This page is dedicated to the flags, banners, signage and back drops that have flown over and have been displayed around Stage 5 and the Stage 5 camp.
The good ship “Hopelessly Lost At C” boasted many of these. Some still find their way back to the Pecan Grove every year, some are “lost forever at sea”, some have seen better days.
SECTION 1 – Seen On The Stage
Hopelessly Lost At C .. where it all began. This banner belongs to Sherry. She turned it over to us (Russell, Bob & Steve) and told us we were to hang this banner so when Sherry arrived at the Winfield Fairgrounds, Pecan Grove she could find our camp.
The original Stage 5 sign. Currently, it seems to be sporting a 2022 Walnut Valley Festival 50th Anniversary sticker. How fitting. This sign was hand painted by Russell Brace in 1987 .. the first year for Stage 5.
All ships need an anchor .. ours has a G-clef incorporated into the design. Designed by Russell and fabricated by Landweir Welding – Wichita, KS. Cost: $50.00 in 1989 without chain. We use the trucks side rails to help protect the cab of the truck .. and we need a place to store them when we take them off to build the stage.
And if you are going to have a boat you better have a life ring, one that bears yours vessels name of course.
Then came the G-Clef Anchor sail. Every ship needs a spinnaker sail.
Nautical flags spelling out STAGE 5. Originally even the 5 was a nautical flag .. but we woke up one Sunday morning after a very long Saturday night of music and frivolity .. and the 5 was missing … luckily I worked at a golf course. These were made by Sherry Brace out of white or red golf flags. She sewed them using her mothers fancy machine. She used a beach towel that had the entire nautical alphabet on it as a guide.
This Old Glory casket flag had a place of honor high atop the front mast.
The next six historic American flags flew from the tallest mast of the Hopelessly Lost At C. They are all still connected and together and appear here in the ascending order that they did on the stage.
The Rhode Island flag was the most beautiful and perhaps the most characteristic Colonial Flag or Banner. It is sometimes called the Hope Flag.”Flown by the Rhode Islanders who fought in the battles of Brandywine, Trenton, and Yorktown during the American Revolution, this flag symbolizes the hope of a strong seafaring community. The Rhode Island colony flag consists of the White Flag of Commonwealth, with a banner, an anchor, and a star field. The anchor, used as a Rhode Island state symbol since 1647, represents seafaring and hope. The star field in the top left corner features a star for each of the thirteen colonies.
During the War of 1812, Captain James Lawrence, commanding the 49-gun frigate U.S.S. Chesapeake, was attacked off Boston Harbor by the British ship H.M.S. Shannon. In less than 15 minutes, Lawrence’s crew was overwhelmed. Mortally wounded, Lawrence shouted, “Tell the men to fire faster and not to give up the ship; fight her till she sinks!” True to his words, every officer in the Chesapeake’s chain of command fought until they were either killed or wounded. Lawrence’s words became the motto of the U.S. Navy, which has since named numerous ships in his honor, and Perry’s flag now hangs in a place of honor at the United States Naval Academy.
The Grand Union Flag was the de facto first U.S. naval ensign. It was first raised aboard Continental Navy Commodore Esek Hopkins’ flagship “Alfred” on the Delaware River on December 3, 1775
In 1775, Colonel Christopher Gadsden was in Philadelphia representing his home colony of South Carolina at the Continental Congress and presented this new naval flag to the Congress. It became the first flag used by the sea-going soldiers who eventually would become the United States Marines.
This flag was carried by Colonel William Moultrie’s South Carolina Militia on Sullivan Island in Charleston Harbor on June 28, 1776. The “Moultrie” Flag was designed in 1775, and flew over Fort Sullivan (later named Ft. Moultrie) during the battle. The flag was shot away by the British in the battle, but the British were in turn defeated which saved the south from British occupation for another two years.
