1969 and 1972. This photograph features, from left to right, guitarist Hughie Thomasson and drummer Monte Yoho in the back, as well as bassist/guitarist Frank O'Keefe, guitarist Herbie Pino, and guitarist/keyboardist Billy Jones in the front row. At the bottom is the band's name and management information, which includes a cartoon logo for Ped-Dyn Productions and contact information. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
Hugh "Hughie" Edwards Thomasson, Jr., Monte Yoho, and Billy Jones of The Outlaws
Autographed 1 color photograph of The Outlaws performing live. The photograph features, from left to right, guitarist Hughie Thomasson, drummer Monte Yoho, and guitarist/keyboardist Billy Jones. Although the photograph was taken of a much earlier version of the group sometime between 1969 and 1979, the five signatures are from Thomasson, Yoho, guitarist Chris Anderson, drummer David Dix, and bassist Randy Threet, which was the lineup from 2005-2007. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
The Outlaws, featuring the original five members in 1967. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1967 by guitarist and lead vocalist, Hugh "Hughie" Edward Thomasson, Jr., The Outlaws peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s, with hits such as "Green Grass and High Tides," "There Goes Another Love Song," and "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky." Known by fans as "The Florida Guitar Army," the band's three-part harmonies distinguished them from their Southern rock contemporaries. The band experienced more personnel changes than most musical groups, with at least 45 different members between 1967 and 2015.
Logo for the band, Infinity's End. Infinity's End was the first of several bands that Bollea, popularly known as Hulk Hogan, performed with during the late 1960s and early 1970s in Tampa, Florida. Bollea was in ninth grade when he formed the group, and they quickly began performing at weekend parties. Their manager was the father of keyboard player, Gary, and their costume designer was Gary's mother. The band consisted of two guitar players, a drummer, a bassist, and a keyboardist, and performed classic rock hits of the day, such as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly and various songs by Steppenwolf. After Infinity's End, Bollea performed with the bands Koko and Ruckus, before going on to a career in professional wrestling.
Original logo: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Infinity's End performing live in 1970. The first photograph features all five members on stage. A March of Dimes sign hangs behind one of the two sets of drums. Terry Gene Bollea stands on the far right of the photograph, playing guitar. The second photograph is a close up of the keyboardist with the band's logo propped up in front of his keyboard. The drummer and another band member are also in the photograph. Infinity's End was the first of several bands that Bollea, popularly known as Hulk Hogan, performed with during the late 1960s and early 1970s in Tampa, Florida. Bollea was in ninth grade when he formed the group, and they quickly began performing at weekend parties. Their manager was the father of keyboard player, Gary, and their costume designer was Gary's mother. The band consisted of two guitar players, a drummer, a bassist, and a keyboardist, and performed classic rock hits of the day, such as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly and various songs by Steppenwolf. After Infinity's End, Bollea performed with the bands Koko and Ruckus, before going on to a career in professional wrestling.
Two original color photographs, 1970: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Color photograph of the band, Infinity's End, performing live in 1968 or 1969. The photograph features the bassist, lead vocalist and drummer. Infinity's End was the first of several bands that Bollea, popularly known as Hulk Hogan, performed with during the late 1960s and early 1970s in Tampa, Florida. Bollea was in ninth grade when he formed the group, and they quickly began performing at weekend parties. Their manager was the father of keyboard player, Gary, and their costume designer was Gary's mother. The band consisted of two guitar players, a drummer, a bassist, and a keyboardist, and performed classic rock hits of the day, such as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly and various songs by Steppenwolf. After Infinity's End, Bollea performed with the bands Koko and Ruckus, before going on to a career in professional wrestling.
Infinity's End performing live on December 30, 1969. The first photograph was taken from the stage and it features the bassist playing guitar and singing into a microphone. The second photograph is a close up of the drummer surrounded by audience members. Infinity's End was the first of several bands that Bollea, popularly known as Hulk Hogan, performed with during the late 1960s and early 1970s in Tampa, Florida. Bollea was in ninth grade when he formed the group, and they quickly began performing at weekend parties. Their manager was the father of keyboard player, Gary, and their costume designer was Gary's mother. The band consisted of two guitar players, a drummer, a bassist, and a keyboardist, and performed classic rock hits of the day, such as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly and various songs by Steppenwolf. After Infinity's End, Bollea performed with the bands Koko and Ruckus, before going on to a career in professional wrestling.
Original black and white photographs, December 30, 1969: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Infinity's End in 1969. The first photograph features Terry Gene Bollea in the center, and the second photograph shows Bollea on the bottom left. Infinity's End was the first of several bands that Bollea, popularly known as Hulk Hogan, performed with during the late 1960s and early 1970s in Tampa, Florida. Bollea was in ninth grade when he formed the group, and they quickly began performing at weekend parties. Their manager was the father of keyboard player, Gary, and their costume designer was Gary's mother. The band consisted of two guitar players, a drummer, a bassist, and a keyboardist, and performed classic rock hits of the day, such as "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly and various songs by Steppenwolf. After Infinity's End, Bollea performed with the bands Koko and Ruckus, before going on to a career in professional wrestling.
Original black and white photographs, 1969: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Tempests at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, 2010
The Tempests performing live at the Firestone Grand Prix on March 29, 2010. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a Verizon IndyCar Series race and is located at 1 Beach Drive Southeast, 42, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The photograph, from left to right, features Tommy Angarano, Darren Shaw, and Chris Winter. The Tempests were formed in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1963, when the members were just 12 and 13 years old. The original members included Doug Palmer (rhythm guitar), Bobby Allen (drums), Bill Hickman (bass guitar), Tommy Angarano (vocals), and Charlie Bailey (lead guitar). Hickman was later replaced with Buddy Peterson and Palmer was replaced with Mike Hammer, enhancing the group's ability to play songs with harmony. Due to the popularity of The Beatles, harmony-driven bands dominated the radio. The new additions proved a success, as the group won the Battle of the Bands at the Electric Zoo and recorded their first record, "I Want You Only," with "I Want You to Know" as the B-side. Allen was later replaced with Brad Myers on drums, and Bailey with Roy Delese on keyboard. The band opened for many national groups, such as The Dave Clark Five, The Shangri-Las, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Tommy James and the Shondells, Blues Magoos, The Doors, The McCoys, the Mindbenders, The Allman Brothers Band, and Three Dog Night.
Original color photograph, March 29, 2010: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Florida
Flyer for a concert for the band, The Tempests on March 12, 1966. The dance was held at The Village, located at 3003 Cypress Street in Tampa, Florida. The Tempests were formed in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1963, when the members were just 12 and 13 years old. The original members included Doug Palmer (rhythm guitar), Bobby Allen (drums), Bill Hickman (bass guitar), Tommy Angarano (vocals), and Charlie Bailey (lead guitar). Hickman was later replaced with Buddy Peterson and Palmer was replaced with Mike Hammer, enhancing the group's ability to play songs with harmony. Due to the popularity of The Beatles, harmony-driven bands dominated the radio. The new additions proved a success, as the group won the Battle of the Bands at the Electric Zoo and recorded their first record, "I Want You Only," with "I Want You to Know" as the B-side. Allen was later replaced with Brad Myers on drums, and Bailey with Roy Delese on keyboard. The band opened for many national groups, such as The Dave Clark Five, The Shangri-Las, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Tommy James and the Shondells, Blues Magoos, The Doors, The McCoys, the Mindbenders, The Allman Brothers Band, and Three Dog Night.
Original flyer, ca. March 12, 1966: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Shangri-Las and The Tempests at Mason's Hall, March 26, 1966
Flyer for a concert for The Shangri-Las and The Tempests at Mason's Hall. The "Teen Seen," which was located on the West End Buffalo Avenue Bridge in Tampa, Florida, on March 26, 1966. The flyer features a photograph of The Shangri-Las, a New York-based girl group who were scheduled to headline the event. Admission was $1.50. The Tempests were formed in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1963, when the members were just 12 and 13 years old. The original members included Doug Palmer (rhythm guitar), Bobby Allen (drums), Bill Hickman (bass guitar), Tommy Angarano (vocals), and Charlie Bailey (lead guitar). Hickman was later replaced with Buddy Peterson and Palmer was replaced with Mike Hammer, enhancing the group's ability to play songs with harmony. Due to the popularity of The Beatles, harmony-driven bands dominated the radio. The new additions proved a success, as the group won the Battle of the Bands at the Electric Zoo and recorded their first record, "I Want You Only," with "I Want You to Know" as the B-side. Allen was later replaced with Brad Myers on drums, and Bailey with Roy Delese on keyboard. The band opened for many national groups, such as The Dave Clark Five, The Shangri-Las, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Tommy James and the Shondells, Blues Magoos, The Doors, The McCoys, the Mindbenders, The Allman Brothers Band, and Three Dog Night.
