Live music, historic films add to Pioche Labor Day weekend

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Pioche’s Labor Day celebration will offer more than competitions, parades and longtime traditions this weekend, with live music and a look back at Nevada’s movie history adding to the entertainment Sept. 4-5.

The weekend’s live entertainment begins Friday night at the Overland Hotel & Saloon, where Fast Eddie will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The band will return Saturday night for a second performance during the Labor Day festivities. Both shows are for those 21 and older. Fast Eddie’s current performance schedule also lists both Pioche appearances.

Saturday afternoon, the focus shifts to Pioche’s history with a Historic Movie Houses Talk & Movie Screenings from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Thompson’s Opera House, 644 Main St. The free presentation is organized by Nevadans for Cultural Preservation and will explore Nevada movie history while highlighting connections between Thompson’s Opera House, the Gem Theater and Walking Box Ranch.

The presentation will include several short film screenings spanning different eras of early cinema. The program includes the 17-minute silent film “Friends,” a mining town romance; a five-minute excerpt from “True to the Navy” featuring Clara Bow; and a two-minute excerpt from “Red Hair,” also featuring Bow.

The presentation offers another tie-in to the ongoing restoration of the historic Gem Theater next door. Following the program, attendees can make the short walk to the Gem, where Friends of Gem Theater will be holding a  Labor Day weekend open house fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The open house will give the public an opportunity to see interior restoration work at the theater, much of which has not previously been accessible to visitors. The event was featured by the Lincoln County Record last week as Friends of Gem Theater continues working toward its goal of reopening the historic movie house.

Live entertainment continues Saturday afternoon when the Spillbedog Band performs from 4 to 6 p.m. at Pioche Town Park as part of the community’s Labor Day festivities.

Those looking to continue the evening with live music can then head to the Overland for Fast Eddie’s second performance beginning at 9 p.m.

Live music can also be found at the Alamo Club, where Eldon Hunt with Ron Collins will perform Saturday and Sunday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The additional performances and historic film program join a full slate of activities planned throughout Pioche’s 121st annual Labor Day celebration, which runs Sept. 4-7.