Subjected to the Eagle Eye View

(Grafton, IL US) Sannibel the Southern Bald Eagle peers into the camera lens during  the yearly eagle presentation  at Pere Marquette State Park.  Every year thousands of people come into the area to see American Bald Eagles that have migrated along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to escape the harsher northern winter.

Every year there is a program at Pere Marquette Park State Park about eagles and other birds of prey.  This year they set up in a dark corner of the fabulous lodge building that was built during the Great Depression.  It was very dark and people were crowded many people deep and despite being tall and having long arms, there really wasn't any way to capture anything good from behind the mass of people.

There is a restaurant in the facility that has a door that opened directly behind the bird on its perch and as I gently opened that door the bird hopped around on the perch and squatted a bit to get a view of me as everyone was trying to photograph the bird from the other side.

So yes, I really did have the eagle eye on me for a while.

Opening Day at the Stadium!

The much anticipated opening of the Stadium Theater in Jerseyville Illinois has finally taken place.  The Theater was closed by AMC in 2011 and now has been renovated and reopened.  New screens, new sound and digital projection create a much better viewing experience than the previous film based system.

Link to Stadium Theatre website

(Jerseyville, IL) Patrons line up for opening night at the newly renovated Stadium Theater.

(Jerseyville, IL) Two young boys reach up to the counter with money in hand to pay for their tickets.  The new cash register had failed and transactions were kept track of by a tally sheet.

(Jerseyville, IL) Patrons jam the lobby of the newly renovated Stadium Theater on opening night waiting for the early showing of "The Hunger Games" to conclude.

(Jerseyville, IL) Three friends ready for a movie on opening night.

(Jerseyville, IL) The newly renovated Stadium Theater has new technology installed to created a better viewing experience for the audience.  The orange case to the left s delivered by a courier service as the features change at the theater.  The case holds a hard drive containing the digital movie files that are then installed into the server that is directly below the projector.  The server housing has a slide out keyboard unit that is used to program the digital projector.  This particular system uses Dolby software to manage the files and the LCD display attached to the server giver the operator a visual representation of what has the system has been programmed to do.  Attached to the front of the projector is a special polarizing screen that makes 3-D movies possible.  The 3-D system slides back and forth on a rail so it can be moved into place when showing 3-D movies.

(Jerseyville, IL) A view out of one of the windows in the projection booth of the Stadium Theater.  In the center of the image is a view of what is on the theater screen.  To the left is a rack holding the multichannel sound system components.  To the right you can see part of the digital projector.

(Jerseyville, IL) Theater patrons with 3-D glasses watch "The Lorax" on opening night at the newly renovated Stadium Theater.

Last Picture Show - The Sequel

What once wasn't.. now is again!

The Stadium Theater in Jerseyville IL is reopening after being closed by AMC.  After a huge public outcry, AMC negotiated a reasonable sale price to the new owner and after many renovations is open for business again.

(Jerseyville, IL) The once shuttered Stadium Theater is now reopen after extensive renovations.  The theater was closed by AMC last year and after a huge public outcry and show of commnuity support it was purchased and renovated by a local independent theater chain operator.

(Jerseyville, IL) Stadium Theater owner Steve Dougherty stands in the doorway of his newly renovated facility during an open house held to show off the renovations the night be fore the theater officially opens.  The theater has been upgraded to digital projection, surround sound and 3-D capability.

Opening night photos coming soon.

http://www.thestadiumtheatre.com/

The Rural Landscape

(Greene County, IL) An abandoned farmhouse that was once occupied by generations of farmers now sits in disrepair awaiting whatever vandalism comes its way.  Someone has removed the toilet and left it on what was one the front porch as trees start to overtake the structure.  There are no remaining glass panes anywhere to be found and the doors have all been removed or damaged.

If you escape suburbia and drive through the countryside,  you see the hard evidence of what is happening to much of rural America.  Once vibrant small towns are struggling to maintain themselves or have disappeared completely.  In the general vicinity where this image was made there are many named locations on maps that do not have any structures remaining.

Sights from the Jersey County fair

What's not to love about county fairs?

You could watch the motocross riders,

and then be off to your favorite carnival ride after the show!

The Jersey County Fair is held every summer at the American Legion Park in Jerseyville IL.  These are a few images of what was there to entertain the crowd.  More images as the fair continues through Sunday.  If you want to see more, click on the link.

http://michaelweaver.zenfolio.com/p986465352