Jun
1
Arkansas Flag & Banner 2-22-11 Rev II
Dec
8
Check out our new 2010 Christmas commercial that will be running on KATV the next couple weeks -
Mar
4
Old ballroom to get new life
Filed Under AFB on TV, Current Events, Dreamland Ballroom | Leave a Comment
By: Melissa Dunbar-Gates, Today’s THV
A famous old ballroom on top of the Arkansas Flag and Banner building in downtown Little Rock will soon be renovated.
THV’s Melissa Dunbar-Gates took a tour and spoke with building owner Kerry McCoy.
A non-profit group has been established to revive the facility; but they have a long way to go.
The room has incredible history. Can’t you just see a packed house, a full dance floor, and hear the trumpets of Luis Armstrong blaring. This room has been all kinds of things.
Originally built in the late 1800′s, it served as an African American USO club in both world wars; according to building owner McCoy a black fraternity used it to house women and children here in the great depression.
McCoy says, “I’ve had offers to turn it into a restaurant, turn it into apartments, to make a school out of it, but I’ve refused them all because I think it needs to stay exactly like it is be an event center for the community to use.”
According to McCoy the whole 9th Street corridor, where her building sits, used to be known as Little Rock’s “Little Harlem.” she said the street was lined with African America owned businesses on one side, and homes on the other side; and it is inside that old ballroom that African America entertainers came to play.
McCoy says, “A lot of the entertainers would perform at Robinson hall for the white people then stay in the hotel right next door and come up here to the ballroom and jam all night long.”
McCoy says, “I don’t want to do one single thing to it except make it safe and get an elevator up here. I want it to look exactly how it does.”
McCoy’s non-profit group needs more than a million dollars for the renovation. For a price you can have your name put on one of the box seats above the stage, or can have your name put on the stage, or the balcony in the back; and be a part of bringing the music and dancing back to the dreamland ballroom.
You can help make the Dreamland Ballroom renovation a reality by logging onto its website. There you can buy a brick for the new front sidewalk. Your name will be engraved in your brick.
Click Here to see the Video!
Feb
18
Buying in to the Dream
Filed Under AFB Press Releases, AFB on TV, AFB's Community Service, Dreamland Ballroom | Leave a Comment
KARK4 did a nice piece on the Dreamland Ballroom’s book fair last Sunday at Barnes and Noble. Here is the article and click on the link below to see the TV footage!
A group of Arkansans, set on restoring an old performance hall to its former glory, got a big boost over the weekend.
The Barnes and Noble on Financial Center donated 10% of its proceeds today to “Friends of Dreamland Ballroom.”
The Dreamland Ballroom was a premier venue in Little Rock for soul, R and B, and jazz musicians.
This group wants to rehab it and preserve it as a place to hold events and performances.
“I’ve had offers to turn it into a restaurant, a school, apartments. But it just needs to stay what it is, an events center which is not necessarily a real prosperous business, it almost has to be a non-profit,” says Kerry McCoy with Friends of Dreamland Ballroom.
The group hopes to fund raise this year, start construction next year and re-open the venue in 2012.
For more information on how you can get involved, click here.
Dec
22
The folks over at Today’s THV did a story on the health care bill currently making its way through the legislative process and came by to ask us our opinion. The focus of the story was how health care reform will affect small business.
Go here to read the article and view the video –
NOTE: The video is on the right!
Oct
8
Group wants to restore historical ballroom in Little Rock
Filed Under AFB on TV, Current Events, Dreamland Ballroom | Leave a Comment
Reported by: Sandra Kirk, Fox 16, KLRT
Email: skirk@fox16.com
October 7, 2009
Fox 16 – Click here for the full story and VIDEO!
LITTLE ROCK, AR – A group wants to bring back the history and the party in downtown Little Rock. Friends of the Dreamland Ballroom are gathering support to restore the third floor of the flag and banner building.
Sounds of the past fill Eugene Porter’s memories. “Cab Calloway, B.B. King, Ella Fitzgerald, all played on this stage. We were here, we were listening to the music, some of the best that we had in relation to jazz, blues, and it was really tremendous,” Porter said. “The favorite ones that I saw were Ray Charles, and B.B. King, those were the traditional ones.”
And tradition is what the group, Friends of Dreamland Ballroom, wants to restore.
