Patti Page exhibit opens tonight

The Pioneer Woman Museum opens its new exhibit, “Patti Page: Once upon a Dream,” at 5 p.m. Friday.

Recording artist Darla Z will perform some of Patti’s hits, and members of the Page family, including her sister Peggy, will reminisce about her life. Dr. Bob Blackburn will lead the ceremony. The evening is free and open to the public.

A series of exhibits on Patti Page, who died at age 85 on Jan. 1, 2013, will be displayed by the Oklahoma Historical Society at four sites across the state to help develop the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP) in the Brady Arts District of Tulsa.

“ The OKPOP will be presented in a 75,000-square-foot building dedicated to the creative spirit of Oklahoma’s people and the influence of Oklahoma artists on popular culture around the world,” Blackburn, executive director of OHS, said. “Patti Page embodies the spirit, art and influence of these Oklahoma artists.”

The other Patti Page exhibits will be located at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, and the Claremore Museum of History. Each exhibit will display different aspects of Patti Page’s long career.

Darla Z has opened for musicians such as Willie Nelson and Wayne Newton. She has starred in three network television specials and recently was seen in public television’s “Darla Z’s Christmas ‘Round the World.” She will be accompanied by pianist Alyssa Sue Kozlowski, a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma School of Music, who was also pianist in the public television special “ Darla Z’s Love Songs ‘Round the World.”

Dwight Ham, a UCO student from Ponca City, will accompany Darla Z on guitar. Both instrumentalists frequently perform and travel with UCO’s jazz ensemble.

Admission to “Patti Page: Once upon a Dream” is included in museum admission. The Pioneer Woman Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information on the exhibit, call the museum at 580-765-6108 . The Pioneer Woman Museum is located at 701 Monument Road in Ponca City.

The Pioneer Woman Museum is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma.

Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains 31 museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, visit www.okhistory.org.