NATCHITOCHES, La. - In the summer of 1989 Hollywood came to Natchitoches for the filming of "Steel Magnolias," and introduced the historic, quaint small town to the world.

There was Dolly, Julia, Olympia, Sally, Shirley, Daryl — as in Parton, Roberts, Dukakis, Field, Maclaine, Hannah. They were among stars playing the characters in Natchitoches resident Bobby Harling's book about the death of his beloved sister, known as Shelby in the movie, from complications of diabetes in childbirth. And, of her family and the town.

"The (stars and staff) fell in love with Natchitoches and blended in beautifully," said Jerry Pierce, the liaison between the Northwestern State University and the movie production folks.

They rented houses. Shopped at Brookshire's. Ate at Sibley Lake's lakeside Mariner's restaurant. Skied in Cane River. Climbed Plantation Cherokee's narrow attic stairs to find a ghost. Enjoyed meals in resident Tommy Whitehead's art-filled lake home. Charmed residents.

And left memories that linger 30 years later.

"It was magic," said community leader Tommy Whitehead, who is considered the man responsible for the selection of Natchitoches for the filming.

"If you really want to know why 'Steel Magnolias' was filmed in Natchitoches, the reason is Tom Whitehead," said Associate Producer Andy Stone in "Steel Magnolias Scrapbook." (With an earlier push from author Harling who asked organizers to at least take a look at the town.)

Stone was so impressed with Whitehead that he ended up on the movie's payroll and on call 24 hours a day. Among his most unusual duties - ordering Evian spray overnighted from Neiman Marcus when the actresses told him they needed it to cool off in the humidity. ("I couldn't find any here or in Shreveport," explained Whitehead.)

The 30th anniversary of the filming is the theme for the 65th Natchitoches Fall Pilgrimage presented by Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches. It is Oct. 11, 12 and 13.

A second bow to "Steel Magnolias'" 30th anniversary is the "Blush & Bashful Weekend," Nov. 7-10, with "Steel Magnolias" playing at Parkway Cinema Nov. 8-14. The weekend starts with an Armadillo Cake Contest and ends with the Blush & Bashful Brunch at the Prudhomme-Rouqier House.

The headliners of the Fall Pilgrimage:

— American Cemetery and Mourning Tour presented by Natchitoches Historic Foundation. (The lead character's funeral was filmed here.)

— Steel Magnolia Town Tour in the Natchitoches National Landmark Historic District. Among them: Lemee House. 1839. Site of Ouizer's Garden Bench. "Steel Magnolias" exhibit on back porch.

— Cane River Country Tour, Cane River National Heritage Area. Among them: St. Augustine Church. Established 1803. Site of the iconic "Steel Magnolias" wedding scene.

— Shelby's Wedding Reception, Steel Magnolia House Garden. The band from the movie's wedding reception will play and there will be a classic Natchitoches wedding feast.

— The event also celebrates contributions of the late Robert and Margaret Harling to Natchitoches. They are the parents of playwright Bobby Harling and Susan Harling Robinson, the inspiration for his story. Margaret was the real-life inspiration for Sally Fields' M'Lynn.

"Nothing has had more of a positive impact on Natchitoches than 'Steel Magnolias,'" said Pilgrimage Chairman Gary Cathey, Director Emeritus of APHN, in explaining why this theme, which changes every year, was selected.

"This beloved treasure by (Natchitoches resident) Bobby Harling, has brought Natchitoches worldwide acclaim. It introduced our little town to the world and now the world makes its way to our neighbourhood to experience what inspired the movie," said Cathey.

Arlene Gould, executive director, Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau, agreed: "The impact of the Steel Magnolias movie to Natchitoches tourism and local economy has been tremendous."

"The convention visitor bureau office measures our tourism success and growth each month by our hotel/motel occupancy tax collections and I can tell you we have seen steady growth over the years," said Gould.

"Not a week goes by that a visitor doesn't come in our office asking about the 'Steel Magnolia' movie location sites and about the movie being based on a true story of one of our beloved local families, the Harlings. Here it is 30 years later and it is just as popular as ever," Gould added.

Did Harling have any idea the film and story would be as loved and popular as it is? "No idea," said Harling, who calls Natchitoches home.

But, he pointed out that is is a universal story because every family goes through trauma. "It celebrated the strength of my best friend. It still resonates with people."

He thinks its popularity is special, too, because his sister would have relished the fame it brought to Natchitoches.