Original flyer, ca. March 26, 1966: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Color photograph of the band, The Tempests, performing live at Surfer's Club in 1966. Surfer's Club was a teenage nightclub in the 1960s, located at 14966 Gulf Boulevard, in Madeira Beach, Florida. The club, which opened in July 1964 and closed in October 1966, only allowed kids ages 15-20. Nightly chaperones ensured there was no "front to back" dancing. The photograph, from left to right, features Doug Palmer, Charlie Bailey, and Tommy Angarano, as well as nine teenagers dancing in front of the stage. The Tempests were formed in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1963, when the members were just 12 and 13 years old. The original members included Doug Palmer (rhythm guitar), Bobby Allen (drums), Bill Hickman (bass guitar), Tommy Angarano (vocals), and Charlie Bailey (lead guitar). Hickman was later replaced with Buddy Peterson and Palmer was replaced with Mike Hammer, enhancing the group's ability to play songs with harmony. Due to the popularity of The Beatles, harmony-driven bands dominated the radio. The new additions proved a success, as the group won the Battle of the Bands at the Electric Zoo and recorded their first record, "I Want You Only," with "I Want You to Know" as the B-side. Allen was later replaced with Brad Myers on drums, and Bailey with Roy Delese on keyboard. The band opened for many national groups, such as The Dave Clark Five, The Shangri-Las, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Tommy James and the Shondells, Blues Magoos, The Doors, The McCoys, the Mindbenders, The Allman Brothers Band, and Three Dog Night.
Original color photograph, 1966: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Tempests, featuring the band's original lineup performing live at The Joker's Club, located at 3615 37th Street North in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1964. The photograph, from left to right, features Tommy Angarano, Bobby Allen, Bill Hickman, Charlie Bailey, and Doug Palmer. The Tempests were formed in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1963, when the members were just 12 and 13 years old. The original members included Doug Palmer (rhythm guitar), Bobby Allen (drums), Bill Hickman (bass guitar), Tommy Angarano (vocals), and Charlie Bailey (lead guitar). Hickman was later replaced with Buddy Peterson and Palmer was replaced with Mike Hammer, enhancing the group's ability to play songs with harmony. Due to the popularity of The Beatles, harmony-driven bands dominated the radio. The new additions proved a success, as the group won the Battle of the Bands at the Electric Zoo and recorded their first record, "I Want You Only," with "I Want You to Know" as the B-side. Allen was later replaced with Brad Myers on drums, and Bailey with Roy Delese on keyboard. The band opened for many national groups, such as The Dave Clark Five, The Shangri-Las, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Tommy James and the Shondells, Blues Magoos, The Doors, The McCoys, the Mindbenders, The Allman Brothers Band, and Three Dog Night.
Original black and white photograph, 1964: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Joker's Club, St. Petersburg, Florida
The Tempests at the National Guard Armory, 1966
The Tempests performing live at the National Guard Armory, located at 3601 38th Avenue South in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1966. The first photograph, from left to right, features Roy Delese, Tommy Angarano, Mike Hammer, Buddy Peterson, Brad Myers and Charlie Bailey. The second, third and fourth feature all but Bailey in the same order. The Tempests were formed in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1963, when the members were just 12 and 13 years old. The original members included Doug Palmer (rhythm guitar), Bobby Allen (drums), Bill Hickman (bass guitar), Tommy Angarano (vocals), and Charlie Bailey (lead guitar). Hickman was later replaced with Buddy Peterson and Palmer was replaced with Mike Hammer, enhancing the group's ability to play songs with harmony. Due to the popularity of The Beatles, harmony-driven bands dominated the radio. The new additions proved a success, as the group won the Battle of the Bands at the Electric Zoo and recorded their first record, "I Want You Only," with "I Want You to Know" as the B-side. Allen was later replaced with Brad Myers on drums, and Bailey with Roy Delese on keyboard. The band opened for many national groups, such as The Dave Clark Five, The Shangri-Las, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Tommy James and the Shondells, Blues Magoos, The Doors, The McCoys, the Mindbenders, The Allman Brothers Band, and Three Dog Night.
Original black and white photographs, 1966: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
National Guard Armory, St. Petersburg, Florida
Part of a newspaper article from the The Tampa Times describing the victory of The Tropics, a Tampa-based band, at the International Battle of the Bands. The headline reads, "Tropics Win International Prize," and was written by Nancy Trice and Carole Newman. According to the article, The Tropics played "I'm a Man," "Misirloo," and "Black-Jacket Woman." The band one new equipment from Ludwig Drum Company, recognition as the house band for WLS Radio for one year, and the opportunity to perform with The Mamas and The Papas in Chicago on August 20th. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
Original newspaper article: Trice, Nancy, and Carole Newman. "Tropics Win International Prize." The Tampa Times, August 10, 1966: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Tampa Times
International Battle of the Bands Official Certificate
International Battle of the Bands Official Certificate for The Tropics, a Tampa-based band. The certificate proclaims, "Be it known that the bearer of this certificate has actively participated in the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois." McCormick Place is located at 2301 South Martin Luther King Drive. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
Original certificate, 1966: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
A newspaper photograph from The Tampa Times on January 4, 1968, describing a concert with the bands The Tropics and The Rascals. In this photograph, a large banner hangs from the upper level that reads, "WORLD TEENAGE SHOW 1966 TOP CHAMPIONS," and "INTERNATIONAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS WINNERS." The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
Original newspaper article. "Tropics, Rascals--Fans Love 'Em." The Tampa Times, January 4, 1968: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Tropics, a Tampa-based band, taken on May 7, 1999, for their 30 year reunion show at the Coliseum, located at 535 Fourth Avenue North in St. Petersburg, Florida. The show was a benefit for All Children's Hospital. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
Original black and white photograph, May 7, 1999: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Tropics, a Tampa-based band, with legendary soul performer, James Brown, at a private sorority party in Tampa in 1966. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
The Tropics, a Tampa-based band, in 1965. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
Original black and white photograph, 1965: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
The Tropics performing live at Planteen Recreation Center, located at 301 Dort Street in Plant City, Florida, in 1966. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
Planteen Recreational Center, Plant City, Florida
The Tropics, a Tampa-based band, wearing ascots. In the back row from left to right is Eric Turner, Bobby Shea, and Buddy Pendergrass. In the front row from left to right is Mel Dryer and Charlie Souza. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
The Tropics, a Tampa-based band, wearing red and white costumes. From left to right is Bobby Shea, Mel Dryer, Buddy Pendergrass, Eric Turner, and Charlie Souza. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
The Tropics, a Tampa-based band, wearing pinstripe suits. From left to right is Buddy Pendergrass, Mel Dryer, Charlie Souza, Bobby Shea, and Eric Turner. The Tropics, also known as "The Bitchin' Red Band" when performing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, were founded in 1964 in Tampa, Florida, consisting of Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and keyboard, Eric Turner on guitar and vocals, Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Bobby Shea on drums, and Charlie Souza on bass guitar and vocals. They were performing around the state and the Southeastern United States by the summer of 1965, opening for popular acts such as The Who, The Young Rascals, and Herman's Hermits. The band won the 1966 International Battle of the Bands at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, taking first place over 441 bands, including future successful acts like Tommy James and the Shondells and Chicago. This won the group a recording contract with Columbia Records, where they recorded the single, "Take the Time," which was played on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and topped the local charts. Pendergrass and Shea would later form the glam rock band, White Witch, in 1971.
Photograph of the band, White Witch, featuring its five members, including lead singer Ronald "Ronn" Goedert, guitarist Charles "Buddy" Richardson, keyboardist Hardin "Buddy" Pendergrass, bassist Loyall "Beau" Fisher, and drummer Robert "Bobby" Shea. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1971, White Witch was a glam, psychedelic, hard rock band that recorded two albums with Capricorn Records in the early 1970s. Pendergrass and Shea had once belonged to the popular Tampa area rock band, The Tropics, in the mid to late 1960s. Their name was a paean to "white magic," contrary to the "black magic" of groups such as Black Sabbath. The band would announce before their shows, "To bring good where there once was evil, to bring love where there once was hate, to bring wisdom where there once was ignorance—this is the power of White Witch." They toured to support their two records, opening for such established acts as Alice Cooper, Grand Funk Railroad, and Billy Preston. The group was inducted into the Florida Musicians Hall of Fame's Florida Music Honor Roll.
Album cover for White Witch's 1972 self-titled debut. The color photograph features the five members of the band: lead singer Ronald "Ronn" Goedert, guitarist Charles "Buddy" Richardson, keyboardist Hardin "Buddy" Pendergrass, bassist Loyall "Beau" Fisher, and drummer Robert "Bobby" Shea. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1971, White Witch was a glam, psychedelic, hard rock band that recorded two albums with Capricorn Records in the early 1970s. Pendergrass and Shea had once belonged to the popular Tampa area rock band, The Tropics, in the mid to late 1960s. Their name was a paean to "white magic," contrary to the "black magic" of groups such as Black Sabbath. The band would announce before their shows, "To bring good where there once was evil, to bring love where there once was hate, to bring wisdom where there once was ignorance—this is the power of White Witch." They toured to support their two records, opening for such established acts as Alice Cooper, Grand Funk Railroad, and Billy Preston. The group was inducted into the Florida Musicians Hall of Fame's Florida Music Honor Roll.
Promotional photograph of the band, White Witch, featuring its five members, lead singer Ronald "Ronn" Goedert, guitarist Charles "Buddy" Richardson, keyboardist Hardin "Buddy" Pendergrass, bassist Loyall "Beau" Fisher, drummer Robert "Bobby" Shea, and another unidentified man. Ronn Goedert is dressed in a wizard costume. The band's name is listed on the bottom left of the photograph and the record label, Capricorn Records, is listed on the bottom right. Formed in Tampa, Florida, in 1971, White Witch was a glam, psychedelic, hard rock band that recorded two albums with Capricorn Records in the early 1970s. Pendergrass and Shea had once belonged to the popular Tampa area rock band, The Tropics, in the mid to late 1960s. Their name was a paean to "white magic," contrary to the "black magic" of groups such as Black Sabbath. The band would announce before their shows, "To bring good where there once was evil, to bring love where there once was hate, to bring wisdom where there once was ignorance—this is the power of White Witch." They toured to support their two records, opening for such established acts as Alice Cooper, Grand Funk Railroad, and Billy Preston. The group was inducted into the Florida Musicians Hall of Fame's Florida Music Honor Roll.
