The American’s Creed

 

 

 

The American’s Creed

and The Making of ‘The American’s Creed’ 

Thank you to all of our great sponsors: Top of Georgia Economic Development Initiative, Smith & Wesley, Mountain View Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, William Marsh Chapter – National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, The Bank of LaFayette, William H.H. Clark, Marshall M. Bandy Jr. Law Office, Rhonda James, Boynton Lions Club of Ringgold, Georgia, Gateway Business Center,      Stateline Electronics, and AirPlay Direct.

Our film was entered in 36 film festivals worldwide and screened at the Tatras International Film Festival in Slovakia and the JEFF (Jinju English Film Festival) in South Korea, Castle Rock Film Festival in Colorado, and the Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival in Oklahoma.

We are currently submitting The Making of The American’s Creed to film festivals around the world, 20 so far. It won the Bronze Award at the Spotlight Short Film Awards in January 2024.

 

 

Join us as we create the opportunity of bringing this project to film festivals and ultimately to viewers via the internet. Sponsors who will support our efforts are still welcome. Contact us for more info on how you may help. Send a check to Randall Franks, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.

Support The American’s Creed
Please Provide Name to Feature


Actors Randall Franks and Butch Culpepper on location in Chickamauga, Ga.

Director Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” of TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” wrote a screenplay reflecting his desire to encourage people upon the inspired patriotic words penned by his kinsmen William Tyler Page in 1917 that were adopted by the United States officially as “The American’s Creed” standing alongside the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. Cinematographer Eric T. Jackson is joining Franks to help him bring the unique historical drama set during the American Revolution to life.

Cinematographer Eric T. Jackson, Actor Evan A. Jackson and Director Randall Franks

In the storyline, American colonist Robert B. Shields of Virginia, played by Franks, heeds a request from his cousin George Washington to muster men from the western frontier to join him in the revolution in the 1770s. Shields sees the effort as an opportunity to inspire the seeds of liberty and freedom in these men and the generations to follow.

Slated as a short film with an accompanying documentary “The Making of ‘The American’s Creed’,” the project is filming in Chickamauga, Ga. at the historic Gordon Lee Mansion and surrounding city locations. Franks and internationally known finger-style guitarist Wesley Crider, who made a special appearance in the film, composed and performed the soundtrack on fiddle, guitar, and Appalachian dulcimer at Tim Witt Studios near LaFayette, Ga.

Director Randall Franks guides actors Ronald Melton, Robert Jones and Wesley Crider.

The American’s Creed features Franks, Tina Brewer, Crider, Evan A. Jackson, Butch Culpepper, Ronald K. Melton. Jr., Robert E. Jones, Maggie Suits, Donald Benkis, Elaine Benkis, Dennis L. Jones, Ashley Robillard, John Francis, Cassandra Group, Gabriel Group, and Colton Buckles.

Actor/wrangler Butch Culpepper added both his talents and those of his film horses Charlie and Dollar to the film.

Period costumer Tina Brewer also shared her supervising talents for the project while also making costumes for “Capt. Shields” and ‘Sister Sophie.” She was supported by Ronald K. Melton, Jr. and Robert E. Jones who assisted on set with costumes and some props for the re-enactors. Also, thanks to Kathy Graham of It’s Sew Time, formerly in Ringgold, who made and donated the hair ribbon for “Capt. Shields.”

The Peach Picked Productions film is expected for release to film festivals in 2022. Producers wish to express special thanks to the City of Chickamauga mayor, council, staff and the residents for their support during the production of this film.

Film catering was provided by Choo Choo BBQ & Grill of Chickamauga.

Radio may access Randall Franks Music by visiting www.AirPlayDirect.com/RandallFranks/ .

 

 

Also support the effort by ordering a T-Shirt (Small-2X) $30 and a DVD $25 including The American’s Creed, The Making of The American’s Creed and an hour of music from Randall Franks and the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree and solo performances too! Or get both for $50.