"Nothing would make her happier that through her story this little town she loved so much and where she grew up was shown on a screen in Sri Lanka," Harling said.

Harling said he was inspired to tell his sister's story for his young nephew. "His father remarried five months after she died. I realized my nephew might never know his fabulous mother." (Harling and his sister were two years apart and were very close.)

Julia Roberts played his sister, Shelby, and Sally Field, his mom M'Lynn. Harling himself was a minister.

So what will be the "wow" factor on the tour? "Everyone will want to meet Mayo Vascocu. She made the 16 different Armadillo cakes for testing and for each take of the famous cake scene," answered Pilgrimage Chairman Cathey.

Both Whitehead and Jerry Pierce, assistant to the Northwestern State University president, who also worked with the production have special thoughts of their own:

"There were a lot of needs and I did whatever needed to be done," said Pierce, now NSU vice-president for external affairs. He emceed the first press conference and persuaded actress Dolly Parton to sing at NSU's opening football game that year.

"Producer Ray Stark loved this town. It is unusual for the producer to visit a movie being shot in remote locations, but he stayed. He loved it here," said Pierce.

"He had a house and a car he drove .... Although he didn't grocery shop in Los Angeles, he would go to Brookshire's and load the basket," added Whitehead.

Olympia Dukakis and Shirley MacLaine frequently ate at Whitehead's art-filled cottage on Sibley Lake. What did he feed them? "Whatever I had. It was no big deal."

Ray Stark ate at Mariner's on Lake Sibley almost every night.

So did Dolly Parton, who had an entourage with her at all times - a bodyguard, a secretary and when he was in town, her husband.

Whitehead took Shirley MacLaine to Cherokee Plantation, owned by the late Theodosia Nolan. "We had drinks on the porch and dinner on the veranda." Theodosia served crayfish etouffee and entertained Shirley MacLaine with stories about a ghost in the Cherokee attic." MacLaine wanted to see the ghosts, so up to the attic they went.

Tom Skerritt, who played Shelby's father, ordered flowers from Country Garden for his wife who lived in Washington and rode a bicycle all over town," said Whitehead.

Country Garden owner Jeanne Guillory told Reed, "They gave me three days to find 600 roses."

In a story in Premiere Journalist, Rex Reed said the movie company ordered 10 four-ounce spray bottles and 150 16-oz bottles - five cases - of Avon Skin-So- Soft bath oil for insect repellent from Avon lady Cathy Cobb.

At the Pilgrimage:

— Tour Ousier 's House and garden, site of the famous bench scene.

— See Aunt Fern's house and locations of the famous wedding and cemetery scenes.

— Hear how a princess ended up in a plantation attic.

— Visit Truvy's, and the real-life beauty shop that has made Natchitoches' "Steel Magnolias pretty for generations," says the promotional poster.

— Visit 36 movie sites around the the neighbourhood where the real "Steel Magnolias" lived who inspired one of the most beloved movies of all time, says the poster.

— And, learn to make an Armadillo Cake.

In 1989, Hollywood stars shined in Natchitoches for one golden summer.

They left a gift to the city of their summer, a magical movie about love and death, "Steel Magnolias."

The 2019 Fall Pilgrimage is saying in its way: "Thanks for the memories."

If you go

What: Natchitoches Fall Pilgrimage, brought to you by Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches.

When: Oct. 11-13.

Where: Natchitoches.

Events include: Speaker Series, Lemee House:

9 a.m., "Behind the Scenes of Steel Magnolias." Speaker: Tom Whitehead. Production Co./Community Liaison; 10 a.m."The Taylor House before and During "Steel Magnolias." Henry Cook Taylor Jr.; 11 a.m., "How to Make an Armadillo Cake." Mayo Gallien Vascocu and Brenda Gayle Riggs, "Baking the most memorable cake in movie history." Noon, "Extras, Extras Extras!" Local extras share tales from filming.

Prices: Mourning Tour: $20; APHN Town Tour and Country Tour Tickets, $25 for one ticket or $40 for both; Shelby's Wedding Reception, $50.

Information about the tours and admission prices: Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau: 1-800 259-1714 or 318-352-8072. NHF American Cemetery and Mourning Tour tickets available at www.natchitocheshf.com.APHN Town and County Tour Tickets

For tickets and information www.melroseplantation.org.

___

Information from: The Times, http://www.shreveporttimes.com

News from © The Associated Press, 2019