"Diamond Teeth" Mary McClain (born Mary Smith), an African-American blues, gospel, and vaudeville singer who performed from the 1910s through the 1990s. "Diamond Teeth" Mary was the half-sister of blues legend, Bessie Smith, and was present at her death following an automobile accident. Performing in various minstrel shows through the 1920s and 1930s, she was known as "Walking Mary" until the 1940s. She had diamonds removed from a bracelet and set into her front teeth, giving her famous moniker, but eventually removed them to pay for her mother's medical bills. Often promoted as "Queen of the Blues," she performed with some of the biggest names in African-American music, including Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Count Basie, Nat 'King' Cole, Charlie Parker, and Duke Ellington. "Diamond Teeth" Mary moved to Bradenton, Florida, in 1960, where she began performing gospel music, rather than secular blues, and remained there until her death in April 2000. She was given national exposure in the late 1970s, when Steven Zeitlin of the Smithsonian Institution tracked her down and convinced her to perform at the American Folklife Festival. She performed for President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1980, appeared in an off-Broadway production in 1981, became one of the first recipients of the Florida Folk Heritage Award in 1986, recorded her first album, If I Can't Sell It, I'm Gonna Sit On It, in 1993, and continued to perform at blues festivals in the United States and Europe until her death at age 97. A play about her life premiered at the Florida Folk Festival in 2000.
Business card for the band, Buckwheat. The names of the band members appear at the top of the card, with "Buckwheat for live entertainment" printed in the center. The name Randy Stone and a phone number appear at the bottom. Known for their spontaneous blues-based jams and the pyrotechnics of their guitarist, Danny Richard, Buckwheat was a three-piece high energy rock band that performed in the Tampa Bay area from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s. In addition to Richard on guitar and vocals, Dwight Saunders played bass and Richard Radloff played drums. The band performed at Battle of the Bands and teen venues throughout the region, including the "Star Spectacular concert series" at Clearwater Auditorium, Indian Rocks Beach, Rowlett Park, and the old "Quest Inn" Coffee House in Downtown Clearwater.
Original business card: Buckwheat, Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Black and white photographs of Dwight Saunders performing on bass guitar with the band, Buckwheat. Known for their spontaneous blues-based jams and the pyrotechnics of their guitarist, Danny Richard, Buckwheat was a three-piece high energy rock band that performed in the Tampa Bay area from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s. In addition to Richard on guitar and vocals, and Saunders on bass, Richard Radloff played drums. The band performed at Battle of the Bands and teen venues throughout the region, including the "Star Spectacular concert series" at Clearwater Auditorium, Indian Rocks Beach, Rowlett Park, and the old "Quest Inn" Coffee House in Downtown Clearwater.
Original black and white photograph: Buckwheat, Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Dwight Saunders Performing with Buckwheat
Danny Richard and Dwight Saunders of Buckwheat
Danny Richard and Dwight Saunders of the band, Buckwheat. Known for their spontaneous blues-based jams and the pyrotechnics of Richard, Buckwheat was a three-piece high energy rock band that performed in the Tampa Bay area from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s. In addition to Richard on guitar and vocals, and Saunders on bass, Richard Radloff played drums. The band performed at Battle of the Bands and teen venues throughout the region, including the "Star Spectacular concert series" at Clearwater Auditorium, Indian Rocks Beach, Rowlett Park, and the old "Quest Inn" Coffee House in Downtown Clearwater.
Black and white photographs of Danny Richard performing on electric guitar with the band, Buckwheat. Known for their spontaneous blues-based jams and the pyrotechnics of Richard, Buckwheat was a three-piece high energy rock band that performed in the Tampa Bay area from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s. In addition to Richard on guitar and vocals, Richard Radloff played drums and Dwight Saunders played bass. The band performed at Battle of the Bands and teen venues throughout the region, including the "Star Spectacular concert series" at Clearwater Auditorium, Indian Rocks Beach, Rowlett Park, and the old "Quest Inn" Coffee House in Downtown Clearwater.
Richard Radloff Performing with Buckwheat
Richard Radloff performing on drums with the band, Buckwheat. Known for their spontaneous blues-based jams and the pyrotechnics of their guitarist, Danny Richard, Buckwheat was a three-piece high energy rock band that performed in the Tampa Bay area from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s. In addition to Richard on guitar and vocals, and Radloff on drums, Dwight Saunders played bass. The band performed at Battle of the Bands and teen venues throughout the region, including the "Star Spectacular concert series" at Clearwater Auditorium, Indian Rocks Beach, Rowlett Park, and the old "Quest Inn" Coffee House in Downtown Clearwater.
The entry feature of the San Lanta subdivision, which was constructed at the corner of South Sanford Avenue and East Fourteenth Street in Sanford, Florida, in 1924.
Original black and white photograph by Woodward: Elton Moughton Archives, Private Collection of Christine Dalton.
Northwest Corner of South Magnolia Avenue and East Second Street
The parking lot on the northwest corner of South Magnolia Avenue and East Second Street in Downtown Sanford, Florida, in 2012. In the 1920s, a building designed by architect Elton James Moughton was located here.
Original color photograph by Christine Dalton, 2012: Elton Moughton Archives, Private Collection of Christine Dalton.
Northwest Corner of South Magnolia Avenue and East Second Street, 1924
Automobile industry and trade--Southern States
The building on the northwest corner of South Magnolia Avenue and East Second Street in Downtown Sanford, Florida. The building was designed by architect Elton James Moughton. As of 2012, the location is being used as a parking lot. The Seminole Hotel, later renamed the Florida Hotel, can also be seen on the far left in this photograph. The hotel, which was located at 101 East First Street, is also known for housing the office of W. T. Cotter, a local architect, in the 1880s.
Original black and white photograph by Woodward: item 14264-JJ4: Elton Moughton Archives, Private Collection of Christine Dalton.
Seminole Hotel, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Ford Motor Company Dealership in Downtown Sanford
The Ford Motor Company dealership that was located on the southeast corner of North Palmetto Avenue and East Commercial Avenue in Downtown Sanford, Florida, around 1924. The building was designed by architect Elton James Moughton. As of 2012, the location is being used as a parking lot.
Original black and white photograph by Woodward: item 14264-W: Elton Moughton Archives, Private Collection of Christine Dalton.
Ford Motor Company Dealership, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Former Lot of Ford Motor Company Dealership
The former lot of the Ford Motor Company dealership that was located on the southeast corner of Palmetto Avenue and Commercial Avenue in Downtown Sanford, Florida. The dealership was located here in the 1920s. At the time that this photograph was taken in 2012, the location was being used as a parking lot.
Oral History of Dr. Storm Leslie Richards
Lake Monroe (Seminole County and Volusia County, Fla.)
Oral history interview of Dr. Storm Leslie Richards, an archaeologist and environmental consultant for Storm L. Richards & Associates, Inc. Dr. Richards was born in Patuxent River, Maryland, on August 20, 1950, but his family migrated to Sanford, Florida, in 1953. He graduated from Seminole High School in 1969 and received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D from the University of Florida in Tallahassee in 1973, 1978, and 1987, respectively. Dr. Richards also wrote the grant for the Sanford Grammar School, located at 301 West Seventh Street. This interview was conducted by Ian McLaughlin at Dr. Richards' home in Geneva on October 24, 2012.
Richards, Storm Leslie. Interviewed by Ian McLaughlin. UCF Public History Center. October 24, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford Grammar School, Sanford, Florida
Student Museum and Center for the Social Studies,Sanford, Florida
UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida
Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Oral History of Florence Patchell O'Connor
University of Central Florida. Department of History
Oral history interview of Florence Patchell O'Connor, a docent for the Student Museum and Center for Social Studies, located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida. O'Connor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1931. While living in Pennsylvania, she taught elementary school for nine years. After marrying, she moved to Marlton, New Jersey, and continued teaching and then substitute teaching until 1991. That same year, she moved to Florida. O'Connor worked as a substitute teacher, and began volunteering as a docent in 1996. This interview was conducted by Katie Kelley at the UCF Public History Center on October 11, 2012.
O'Connor, Florence Patchell. Interviewed by Mary "Katie" Kelley. UCF Public History Center. October 11, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Oral history interview of Shirley Muse, collection cataloger for the UCF Public History Center, located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida. Muse was born in Corvallis, Oregon, on May 16, 1936. She was raised in the Panama Canal Zone. In 1958, Muse married her husband while attending Florida State University in Tallahassee. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Library Science that same year. She worked in the Florida Public School System as a Librarian/Media Specialist for 20 years until 1999. Following her retirement, Muse began volunteering at the Student Museum and Center for Social Studies. This interview was conducted by Jesse Glasshoff at the UCF Public History Center on October 12, 2012.
