Advance Screening of Disney-Pixar’s Cars to Benefit Oklahoma

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Advance Screening of Disney-Pixar’s Cars to Benefit Oklahoma

Postby Regina on Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:42 am

Advance Screening of Disney-Pixar’s Cars to Benefit Oklahoma Library
Association
Oklahoma will get an early peek of the latest Disney-Pixar animated feature Cars before the film speeds into theaters across the country. Harkins Theatres in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown will host a pre-release screening of Cars on Saturday, June 3 at 3:00 p.m. to benefit the Oklahoma Library Association Endowment. Cars is the story of Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie racecar who discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. All the characters are automobiles from various eras, ranging from a 1951 Hudson Hornet to a snazzy 2002 Porsche 911. The film features the voice talents of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, and Larry the Cable Guy.
As part of the special screening, the audience will hear from Tulsa’s own Michael Wallis, author of Route 66: The Mother Road and the voice of Sheriff, a 1949 Mercury who arrests the speeding Lightning McQueen.
Wallis is regarded as an expert on America’s storied Route 66. Academy Award-winning director John Lasseter recruited him to serve as a consultant and tour guide. Wallis traveled with several Pixar animators and representatives along the Mother Road during the development process.
“They savored every morsel of the tour,” Wallis said. “We met hitchhikers, cops, waitresses and plain folks who live and work along Route 66. They made sketches, took photos and just soaked it all in. The trips were exhausting and wonderful.”
Wallis said the Pixar folks spent considerable time along Oklahoma’s 400 vintage miles of the historic road. Along the way, they discovered Oklahoma characters and landmarks that served as inspiration for the film.
“They loved the people here,” Wallis said. “For example, a bit of Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Café in Stroud, will be in a car character named Sally, voiced by Bonnie Hunt.”
Welch met many of the film’s creators during their stops in Stroud over the past few years, and she said the experience was “just awesome.” She heard rumors beginning in 2003 that her stories were inspiration for Sally, the 2002 Porsche that runs the Cozy Cone Motel in the movie. “It wasn’t until 2006 that I had confirmation from Pixar that Sally was partly based on me.”
Pixar also had a surprise for Wallis. After listening to the author describe the highway and its folklore in a rich baritone voice, the film company offered Wallis another gig: the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs.
Wallis and Welch were also featured prominently in pre-publicity for the film, with both participating in The Making of Cars promotional feature. The Rock Café was also one of the settings used in a Movie Surfers segment on the Disney Channel.
Wallis and his wife Suzanne Fitzgerald Wallis are authors of the book The Art of Cars, which offers an insider’s view into the artistic development and painstaking research that went into the making of the movie.
Disney/Pixar is donating the film for the screening, and Harkins is donating its Cine-Capri theater to assist OLA with the fundraiser. The Oklahoma Library Association joins the state in turning 100 years old in 2007, and the organization has established an endowment to improve services to its members and benefit library and literacy services in Oklahoma.
Ticket prices to see Cars on June 3 are $50 each and may be purchased at Route 66 at 50 Penn Place, 5000 N. Pennsylvania in Oklahoma City, or through the Oklahoma Library Association’s website at http://www.oklibs.org/cars . Filmgoers may claim $37.50 of the ticket price as a donation.
In addition to the special screening, a VIP reception, dinner, silent auction and classic car exhibit will be held at the Governor’s Mansion immediately following the film. Guests at the Mansion will have a chance to visit with both Wallis and Welch and hear more about the creation of the film.
Additional sponsors of the Oklahoma pre-release screening and Mansion event are Laurie Anne Williams, EBSCO, The Daube Company, Dana Osterholtz, Winnercomm, Jennifer Paustenbaugh, Sheila Johnson, Monty Shockley, Wilson Chevrolet, Larry Gosney State Farm Insurance in Stillwater, Bob Moore Infiniti, Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker; Rick’s Automotive in Ardmore, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Route 66 in 50 Penn Place, the Rock Café in St roud, McDonalds, Oklahoma Centennial Commission, Premier Vinyl Fabrications in Ardmore, Redline Muscle Cars, and the Oklahoma Malt Beverage Association.
Organizations and individuals who are providing automobiles for the classic car exhibit at the Governor’s Mansion are Wilson Chevrolet Jeep, Larry Gosney State Farm Insurance, Bob Moore Infinite Porsche Audi, Brill Motor Speedway, Redline Muscle Cars, Premier Vinyl Fabrications, Rick’s Classic Automotive, John Wohr and Terry Latte.
For more information, contact the Oklahoma Library Association at 405-525-5100.
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Postby the music man on Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:20 am

oh my gosh i never even knew that!
You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villian. . . . . .
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Postby Regina on Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:19 am

Quit posting stupidity to bump your rank!

I hold ultimate power there.
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Postby the music man on Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:01 pm

i'm not posting stupidity. I don't say randi's name in al my posts.
You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villian. . . . . .
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