The Continental Flag is believed to have been carried at the Battle of Bunker Hill. As an eyewitness to the battle, Colonel John Trumbull painted “The Death of Warren” currently at the Yale University Art Gallery, which includes the Continental Flag. His depiction shows the red Continental Flag to be the one used by American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775.
After several years of a blank triangle canvas on the back end of the stage, the Walnut Valley Festival Artist fixed it up for us … I do not remember the old painters name but he made quick work of it. I would love to give him credit if anyone knows his name. This is a good shot of the ships bell also.
.. we still have it but it is in pretty rough shape. It logged lots of nautical and musical miles, and survived several Kansas thunderstorms and windy days. It has weathered some rough seas.
Our Official Stage 5 sign. It bears the logo of the Walnut Valley Festival. We received it on Saturday evening, Stage 1, 1988, from Bob and Kendra Redford. For many years at the end of each festival we had to return it to the Security Trailer. It had a honored place in the trailers restroom. We don’t have to do that anymore.
One of the few pictures that I have that shows the rudder on the back of the stage. That grey half circle thing .. on a stick. Fabricated by Russell. OMG I just saw something else .. if you look between the tree and the front of the truck you can see a grey square box looking thing with a cupola on top. That was our camp shower made to look like a light house. Constructed by Bob Ennis & Steve Keen. It worked well and looked pretty cool but some people thought it was a port-a-potty. Also, there is the Pickers Paradise graffiti fence just in front of the shower.
A view not many get to see. Yes that is duct tape holding the steering wheel together. No window crank on the passenger door. Mostly dusty, full of boxes of stuff and cans of bolts and screws and zip ties, and the wing window won’t stay open and the visor won’t stay up. Ok .. we recently got a new steering wheel. 🙂
For several years Stage 5 and the Kansas Acoustic Arts Association collaborated on a parade float entered into the Wichita River Festival Sundown Parade. Something was said by the media or one of the parade organizers to the effect that we were just another truck. That year, 2 of these banners, one on each side of the truck, let Wichita, Sedgwick County, The State of Kansas and the Wichita River Festival know that STAGE 5 is not just another truck.
… and a Jolly Roger.
Circa 1990ish .. with the advent of the unplugged craze. Cut Adrift was a play on unplugging. Designed & painted by Russell Brace
After the Cut Adrift season, the banner changed again to the pick concept. Again designed and painted by Russell. Also in this picture you can see the mysterious missing #5 nautical flag It is the yellow and blue at the center left edge of the picture.
When we changed from the Hopelessly Lost At C ship to the Gypsy Wagon, we built our first 3 dimensional sign from a sheet of plywood. The Stage 5 Pick sign morphed into several versions over the years. But was lost with the passing of Bob Dorman who had charge of it. We think it was in his pop-up camper, that was either sold or hauled to the dump. Designed by Russell. Constructed by Russell & Bob Ennis.
2008 – here it is at the Winfield Lake after the flooding of the fairgrounds.
The Stage 5 Pick sign with a different paint scheme.
Here is the Stage 5 Pick lighted with an arrow added for the motel theme.
The large red flag that is seen at the top of photo was used before we had the casket flag, it is a US Army Live Fire Range Flag it was originally about 5 feet longer but had been cutoff. It was used as a visual signal that there was live fire happening on a given range. I salvaged it from the dumpster outside my Army unit supply room when it was replaced by a new full length flag.
The diagonal red and black flag was a gift from Peggy Ennis and was used in various locations around camp .. usually on the stage somewhere. Also in this picture at the bottom left of the stage is a sign that reads “All Pickers” and has a finger pointing toward the stairs. We no longer have this sign. We also no longer have the 4′ fence pieces. One section had “Pickers Paradise” spray painted on it. That section was last seen in Bob Dorman’s basement recording studio.
Those two characters standing towards the back of the stage are long time backstage neighbors Jim Suter and Steve Fields .. The driving force behind the Zen Okies.
