Thanks, Paul. We will be on the lookout for this. Seems pretty valid to me. Sometimes oral history is all we have to go on. Plus you have the photo! Yes, the "seed of truth" theory works in oral history as well. One gets many people telling a similar story, we must believe there is something to it. I use the multiple answers to verify the point. One of the most interesting I run into is the polly parrot slave stories from the blacks. Same stories told in different ways. best regards, Rebecca > The story related to the theater is that my now deceased father-in-law, Walter > Allen Gill, Jr. 1906-1994, who was raised in or near Wilmar by his maternal > aunt and grandfather, Lillian Collins & William M. Collins, played drums to > accompany a player piano at the Wilmar theater. We have a photo of him at a > set of drums and the story from his wife. > > As with most family stories, there is usually at least a seed of truth in > there somewhere - even if the seed is only the photo. > > Rebecca, I think the "seed of truth" theory is extremely well illustrated in > your book, Old Times..., on pages 20-21 about the naming of Possum Valley. > Note the recurring components about someone getting lost in there and eating > possum - even though details vary. > > Paul Groneman >