A Final Reflection On The SMILE

It's been two weeks since we gathered to see the documentary SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: THE UP WITH PEOPLE STORY at the Belcourt Theatre here in Nashville.

I asked those who attended and who were once part of Sing-Out South here in Nashville and/or who traveled with one of the national casts of Up With People to send me their thoughts about they saw and heard.

Ann Garrett Clay and Pat Hankins Kemper came together to see the film. Ann was a part of SOS for several years while attending Overton High School. Pat was also an Overton student and a member of Sing-Out South. She spent some time as well traveling with one of the UWP national casts.

Sing-Out South taping a TV special at WSIX-TV in Nashvillefor Memorial Day, 1967

Said Ann Clay: "I enjoyed the history of the film and the impact of MRA (Moral Rearmament). Even though we (in Sing-Out South) knew about MRA, it never was presented as any political or religious stance to us. We were just a group of good kids spreading songs of freedom and hope to others. I cherish those times and the friendships that have remained for 45 years!"

The combined casts of Up With People leave Estes Park, CO. in the summer of 1966

Said Pat Kemper:"I thought the film was very well done and represented a begining point and history of the UWP movement as well as MRA. Like you, I wish there had been more of an international representation and it would have been nice to see the SOS history incorporated since it was the catalyst for the other two casts (Casts B & C) forming after UWP was in Nashville in 1966."

"As Ann and I were discussing afterwards, there was not a political undertow for us. It was about changing the world, and believing it could be done. Being a part of that was something we wanted to do."

"For me, traveling with the national cast was a life-changing experience and gave me the fortitude to be outspoken and believe in the philosophy that all are created equal;and no matter the color of skin or religious affiliation we have the right to be whatever we want to be."

Nashville's Linda Blackmore Cates, an early UWP star, who is interviewed in the film

"Even though Linda was an internal and intricate part of the beginning of the UWP movement, there were things she saw and did that we had no part of, and knew nothing about what went on behind the scenes or on duck hunting trips" (blogger's note: you need to see the documentary to fully understand this last reference).

Pat had one final comment concerning another powerful part of the film where an UWP cast member deals with one of the parents in a host family in Mississippi, who brandishes a shotgun when he learn he is hosting a black person: "Maggie Inge's experience as a black in the '60s as well as a cast member of UWP was an amazing testimony to what we were trying to do and accomplish."

Sing-Out South tapes an appearance on the local Bozo show in the fall of 1966.

The last SMILE reflection I have to share comes from, Dave Cannon, an SOS cast member and a member of the main trio back in 1967 and '68. You can see Dave on the front row on the far right side of the photo above. Dave remains concerned about the breakup of UWP, the local Sing-Outs and MRA in 1968. He believes the decision was too controlled by UWP leader J. Blanton Belk.

"I still feel a might had....He (Belk) filled the board with absentee board members and one person must have made that decision for all three national casts, all the local casts, and the international casts."

Then Dave added something, I think many of us may have wondered when we left after seeing the film, particularly those of us who used to seeing motion pictures together back in the '60s (such as 2001:A Space Odessey) and then go to Shoney's or other Nashville restaurants and discuss what we saw for hours.

SOS members Bob Sharp and Henry Swider discuss matters during one of our SOS bull sessions.

Said Dave Cannon: "I kept sitting there thinking, I wonder what Henry would have said about that movie?"

Me too, Dave, Me, too. Thanks to everyone for sharing their thoughts!