“Committed to bringing back the history, the music, and the party to Dreamland Ballroom,” Chairman Kerry McCoy said.
The ballroom is located on the third floor of the now Flag and Banner building in downtown Little Rock. The vision is to make it a hot spot for events including weddings, parties and also a museum to share the buildings history.
“It was the key to society as far as Little Rock was concerned. This was our street,” McCoy said. “It needs to tell the story of 9th Street which was Little Rock’s Little Harlem. This is the last building left from that era. This is all the original moldings, the orange and turquoise moldings went around the stage,” he said.
Now the group needs money to restore the space. “You know this place has great bones.”
“To be a part of restoring this back to its proper place, to the culture and social scene in Little Rock how could you say no,” McCoy said.
Porter hopes he’ll get a chance to see more greats perform on this stage. “This is wonderful. The city needs this, the city of Little Rock needs this.”
Friends of Dreamland Ballroom is a non profit organization. The group held its first open house and fundraiser September 28th.
Click here for more information about Dreamland Ballroom.
Copyright 2009 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sep
8
Dreamland Ballroom on Today’s THV news
Filed Under AFB on TV, Current Events, Dreamland Ballroom | Leave a Comment
So Sunday morning I am sitting at home sipping coffee, when the phone rings. It is Today’s THV reporter, Faith Abubey, she says, “Is this Kerry McCoy owner of Arkansas Flag and Banner?”
Faith had seen Dreamland Ballroom’s press release about our new nonprofit status and wanted to do a story on the place. Faith and I laughed about it must be a slow news day for her to be calling me at home and that I didn’t need a shower because it wasn’t smell-a-vision. So a time was set for us to meet in the Ballroom for the interview. She is a great women. She works alone with a camera and a mike. She records, writes, edits and narrates her own stories, all while wearing heels and makeup. What a girl!
The story aired Sunday at 5, 10 and 6 the next morning. I think she did a really good job but you be the judge…here it is…
Dreamland Ballroom on Today’s THV
Nov
5
Barack Obama elected president, FlagandBanner.com supplies
Filed Under AFB in Print, AFB on TV, Current Events | Leave a Comment
President-elect Senator Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia and Sasha wave to supporters at his election night rally after Obama was declared the winner of the 2008 presidential campaign in Chicago, November 4, 2008. Standing proud behind President-elect Obama are the American Flags, bases, and ornaments purchased from FlagandBanner.com.
Get your 2008 Election souvenirs at FlagandBanner.com today while supplies last!
Jul
30
Wheel of Discounts
Filed Under AFB on TV | Leave a Comment
This July 2nd, Kerry McCoy and Jason Harper discussed decorating supplies for the 4th of July. In celebration of Independence day, Kerry McCoy added a spin to buying at FlagandBanner.com for her customers. The Wheel of Discounts allowed customers to receive discounts on items in FlagandBanner.com’s showroom in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Customers received up to 50% off on items. However this did not count Jason’s surprise additional discount of 30% for watching the segment on Channel 7 Morning News. The Wheel and the additional discounts expired July 4th. Don’t forget Flagandbanner.com for your decorating needs around July 4th and Christmas. Sign up for our Flag Alerts & Discounts e-mail. This newsletter offers discounts on items online, and notifies you when to fly your flag, proper flag etiquette, tidbits of historical facts on flags, and more. This service is free to the public, and you may unsubscribe at any time.
To watch this interview see our Video Archive. Watch this and other interviews regarding flag etiquette, patriotism, and FlagandBanner.com.
Jul
15
4th of July Decorating on KARK
Filed Under AFB on TV | Leave a Comment
Early in the morning on June 23, Tracy Douglass of KARK news interviews Flagandbanner.com owner Kerry McCoy about 4th of July decorating tips and flag etiquette. Kerry McCoy decorated a local home with American flag style pulldowns and red, white, and blue striped full fan bunting. She also decorated the walkway with stick flags and informed viewers about an easy way to install a low-budget portable in-ground flag pole. Tracy Douglass and Kerry McCoy informed viewers of resources on Flagandbanner.com on flag etiquette.
To watch this interview and find out more see our Video Archive. Watch this and other interviews regarding flag etiquette, patriotism, and FlagandBanner.com.