Muse, Shirley. Interviewed by Jesse Glasshoff. UCF Public History Center. October 12, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Oral history interview of Algerine Miller, who was born on December 6, 1940, in Sanford, Florida. Miller graduated from Crooms Academy, located at 2200 West Thirteenth Street, in 1958. After high school, she attended the Walker Business School for one year. Miller worked for the State of Florida as an Eligibility Interviewer for 16 years and for Seminole County Community College as an Assistant Financial Interviewer. Miller has also worked with the UCF Public History Center as a volunteer, especially within the Crooms Academy Alumni Exhibit: Triumph Through Adversity. This interview was conducted by Meghan Vance at the Goldsboro Museum, located at 1211 West Thirteenth Street, on November 7, 2012, in Goldsboro, an African-American neighborhood in Sanford.
Miller, Algerine. Interviewed by Meghan Vance. UCF Public History Center. November 7, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Hopper Academy, Georgetown, Sanford, Florida
Oral history interview of Helen Michels, who was born in Palm Bay, Florida, on May 4, 1936. Michels, her parents, and her thirteen siblings migrated to Sanford in 1942. She attended Sanford Grammar School, located at 301 West Seventh Street, and Seminole High School, at 1700 French Avenue. When Michels entered college, she originally began as a lab technician, but changed her major to education. Following college, she taught as a schoolteacher in Hollywood, Melbourne, and Puerto Rico. After witnessing social justice issues while teaching in Puerto Rico, Michels decided to enter into drug therapy work for about 10 years. She then became the director of a halfway house for federal prisons. Upon retirement, she moved back to Sanford. This interview was conducted by Patrick Rotton at the UCF Public History Center in Sanford, Florida, on October 23, 2012.
Michels, Helen. Interviewed by Patrick Rotton. UCF Public History Center. October 23, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Federal Halfway House, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Oral history of Gene Kruckemyer, editor for UCF News at the University of Central Florida's News and Information Office. Kruckemyer moved from Orlando to Sanford in 2004, following a series of hurricanes. He worked as a publisher for The Sanford Herald for three years and as an editor for The Orlando Sentinel for 33 years. This interview was conducted by Megan Kaczmarek at Kruckemyer's office at the University of Central Florida on October 31, 2012. Within the oral history, Kruckemyer discusses his involvement with the UCF Public History Center, located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida.
Kruckemyer, Gene. Interviewed by Megan Kaczmarek. UCF Public History Center. October 31, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Westside Grammar Elementary School, Sanford, Florida
Student Museum and Center for Social Studies, Sanford, Florida
Oral history of David C. Grace, the Master Gardener and docent at the Student Museum and Center for Social Studies, located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida. Grace was born in Wichita, Kansas, on December 2, 1942. He attended Wichita State University and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1965. He performed missile maintenance at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, until he retired after three years. He accepted a job with United Telephone and moved to Fort Myers around 1970. When United Telephone purchased the Winter Park Telephone, Grave migrated to Central Florida. After being laid off, he decided to become a Master Gardener for the Student Museum, while also working as a Chief Financial Officer for the Florida Safety County. This interview was conducted by Autumn Reisz in Sanford on October 30, 2012.
Grace, David C.. Interviewed by Autumn Reisz. UCF Public History Center. October 30, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Oral History of Serena Rankin Parks Fisher
Oral history of Serena Rankin Parks Fisher, a resident of Seminole County, Florida. Parks was born in Concord, North Carolina, on March 3, 1941. She has worked as a social studies teacher, a media center specialist, and a social studies resource teacher for Seminole County Public Schools, as wells as a Museum Specialist/Teacher Curator from 1992-2000. She then as a Volunteer/Docent at the Student Museum and Center for Social Studies, located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida. This interview was conducted by MacKenzie See at UCF Public History Center on October 8, 2012.
Parks, Serena Fisher Rankin. Interviewed by MacKenzie See. UCF Public History Center, IMG_0036. October 8, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Oral history of Jackie Caolo, a resident of Groveland, Florida. Caolo was born in Texas but raised in Florida. As an adult, she traveled with her husband for 20 years while he was in the United States Navy. In 1956, the Caolo's husband was transferred to the Naval Technical Training Command in Sanford. The Caolos stayed in Sanford for a year and then were transferred to Texas. After Caolo's husband retired, the couple settled back in Sanford. Caolo spent much of her time working as a swim instructor. This interview was conducted by Frank "Chip" Ford at Caolo's home on October 20, 2012.
Caolo, Jackie. Interviewed by Frank "Chip" Ford. UCF Public History Center, TOSH0002. October 20, 2012. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Homestead Documentation for Henry Jackson
The homestead documentation for Henry Jackson. Jackson, an African American raised by a white family, homesteaded 40 acres on both sides of Long Lake in Oviedo, Florida. The area became a predominantly black settlement, now known as Jackson Heights. For 25 years he worked for Oliver P. Swope and N. F. Lezette clearing land.
Original homestead document: Private Collection of Kathy Parry.
Henry Jackson Homestead, Jackson Heights, Oviedo, Florida
Homestead Documentation for Colnel B. Holmes
The homestead documentation for Colnel B. Holmes. Holmes' homestead was located in Oviedo, Florida. According to the documentation, Holmes was born in Marietta, Georgia, and grew potatoes and corn were on his homestead. Little else is known of this homesteader.
Homestead Documentation for Benjamin James
The homestead documentation for Benjamin James. James' homestead was located in the southwestern portion of present-day Oviedo. James was born Savannah, Georgia, and migrated to Hastings, Florida, where he met his wife, Esther James. The couple married on January 24, 1913, at what then was called The Woods, on the eastern side of the town of Gabriella, near Bear Gully Lake. The couple had nine children, in addition to the four children from Esther's previous marriage. On July 8, 1921, James filed a homestead for 160 acres for his growing family at The Woods. Following a hurricane devastated Miami on September 11, 1926, the James family opened their property to Floridians left homeless in the aftermath. These refugees became the first settlers of the Jamestown and included Bob and Flossie Wells, George and Nettie Davis, and Morris J. "Preacher" and Margaret Williams, the Nails, the Olivers, the Perrys, the Bryants, the Evans, the Brannons, the Walkers, and the Ryans. James is the only African American to have a Central Florida town named after him.
Benjamin James Homestead, Jamestown, Oviedo, Florida
Dickey Betts & Great Southern (Musical group)
Dickey Betts & Great Southern performing live at a private party of over 300 friends and family in the swamplands of Fruitville, Florida, on February 24, 2013. The first four photographs feature Betts on electric guitar and the fourth photograph shows James Varnado on drums. The fifth and sixth photographs feature Duane Betts and Dickey Betts on guitar, the fourth features a crowd of friends and family at the show, and the fifth features Pedro Arevalo on bass guitar. Forrest Richard “Dickey” Betts is considered one of the most influential guitar players of the 20th century. He was born in West Palm Beach, raised in Bradenton, and has lived in Sarasota for most of his life. Beginning at age 16, he began performing in a series of rock bands on the Florida circuit. A founding member of the Allman Brothers Band in 1969, Betts matched bandleader Duane Allman lick for lick on electric guitar, writing many of their songs. The guitar duo introduced melodic twin guitar harmony and counterpoint, redefining the traditional rhythm/lead roles of rock guitarists. When Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971, Betts and Duane’s brother, Gregg Allman, shared leadership of the band, with Betts becoming the sole guitar player and taking a larger role in writing and singing. Betts wrote and sang on the group’s biggest hit, "Ramblin’ Man" in 1973 Betts recorded his first solo album in 1974, and when the band split up in 1976, he formed Dickey Betts & Great Southern. He rejoined the Allman Brothers Band when they reformed in 1978.The band split up again for several years during the 1980s, reformed again in 1989, and Betts remained with them until he was suspended for substance abuse problems in 2000. He reformed Great Southern that year, adding his son, Duane Betts, on guitar. Along with the Allman Brothers Band, Betts was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
Original color photographs by Alicia Lyman, February 24, 2013: Archive: Concerts Archive, Alicia Lyman.
funkUs, performing live at The Plaza Theater, located at 425 North Bumby Avenue in Orlando, Florida, on January 16, 2013. The band was the opening act for Galactic, a jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana. The first photograph features Adam Freeman on drums, Clay Watson on trombone, Eugene Snowden on vocals, and Dave Mann on electric guitar. The second photograph shows Mann on electric guitar, Alessandro Ceserani on bass guitar, and Bill Bairley on keyboard. The third photograph features Mann and Ceserani, the fourth photograph features Freeman, and the fifth features Clay Watson on trombone. Formed in Orlando in 1998, funkUs earned a reputation as a band with a unique blend of eclectic musical genres, following in the footsteps of jam bands such as the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band, and Phish, by combining elements of rock, blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and funk. The band’s live performances incorporate an improvisational structure with groove-heavy rhythms. Their albums include flavor (2001); strobe light (2002); free (2005), which features Tom Constanten, a former keyboard player for the Grateful Dead; got problems (2009); funkUs meets the Curious Circus (2009); and coconut monkey (2012). Regularly performing throughout Florida, the band has appeared at premier music festivals, including the Purple Hatter's Ball in 2013, Bear Creek Music Festival in 2009 and 2011, Orange Blossom Jamboree in 2010 and 2011, Jambando in the Park in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and many others. They have shared stages with notable bands such as Galactic, Soulive, Dumpstaphunk, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Victor Wooten, Steve Kimock Band, Zach Deputy, and Consider the Source. The lineup is ever-changing, based around its core members: Adam Freeman on drums and percussion, Alex Ceserani on bass and vocals, Bill Bairley on keyboard and vocals, and Dave Mann on guitar and vocals.
