Beyond Belief- Myths of Put-in-Bay

Monument or Lighthouse?

It’s fascinating how little people from this general region really know about our Bass Islands. We are still one of the best-kept secrets in the Midwest. Some “mainland” people are surprised to learn that there are islands in Lake Erie, which is why it is so much fun to learn about the myths and yarns that have developed over the years about the Lake Erie Islands.

I remember having a conversation with someone in Buffalo, New York, that had visited a “private island” with a huge lighthouse and a winery near Cedar Point. It is these juicy bits and pieces of information that feed the tall tales and myths surrounding Put-in-Bay.

Myths are tall tales, stories with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual. Long time Islanders have probably heard more tall tales about life in Put-in-Bay than most. These tall tales, rumors, innuendo and myths are perennial. Islanders have probably sheepishly helped to fuel some of the myths, while others just grow and spread on their own. Some of my favorite stories include the tunnel to the mainland, the tallest lighthouse, kids can drive, and everything costs more here including the beer.

On any given weekend if you watch the ferries unloading it seems like every other person is pulling, towing, carrying or dragging an oversized cooler full of their favorite beverage. If you ask, most people will tell you that they are certain that the cost of beer on the mainland is “much much” cheaper. So for all your folks that dragged that cooler up the hill only to find our local package store sells for the same price as the mainland, this story’s for you!

This summer, with the help of young filmmaker Adam Bianchi and assisted by Jake Batt, Dan Duggan, and Elise Wallis we set out to document a few of these larger than life myths. We brainstormed on what some of the most obvious myths might be that we could investigate. So we started with “where are we?” It seems like an obvious question, but as we investigated it was apparent that even when people get here, they are unsure where they are, or even what country they are in. Many people, confused by the Border Patrol, US Customs and security check in surmise that they are leaving the country, I am not making this up. So just in case you were wondering, we are on South Bass Island, Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County Ohio!

The next “towering” question for us was “where’s the Monument” or “have you seen the big lighthouse? “ The War of 1812 is still a vague history story for many Americans. Shockingly, “The Battle of Lake Erie” does not even glean a flicker of recognition for many visiting adults queried. Sometimes if you drill down on the subject of The War of 1812, Commodore Perry, and the Battle of Lake Erie you get some sense of recognition when you mention the famous slogan and flag “Don’t give up the ship”, though many are surprised to hear about the connection with our island history!

So we set out to clear up this myth and establish once and for all that the tall tower is in fact the monument, aka Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. We interviewed people from The Ohio State University and the National Park Service and they confirmed that in fact the tall building near the down town is a national monument not a light house. But just incase you were wondering, there is also a decommissioned light house, called the South Bass Island Light House, built in 1897, at the west end of the island (where the tunnel to the mainland is located).

Well anyway the tunnel story is discussion for another column, but if you want to check out the answers we got, visit our website http://www.mythsofputinbay.com and watch our videos. Tell your friends. And if you have a myth you want to share please leave us a comment.

Humankind-Amazing Local Music

Eden Brent wowed the crowd!

 

As a kid I used to love to fool around on the piano for countless hours. I did not have a clue about what I was doing, but I had a great time. Then I took about 7 years of keyboard lessons trying to learn how to play the Organ. At the “pinnacle” of my ability I was able to eek out a passable version of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (The Phantom of the Opera theme).Even though I learned how to play, I really don’t know my A chord from a G these days but I still love music. I can’t seem to get enough records, cds, mp3s, (just ask my wife), of great music from just about any musical genre.

I love live music, especially when it is done well. Here in Put-in-Bay we have some great music choices. The perennial favorites like Pat Daily, JD Owen, Mad Dog Adams, Bob Gatewood, Ray Fogg, and West Side Steve keep their fans coming back to the island year after year. Popular regional bands like Mustang Sally, The Menus, The Maxx Band, The Paradise Band, Wally and the Beaves “pack the house” which is great for business. I live in the village, but not right downtown, and I know you can hear a live band just about every day of the summer somewhere. The list of bands coming to the island every summer is long, but I long for more, more bands, more choices, and more styles of music too (especially when it is free!)

This summer there are some great bands coming to Put-in-Bay that are, to use a cliché, outside the box of what we normally get. On July 6th a group from Detroit called Terrie Lea and the Mustangs came and opened the Twilight Music Series at the monument to rave reviews. A little country, a little rockabilly, with a nice tribute to Johnny Cash, Terrie provided a great sound for the Put-in-Bay Arts Council’s “American Originals” concert series. They have won the Detroit Music awards for best country a dozen times.

