Huntingdon Historical Society Visits The Dixie

HUNTINGDON (September 17) — Huntingdon Historical Society’s September meeting was held at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center and provided a recap of the 26-year history of the center from concept and construction to 20 years of performances.
Susan Cary and Jean Newsome provided some highlights of the history of the building.
The Center has served to enrich the arts - performing and visual. An annex, Mudslighers, converted from an old automotive service station, now serves for training in pottery.
In 1999, Mayor Dale Kelley and business leaders met to address the revitalization of Huntingdon’s Central Business District, placing an emphasis on bringing in a new restaurant and a theater for citizens of Huntingdon and its surrounding area to enjoy. That December, Mayor Dale Kelley revealed plans for the theater to be called The Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center. The Dixie is named after Dixie Carter, a famous actress and well-known resident of Carroll County.
It was a bold move by the late Mayor Dale Kelley, who had dreamed of a performing arts center in Huntingdon after his service in the military, where he had seen one in a small community in Europe.
The Dixie was to be housed in four of the original buildings downtown that were 125 years old. However, in 2004, during construction, a portion of the south wall collapsed. For safety reasons, it was decided that the original buildings would be demolished and a new building erected. Bricks from the original building have been used throughout The Dixie.
The Academic Enrichment Center provides educational and cultural opportunities for area children. The Dixie provides the following programs for children: dance classes, Dixie Youth Theatre, Dixie Children’s Chorus, Mudslinger’s Pottery Studio and summer camps. The Dixie also partners with Huntingdon Middle School to offer after-school classes.
Mayor Kelley proposed to Dixie and Hal Holbrook the naming of the performing arts center and theatre within the performing arts center in honor of Hal Holbrook. Both Dixie and Hal were visibly moved and graciously accepted.
“We were delighted to include this honor for Mr. Holbrook, who was an invaluable consultant to the architect in designing the theatre at the Center.”
Both Dixie and Hal graciously supported The Dixie throughout the years by performing fundraisers. Dixie performed her Cabaret show in 2002, and Hal has performed numerous Mark Twain Tonight! shows all to packed houses and overwhelmingly grateful audiences.
The Dixie has presented hundreds of performance and education Series events in the Hal Holbrook Theatre to over 200,000 patrons.
Some of the performances include the New York City Ballet, Nashville Symphony, Richard Marx, Lady Antebellum, Ronnie Milsap, Midtown Men, Carol Channing, Jason Isbell, Sara Evans and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
The Dixie is also home to The Dixie Players, a community theatre troupe.
The Dixie hosts numerous free events every season for the region, which have included the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit, U.S. Army Field Band Concert, Huntingdon Heritage Day Music and Arts Festival, Derby Day, and Main Street Christmas, to name a few.
The Ballroom Gallery provides art exhibitions for various media, honoring Tennessee artists.
The Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center, Home of the Hal Holbrook Theatre, has become a premier cultural venue of West Tennessee.