Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
The Clermont Performing Art Center’s Black Box Theatre continues to host ‘You Are Still There’ as a popular monthly matinee series by Charlie Grinker.
Joy of Flight: Armed with awesome old films, stories and his own memories, Grinker first helped the audience travel back in time to 1903 when a little-known Dayton bicycle shop owned by Orville and Wilbur Wright became famous by discovering how their bicycles led to the first powered airplane flight in the world. He shared how amazing their documented first test flights were, even though the French and others around the world were challenging skeptics to have people fly in the air. He showed how the Wright Brothers finally earned international respect for themselves and America to help launch an entirely new aviation industry. He shared how the amazing new aviation spin-off became popular with dangerous entertaining airplane races all across America attracting sell-out crowds everywhere. People without direct access would even line up at theatres to pay ten cents to watch newsreel films. He shared plenty of rare films and historically amazing achievements by our most famous American heroes.
From there, Charlie Grinker introduced us to historic aviators, rocketeers, inventors and honored outer space explorers including stories and films about Bessie Coleman, Katherine Stinson, Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, Jackie Cochran, Jimmy Doolittle, Chuck Yeager, Sally Ride, Robert Goddard, John Glenn and even those who first piloted Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper.
Charlie Grinker was born in 1933, he grew up in Passaic, New Jersey. With multiple degrees in Communication Arts and Psychology from New York University, Grinker has a very rich history to share with us. Multiple Emmy and Peabody Award Winner, he has worked with NBC, CBS, Disney, A&E Network, Hollywood stars and plenty of historically famous celebrities.
As a self-described “film nut”, Grinker started his career as a movie usher making $300 a week in 1961. While that was big money at the time, he jumped at the unique chance to work for NBC Radio in New York City in film research for only $95 a week. He knew it would quickly lead to much bigger and better career opportunities. He soon thereafter became an Associate Producer where he got to work with Richard Dreyfuss, Norman Lear, Billy Graham, Bob Hope, Arthur Godfrey, Bill Moyers, Charles Osgood and many more. Working under the personal supervision of famed war photographer and film producer Eugene Jones, he learned a lot.
After many years of hard work, he became President of Corporation for Entertainment & Learning from 1963 to 1991. His successful career led him to become President and Creative Director of his own Charles Grinker Productions Company for many years. This is where he conceptualized, produced and wrote his EMMY and Peabody award-winning programs and series since the 1980’s. As a nationally respected producer, writer and director of more than 200 award-winning television programs spanning over 60 years. Grinker is very happy to live in Clermont while offering his access to endless important old film clips while sharing his own memories, interviews, anecdotes and interesting stories.
You Are Still There! This ongoing Charlie Grinker series is hosted in the CPAC Black Box Theatre with performances held on the second Friday of each month, starting at 2 PM. Tickets are only $10.75 with open seating.
Upcoming Shows: On April 9, he will present a history of music with ‘The Soundtrack of Our Lives’. He will be ready to tell you about the life and times of legendary composers, lyricists, musicians, composers and entertainers with their unforgettable music. On May 14, he will present ‘Backstage at The White House’ where he will take us behind the scenes with several American Presidents. On June 11, Grinker plans to showcase ‘Inventions & Discovery’ where you will be entertained with historic films and stories about the pioneers of modern-day inventions. On July 9, he will share ‘WWII – A Personal Journey’, to pay tribute to the celebrated Americans who proudly served the U.S.A. with honor to preserve freedoms.
The Clermont Performing Arts Center has an entertaining season planned with classics from the world of theater, music and pop culture presented in the Main Stage, as well as in the Black Box Theater.
Tickets for all shows are now on sale and can be purchased at https://clermontperformingarts.com/ or by calling 352-394-4800. CPAC is located at 3700 South U.S. Highway 27. They are open from 1 to 5 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as well as two hours before showtime.