Original color photographs by Alicia Lyman, January 16, 2013: Archive: Concerts Archive, Alicia Lyman.
funkUs at the 7th Annual Spring Jambando, 2012
funkUs performing live at the 7th Annual Spring Jambando at The Plaza Theater, located at 425 North Bumby Avenue in Orlando, Florida, on April 28, 2012. The first photograph features Brian Burgess on bass guitar, and the second photograph features Burgess on bass guitar with Dave Mann on electric guitar. Formed in Orlando in 1998, funkUs earned a reputation as a band with a unique blend of eclectic musical genres, following in the footsteps of jam bands such as the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band, and Phish, by combining elements of rock, blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and funk. The band’s live performances incorporate an improvisational structure with groove-heavy rhythms. Their albums include flavor (2001); strobe light (2002); free (2005), which features Tom Constanten, a former keyboard player for the Grateful Dead; got problems (2009); funkUs meets the Curious Circus (2009); and coconut monkey (2012). Regularly performing throughout Florida, the band has appeared at premier music festivals, including the Purple Hatter's Ball in 2013, Bear Creek Music Festival in 2009 and 2011, Orange Blossom Jamboree in 2010 and 2011, Jambando in the Park in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and many others. They have shared stages with notable bands such as Galactic, Soulive, Dumpstaphunk, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Victor Wooten, Steve Kimock Band, Zach Deputy, and Consider the Source. The lineup is ever-changing, based around its core members: Adam Freeman on drums and percussion, Alex Ceserani on bass and vocals, Bill Bairley on keyboard and vocals, and Dave Mann on guitar and vocals. A leading figure in the Orlando music scene, the band is also responsible for organizing Jambando, a musical concert series designed to showcase and stimulate Orlando's burgeoning jam band scene. Beginning in 2003 as an idea for the Orlando Fringe Festival, the concept was further developed through an ongoing concert series at Hard Rock Live, and has since made its current homes at The Plaza Theatre in Downtown Orlando's Milk District and The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak. Each concert is created through a collective of musicians and volunteers in a united and conscious effort to establish a musical brand for multi-genre Central Florida music.
Original color photographs by Alicia Lyman, April 28, 2012: Archive: Concerts Archive, Alicia Lyman.
R. W. Estes Celery Company Ledger, 1947-1950
An account ledger for the R. W. Estes Celery Company, Estes' personal accounts, and the personal accounts of Estes' wife, Ruth H. Estes. R. W. Estes Celery Company was a celery growing and shipping business in Oviedo, Florida. The R. W. Estes Celery Company Precooler Historic District is located at 159 North Central Avenue and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 2001.
Original ledger: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
R. W. Estes Celery Company, Oviedo, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 50: Vernacular Exhibits
Episode 50 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Vernacular Exhibits. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 50 features a discussion of vernacular exhibits throughout Central Florida, including those at Gateway to India, Chuan Lu Garden, . This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Tammy S. Gordon of the North Carolina State University, Drs. Deepa Nair, Hong Zhang, and Fon Gordon of the University of Central Florida, and Dr. Katherine McFarland Bruce of Wake Forest University.
Original 16-minute and 57-second podcast by Daniel Velásquez and Robert Cassanello, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. https://youtu.be/LaEksy9Pb90.
RICHES
Asia Trend Magazine
Orlando Come Out With Pride
Internet Archive
Harris Mattei Photography
Chuan Lu Garden, Mills 50, Orlando, Florida
Flag of South Vietnam, Little Vietnam, Mills 50, Orlando, Florida
International Plaza, Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 49: La Garita
Episode 49 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: La Garita. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 49 features a discussion of La Garita. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Gary R. Mormino of the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg, Luis Martínez-Fernández of the University of Central Florida, and Harry Pecunia of the Asociación Borinqueña de la Florida Central.
Original 12-minute and 43-second podcast by Kevin Stapleton, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. https://youtu.be/EduFzw7pC1E.
Orange County Regional History Center
Asociación Borinqueña de la Florida Central, Orlando, Florida
Garita del Diablo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
A History of Central Florida, Episode 48: Electronic Communication
Episode 48 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Electronic Communication. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 48 features a discussion of several artifacts of communication technology: a post office box from the Winter Garden Heritage Museum, a telegraph from the New Smyrna Museum of History, a telephone from the Telephone Museum, a computer from the Museum of Seminole County History. This podcast also includes interviews with Nancy Pope of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum and Richard R. John of Columbia University.
Original 16-minute and 11-second podcast by Daniel Velásquez, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. https://youtu.be/vrrYHVLV7qM.
Florida Memory Project
Library of Congress
Winter Garden Heritage Museum, Winter Garden, Florida
New Smyrna Museum of History, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Telephone Museum, Maitland Historical Museum, Maitland, Florida
Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 47: John Young's Flight Suit
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
Episode 47 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: John Young's Flight Suit. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 47 features a discussion of the spacesuit worn by astronaut John Watts Young, which is now housed at the Orange County Regional History Center in Downtown Orlando, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Amy Foster of the University of Central Florida and Cathleen Lewis Lewis of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Original 10-minute and 29-second podcast by Katie Kelley, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. https://youtu.be/s3dqTz7MrbI.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John F. Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 46: Mickey's Ears
Episode 46 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Mickey's Ears. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 46 features a discussion of Mickey's Ears, an iconic souvenir sold at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr.Tracy J. Revels of Wofford College, Ronald Logan of the University of Central Florida, and Dr. Gary R. Mormino of the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg.
Original 12-minute and 19-second podcast by Daniel Velásquez, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. https://youtu.be/l0fYaoggB7o.
Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 42: Jim Crow Signs
Episode 42 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Jim Crow Signs. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 42 features a discussion of racial segregation signs used in the Jim Crow South, which are housed at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Stephen Caldwell Wright of Seminole State College and Dr. Julian C. Chambliss of Rollins College.
Original 15-minute and 48-second podcast by Kevin Stapleton, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/wvzC9ergWHg.
Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando, Florida
Derns Elementary School, Orange County, Florida
Durrance Elementary School, Orlando, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 41: Recorded Music
Episode 41 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Recorded Music. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 41 features a discussion of recorded music, included an Edison Cylinder Gramophone displayed at the Clermont Historic Village in Clermont, a Brunswick Phonograph at the Lake County Historical Museum in Tavares, and a Rock-Ola juke box featured at the Groveland Historic Museum in Groveland, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Drs. Scott Warfield and Warren Waren of the University of Central Florida.
Original 14-minute and 16-second podcast by Ella Gibson and Robert Cassanello, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/E5H3HK8vyy8.
Clermont Historic Village
Archive.org
Lake County Historical Museum
MusicBoxBoy
Tokyoship
Clermont Historic Village, Clermont, Florida
Groveland Historical Museum, Groveland, Florida
Lake County Historical Museum, Tavares, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 40: Icons of Hate
Episode 40 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: Icons of Hate. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 40 features a discussion of the Ku Klux Klan in Florida and their involvement in the murder of the African-American civil rights activist Harry Tyson Moore and his wife, Harriette Vyda Simms Moore. This podcast also includes interviews with Michael Newton, author of The Invisible Empire: The Ku Klux Klan in Florida, and Ben Green, the author of Before His Time: The Untold Story of Harry T. Moore, America's First Civil Rights Martyr.
Original 13-minute and 36-second podcast by Katie Kelley, 2013: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/v9NsFcxNZW8.
Harry & Harriette Moore Memorial Park
Harry & Harriette Moore Memorial Park, Mims, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 39: Wartime Civil Defense
Episode 39 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: Wartime Civil Defense. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 39 features a discussion of World War II-era civil defense training materials located at the Museum of Geneva History in Geneva. This podcast also includes interview with Dr. Mark Howard Long of the University of Central Florida, Central Florida local George "Speedy" Harrell, Mary Jo Martin of the Museum of Geneva History, and Dr. Gary Ross Mormino of the University of South Florida.
Original 11-minute and 36-second podcast by Bob Clarke, 2013: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/SlTpnIlLeA4.
Museum of Geneva History
Museum of Geneva History, Geneva, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 38: Citrus Industry
Episode 38 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: Citrus Industry. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 38 features Florida's citrus industry and related artifacts at the Indian River Citrus Museum in Vero Beach and the Winter Garden Heritage Museum in Winter Garden. This podcast also includes interviews with Mark Howard Long of the University of Central Florida, local citrus grower George "Speedy" Harrell, Jim Crescitelli of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, and Dr. Gary Ross Mormino of the University of South Florida.
Original 14-minute and 19-second podcast by Daniel Velásquez, 2013: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/VJEJ_Tz4ZO0.
Indian River Citrus Museum
Winter Garden Heritage Museum/a&gt
Prelinger Archives
Indian River Citrus Museum, Vero Beach, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 37: Uniforms
Episode 37 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: Uniforms. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 37 features a discussion of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) uniform displayed at the Halifax Historical Museum in Daytona Beach, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Tracy J. Revels of Wofford College and Dr. Leonard Lemple of Daytona State College.
Original 12-minute and 10-second podcast by Bethany Dickens, 2013: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/RjOg09aeokc.
Halifax Historical Museum
National Archives and Records Administration
Halifax Historical Museum, Daytona Beach, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 36: The Art Colony Bell
Episode 36 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: The Art Colony Bell. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 36 features a discussion of the Art Colony Bell located at the Maitland Art Center, which was formerly the Maitland Research Studio. This podcast also includes interviews with Bethany Gray of the Maitland Art Center and Richard Colvin of the Lake Eustis Museum of Art.
