Houlton is one of the first national screening locations of a new John Prine concert documentary that opens in New York City this weekend.
”You Got Gold – A Celebration of John Prine,” co-produced by Prine’s wife, Fiona Whelan Prine, and creative partner RadicalMedia, will play at the historic Temple Theatre in Houlton’s Market Square on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 8 and 9.
Houlton is the only place in Maine currently slated to screen the film following its New York debut.
The tribute concert was filmed on Oct. 10, 2022, on what would have been Prine’s 76th birthday, with friends, family, fans and artists from multiple genres and generations involved, Whelan Prine said.
“We laughed, cried, shared stories and sang the songs that spanned John’s 50-year career,” she said.
Whelan Prine is managing partner of independent record label Oh Boy Records.
The film’s distributor schedules the screening locations, and while Whelan Prine will not be in Houlton for the screening, she said she and her late husband know the area because they visited northern Maine several times.
“One of my best, longtime friends lives in Great Barrington and we spent a lot of time with her and her family, who had a camp in northern Maine,” she said.
Ever since owner Fred Grant purchased the Temple Theatre in 2023, he planned on offering concerts and other innovative offerings including film premieres to The County, hoping to bring back the magic of the century-old theater.
“It is 106 years old and there is no place like this,” he said. “We have had NASA here, the eclipse documentary and now the showing of this movie, which is another piece of the story of the theater and the town of Houlton.”
The filmed tribute to the legendary songwriter features 90 minutes of performances, written by and about Prine, by musical icons such as Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell, Nathaniel Rateliff, Bob Weir and many others, on Nashville’s Ryman Theater stage in a celebration of Prine’s life and music.
Documenting two days of performances, the film’s cinematography and music captures Prine’s humor, sense of humanity and connection to everyday people.
“We chose songs, some of his deepest cuts that reflect his work and empathy for folks,” Whelan Prine said. “The depth of his understanding of the human experience and his ability to
reach into our hearts over and over again means his body of work will continue to comfort, inspire and entertain generations to come.”
John Prine died from complications of COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
“My family and I, along with the rest of the world, grieved the loss of John and the many countless others who lost their lives to the deadly virus,” she said. “Finally in 2022, we were able to safely bring thousands of fans together to remember, grieve and celebrate our beloved John.”
Named after Prine’s song, “You Got Gold,” the film opens with Brandi Carlile and Lucius singing his last song, “I Remember Everything.”
“I’ve been down this road before, I remember every turn and every motel room and every song I ever sang … the way you turned and smiled at me,” the song goes.
Interlaced with the concert are photos and recorded clips of Prine throughout his 50-year career.
“One of the things I am most proud of in this film is how we were able to capture the power of his songs and the generosity of the artists who cover them,” Whelan Prine said.
For the Temple Theatre, the screening marks an expansion into alternative entertainment beyond movies, general manager Jason Howe said.
Also coming up in December is “Merrily We Roll Along,” the theater’s first musical offering filmed on Broadway, also playing on Dec. 8 and 9.
Closer to Christmas, there will be two screenings of The Royal Ballet’s “Nutcracker” and two showings of American Family Holiday: The Finale, a concert with the Windham Chamber Singers under the direction of Richard “ Rick” Nickerson, a 1981 graduate of Houlton High School.
“Rick has Broadway star Norm Lewis headlining this year, which is a really big name. Norm was the first African-American Phantom of the Opera on Broadway,” Howe said. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this programming in the month of December and we anticipate more of these kinds of events in the future.”
The theater will again offer their free weekend holiday season matinees to give families an opportunity to take in a movie and not have to worry about breaking the bank, Howe said.
Tickets for all of these events are $10 each and they are for sale now in person or on the theater’s website.
