Grew up knowing Earl Owensby since I was a baby. I was at the premiere of his movie “Challenge” with his yellow Ford Pantera ….sitting under the marquee at the Roger’s theater, I was around age 5 years old in ‘74 , At the debut we parked across the street… remember it like yesterday, because I loved that hero car! My dad Gene Meade …was a very good friends of Earl and the flight Instructor At Shelby airport since 1970. He flew into his runway/driveway In his French made Rallye aircraft made for short takeoff and landings…. on many occasions to give his flight renewal, and had coffee in the house. Earl kept a twin engine Piper Aerostars, one of the fastest twin engine turbo props of the ‘70s at Shelby airport, and sometimes kept the orange RALLYE at Shelby. He had two different ones , including the Silver/blue RALLYE. Mike Allen starred and helped produce lot of Earls movies. He was another good friend of ours. That was Earl’s personal pilot we knew from Shelby airport. I have held a silk scarf Personally signed by Elvis Presley ..that Mike Allen brought to Shelby airport, since he stayed at Earls complex secretly for several years. Elvis and Earl were best friends. I had a music teacher in elementary school, Mr. Harper …that Swore he met Elvis riding a Harley Davidson on old Boiling Springs Road, and we all thought he was crazy. He wasn’t. He was a motorcycle rider himself, and he recognized him. Earl wanted my father to be his pilot, but my dad knew I was young… and didn’t want to be gone with The movie business all the time, with me growing up. I have flown on several of Earl’s aircraft , growing up when I was a kid. Saw Earl around 2017 at a uptown meet and greet in Shelby . He signed some stuff for me. I hadn’t seen him in years. He donated the original artwork… for “The Agony of Christ”… to my parents church, and they had it framed Over the entry doors…in the foyer. I’m pretty sure that’s the last movie he ever produced. He visited the church and spoke to all of the senior citizens , and had lunch with them. If you keep going straight After you enter the Studio gates, And go straight down that road, instead of turning left onto the runway… that’s where the set for Buckstone county prison ….used to be visible At the back right of the property. I’ve got a copy of that poster I had on my wall. Earls original brick home ….was just Past the Studio gates, just west on the left, the brick house in the curve Heading back towards Crest high school. That’s where he lived before he built the A-frame On the Studio property. My dad told me that. I read in your comments he was in a nursing home in Gaffney. I am so sorry to hear that. I’m so fortunate I got to talk with him… and relive old times with him about eight years ago. Prayers for a great man! Thank you for making this video of the past …for the history of Cleveland County
Great video😊
Grew up knowing Earl Owensby since I was a baby. I was at the premiere of his movie “Challenge” with his yellow Ford Pantera ….sitting under the marquee at the Roger’s theater, I was around age 5 years old in ‘74 , At the debut we parked across the street… remember it like yesterday, because I loved that hero car!
My dad Gene Meade …was a very good friends of Earl and the flight Instructor At Shelby airport since 1970. He flew into his runway/driveway In his French made Rallye aircraft made for short takeoff and landings…. on many occasions to give his flight renewal, and had coffee in the house.
Earl kept a twin engine Piper Aerostars, one of the fastest twin engine turbo props of the ‘70s at Shelby airport, and sometimes kept the orange RALLYE at Shelby. He had two different ones , including the Silver/blue RALLYE.
Mike Allen starred and helped produce lot of Earls movies. He was another good friend of ours. That was Earl’s personal pilot we knew from Shelby airport.
I have held a silk scarf Personally signed by Elvis Presley ..that Mike Allen brought to Shelby airport, since he stayed at Earls complex secretly for several years. Elvis and Earl were best friends. I had a music teacher in elementary school, Mr. Harper …that Swore he met Elvis riding a Harley Davidson on old Boiling Springs Road, and we all thought he was crazy. He wasn’t. He was a motorcycle rider himself, and he recognized him.
Earl wanted my father to be his pilot, but my dad knew I was young… and didn’t want to be gone with The movie business all the time, with me growing up.
I have flown on several of Earl’s aircraft , growing up when I was a kid. Saw Earl around 2017 at a uptown meet and greet in Shelby . He signed some stuff for me. I hadn’t seen him in years. He donated the original artwork… for “The Agony of Christ”… to my parents church, and they had it framed Over the entry doors…in the foyer.
I’m pretty sure that’s the last movie he ever produced. He visited the church and spoke to all of the senior citizens , and had lunch with them.
If you keep going straight After you enter the Studio gates, And go straight down that road, instead of turning left onto the runway… that’s where the set for Buckstone county prison ….used to be visible At the back right of the property. I’ve got a copy of that poster I had on my wall.
Earls original brick home ….was just Past the Studio gates, just west on the left, the brick house in the curve Heading back towards Crest high school.
That’s where he lived before he built the A-frame On the Studio property. My dad told me that.
I read in your comments he was in a nursing home in Gaffney. I am so sorry to hear that. I’m so fortunate I got to talk with him… and relive old times with him about eight years ago. Prayers for a great man!
Thank you for making this video of the past …for the history of Cleveland County
@kellymeade4587 thanks, I've always been a fan of his movies
I’d like to see the hotel
@jeremyricketts4831 the hotel is in another video
@@jeremyricketts4831 ruclips.net/video/Mdz4GzlLXVc/видео.htmlsi=gwKefVi8U1oRDZ2P
What ever happened to Earl Owensby????
@@704nc he's staying in a rest home in Gaffney S.C.
@ OMG that is so sad