T-Shirt Orders:

Prices

DVD Orders:

Autograph Request? Please Provide Name Desired To

DVD and T-Shirt Orders:



The American’s Creed

What Size T-Shirt?

DVD Autograph Request? What name?


Orders may also be sent via mail for same prices to Randall Franks, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755

George Washington

Trivia: Actor/director Randall Franks, who portrays a cousin of George Washington in the film, is actually a cousin of founding fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson; and also a kinsmen to John Adams, James Madison and James Monroe – founders who all served as president of the United States. Fifty-six men signed the document declaring Independence from Great Britain and the rule of King George III. Of those 56 men, 48 were Randall’s family members, so, I guess you could say his family all got together to create its own country on July 4, 1776.

Sister Sophie (Tina Brewer) keeps young Jamie Shields (Maggie Suits) entertained.

American Actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” recently joined Internationally known finger-style guitarist Wesley Crider, both of Ringgold, Ga., for a recording session. The duo was creating original music for the new short film “The American’s Creed” at Tim Witt Studios near LaFayette, Ga.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Tyler Page, author of “The American’s Creed” Credit Line: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by Harris & Ewing, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USZ62-123456]

 

 

 

Film DVD – Randall Franks – Still Ramblin’ plus Trail of the Hawk – Ramblin’ “Doc” Tommy Scott

16498f5a1f4257ce9721b478a7f5a200Still Ramblin’ plus Trail of the Hawk – Randall Franks hosts and directs

$25



Randall Franks hosts and directs Still Ramblin’ plus Trail of the Hawk
The story of Ramblin’ “Doc” Tommy Scott America’s Last Real Medicine Showman

Hosted & directed by TV star Randall Franks – Still Ramblin’ follows Ramblin’ “Doc” Tommy Scott’s unique career from the foothills of Georgia to stardom through interviews, rare photos, and never before seen film footage and western Trail of the Hawk

Randall Franks, Tommy Scott and his Hollywood Hillbillies, Frankie Scott, Sandra Scott, Gaines Blevins, Eddy Williams and Luke McLuke. Yancey Lane, Betty Jordan, Dickie Jones, Lafe McKee among others.