Whats left of one of the original tie-dye back drops. It is officially in two pieces. It has been duck taped and stapled to the back stage wall and was kind of thin to start with. It is pretty fragile now. The Stage 5 tie-dye phase started about the 3rd or 4th year and went for several years. Queen size sheet – Dyed by Russell & Sherry
Another tie-dye that hung on one of the side walls of the new steel stage frame. If you look closely there are visible squares of built up duct tape that we poked wire ties through (on both sides) to hold it to the steel frame. There was no solid wall behind these sheets .. sonically it was a terrible design. We asked the warm up bands to warm up quietly because it would bleed through to the mics and the band on stage could hear the next band warming up. The wind blew them all over the place and it would rain right through. Sometimes you just have to learn the hard way. Eventually we added press board sides behind the tie-dyes to isolate the stage from the backstage areas … duh. Queen size sheet Dyed by Russell & Sherry
This was likely the last year for the stock racks on the truck. (upper left corner) The truck originally had a 10 foot bed. When we changed from the stock racks to the steel frame, that we still use today, we extended the bed to 12 feet and added the door and steps in the back. This tie-dye looks pretty new in this pic. By the way .. that is Russell rolling up the PA cables.
This is a photo of the stage with no wall board .. just bed sheets between the performers and everything happening back stage .. when all of the back drops were different tie-dyes. All dyes by Russell & Sherry. Band credit – Kansas Heart
Wrap-around tie-dye. Russell & Sherry dyed enough sheets in the same pattern and color scheme to cover all three walls of the stage. The band is Kansas Heart.. they must love tie-dye. Side note .. by this time we had wised up enough to add chip board to the walls.
Wrap-around tie-dye back drop. Kansas Heart.
On our 20th year we switched to the Gypsy Wagon theme. Sherry, Peggy Ennis and Russell made many trips to the DAV stores to find all of the shams, shower curtains, throws and material for the backdrops. Mostly held up with staples and 1/2″ PVC pipe painted gold. The tassles came from a fabric store clearance table, the framed picture and the brass pans all came from Wichita DAV stores. The ceiling pieces were attached with velcro to the beams of the frame. Lattice was added on top to the roof to address the issue of water pockets when it rained.
Tommy Emmanuel .. on the gypsy wagon
2008 .. evacuated from the Cowley County Fairgrounds to the Winfield Lake. The crew assembled a bare bones version of the stage (no backdrops, etc). We were evacuated from this location pictured here to a location across the road on a very nice hillside because a septic holding tank was overflowing into the audience area .. yuck.
The outside of the wood was painted the reddish maroon color with gold accents spray painted on using cheap stencils. The STAGE 5 spelled vertically, was made using wooden cut-outs spray painted with gold. The gold letters used for patterns were permanently affixed to the outside of the stage door. The quilted hanging fixture lit the cab of the truck.
We picked this large cloth lantern up at Pier 1 on the clearance table. Mounted on 1/2″ PVC, painted gold. This lantern would bounce around as the truck would move from the bands jamming on stage. .
The hanging lights on the sides with theatrical lighting gels, added to give a nice glow, were a finishing touch to bring the gypsy theme all together.
These homemade lanterns hung from the trees in front of the truck. Handmade by Russell & Sherry
The Wilders on the Gypsy Wagon.
Audience for Truckstop Honeymoon on the Stage 5 Gypsy Wagon.
Painting the original Stage 5 Motel sign. Designed and built by the Stage 5 Crew. Pictured: Missy, Russell, Christy, Gwen, Kirby, Bill.
Painting the backdrop to resemble a motel. Pictured: Curt & Dulcie
Making the silhouettes in the window, the way we learned how to in grade school. Bill, Craig, Jordan, Bob
The first look at the new Stage 5 Motel walls. Dulcie’s on the ladder, still painting. Gwen looks tired.
Stage 5 Motel is born … Curt, Craig, Kenny, Christy, Bob, Bill, Kirby, Dulcie, Russell, Gwen, Sherry.
