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Photographer Lynn Rabren, at that time the most recent Channel 8 ship-jumper, was assigned to Larry full time and the rest is history. They traveled every corner of the state together doing Assignment Florida. Later, the franchise evolved into Larry Ellistons Down Home Florida, lensed by Keith Hale. Larry would often set out with no particular destination or story idea in mind. Oddly enough, no matter what direction he headed there was a great storyor several of them. Once, Larry and Keith stopped in Sumterville for some fresh squeezed orange juice and found that people were coming from miles around just for a glass of OJ. The remote and long-forgotten mom and pop juice stand was a holdover from the days of Old Florida and Larrys contribution that week to the Tampa Bay airwaves.
When I look back on those days roaming around Florida, I feel privileged to have met so many wonderful people so eloquent in their simple passions. People like Tom Gaskins and his Cypress Knee Museum, Kenny Long and his Airplane Desk, and Silas Fungs WorldsFairRama, one mans tribute to the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair. The list goes on and on. And then there were all those beautiful moments from Florida nature. I cherished every moment. |