2025.08.14 THROW BACK THURSDAY - MORE SAM PECK HOTEL STORIES

THROW BACK THURSDAY - MORE SAM PECK HOTEL STORIES  

PLUS CLASS NEWS

The hotel had many famous guests including movie stars and other celebrities. In 1953, Winthrop Rockefeller came to Little Rock to visit an old army friend, Frank Newell. He rented a penthouse suite and Sam quoted him as saying it was nicer than his Park Avenue facilities. Rockefeller became enamored of Petit Jean Mountain and lived in the penthouse for almost two years while he acquired his ranch land and built his home on the western rim of the mountain. Rockefeller was known to have an appreciation for quality alcoholic beverages. Bob Peck reported that after Rockefeller took up residence at the hotel, he had such a quantity of fine wine and spirits shipped to his suite that the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board fined him for not having Arkansas Revenue Stamps. After he was elected governor, Rockefeller sometimes stayed in the hotel when in Little Rock, rather than at the Governor’s Mansion where he spent little time.

 Actor Burt Reynolds and his (older) friend the famous actress and singer, Dinah Shore, stayed in the hotel for several weeks while his movie White Lightning was being filmed locally. Granddaughter Capi remembers that Dinah and Henrietta became close friends, and Henrietta was offended when Dinah left before Burt did and was quickly replaced by a young woman.

Thanks to my new, young, vibrant reporter . . . ah, young at heart!

1956 CLASS NEWS

Next Thursday I will post the latest list of those Classmates we have lost.  I said in an earlier TBT we had lost 429, but I had forgotten about Dan Hinkle, so the number is really 430.

I want all of you to take good care of yourself so that you who are out of town can travel to Little Rock next April 24 and 25, 2026, to join all of us at our 70th Reunion.  Plans are for 

one big banquet on Saturday night, April 25, at Pleasant Valley Country Club.  There will be valet parking so all you have to do is get yourself to the front door, everything else will 

be taken care of.  Plus if you are here from out of town, we will all get together for dinner at a local restaurant Friday night, April 24.  Anyone can join in, of course.  Also we are 

extending the invitation to our Reunion Saturday night to any classmate who attended Central in the 1950's.   A few of the other Classes have not been having Reunions, so we want 

to all get together and fill up that Ballroom at the Pleasant Valley Country Club.

I remember the Sam Peck Hotel across 5th (Capital Ave.) from the Main Post Office? When I was a little kid, it was the Freiderica Hotel (before it became the Sam Peck). I also remember the 

Albert Pike Hotel at 7th and Scott streets, one block south of the old Boys Club where I learned to swim and also played a lot of pick-up, half-court basketball games. Of course, I played a lot 

more pick-up basketball at the Fair Park swimming pool - where I also lusted after you teenage gals in bathing suits when my teenage harmones  involuntarily controlled me. (Is that too much 

information?)  Now that's all history from back in the "days of yore." We've all covered a lot of territory since then; but I still think of "dem dere days;" fondly.  As Bob Hope always used to say. 

"Thanks for the memories."

Gary Frederick

1955 Class News

Karo Kampbell and Ann Dickinson are anxious to help with the 2026 Reunion.  Anyone else from the Class of 1955?   Please contact Mary Thomas (fmgardner@att.net) 

or Jack Stanley (jkandrss@swbell.net).  They welcome all the help they can get!!!!    

Hi Marylou
I always look forward to your Throw Back Thursday notes.  Interesting statistics on the class  of 56.   I wonder if anyone keeps those numbers for the class of 55?
Keep up the good work.
Jane (Wyatt) Witherspoon  Class of 55.

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OK, OK, yes, the answer was "11"!!  See, you do still have it~    

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  Have a great week!!!!  

ML