“Stories From the Balcony”
Interviews about the Grand Theatre in Frankfort Kentucky
Interview on Video with Connie Parrish
On Location at the Grand Theatre
Tape 0006JTH_DV (after the Sheila Mason Burton Interview)
Conducted by Joanna Hay
October 31, 2006
This project has been supported by the Kentucky Oral History Commission
and Save The Grand Theatre, Inc.
PARRISH: I just ate, I have no lipstick.
HAY: Tell me your name.
PARRISH: My name is Connie Parrish.
HAY: And your maiden name…
PARRISH: My maiden name was Parrish, I married a Parrish. Well, I married a
Moore first, and then I divorced from him after 9 1/2 years and I married a Parrish this time and we’ve been married, well, it’ll be 25 years. So, I’m a Parrish. So I was Connie Parrish Moore Parrish.HAY: And you’re from Frankfort
PARRISH: I’m from Frankfort.
HAY: And we’re sitting in the Grand Theatre now and you live in Lexington now,
but you were wandering by…PARRISH: I was eating down here before I go see my father and my children, or my
child, and decided to come by and see what was going on at the Grand Theatre on Friday nights and just happened to run into your husband and tell me your connection with the Grand Theatre.HAY: Tell me your connection with the Grand Theatre.
PARRISH: My grandfather, he was the manager, I didn’t really know him, but he
was the manager at the Grand Theatre and the Capital Theatre when he was alive and he actually died when I was young, when I was a baby. And my Dad used to usher here, and my mother used to sit here every weekend and watch movies with a big bag of popcorn. HAY: What’s you’re mother’s name?PARRISH: Patsy Parsons.
HAY: Is she still alive?
PARRISH: No, she passed away in ’98.
HAY: And her brother is…
PARRISH: Vince Parsons.
HAY: Who I have talked to.
PARRISH: Yes. She has two brothers. She has Vinson and Richard Parsons.
HAY: Where is Richard? I know where Vince is.
PARRISH: Richard’s in California. And Vince is in South Carolina [actually North Carolina]
HAY: And what do you remember with your mother talking about the Grand. What
memories did she tell you about the Grand Theatre… stories?PARRISH: The biggest memory, of course, was meeting her husband. Because he was
the usher, my father was the usher and she was here all the time and they tell the story about how they met and, but, she just loved this place. She was here every weekend to hang out her Dad, who was my grandfather, so she loved this place.HAY: So, you might not be here if weren’t for the Grand Theatre?
PARRISH: No, I wouldn’t! [laughing] I wouldn’t.
HAY: Because they met here.
PARRISH: Because the met here! That’s right. That’s right
HAY: So, your father’s name is?
PARRISH: Eugene Parrish.
HAY: Is he still alive?
PARRISH: Yes, he just turned 77. And he’s still alive.
HAY: And so he was one of the ushers. How old was he?
PARRISH: I’d say he was probably 17, maybe 16, he was really young.
HAY: How old were they when they met?
PARRISH: He was 15, they were young, very young.
HAY: Now, your uncle said that he and your sister, [should be his sister] and
their Mom lived on the second floor of the building next door.PARRISH: Yes, that’s what I was told.
HAY: Do you remember any stories about that?
PARRISH: No, she didn’t really talk a lot about that. I, actually, when I was
born, we were living in the housing project and so I don’t even really remember that, but she tells stories about how I would run away, even at two, to go see the rabbits downtown, and that I would have to be picked up along the way by somebody and brought home. She just tells stories like that and but, growing up they spent a lot of time here. Downtown was the big thing. And they were in walking distance after I was born, we were in walking distance so we were here a lot, downtown.HAY: But you were too young to remember.
PARRISH: This is the very first time I’ve been into the Grand Theatre.
HAY: What do you think?