Original 11-minute and 28-second podcast by Kevin Stapleton, 2013: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/E5H3HK8vyy8.
Maitland Art Center
Department of College Archives and Special Collections, Olin Library, Rollins College
Maitland Research Studio, Maitland, Florida
Mapping the Florida Terrain by Dr. Walter Gaudnek
Mapping the Florida Terrain, a painting created by Dr. Walter Gaudnek in 1989. Born in Fleyh, Czechoslovakia, in 1931, pop artist Dr. Gaudnek is known for his blend of his bold colors, philosophy, religious symbolism, labyrinth installations, and mixtures of performance and art. He also draws heavy inspiration from Bohemia, Caravaggio, Kazimir Malevich, and Pablo Picasso. A 1957 Fulbright Scholar who received his doctorate from New York University, he joined the art faculty of the Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) in Orlando, Florida, in 1970. Dr. Gaudnek previously taught at universities in Los Angeles, New York, and Ohio. He founded the Long Island University's Hillwood Art Museum in Greenvale, New York. His honors from UCF include Distinguished Researcher of the Year (1990), the Teaching Incentive Program Award (1995 and 2005), the Professional Excellence Program Award (1997), the President’s Award (1999), and the Research Incentive Award (2002). In 1994, the Sudetendeutecher Landsmannschaft, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of the Czech-German diaspora, awarded him the Kulturpreis for Fine Art and Architecture. Dr. Gaudnek’s work can be seen at the Gaudnek Europe Museum (GEM) in Altomünster, Germany, as well as the UCF Library, which contains a retrospective of his work from 1945 to 2007. He has participated in more than 200 solo and group exhibitions, installations, and performances in Germany, Italy, Spain, England, Colombia, the Czech Republic, and the United States. His works have also been exhibited in museums in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Virginia, Arizona, Florida, Europe, and Brazil, as well as schools, banks, office buildings, libraries, theaters, museums, and private homes in Europe and the United States. He has been featured in documentaries in San Francisco, New York, Munich, São Paolo, and Paris.
Original 106 x 240 inch painting: Gaudnek, Walter. Mapping the Florida Terrain, 1989: University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, Florida.
Garden of Proteus, an acrylic painting created by Steve Lotz in 2005. Lotz received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Lotz became an instructor of art at the Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) in Orlando in 1968, and served as the chairman of the Art Department for its first 10 years. He retired as a Professor Emeritus in 2003. As head of the department, Lotz was integral in establishing the success of the University’s visual arts programs. Steve Lotz is an internationally-recognized artist with solo exhibitions of his work held throughout the U.S., Europe, and the Caribbean, and he is represented in numerous public and private collections. His best known work in Central Florida is the monumental triptych, Florida Dream, which has been on view in the main terminal of the Orlando International Airport since it was commissioned in 1981.
Original 70.5 x 80 inch acrylic painting: Lotz, Steve. Garden of Proteus, 2005: Private Collection of Steve Lotz.
Genesis II, a painting created by Steve Lotz in 1998. Lotz received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Lotz became an instructor of art at the Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) in Orlando in 1968, and served as the chairman of the Art Department for its first 10 years. He retired as a Professor Emeritus in 2003. As head of the department, Lotz was integral in establishing the success of the University’s visual arts programs. Steve Lotz is an internationally-recognized artist with solo exhibitions of his work held throughout the U.S., Europe, and the Caribbean, and he is represented in numerous public and private collections. His best known work in Central Florida is the monumental triptych, Florida Dream, which has been on view in the main terminal of the Orlando International Airport since it was commissioned in 1981.
Original 79 x 70 inch painting: Lotz, Steve. Genesis II, 1998: Orange County Courthouse, Orlando, Florida.
Texann Ivy Buck is a graduate of Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, and Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Specializing in 20th Century American prints, sculpture, and in the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) prints, Buck established Texann Ivy Fine Arts, located at 818 Ellwood Avenue in Orlando, in 1977. In the 1980s, she curated an exhibition on 1930s American printmaking at the Cornell Museum of Art at Rollins College in Winter Park. In 2013, she created a display honoring Dr. Jerry B. Callahan, which is on permanent display at the Callahan Neighborhood Center, located on Parramore Avenue in Orlando. She remains involved with Orange County art, history, and cultural institutions.
Original color photograph: Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando, Florida.
Louise Peterson (1920-2009) opened Galleries International in Winter Park, Florida, in 1969 with an impetus on exhibiting emerging artists and introducing the original print medium to the Central Florida market. These "educational practices" were well received by the community, both in the private sector and especially those with corporate interests. A relationship with the Orlando Museum of Art and the Council of Arts and Sciences soon developed. In 1984, Galleries International became the Albertson-Peterson Gallery when she partnered with long-time friend Judy Albertson. Louise Peterson was a member of the Council of 101 of the Orlando Museum of Art, advisory to the Committee of Acquisition of the 20th Century American prints for that museum and also a lecturer and juror for community and collegiate competitions.
Original color photograph: Private Collection of Judy Albertson.
Galleries International, Winter Park, Florida
Albertson-Peterson Gallery, Winter Park, Florida
Born in Fleyh, Czechoslovakia, in 1931, pop artist Dr. Walter Gaudnek is known for his blend of his bold colors, philosophy, religious symbolism, labyrinth installations, and mixtures of performance and art. He also draws heavy inspiration from Bohemia, Caravaggio, Kazimir Malevich, and Pablo Picasso. A 1957 Fulbright Scholar who received his doctorate from New York University, he joined the art faculty of the Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) in Orlando, Florida, in 1970. Dr. Gaudnek previously taught at universities in Los Angeles, New York, and Ohio. He founded the Long Island University's Hillwood Art Museum in Greenvale, New York. His honors from UCF include Distinguished Researcher of the Year (1990), the Teaching Incentive Program Award (1995 and 2005), the Professional Excellence Program Award (1997), the President’s Award (1999), and the Research Incentive Award (2002). In 1994, the Sudetendeutecher Landsmannschaft, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of the Czech-German diaspora, awarded him the Kulturpreis for Fine Art and Architecture. Dr. Gaudnek’s work can be seen at the Gaudnek Europe Museum (GEM) in Altomünster, Germany, as well as the UCF Library, which contains a retrospective of his work from 1945 to 2007. He has participated in more than 200 solo and group exhibitions, installations, and performances in Germany, Italy, Spain, England, Colombia, the Czech Republic, and the United States. His works have also been exhibited in museums in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Virginia, Arizona, Florida, Europe, and Brazil, as well as schools, banks, office buildings, libraries, theaters, museums, and private homes in Europe and the United States. He has been featured in documentaries in San Francisco, New York, Munich, São Paolo, and Paris.
Original color photographs: City of Orlando Terrace Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Remember Holbein, a painting created by Dr. Walter Gaudnek in 1994. Remember Holbein Born in Fleyh, Czechoslovakia, in 1931, pop artist Dr. Gaudnek is known for his blend of his bold colors, philosophy, religious symbolism, labyrinth installations, and mixtures of performance and art. He also draws heavy inspiration from Bohemia, Caravaggio, Kazimir Malevich, and Pablo Picasso. A 1957 Fulbright Scholar who received his doctorate from New York University, he joined the art faculty of the Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) in Orlando, Florida, in 1970. Dr. Gaudnek previously taught at universities in Los Angeles, New York, and Ohio. He founded the Long Island University's Hillwood Art Museum in Greenvale, New York. His honors from UCF include Distinguished Researcher of the Year (1990), the Teaching Incentive Program Award (1995 and 2005), the Professional Excellence Program Award (1997), the President’s Award (1999), and the Research Incentive Award (2002). In 1994, the Sudetendeutecher Landsmannschaft, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of the Czech-German diaspora, awarded him the Kulturpreis for Fine Art and Architecture. Dr. Gaudnek’s work can be seen at the Gaudnek Europe Museum (GEM) in Altomünster, Germany, as well as the UCF Library, which contains a retrospective of his work from 1945 to 2007. He has participated in more than 200 solo and group exhibitions, installations, and performances in Germany, Italy, Spain, England, Colombia, the Czech Republic, and the United States. His works have also been exhibited in museums in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Virginia, Arizona, Florida, Europe, and Brazil, as well as schools, banks, office buildings, libraries, theaters, museums, and private homes in Europe and the United States. He has been featured in documentaries in San Francisco, New York, Munich, São Paolo, and Paris.
Original painting: Gaudnek, Walter. Remember Holbein, 1996: City of Orlando Terrace Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Go, an acrylic painting created by Dr. Walter Gaudnek in 1974. Go depicts a spacecraft in outer space, with the Sun and Saturn in the background. Born in Fleyh, Czechoslovakia, in 1931, pop artist Dr. Gaudnek is known for his blend of his bold colors, philosophy, religious symbolism, labyrinth installations, and mixtures of performance and art. He also draws heavy inspiration from Bohemia, Caravaggio, Kazimir Malevich, and Pablo Picasso. A 1957 Fulbright Scholar who received his doctorate from New York University, he joined the art faculty of the Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) in Orlando, Florida, in 1970. Dr. Gaudnek previously taught at universities in Los Angeles, New York, and Ohio. He founded the Long Island University's Hillwood Art Museum in Greenvale, New York. His honors from UCF include Distinguished Researcher of the Year (1990), the Teaching Incentive Program Award (1995 and 2005), the Professional Excellence Program Award (1997), the President’s Award (1999), and the Research Incentive Award (2002). In 1994, the Sudetendeutecher Landsmannschaft, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of the Czech-German diaspora, awarded him the Kulturpreis for Fine Art and Architecture. Dr. Gaudnek’s work can be seen at the Gaudnek Europe Museum (GEM) in Altomünster, Germany, as well as the UCF Library, which contains a retrospective of his work from 1945 to 2007. He has participated in more than 200 solo and group exhibitions, installations, and performances in Germany, Italy, Spain, England, Colombia, the Czech Republic, and the United States. His works have also been exhibited in museums in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Virginia, Arizona, Florida, Europe, and Brazil, as well as schools, banks, office buildings, libraries, theaters, museums, and private homes in Europe and the United States. He has been featured in documentaries in San Francisco, New York, Munich, São Paolo, and Paris.
