Paper Trails

Director's career gets star billing

CENTER STAGE: Benton native Barbara Johnston Hubbard, 87, retired longtime special events director for New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and its Pan American Center, recently received Pollstar magazine's first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

"She has helped countless students during her many years at New Mexico State University," says Michael Marion, general manager of Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. "She has had all the big ones come to her building in Las Cruces: Tina Turner, George Strait, Garth Brooks and any other act that mattered.

"She inspired me that even folks in small markets could get big shows," he said. "She's a good friend who I always enjoy visiting with. ... I'm so glad the folks at Pollstar gave her the first Lifetime Achievement Award."

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLPARK: A portion of a documentary chronicling the birth of baseball spring training in Hot Springs is set to be filmed in Little Rock, and there's a casting call for unpaid extras -- men, women and children -- to show up dressed in circa-1912 period clothing.

On Saturday, March 21, a re-enactment of a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox will be filmed at historic Lamar Porter Field. The game will be played by local baseball players dressed in period uniforms.

The film, The First Boys of Spring, is being produced by Larry Foley of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and will premiere at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival on Oct. 10.

Appropriate attire for women of the era includes one-piece dresses, narrow and straight skirts, front-buttoned blouses with tight-fitting sleeves, large hats and brim-style hats decorated with flowers or ribbon, according to a news release.

Men can wear single or double-breasted suits and matching vests with shirts only visible at the collar. Working-class men of that era wore sweaters, including cardigans, V-neck pullovers and turtlenecks. Men wore soft felt hats, derbies and driving caps.

Those interested in serving as extras are asked to be at the ballpark, located at 3200 W. Seventh St., by noon that day. For more information, call (501) 224-4033.

LANDMARK COVER BOY: Speaking of baseball, while former Travelers player Mike Trout has been all over magazine covers, a recent one he's gracing is a special kind of home run. He most recently appears on the cover of the 2015 issue of Who's Who in Baseball magazine, which this year celebrates its 100th year in print.

Trout, 23 and the 2014 winner of the American League's Most Valuable Player award, is an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. While playing for the Travelers in the summer of 2011, Trout was briefly called up by the Angels before becoming a regular player in 2012.

Contact Linda S. Haymes at (501) 399-3636 or [email protected]

SundayMonday on 03/01/2015

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