Ramblin’ “Doc” Tommy Scott’s (1917-2013) Last Real Old Time Medicine Show reached its 110th year in 2000 and celebrated on PBS in 2001 for with the release of Still Ramblin’ plus Trail of the Hawk.
The documentary “Still Ramblin’” gives a unique look at the life of America’s Last Medicine Showman. It follows his career from the foothills of Georgia to his days at the Grand Ole Opry and in Hollywood. Through interviews, still photos and never before seen film footage, writer/director Randall Franks includes greats like Roy Acuff, Stringbean Akeman, Sunset Carson, Carolina Cotton, Col. Tim McCoy Charlie and Bill Monroe, Lash LaRue, Minnie Pearl, Al “Fuzzy” St. John, Curly Seckler and many more.
“I just got the video back. Watching it brought back so many great memories of good times and old friends,” Scott said.
“Still Ramblin’” also features the digitally-restored anniversary edition of the western drama “Trail of the Hawk” featuring the music and comedy of Tommy and his Hollywood Hillbillies, Frankie Scott, Sandra Scott, Gaines Blevins, Eddy Williams and Luke McLuke. “Trail of the Hawk” was the directorial debut of Academy Award nominee Edward Dymtryk. The film, which was based on a James Oliver Curwood story, also featured western stars Yancey Lane, Betty Jordan, Dickie Jones, Lafe McKee among others.
Franks said, “It took us 2½ years to complete this project but it was more than a century in the making.” Franks, a former co-star of TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” hosts the project which will run in PBS syndication around the country.
“All my life, I heard of “Doc” Tommy Scott. I had the pleasure of meeting him around seven years ago and have since been a guest star on his stage show. He is surely one of America’s greatest treasures,” he said.
Actor Tommy Barnes of Nashville has worked on countless projects including Tom Hank’s “The Green Mile.” He edited “Still Ramblin’” at his High Moon studios. ”It has an abundance of rich pictures . There was so much amazing color home movie footage,” Barnes said. “As a western fan what impressed me the most was that Tommy had home movie footage of his daughter playing with Lash LaRue. As a child, I sure would have liked to have done that.”
In 1936, Scott joined “Doc” Chamberlain’s Medicine Show, founded in 1890, when it rolled through Toccoa, Ga. When Chamberlain retired, he gave Scott the medicine and the show. As one of country music’s first generation of stars, he began recording for RCA in the 1930’s.
He performed as a regular on some of the South’s biggest radio shows from WWVA Wheeling, West Virginia to WSM’s Grand Old Opry in the early 1940’s joining stars like Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Bill Monroe, Ernest Tubb and Pee Wee King. Scott said, “We played live on many stations and by transcriptions on the powerful Mexican stations like XERF Del Rio, XEG Monterey, Old Mexico.”
Like many of the stars of his era, success came from a combination of factors: the new medium of radio beamed their live performances all over the country; the popularity of new hillbilly records which started in Atlanta in 1923 with Fiddlin’ John Carson and film “Soundies” which showed fans what their favorite singers from radio looked like on the silver screen.
He benefited from all of these mediums, but his most lucrative medium was touring with his stage show. Scott said, “We kept the show on the road almost 350 days a year.”
Scott’s stage show has taken many names in it’s long history. The Georgia Peanut Band and The Hollywood Hillbillies are a couple of them. He has even run several shows at one time featuring different stars. It is this dedication to the public that has put his show in more different towns than any other entertainer. He has walked on stage for more than 29,000 performances in front of more than 25,000,000 paid admissions.
In the days when westerns were king of the silver screen, fans could have not only seen him on screen in musical films like “Southern Hayride,” “Hillbilly Jamboree,” and “Hobos and Indians,” but for their 25 cents admission children catching a Saturday matinee at the Wink Theater in Dalton or the Tivoli in Chattanooga could have seen him live and in person with his whole show. “We played so many of those theaters, three to five shows a day. Sometimes more than 200 in one year,” he said.
Scott’s status as a treasure is evidenced by many accolades, including his recent nominations for the National Heritage Award, his 1976 placement in the Country Music Foundation’s Walkway of Stars and the 1996 – 2008 Georgia Music Hall of Fame exhibit, the museum’s largest.
Scott, who counts appearances on television with Johnny Carson, Oprah Winfrey, David Letterman and Walter Cronkite, was also a pioneer in that medium hosting two of television’s first country music shows, “The Ramblin’ Tommy Scott Show” and “The Smokey Mountain Jamboree.”
With over 500 recordings to his credit, his chart success with included three titles “Rosebuds and You,” “Dance With Her, Henry,” and “Mule Train.”
He wrote around 300 of his recordings including “Rosebuds and You,” recorded by numerous artists, and the bluegrass standard “Rainbow of My Dreams” popularized by Lester Flatt. While Lester Flatt, of Flatt & Scruggs, is considered the author of “Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms,” Scott said, “Lester and I many times had a friendly discussion about who adapted the folk song first.”
In the seventies, when Suffolk marketing launched selling albums on television, Tommy Scott, Boxcar Willie and former Scott show alumnus, Slim Whitman reached an audience of millions in their homes.
Scott’s unique career spanned eight decades.

