Jack Fretwell Papers

1663 THL

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection includes a series of VHS tapes that record Jack Fretwell’s appearances on "Cable Talk" with Barry Lee, his work with Patsy Cline, and various performances by Fretwell with his band, including his signature act Smilin’ Jack and his Musical Horse, Nellie.
(2 boxes) Last updated 12/2010.

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: Jack Fretwell (1915-2006) was an entertainer, businessman, and community philanthropist in Winchester, VA. After a bout with alcoholism early in life, Fretwell responded by founding Starting Point Detox, Lord Fairfax Halfway House, and the Edgehill Recovery Retreat, which was renamed the Fretwell Center at Edgehill in 1999. He is most remembered for his contribution to musical entertainment as a tutor to Patsy Cline in her formative years. Fretwell, who performed with Cline several times on the Jimmy Dean Show, never lost his love of performing. A long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Winchester, Fretwell called members of his church and sang Happy Birthday to them. His last such call was on February 14, 2006 just one week before his death at 94.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Taken from the collection

CITE AS: Jack Fretwell Collection 1663 THL, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA.

BOX 1: VHS Tapes transferred to DVDs

1986 – Jack Fretwell and the Follies

1987 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell, November 3, 1987

1988 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell, Don James and Gene Barb, August 17, 1988

1989 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell discussing Patsy Cline, August 29, 1989

1990 – Jack Fretwell and the Musical Horse Nellie,

1991 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell and Tony Simeone discussing New Life, October 8, 1991

1992 – Jack Fretwell and Rusty Mason

1993 – Jack Fretwell, Bob Roman, and Tony Simeone discussing New Life

1995 – Edgehill, June, 1995

1995 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell, Don James, and Gene Barb, August 8, 1995

1996 – Memories of Patsy Cline with Jack Fretwell, Bud Armel, and Phil Whitney, October, 1996

1997 – Patsy Cline Documentary

1997 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell, November, 1997

1998 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell and Dee Dee Cassidy discussing Edgehill Recovery Retreat, July 15, 1998

2000 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell discussing Edgehill Recovery Retreat, December 18, 2000

2001 – Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell discussing Edgehill Recovery Retreat, December 1, 2001

2002 – 75^th Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival with Jack Fretwell

Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell and the Musical Horse, no date

Cable Talk with Barry Lee, featuring Jack Fretwell, Don James, and Gene Barb, no date

WAZT & WAZW – Good News for the Valley, Jack Fretwell Proclamation

2004 – First Baptist Church of Winchester, VA, an interview with Jack Fretwell, DVD

BOX 2

Activities, Fundraisers, 1980s, unnumbered leaves, printed and typescript

Apple Blossom Festival, 1959-1996, printed

Awards – 8 items, printed
Domain of the Golden Dragon, December 31, 1945, 1 leaf, printed
Shenandoah University, n .d., Certificate to Mr. And Mrs. Jack Fretwell for
contributing $1,000, 1 leaf, printed

Correspondence, 1993-1995– unnumbered leaves, printed, manuscript, typescript

First Baptist Church, Winchester, VA, 1972-1992 – 7 items, printed and typescript

Miscellaneous Notes for speaking engagements (includes jokes) – unnumbered leaves, manuscripts

New Life, 1989-1995 -- news clippings and brochures, unnumbered leaves, printed

News Clippings, 1950s-early 2000s – unnumbered leaves, printed

Obituaries and Tributes, Jack Fretwell – unnumbered leaves, printed

Passport , Jack Fretwell,– August 17, 1977, 1 item, printed

Programs and Notes for Performances, 1972-1997 – 17 items, printed

World War II service of Jack Fretwell– unnumbered leaves, typescript and printed