PARRISH: It looks great! It really looks great. It does bring back, it’s kind of
eerie, it kind of brings back a lot of memories, even though I wasn’t in here. It’s kind of has an eerie feeling.HAY: Because it’s part of your whole…
PARRISH: It’s part of my life. Yes… how things started for my family. Yes, it’s
very interesting to be here.HAY: Had you heard that it was coming back?
PARRISH: Yes, I did. As a matter of fact, even before I left Frankfort, I knew
they were working on trying to get it back. I was really glad about that.HAY: What were you feelings about that, what did you think?
PARRISH: You know, it was really interesting, because my husband and I had
talked about it one time, a couple of times, as a matter of fact, how nice it would be if they could bring it back. And like I said, my brothers and I, I’m the oldest, I have two brothers and I’m the oldest and so, the fact that it could come back that’s very interesting because we’ve never been in it. I’m the oldest and I was never in it, not that I know of. But that’s something I’ll have to ask my father about, he’s still around.HAY: What year were you born?
PARRISH: I was born in ’48.
HAY: You probably came in here when you were little tiny.
PARRISH: Probably have, and that’s what I’m not really sure about. I’ll have to
ask about that.HAY: It’d be interesting to know if you came to any kids movies before you can
really remember.PARRISH: I really don’t remember, of course I was so young, but, but yeah, I
probably did. Because like I said, my Mom came a lot, and I don’t know how much longer my Dad worked in here after they got married, but that’s a possibility, I probably did. I probably was in here but just don’t know it. [laughing]HAY: You’ll have to find out.
PARRISH: I will have to find out, I can do that today. I’m going to see him.
HAY: Yes, do. I should give you my card and you can send me an email.
PARRISH: Maybe I can find out some more information.
HAY: So, your Dad, would he be interested in being interviewed?
PARRISH: He might be, he may be. I could ask him. He may be. Because he would
definitely remember this place.HAY: Do you see Vince when he comes to visit?
PARRISH: Vince doesn’t come very often. He’s not really around us that much and
we haven’t seen him since he moved. He came a few times to see my mother, but I really don’t get to see much of him. I wish I could see more of him. He has invited me to come and see him, but I haven’t gone yet. But I really have been thinking about it. This is really strange that this has all come about because I really…HAY: He has a pretty house.
PARRISH: Yeah, I hear that and he’s always inviting me and I just haven’t come,
but. I probably will, now.HAY: He said, I think he said he came to one of his high school reunions. Yes,
he does comes to those.PARRISH: Yes, he does come to those.
HAY: and that’s been a long time, maybe five or six years.
PARRISH: Yes, he does come to the reunions. But he’s never here long enough for
me to see him or to spend time with him. He’s just here for the reunion, so.HAY: Is there anything… other things you’d like to say… any other thoughts as
you look around? Or imagine your parents meeting here all those years ago.PARRISH: I think that’s one thing that is strange, just knowing I’m in the
building where my Mom and Dad met. And my grandfather was here, which I never got to know him. So, it does feel a little strange to be in that place where I never got to meet my grandfather, he was here all the time. I have pictures. As a matter of fact, I think I did send pictures to you all. Let’s see, it was someone, when they had the book, you know, about the Grand Theatre. Well, I sent it on the Grand Theatre. Pictures of my grandfather in front of the Grand Theatre, then. It may be at the city….HAY: The historical society?
PARRISH: Well, at the City one.
HAY: City Museum.
PARRISH: City Museum. It may be at the city museum.
HAY: I’ll check into that.
PARRISH: The city museum, not the historical society.
HAY: I’ll check into that. Or Michael Greer might have them?
PARRISH: I think they should have them, because I did send some of them standing
in front of the sign. Actually, I think he was standing in front of the, where they take the money. In front of the booth. And I may have sent some others. I just can’t remember, it’s been a while.HAY: That’s really exciting. That’s really great that you did that. Well… I can
stop rolling unless you have something else.PARRISH: No, I’m fine, I don’t’ have anything else to say.
HAY: And I’ll show you the downstairs on our way.
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