Music DVD – Atlanta Live

Atlanta Live DVDMusic DVD – Atlanta Live

$25 Donation


Share America Foundation DVD features Randall Franks and his band in 2008 performing You Better Get Ready, This Little Light of Mine,  In the Garden,  Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,  The Old Black Fiddle, Interview,  and Amazing Grace

Musicians: Randall Franks, Mark Bramlett, Barney Miller,Bill Burdette and Bill Everett

To receive a copy of “Atlanta Live” DVD featuring Randall Franks and his band sharing an interview about Share America his work in television, and performing six songs, send a tax deductible gift to Share America Foundation, Inc. of at least $25 and request Atlanta Live

Music DVD – Concert of Celebration

Concert of Celebration DVDMusic DVD – Concert of Celebration

$25 Donation


Share America Foundation, Inc. features in the 2012 release a cast of music stars and legends Starring Randall Franks with Guest Stars (In order of appearance) Paul Brown, The Marksmen Quartet, John and Debbie Farley, Ramblin’ “Doc” Tommy Scott, and Luke McLuke, Curly Seckler, Charlie “Peanut” Faircloth with the Trust Jesus Singers, Chubby Wise,  David Davis, Johnny Counterfit, Gary Waldrep, Barney Miller, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys, Butch Lanham, Doodle and the Golden River Grass,  Dale Tilley, Jesse McReynolds, Johnnie Sue, and Nelson Richardson. Two Hours of Entertainment, 29 Musical Performances including these favorites and more:
Ain’t Gonna Study War ♫ Amazing Grace ♫ Grandpa Was A Farmer  ♫ How Great Thou Art ♫ Wayfaring Stranger ♫ Crying My Heart Out For You ♫ You Can’t Stop Time ♫ Lord, I Am Coming Home ♫ When the Saints Go Marching In ♫ Golden Slippers ♫ Farther Along ♫ The Way Is In God’s Hands ♫ The Other Side of Heaven ♫ Cripple Creek  ♫ In the Garden ♫ Swing Low, Sweet Chariot ♫ You Better Get Ready ♫ Back Up And Push ♫ When They Ring Those Golden Bells for You and Me ♫ What a Friend We Have in Jesus ♫  The Old Gospel Ship ♫ Meet Me in Heaven ♫ I Want to Go There

Two Hours of Entertainment, 29 Musical Performances featuring a host of stars raising funds for the Share America Foundation, Inc. available for a $25 donation.

Music DVD – Precious Memories

PreciousMemoriesfrontMusic DVD – Precious Memories

$20 Donation

International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Legend Randall Franks leads a cast of talented performers sharing sacred sounds of bluegrass, country and Southern gospel for a new DVD.

“This program highlights some wonderfully talented entertainers who have been so gracious to support our efforts to encourage youth helping us raise funds for scholarships,” he said.

“Precious Memories” was filmed live from the stage of the 166 year-old Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga.

 

International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Legend Randall Franks leads a cast of talented performers sharing sacred sounds of bluegrass, country and Southern gospel for a new DVD.

“This program highlights some wonderfully talented entertainers who have been so gracious to support our efforts to encourage youth helping us raise funds for scholarships,” he said.

“Precious Memories” was filmed live from the stage of the 166 year-old Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga.

The project features performances by Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night;” Southern gospel performers Tim Owens and Journey On, and Calvary’s Blend; bluegrass guitarist Butch Lanham; country vocalist Johnnie Sue; and two Share America scholars – pianist Ryan Stinson and banjo player Cody Harvey of Mountain Cove Bluegrass.

The 18-song collection includes some great standards such as “Precious Memories,” “Amazing Grace,” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,’ “Old Time Religion,” and “The Old Gospel Ship.”

“The gathering also recognizes the contributions of one of our founding directors – the late Joe Turner who made such a difference in the lives of so many youth and is also dedicated in memory of the late director Gene Lowery,” Franks said.

To raise awareness of the release, Share America has released two recordings, “Precious Memories” and “The Purple Robe,” featuring Independent Country Music Hall of Famer Franks to bluegrass and gospel radio stations through AirplayDirect.com.

The DVD, produced in association with Peach Picked Productions and Tim Witt Studio of Rocky Face is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund. The Share America Foundation, Inc., a Georgia non-profit, presents scholarships to talented musicians who excel in the Appalachian musical arts. Share America hosts 10 fundraising concerts annually at the Ringgold Depot.