Original acrylic painting: Gaudnek, Walter. Go, 1974: City of Orlando Terrace Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Smith, J. André (Jules André), 1880-1959
Roofs and Palms by Jules André Smith. Born in 1880 to American parents in Hong Kong, raised in New York and Connecticut, and educated at Cornell University, J. André Smith worked for several years as an architect, never giving up on his first love of art. His early passion was printmaking, specifically etching. In 1915, he was awarded a gold medal at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, California. During World War I, Smith continued to work in both drawing and printmaking, selected as one of eight artists by the U.S. government to go to France in 1918 to record military activities. He would later publish those works in a book titled In France with the American Expeditionary Forces. While travelling to Miami in the 1930s, Smith made an unplanned stop in Maitland, Florida. Having experienced a stunning sunset on nearby Lake Sybelia, he decided to travel no further and would go on to build his winter home and studio here, which is now the Maitland Art Center. Frustrated and disappointed with the area’s lack of support for contemporary art, Smith began plans for a residential "Lab-Gallery" that would encourage artistic exploration and experimentation in a sheltered studio environment. The studio compound, later known as The Research Studio, was the winter residence of prominent American artists such as Ralston Crawford, David Burlick, Ernest Roth, Milton Avery, Arnold Blanch, Doris Lee, and Hal McIntosh. André Smith’s vision continued to thrive for over two decades under the generous financial support from his patron, philanthropist Mary Curtis Bok. Smith’s legacy is alive and well today at the Art & History Museum’s Maitland Art Center through its residency programs and exhibitions.
Original painting: Smith, Jules André. Roofs and Palms: Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Albin Polasek Chiseling Man Carving His Own Destiny
Sculptor Albin Polasek chisteling Man Carving His Own Destiny from limestone, with his assistant, Robert A. Baille, around 1960. Polasek sculpted his first version of Man Carving His Own Destiny while studying under Charles Grafly at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1907. Reminisicent of Michaelangelo's Slaves, the sculpture depicts a man chiseling himself out of stone. Polasek has sculpted 53 different variations of Man Carving His Own Destiny throughout his lifetime. His various recreations depict differences in arm positions, the look of the hair, and how much of the man's body is emerged from the rock. Polasek was born in 1879 in Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic). He apprenticed as a woodcarver in Vienna, Austria, and immigrated to the United States in 1901. After working in the Midwest for nearly four years, Polasek finally began his formal training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1910, Polasek won the Prix de Rome competition, spending three years at the American Academy of Art in Rome, Italy. Once he completed his studies in Rome, Polasek moved to New York City, New York, and set up a studio there. In 1916, the Art Institute of Chicago invited him to head its sculpture department, where he remained for nearly 30 years. In 1949, Polasek retired to Winter Park, Florida, building a home on Lake Osceola. In spite of suffering a stroke in 1950 that left him confined to a wheelchair and his left side paralyzed, Polasek continued to paint, draw, sculpt clay, and carve wood, creating a total of 18 major works before his death in 1965. In 1961, Polasek established the Polasek Foundation, designating his personal galleries, chapel, and gardens as a museum. Each year, thousands of local and international guests come to Winter Park to visit Polasek’s historic home and studio at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. Polasek’s works can be found in Europe, all over the United States, and locally in Winter Park and Orlando.
Original black and white photograph: Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, Florida.
Jenkins, Bill (William Sterling), 1909-1996
The Changing South, an oil painting created by William "Bill" Sterling Jenkins in 1940. The painting depicts two African-American boys in Alabama. Jenkins received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1934 from the University of Florida and was awarded a postgraduate scholarship to study art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. He spent several intensive years traveling through Europe by rail and bicycle, creating figure and landscape paintings. Upon his return, he established an art school in Columbus, Georgia. In 1942, he married Alice Moberg after meeting her in Mexico, where he studied silversmithing. Following a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Jenkins received an honorable discharge after contracting pneumonia and was sent to the Veterans Administration hospital in Orlando, Florida, to recuperate. He then worked for the VA and pioneered a program of rehabilitative art therapy classes for veterans. After earning his master’s degree in psychology from Florida State University in 1950, he settled in Winter Park and established Jenkins Construction Company, building many residential communities and shopping centers. In 1975, Jenkins established Crealdé School of Art, donating the organization and the property to the community in 1990. He also established the Jenkins Chair at the University of Central Florida, and donated the majority of his paintings to the UCF Art Gallery.
Original 32.5 x 38.75 inch oil painting: Jenkins, Bill. The Changing South, 1940: University of Central Florida Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Bell Towers, an oil painting created by William "Bill" Sterling Jenkins in 1941. The painting depicts the small town of Taxco de Alarcón in Mexico. Jenkins received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1934 from the University of Florida and was awarded a postgraduate scholarship to study art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. He spent several intensive years traveling through Europe by rail and bicycle, creating figure and landscape paintings. Upon his return, he established an art school in Columbus, Georgia. In 1942, he married Alice Moberg after meeting her in Mexico, where he studied silversmithing. Following a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Jenkins received an honorable discharge after contracting pneumonia and was sent to the Veterans Administration hospital in Orlando, Florida, to recuperate. He then worked for the VA and pioneered a program of rehabilitative art therapy classes for veterans. After earning his master’s degree in psychology from Florida State University in 1950, he settled in Winter Park and established Jenkins Construction Company, building many residential communities and shopping centers. In 1975, Jenkins established Crealdé School of Art, donating the organization and the property to the community in 1990. He also established the Jenkins Chair at the University of Central Florida, and donated the majority of his paintings to the UCF Art Gallery.
Original 26.5 x 18.5 inch oil painting: Jenkins, Bill. Bell Towers, 1941: Private Collection of the Jenkins Family.
Seekers, an oil painting created by Grady Kimsey in 2014. Kimsey enjoys critical and popular success as a sculptor, potter, painter and instructor, with eight decades of life experiences to draw upon for inspiration. Kimsey was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1928. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee in 1950, and then completed his master’s In Education from Rollins College in Winter Park in 1969. Kimsey remains modest about his many accomplishments, which began in his high school days and have continued throughout his career. He has received the Council of Arts and Sciences for Central Florida Award for "Outstanding Achievement in the Arts" in 1982, the Richard A. Florsheim Art Grant in 1992, and a State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship in 1990 and again in 1996. Kimsey's influence was extensive on budding artists in the community, having served as a professor of art for 20 years at Seminole Community College (present-day Seminole State College of Florida). Among his many other contributions to that institution, Kimsey founded the Fine Arts Gallery in 1980. As an instructor, he was known to guide his students to explore all media and styles. When ready, his students had the confidence to stand behind their work, and many are still creating and exhibiting with the same devotion as their mentor.
Original 24 x 48 inch painting: Kimsey, Grady. Seekers, 2014: Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park, Florida.
Untitled (Tondo) by Doris "Doc" Marie Leeper
Untitled (Tondo), an oil on masonite painting created by Doris Marie Leeper around 1960. Known to many as "Doc," Leeper was a trailblazing abstract painter and sculptor based in Eldora, Florida near New Smyrna Beach. Originally from North Carolina, Leeper found an artistic oasis in Central Florida. The region provided her with the space to buy a house and work in relative isolation, but also augmented her interest in natural preservation. Today, the Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve remains a testament to her environmental dedication. Leeper’s impact on Central Florida also became apparent through her support for institutions; for example, she was a founder of the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach. Leeper’s local legacy manifests itself most profoundly through her artistic production. Her bold lines, strong color palette, and propensity for clean lines aesthetically aligned her with minimalism. Leeper’s painting evolved from representational to non-objective over time. She embraced a language of abstraction more typical of the prevailing New York art world in the 1960 and 1970s, as opposed to the dominant aesthetic in Florida during the same time period. She showed her work locally and regionally with regularity. Her work was celebrated by significant solo exhibitions at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The process of mining local histories yields the legacies of talented artists who have often been discarded from mainstream narratives. When one engages deeper with Leeper’s work, it is not difficult to conclude that her myriad two- and three-dimensional works are worthy of not only a local, but a national story.
Original oil painting: Leeper, Doris Marie. Untitled (Tondo): item 1995.13, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, Florida.
Composition, an oil painting by Ralph L. Bagley (ca. 1914-2008). Bagley was an artist and instructor who taught in Central Florida from the 1950s until his death in 2008, when he was 94 years old. He was born in Bertrand, Missouri, and attended the Flint Institute of Art in Flint, Michigan, continuing his studies in New York and Washington, D.C. Bagley and his wife, Marianne Bagley, moved to Orlando, Florida in 1950, where Bagley founded the Orlando Institute of Art, the city’s first fine-arts school. Bagley depicted landscapes, still lifes, and portraits in a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, and charcoal. Bagley also taught at Orlando Junior College, becoming head of the school’s art department in 1965. After the college closed in 1971, he taught at Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg, the Maitland Art Center in Maitland, and the Loch Haven Art Center (now the Orlando Museum of Art). He toured the nation with at least 30 one-man art shows featuring his paintings. Among many positions he held in art organizations, Bagley was president of the Orlando Art Association and a founding member and president of the Artists’ League of Orange County. The works of his many students sustain his legacy.
