Canal Corridor Association’s Fall 2014 Dinner Lecture Series The Canal Corridor Association hosts a dinner lecture series at Lock 16 Center, in LaSalle, IL and the Public Landing
Restaurant in Lockport, IL every fall and spring. Our dinner lecture series provides an opportunity to introduce participants
to local and regional history topics during a relaxed and enjoyable evening. The Canal Corridor Association dinner lecture
costs $24 for members and $29 for non-members. Reservations required for all events. Please call Lisa at 815-223-1851 or
email [email protected]
The Dinner Lecture Series schedule is as follows:
Thursday, September 18, 2014, 5:30 PM Cocktails, 6:00 PM Dinner
Location: Lock 16 Center, LaSalle
Topic: "Singing, Yodelin’, and Trick Ropin’"
Cowboy Randy Erwin presents "Singing, Yodelin’, and Trick Ropin’" at our September session. Hear and participate in
music that has made the cowboy such a special part of American history during a show featuring music, folklore, and history
–with rope tricks as well! Learn about the origins of cowboy culture, how they lived, worked, and spun tall tales; and about
the animals cowboys worked in their daily lives. Pick up some trick-roping tips!
Speaker: Mr. Erwin has performed all over the United States, created four nationally distributed CDs, contributed music for
several film scores, including Walt Disney’s “Home on the Range.”
Thursday, October 16, 2014, 6 PM Cocktails, 6:30 PM Dinner
Location: Public Landing Restaurant, Lockport
Topic: “Searching for Marquette: A Pilgrimage in Art”
Through monuments and artwork, Ruth D. Nelson retells the story of the 17th-century French Jesuit missionary-explorer,
Father Jacques Marquette, the celebrated surveyor of the Mississippi River. But his expedition down the Great River was
only part of the Marquette legacy, which began on the southern shore of Lake Superior and ended on the eastern shore of
Lake Michigan. Searching for Marquette follows his journey through today’s cities and towns in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan and Arkansas to uncover French relics, Native-American royalty, and hearty settlers in a drama of faith, the fur
trade and the future of America’s heartland.
Speaker: Ruth Nelson lives in Downers Grove, Illinois and writes on art in the Midwestern United States.
Thursday, November 20, 2014, 5:30 PM Cocktails, 6:00 PM Dinner
Location: Lock 16 Center, LaSalle
Topic: “The TR! Show”
Derek Evans presents "The TR! Show" at our November session. Mr. Evans brings to life the dynamic character of Theodore
Roosevelt. Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, the youngest President of the United States, was one of the most interesting men
who ever lived. Throughout his life he was a cattle rancher, deputy sheriff, historian, naturalist, explorer, author of 35 books,
police commissioner, assistant secretary of the Navy, governor of New York, war hero, lawyer, and the first American to win
a Nobel Prize.
Speaker: Mr. Evans was trained for the theatre at Northwestern University, New York University, and the American
Conservatory theatre in San Francisco. As manager and director of the Monarch Theatre Company, he brought Shakespeare,
Opera, and literary adaptations to schools throughout the American Midwest.
Thursday, December 4, 2014, 6PM Cocktails, 6:30PM Dinner
Location: Public Landing Restaurant, Lockport
Topic: “How Illinois Put Christmas on the Map”
What do Whirl Glo Shades, Matchless Stars, Rudolph, Frosty, Vincent Minelli, aluminum trees and Sears, Roebuck and
Company all have in common? Chicago and the State of Illinois have played an important role in how we
celebrate Christmas. In this presentation, you will discover the important people, places, events and characters that shape our
yuletide season!
Speaker: Chicago resident Steven Daniel, graduated with a BS in Education from The Ohio State University. In the past 22
years, he has called Chicago home and has been interested in our state's history every since. He is a member of the Golden
Glow of Christmas Past, an international organization of vintage and antique Christmas collectors. The "Glow" focuses on
preservation and education of Christmas heritage and traditions. He has served on the Board of Directors, as the
organization's Chairperson and hosted the 2014 Golden Glow Convention in Illinois.