Greathall Productions, Inc. presents...
Introduction
Jim's Studio
Photos from Our Travels to Literary and Historical Sites
that Relate to Greathall Recordings in:
The United States: Virginia
Ireland
New Zealand
How to Build a Castle (France, 2013)
Photos from Here & There
Mark Twain House, Angels Camp, California
An unexpected treasure for Mark Twain fans: driving through the California Gold Country, we found the site where Sam Clemens wrote the story that first shot him to fame as Mark Twain: "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and also wrote a wonderful short story, "Jim Baker's Blue Jay Yarn." He passed the winter of 1864-65 in this cabin (this is a replica, tho' the chimney and fireplace are the originals) with some friends. He jotted notes in a nearby tavern in the town of Angels Camp (the town's still there, tho' tiny) and wrote "The Jumping Frog" in this cabin. Later he wrote about that winter in his book "Roughing It." Randy and I saw the marker from our road directing us a mile up Jackass Hill to the cabin site, and had to make the detour. (At times, there were hundreds of wild jackasses on the hill "serenading" the prospectors at night; hence, the name.) Today, the nearby Calaveras County fairground stages a frog jumping contest annually.
Mark Twain (our recordings: "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Prince and the Pauper") and Bret Harte ("Dick Spindler's Family Christmas" from our "Christmas Carol" recording) met during the Gold Rush days, tales of which first shot both authors to worldwide fame. It was concerning that same year that Mark Twain famously said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco."
Jim ponders the strange places and circumstances that can result in literary gold — the only kind that Sam Clemens/Mark Twain struck in California's Gold Country.
The cabin where Mark Twain wrote the tale that first made him famous, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". He spent the winter of 1864-65 here in the California Gold Country.
The replicated inside of the cabin. (The fireplace and chimney are the originals.)
Introduction
Photos from Our Travels to Literary and Historical Sites
that Relate to Greathall Recordings in:
The United States: Virginia
Ireland
New Zealand
How to Build a Castle (France, 2013)
Photos from Here & There
About Jim Weiss | Storytelling Recordings
A Letter from Jim & Randy | Jim's Photo Album
Timeline of Recordings | Travel Calendar | Book a Live Performance
| Jim Writes...
Jim Weiss
Post Office Box 5061
Charlottesville, Virginia 22905-5061
(800) 477-6234 (434) 296-4490 FAX