Original oil painting: Bagley, Ralph L. Composition: City of Orlando Terrace Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Abandoned, an oil painting by Ralph L. Bagley (ca. 1914-2008). Bagley was an artist and instructor who taught in Central Florida from the 1950s until his death in 2008, when he was 94 years old. He was born in Bertrand, Missouri, and attended the Flint Institute of Art in Flint, Michigan, continuing his studies in New York and Washington, D.C. Bagley and his wife, Marianne Bagley, moved to Orlando, Florida in 1950, where Bagley founded the Orlando Institute of Art, the city’s first fine-arts school. Bagley depicted landscapes, still lifes, and portraits in a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, and charcoal. Bagley also taught at Orlando Junior College, becoming head of the school’s art department in 1965. After the college closed in 1971, he taught at Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg, the Maitland Art Center in Maitland, and the Loch Haven Art Center (now the Orlando Museum of Art). He toured the nation with at least 30 one-man art shows featuring his paintings. Among many positions he held in art organizations, Bagley was president of the Orlando Art Association and a founding member and president of the Artists’ League of Orange County. The works of his many students sustain his legacy.
Original oil painting: Bagley, Ralph L. Abandoned: City of Orlando Terrace Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Ralph L. Bagley (ca. 1914-2008) with his paintings. Bagley was an artist and instructor who taught in Central Florida from the 1950s until his death in 2008, when he was 94 years old. He was born in Bertrand, Missouri, and attended the Flint Institute of Art in Flint, Michigan, continuing his studies in New York and Washington, D.C. Bagley and his wife, Marianne Bagley, moved to Orlando, Florida in 1950, where Bagley founded the Orlando Institute of Art, the city’s first fine-arts school. Bagley depicted landscapes, still lifes, and portraits in a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, and charcoal. Bagley also taught at Orlando Junior College, becoming head of the school’s art department in 1965. After the college closed in 1971, he taught at Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg, the Maitland Art Center in Maitland, and the Loch Haven Art Center (now the Orlando Museum of Art). He toured the nation with at least 30 one-man art shows featuring his paintings. Among many positions he held in art organizations, Bagley was president of the Orlando Art Association and a founding member and president of the Artists’ League of Orange County. The works of his many students sustain his legacy.
Original black and white photograph: City of Orlando Terrace Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Orlando Institute of Art, Orlando, Florida
Orlando Junior College, Orlando, Florida
Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg, Florida
World Champion Pine Chip by Bill Orr. Growing up in Michigan, Orr (1925-) worked breaking in mustang ponies. When World War II broke out, Orr joined the U.S. Army and was a member of the cavalry regiment. Later seeing action on Okinawa in the Pacific Theater, he was among the first servicemen to serve in Japan after the war. Orr found his way to the Research Studio in 1961 after applying for a position through a newspaper advertisement. Orr, along with Maury Hurt, was instrumental in leading the movement to save the Art Center from developers in the 1960s. As an artist he made a living doing life-size portraits of horses. He would go on to establish himself as a leading equine artist, a tribute to his lifetime love of horses.
Original painting: Orr, Bill. World Champion Pine Chip: Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Untitled, an oil painting by Orlando native Maury Hurt (1934-2013), who graduated from the University of Florida with a design degree in 1956. Hurt continued to work in the graphic arts fields for several years after serving a short tour in the U.S. Army before abandoning the profession to become a full-time painter. From a studio at the Art & History Museums’s Maitland Art Center, Hurt’s work centered on primitive and archaic themes often focusing on the relationship of humans, animals, and early prehistoric life. Hurst, along with Bill Orr, was instrumental in leading the movement to save the Art Center from developers in the 1960s. His legacy lies in his masterful work and is mentorship of artists across Central Florida.
Original 42 x 36 inch oil painting: Hurt, Maury. Untitled: Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Doris Marie Leeper in her studio in 1956. Known to many as "Doc," Leeper was a trailblazing abstract painter and sculptor based in Eldora, Florida, near New Smyrna Beach. Originally from North Carolina, Leeper found an artistic oasis in Central Florida. The region provided her with the space to buy a house and work in relative isolation, but also augmented her interest in natural preservation. Today, the Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve remains a testament to her environmental dedication. Leeper’s impact on Central Florida also became apparent through her support for institutions; for example, she was a founder of the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach. Leeper’s local legacy manifests itself most profoundly through her artistic production. Her bold lines, strong color palette, and propensity for clean lines aesthetically aligned her with minimalism. Leeper’s painting evolved from representational to non-objective over time. She embraced a language of abstraction more typical of the prevailing New York art world in the 1960 and 1970s, as opposed to the dominant aesthetic in Florida during the same time period. She showed her work locally and regionally with regularity. Her work was celebrated by significant solo exhibitions at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The process of mining local histories yields the legacies of talented artists who have often been discarded from mainstream narratives. When one engages deeper with Leeper’s work, it is not difficult to conclude that her myriad two- and three-dimensional works are worthy of not only a local, but a national story.
Original black and white photograph, 1956: Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Doris Marie Leeper in 1996. Known to many as "Doc," Leeper was a trailblazing abstract painter and sculptor based in Eldora, Florida, near New Smyrna Beach. Originally from North Carolina, Leeper found an artistic oasis in Central Florida. The region provided her with the space to buy a house and work in relative isolation, but also augmented her interest in natural preservation. Today, the Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve remains a testament to her environmental dedication. Leeper’s impact on Central Florida also became apparent through her support for institutions; for example, she was a founder of the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach. Leeper’s local legacy manifests itself most profoundly through her artistic production. Her bold lines, strong color palette, and propensity for clean lines aesthetically aligned her with minimalism. Leeper’s painting evolved from representational to non-objective over time. She embraced a language of abstraction more typical of the prevailing New York art world in the 1960 and 1970s, as opposed to the dominant aesthetic in Florida during the same time period. She showed her work locally and regionally with regularity. Her work was celebrated by significant solo exhibitions at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The process of mining local histories yields the legacies of talented artists who have often been discarded from mainstream narratives. When one engages deeper with Leeper’s work, it is not difficult to conclude that her myriad two- and three-dimensional works are worthy of not only a local, but a national story.
Original black and white photograph by Jack Mitchell, 1996: Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Doris "Doc" Marie Leeper with Sculpture, 1996
Judy Albertson was active in the art community when she met gallery owner Louise Peterson. Fifteen years later, they established the Albertson-Peterson Gallery as a unique fine arts crafts gallery. Together, the pair developed a dialogue that led to greater interest in the importance of a solid link between business and the art community. Independent of the commercial gallery, the Art Consulting Program Planning Division helped give direction and dedication to corporations through the acquisition of visual arts. Albertson was involved in helping University of Central Florida develop its educational and arts programs from its early years. She has served on the UCF Board of Trustees and the UCF Foundation and helped establish Friends of UCF (a nonprofit organization dealing with the arts, humanities and culture). She has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Orlando Museum of Art, a member of the Board of Visitors of the Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College and was on the board of the Cultural Alliance.
Original color photograph: Orange County Commission Chambers, Orlando, Florida.
Red Azalea by David Reese, one of Central Florida's best known watercolorists. Reese began his art studies at the High Museum School of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, and continued at the Art Students League and the Fashion Academy (both in New York), and at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He taught at the Fashion Academy, Atlanta Art Institute, Armstrong State College in Savannah, Stetson University in Deland, and Valencia Community College (present-day Valencia College) in Orlando. Reese, formerly the director of the Loch Haven Art Center in Orlando, was also an instructor at the Creald้ฉ School of Art in Winter Park, where he taught classes and workshops in watercolor. Reese typically paints segments of nature by taking a small portion of a scene and blowing it up as big as 30 inches by 40 inches. He also occasionally uses slides as references, and says he will take a scene as small as a quarter of the slide and magnify it to huge proportions. Finally, Reese also occasionally paints landscapes. In his technique, Reese relies mainly on composition and subject matter for impact.
Original watercolor painting by David Reese: City of Orlando Terrace Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Born in New York City, Harri Klotz has worked in New York, Florida, and Provincetown, Massachusetts. Settling in Orlando in 1946, she and husband, Solomon Klotz, collected jewelry from around the world along with pre-Columbian artifacts, which was donated to the Orlando Museum of Art upon her death at age 84. Discovering a lack of interest and support for the arts in Central Florida, Klotz formed the Creative Workshop, an artist's cooperative, in 1962. Members were encouraged to exhibit their work and share critique and ideas. She eventually opened a commercial gallery, as well. Klotz was a colorist who employed layers upon layers of paint. One can look at one color area and see further and further within, but always return to the surface, as when a person looks into a pool of water that reflect the sky. Her jagged edgings enhance the dynamism of her surfaces. Free from any particular boundaries while retaining control of the elements, the emphasis is focused on the subject of the interior state with the intense feeling evoked by the abstract qualities of nature. The interplay of free shapes and the intensity of color expression float in an atmospheric continuum. Harri employs the full prism of colors in many ranges and categories.
Original color painting by Harri Klotz: City of Orlando Terrace Gallery, Orlando, Florida.