"Guitar Lady" gets piece in D/A

The recent discussion of the "Guitar Lady" on public abscess...er access TV here apparently caught the eye of someone at the D/A.

Janee (little accent mark over the second e, natch) Jackson finally pulls back the curtain on the subject of my, and I'm sure many other's, curiosity.

On weekends, a small room in Mrs. Earnest's home becomes "Jesus Lighthouse." She, Naoma Perrill of Milan, and Carrie Carstens and Teresa Robinson, both of Davenport, dress in their Sunday best and sing and play instruments and perform Bible skits for the show.

Mrs. Earnest said the program was born while she was having health problems 10 years ago and turned to God. Shortly after, she started "Marianne Gospel Hour."

Mrs. Earnest tapes each program, using a television in the room as a monitor to guide the performances. "What our program provides is salvation, love and peace. It picks them up and cheers them up and makes them happy."

She said her neighbors never have complained about the music.

Mrs. Earnest said she'll continue her program "as long as God wants us to be on the air. Some people think that we're nuts, but that's OK. We're nuts for the Lord."

Kudos to Ms. Jackson for apparently asking the obvious question of whether the neighbors complained. She didn't note if neighborhood dogs howled in unison during the show.

A couple other interesting facts about public access TV:

A 1972 mandate by the Federal Communications Commission that cable companies offer public access to users at no cost, was tossed out by the Supreme Court in 1979. However, cable companies continued to offer public access.
...
Michael McGuire of Davenport, a member of the Community Access Television Inc. of the Quad Cities board, said public-access channels gained popularity in the mid-1970s and early '80s and really helped expand cable. "Public access really gives the power to the individual."

CATIQC was formed in 1974 by community activists who wanted a public-access channel. The volunteer, non-profit group has video equipment to help churches or individuals get their shows or messages taped and on the air.

So without the efforts of this valiant organization, we might never be able to enjoy "Hallelujah Highway" or The Guitar Lady on "Jesus Lighthouse".


As listed in the article, other "must see TV" on Mediacom's Channel 19 public access include:

Saturday

9 a.m.: Community News and Views

11 a.m.: Western Bijou Matinee

1 p.m.: Racing Connection TV (RCTV)

3 p.m.: Western Bijou Matinee

10 p.m.: Scary, Schlocky Spooky Movies

Sunday

9 a.m.: Nations Worship Center

10 a.m.: Church of the Nazarene

11 a.m.: Gethsemane Lutheran Church

noon: Apostolic Temple of Victory

Monday

5 p.m.: Hallelujah Highway

7 p.m.: River of Life

9 p.m.: Greater Antioch Church

10 p.m.: QC Hemp Coalition

Tuesday

4 p.m.: Great and Mighty Things

4:30 p.m.: House of Yahweh

5 p.m.: Beauty for Ashes

6 p.m: Animal Orbit

Wednesday

noon: Davenport School Board Meeting

3:30 p.m.: Maranatha Church

4:30 p.m.: Pentecostal Power

7:30 p.m.: Blackhawk Magazine

Thursday

3:30 p.m.: Jesus Lighthouse

4:30 p.m.: Racing Connection TV

6:30 p.m.: Adventures in Video

7 p.m.: Animal Orbit

7:30 p.m.: Mike Feree Ministries

Friday

6:30 a.m.: B Bout It Love Ministries

3 p.m.: Ronnie and Becky

5 p.m.: Risen Christ Lutheran Church

6 p.m.: Jesus Lighthouse