City funding proposed for Jacksonville’s historic Norman Studios

[thelakelander]

One million dollars has been set aside in the new city budget to renovate the only remaining piece of Jacksonville's once-busy silent film-making past so its silver screen history can be opened for regular public visits.

Announced last week in Mayor Lenny Curry's budget proposal, the funding would be used to renovate the inside of the National Historic Landmark Norman Studios' Production Building at 6337 Arlington Road so it can become a bona fide museum.

Called a "rare, extant silent film studio and the only surviving race film studio in America" when it received that federal landmark status in 2015, the city funding still must be approved by City Council. But if it is, the funding would be a boon to a 103-year-old facility now open by invitation only, studio board president Devan Stuart Lesley said.

Full Article: https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20190728/city-funding-proposed-for-jacksonvilles-historic-norman-studios

[Wacca Pilatka]

Yes, please!

Devan and Rita Reagan have done heroic work lobbying for the preservation of this important piece of Jacksonville's historic legacy.

I had the joy of taking one of the tours by appointment.

As much reason as there is to be ticked at the Curry administration for the Landing and old City Hall debacles, etc., I do credit them for supporting the Norman and Groundwork.

[Charles Hunter]

[snark mode ON]
Be careful!  If Curry is putting money into it, demolition must be in the picture.
[snark mode OFF]

This is great news (not the snark). I've been inside the studios during some Arlington event or another. Fascinating.

[Charles Hunter]

I just watched a webcast of "The Flying Ace" followed by a Q&A moderated by Barbara Wingo of the Norman Studios Museum and a representative of the Black Film Center/Archive at Indiana University. Very interesting.  There is another presentation tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 22) night (7:30 PM Pacific time, so 10:30 PM here), this one by Retroformat Silent Films https://www.retroformat.org/?fbclid=IwAR2SpQZFsueHEnyFEgSLz3hS_pq6K7AUG8b2BYFRTycecE2apQaPQNMma7M

[marcuscnelson]

Mayor Deegan tweeted about this restoration reaching the finish line, apparently.

[Ken_FSU]

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/08/18/norman-studios-silent-film-museum-opens-in-jacksonville/

[fsu813]

Rita Reagan deserves a helluva lot of credit for this. After she retired from teaching, she spent her second act as remarkable community/preservation champion in Springfield, and now her third as a successful preservation champion in Arlington. Neither the Klutho Apartments nor Norman Studios, two unique Jacksonville landmarks, would be standing right now, if not for her dedication and tenacity. Hopefully she receives the accolades deserved for her volunteer service to Jacksonville before she's gone.

[marcuscnelson]

^ She just passed.

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2023/08/31/rita-reagan-jacksonville-preservationist-championed-norman-studios/70719291007/

[fsu813]

^ She just passed.

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2023/08/31/rita-reagan-jacksonville-preservationist-championed-norman-studios/70719291007/

It would be cool to have a Jacksonville volunteer advocate hall of fame (or something akin) where the Bill Brintons, Alton Yates, Rita Reagans, etc are honored. It's exceptionally rare for *volunteer* advocates to make huge, lasting impact on the city. Should be a formal register to learn about their impacts besides randomly naming streets/parks/buildings for them.

[jaxlongtimer]

^ Add Wayne Wood.  And Ennis  .  No doubt, many other unsung heroes in town.  Many get more positives done for the City than any elected officials who often take all the credit for doing not much.