Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Andy Hanson exhibit will hang at Music Hall at Fair Park during Dallas Summer Musicals

By Pegasus News wire

The photography of Andy Hanson will be exhibited at the Music Hall at Fair Park throughout the Dallas Summer Musicals’ 2008 season, which runs through the State Fair of Texas musical, “The Color Purple,” September 30-October 19. An opening reception will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 prior to the 8 p.m. opening of “Ring of Fire, The Music of Johnny Cash,” at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Photos of Johnny Cash and of the Beatles, who were in Dallas for a 1964 press conference, are included in the exhibit.

Andy Hanson has probably photographed more people than anyone in Dallas. Since the 1950s, he has taken pictures of events, street scenes, news stories and people from politicians to movie stars to socialites. He was the society photographer for The Dallas Times Herald from 1960 until 1992 when the paper shut down after being sold to the competition.

Of special interest to longtime patrons of the Dallas Summer Musicals are Hanson’s photos of many of the stars who appeared at the Music Hall at Fair Park, including Carol Burnett, Carol Channing, Sandie Duncan, Judy Garland, Ann Miller, Ginger Rogers, Van Johnson, Jim Nabors, Mickey Rooney and Tommy Tune.

In a recent article in The Dallas Morning News, the writer said “Hanson’s photographs are not just stills of moments in time, but rather are well-composed works of art that are shot the old-fashioned way, with black and white film, and are developed in a darkroom.”

Andy Hanson has received numerous awards, including the 2006 Dallas Historical Society Excellence in the Creative Arts Category, for his work.

The Dallas Historical Society’s popular exhibition “Andy Hanson-40 Years Behind the Lens” at the Hall of State at Fair Park during the 2007 State Fair of Texas, was one of the most visited on the fairgrounds. His book, “Andy Hanson, Another Side” contains his life story and a number of fascinating photographs. Autographed copies of the book are available for purchase at the Music Hall during the exhibit.

Source: The Music Hall at Fair Park

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