King Opera House to premiere ‘Silent Storytellers’

story and photo by Marla Cantrell
[email protected]

The King Opera House was built on the same Van Buren street where Albert Pike downed mint juleps with city founder John Drennen, just steps from the spot where Wyatt Earp was arrested for stealing horses (twice), and a stone’s throw away from the former site of Sam Houston’s lumber yard.

It seems a fitting place for the Van Buren premiere of the AETN documentary, “Silent Storytellers.” Vickie Davis, who chairs the historic commission, said the restored theater was selected in large part because of its age and connection to the community.

The King Opera House at 427 Main St., will open its doors to the public at 7 p.m. Friday night (April 30). There is no charge, and Davis hopes to fill all 350 seats.

The documentary tells the story of the grand monuments erected to honor the movers and shakers of antebellum Arkansas. It also shows what happens when the markers fall in to disrepair, then follows the movement to bring the cemeteries back to their former glory.

Van Buren’s Fairview Cemetery is featured in the film. It caught the eye of the AETN because of its elaborate statuary, the prominent citizens who lie beneath the stones, and the local efforts to preserve the ten acre site.

Restoration specialists from Norton Arts, whose work plays a major role in the film, will be on hand to answer questions. Representatives from AETN will also attend, so those wanting to unravel the intricacies of documentary film making will have an expert to consult.

Davis has already seen “Silent Storytellers” and is impressed with the production. Born on Memorial Day, she’s celebrated every birthday of her life decorating graves. Since her father retired and has time to travel with her, she’s been on a mission to track down her family’s descendants.

“Some of our family is buried in cemeteries off the beaten path so we have had several adventures,” Davis said. “Looking at some of those cemeteries and looking at what has been accomplished at Fairview makes me very proud that we are trying to preserve our wonderful assets that Fairview has to offer.”

Also speaking at the Van Buren premier will be Randy Smith, who is credited with saving one of the most treasured pieces at Fairview. The Wallace children’s monument was commissioned for three young sisters who died in the 1800s. It was broken when a tree branch fell. Smith wrote a grant proposal and received funding to repair the piece in 2007. Since then, he’s been on a mission to restore other important markers in the cemetery.

Davis thinks the Friday showing is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to know more about the back story of Van Buren.

“I think folks just take it for granted that Fairview is here,” Davis said. “After they see this documentary they begin to realize the river town history of our community.  … Some of the monuments in the Wallace section have bases with a stone cutters’ marks from Philadelphia that shows they were brought up the Arkansas River to be placed in Fairview.  … Where else would you see an original poem by Albert Pike? Some of the schoolchildren recognize the names of those interred as street names today. This builds our connections with our community.”