I search for good music, and last summer I went with friends to Cleveland Metroparks to a blue grass festival and heard Missy Raines and the New Hip from Tennessee. Her band tours the country doing festivals and concerts all year long. Missy is an amazing award winning bass player and the band plays Blue Grass jazz. I hope you didn’t miss Missy Raines and the New Hip on July 21st.

I got a phone call one day; a person from Columbus had heard that we have Eden Brent coming to the island. They wanted to get tickets. I told them the concert was free! On August 4th we are pleased and amazed to get Eden Brent, a blues piano player, from Mississippi. Eden has a sultry voice and is the real deal when it comes to authentic Mississippi blues music. Last winter she came through Cleveland, playing at the Winchester in Lakewood. You could not get a seat.
The final concert of our Twilight Music Series on August 18th is Mo’ Mojo. They are smokin’ hot and play Cajun Zydeco. I don’t remember a real Zydeco band ever coming to the island. If you are a music lover and want to dance too, bring your sweetheart. I promise you that you can’t escape the infectious sounds of Zydeco and that toe tapping feeling will certainly come over you.

One last note on local music, there is a band of real Put-in-Bay Island guys that have been seen playing at Walleyes, Tippers and the Fish Bowl. They go by the low-key name of “The Island Band” to blend in. I guarantee you will enjoy their show and may even be asked to come on stage and play tambourine.

Harry Banister is back

Humankind-Harry Bannister is back
In a funny way the spirit of Harry Banister will return again to Put-in-Bay this summer. Harry spent summers here between 1926 and 1932 with his wife Ann Harding. While here he and his wife enjoyed being involved in Summer Theater to entertain the community. Put-in-Bay, Peach Point specifically, was the summer home to artists, actors, musicians and playwrights. The Murdock Brothers, Harry Bannister, Ann Harding, Mamie Henning and TB Alexander, to name a few, all enjoyed performing here during our vaudeville heyday and even during the “Great Depression”.
Vaudeville actors were the embodiment of the spirit “the show must go on”. You’ve got to like a guy who never stopped producing his next show.  Harry, born in 1889 in Holland, Michigan, was a stage and screen actor, a director and producer. He was married to silver screen star Ann Harding and had one daughter. His successes included starting The American Music Hall Theater Group on Broadway where he produced or performed in 20 plus major Broadway plays between 1921 and 1954, and starred in 12 Hollywood Films. He gave literally thousands of performances in a number of successful plays, musicals, movies, and television shows during his career. He was an inspired producer who loved acting, music and drama. Even his death, in 1961, garnered a headline in the New York Times “Harry Bannister Is Dead at 72; (a true) Stage, Film and TV Performer”. He was starring in the TV Show  “Life with Father” and doing guest appearances just prior to his passing. He was a true performer.

So I see his spirit of “never say die” on the island this year among the island businesses, arts and community organizations. In the midst of a skittish economy across the country, here in Put-in-Bay the community has banded together to present a solid summer of wonderful entertainment. I hear that a lot of unique performances will be springing up around the island throughout this summer.

Superintendent Blanca Stransky promises an exciting summer of interpretive ranger events, the PIBArts Council will celebrate our Founders Day (Jose DeRivera of Spain) with a performance of Flamenco music and dance at DeRivera Park (June 14th) and later in July and August the Twilight Music Series will be at 7pm on Wednesdays at the Monument.  Susie Cooper promises yet another wild “historical” adventure to North Bass and The Chamber of Commerce will be bringing in the frigate Niagara twice and rascally pirates will be seen running wild through the streets the last weekend of June during Pirate Fest.

Tough times in life affect us all. When Banister was faced with divorce, in the bright spot light of his wife’s rising star in Hollywood, The LA Times reported – “Ann Harding, motion picture star, and her husband, Harry Bannister, actor, announced in a joint statement today their intention to be divorced because, they said, Mr. Bannister is becoming known as “Ann Harding’s husband.”

Never take second billing, keep plugging away. Banister realized that you never stop working towards your goal. His star still shines today. For islanders this summer it is all about providing the ingredients for fun and relaxation again, better that ever. Opening our businesses and homes to visitors and making them feel welcomed is what islanders do best.

We are creating our own wonderful drama and theatre in the eye of a swirling economic storm! Don’t miss it, the next show is about to begin! You have front row seats for a summer of great food, entertainment, music and dance. Be a supporter of the arts (www.pibarts.com) and businesses (www.put-in-bay.com) this summer, and let the season begin.