We needed to light the sign. After a trip to the hardware store, we came home with some 1/2″ conduit, some junction boxes, a few clamps, a couple of flexible light socket extensions and two tin funnels. Discovering LED’s and rope light we no longer needed these lights so we repurposed them .. one now lights the back stage area the other lights the cab of the truck.
The Stage 5 Motel With 3 pink doors all bearing the #5, inside of a dark green pick.
80 feet of white picket fence in its off-season habitat. It became necessary for several reasons. Foremost, it secured the backstage area. It also served as an access point to the front of the stage for the crew. Additionally, it makes a perfect place to hang festival posters and fliers about other things happening in the campgrounds and at the festival. It also makes a nice spot for the Stage 5 crew to relax and actually see a show.
After a few years … Kirby wanted to light the sign … and so he did.
These 4 signs made their entrance to the stage the first year of the Stage 5 Motel. They were all painted by Dulcie Guinty. And, yes one year we really did have a pool .. no lifeguard.
It is Russell .. and for some reason this is the only picture available of the pool.
This hand painted sign came in real handy when we moved the entrance to the back stage area. Painted by Russell.
After the 2020 lock up .. the crew decided it was time for an upgrade. First up was to update the sign .. actually make a new one.
We (Kirby Guinty, Russell Lambrechtse, Craig Barber, Russell Brace) spent many Saturdays at the shop designing and fabricating a new Stage 5 Motel sign.
The finished product .. couldn’t begin to guess how many LED lights are on the new sign.
And at night ….
…. it looks amazing.
The sign project was well under way and we decided that Craig and Jordan on guitar and fiddle should invite the rest of the band to the motel room for 2021. So we replaced two of the pink painted doors with windows that feature Sherry on mandolin and Kirby on banjo. And we “opened” the actual stage entrance door where Russell is playing bass. Dulcie looks to be putting the finishing touches on the door
The Stage 5 Motel – Circa 2021
Stage 5 – Head On
SECTION 2 – AROUND CAMP
This Old Glory always hung at the entrance of our camp with the Kansas & Oklahoma flags below. They were hung in a triad configuration.
These are the state flags from the original crew.
Usually, after we hoisted the US and state flags this one went up. It is a US Navy Preparatory Pennant. This and the next 5 flags were all gifted to me one year at the festival from a Stage 5 fan who had served in the US Navy.
The U.S. Navy Infantry Battalion flag, which for many decades served as the de facto flag of the U.S. Navy as a whole, until an official flag was defined in 1959. Today, it is used as an organizational color for a ship’s landing battalion and similar units during ceremonies. The flag dates from sometime during the mid to late 1800s, but was not defined in Navy signal books until 1900 or so. There was once a red version used for artillery battalions, but it was discontinued after World War II. The size of the flag is 61 5/8 inches by 78 inches. Units may add their name and location in white sans-serif letters above and below the anchor.
The letter A – Alpha – I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.
The letter E -Echo – I am directing my course to starboard.
The letter Z – Zulu – I require a tug.
The number 2 – Two
The POW*MIA flag was flown for many of the Hopelessly Lost At C years.
The Olympic flag made an appearance in the appropriate years.
Of course Russell & Sherry have to represent the home team.
This banner was a gift from the Stillwater Camp on our 15th anniversary.
Stage 5 motel Vacancy/No Vacancy sign. Made the first year of the Stage 5 Motel by Kirby & Dulcie Guinty
This sign is part of the camp before we arrive on Landrush Day. It is an official sign that lets other campers know what happens there and that it is reserved. Pssst … our neighbors know and respect the space. They camp there because they love the vibe of the area and we have all become great friends. When someone new shows up we befriend then too. It’s the Winfield way.
… and well .. this is what it looks like after 35+ years (we used it for 2 or 3 years before we started Stage 5). A little dingy, but the black marker held up really well, a few tears and rips taped up with Gorilla tape and some well worn strings used for tying it up. Sherry stayed in the lines real good .
