Main Street Biloxi will be capitalizing on one of Hank Williams Sr.’s greatest hits this weekend when the organization serves jambalaya and French bread before the Saturday and Sunday presentations of “The Last Ride” at the Saenger Theater in downtown Biloxi.
Main Street and the city are presenting a two-day showing of a documentary about the legendary singer and his connection to Biloxi, and a new motion picture about the last three days of his life. The entire evening is being called “The Last Ride: The meteoric life of Hank Williams Sr. and his love affair with Biloxi.”
Show times are 7:30 Saturday evening and 1:30 Sunday afternoon. Tickets, at $10 each, are on sale now at the Biloxi Visitors Center and the Donal M. Snyder Sr. Community Center. Tickets also will be available at the box office before each showing, or you can charge by calling (228) 435-6339.
“We’re going to be opening an hour before show time, and we’re going to be offering $5 servings of jambalaya and French bread,” said Kay Miller, whose Main Street organization is co-sponsoring the event with the city. “We’ll have some high-top tables set up on the sidewalk outside the theater for people to mill around and talk about the old days, and, of course, Hank Williams music will be playing in the theater.”
The usual theater fare – popcorn, candy and snacks – also will be available.
“We’re encouraging people to buy their tickets in advance – either today, Saturday morning or Sunday morning at the Visitors Center – to avoid lines at the box office,” Miller said. “We’ve sold a good number of tickets in advance, but we’re still expecting to see a strong walk-up on Saturday and Sunday. We’ll be staffed and ready for this great celebration of a golden era in Biloxi’s history.”
Background: To read more about this weekend’s production and to see a trailer for “The Last Ride,” click here.
Two Hanks and a Yankie: Yet another story about Hank Williams Sr.’s time in Biloxi has surfaced. This one involves two Hanks and a Yankie. To see a poster that tells the story of Hank William Sr.’s kind gesture for an ailing Biloxian, click here.
Weekend preview: Doo-wops, ‘Hairspray,’ Air Supply and more
It’s a trip back in time this weekend with the Ultimate Doo-Wop Show at the IP, “Hairspray” at Center Stage, Air Supply at the Hard Rock, and, of course, “The Last Ride” at the Biloxi Saenger. To read details on these events and the rest of the weekend entertainment lineup, courtesy of listings from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, click here.
Holloway reflects on impact of 20 years of gaming in Biloxi
Biloxi marks the 20th anniversary of legalized casino gaming on Aug. 1, and Mayor A.J. Holloway says no one could have forecast the tremendous impact the industry has had on all segments of the city’s economy.
To read the mayor’s comments and to see a report the city issued to mark the 20th anniversary of gaming, click here.
News and notes
Backpack Saturday: Free school backpacks and vaccinations will be available Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Biloxi Town Green. To print a flier about the event, click here.
Webcasting: This week’s City Desk webcast comes from the Biloxi Saenger Theater. To listen to the program, click here.
