Jane Long (aka Helen Mooty) was “interviewed” by Brenda Beust Smith in a reprisal of their delightful radio enactment recently for the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Lake Houston Chapter. Helen, retired director of the Galveston County Museum and a leading Jane Long historian, arrived at the Kingwood, TX, DAR meeting in full period attire, and skillfully gave the DAR members descriptive glimpses into life on Bolivar during her stay there, as well as her meeting with Jean Laffite, the hard winter survival when — as the only adult on the peninsula — she gave birth to a daughter, and her subsequent exciting life with the likes of Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, and Mirabeau B. Lamar during the founding of the Republic of Texas.
“Jane” stayed totally in character, while whimsically beguiling Brenda into lightheartedly vacillating between her “reporter” role and her portrayal of Mary Crow Campbell in the delightful “It’s All About Jane” play from the 2015 Jane Long Festival.
Helen Mooty as Jane Long, Mother of Texas, right, is interviewed by Brenda Beust Smith during a program presented for the Daughters of the American Revolution/Lady Houston Chapter.
“Jane” was not Mary Crow’s biggest fan, as she made very clear. Mary Crow, the wife of one of Jean Lafitte’s ship captains, lacked — shall we say, somewhat in the “social graces.”
As in the totally unscripted 2013 “Mother of Texas” presentation Helen and Brenda aired on KPFT (90.1 FM) – Houston’s Pacifica Station, the program was designed to raise awareness of, and increase attendance at, the Jane Long Festival.
The DAR members made for an appreciative audience and said they will be happy to spread the word about the 7th annual Jane Long Festival, Sat., Oct. 10, at Fort Travis Seaside Park, Bolivar Peninsula.
Details: www.janelongfestival.org. The Jane Long Society is a subcommittee of the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation, www.bolivarfoundation.com.
[2-29-2016]
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