Florida's Film, Television and the Arts Magazine
THE PENSACOLA CONNECTION For August 2026
This month: Pensa-Keyla at the movies, a local children’s book takes like a duck to water, and another Five Flags City music album drops, with many more to come…
FIRST: Pensacola resident, gospel singer & recording artist, and Season 24 “American Idol” Top 3 finalist Keyla Richardson, who hosted her own solo concert on Saturday night of July 25th at the downtown Saenger Theater---evidently also has a film credit on her talent resume’. About 4 years back, she co-starred with Vivica A. Fox and BeBe Winans, on the BET+ streaming network original feature drama: Due Season,” which first aired in April 14th, 2022. In her film debut, Keyla played Vicky Waters, a struggling young gospel singer who against incredible odds, chooses to compete in a high-stakes talent contest to win college tuition money, after the sudden heart attack death of her father, at her high school graduation ceremony. Keyla had also competed in 2019 on Season 9 of the gospel TV talent show “Sunday Best,” also on BET+, and BeBe Winans happened to be on the judging panel. GO, KEYLA!! Check out the film's trailer on the International Movie Database, at: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi363315737/?ref_=tt_vids_vi_1
UP NEXT: A category of Pensacola-based local original media entertainment that doesn't get much pop culture attention these days, but definitely deserves it: LOCAL BOOKS. Here’s one of our original children's books with an aviation theme: “J. GOSLING GETS HIS WINGS,” written and illustrated by Craig Hindsman. It's the tale of a cartoon duck in flying ace pilot clothes, who finds and uses a magic compass and time-hops through history, learning about Navy people, sea ships and airplanes, before returning to the present time and receiving a special 'Wings of Gold' jacket pin. The book and character are inspired by and based on, a famous mascot logo first designed by artist Eddie Collins for the Pensacola Naval Air Station, on October 4th, 1931.
This 22-page book was published and released independently from Columbus, South Carolina, on March 16th, 2026 early last spring, to be part of 'Pensacola Navy Days' on May 8th – 10th, in honor of the base's 200th (or Bicentennial) Anniversary. Although copies originally retailed brand-new for $15.00, I got myself a used copy through the Tryon Branch of the West Florida Public Library, for only $1.00. (Wait, what? Only a buck? Forgotten already? Aww, what a shame.) It was probably first marketed through the Naval Aviation Museum's Flight Deck Gift Shop, targeting pre-school children who want to grow up to be military airplane pilots. It may still be retailing there today, as well as on Amazon, Books-A-Million, and Walmart Business. (Well now, isn't that just ducky?) Will a local animated cartoon short film or video ever be made from this cover? Gee, I sure hope so. Until then, my art resume' is on standby. More later, as my research into local books continues. Meanwhile, here’s the Amazon book link, at:
https://www.amazon.com/-/he/Craig-Hindsman/dp/B0GPY7P69J
AND FINALLY in music: here's a new Pensacola song I just recently found online: “WINGS OVER PENSACOLA,” which sounds like another Blue Angels air show tribute as well. The artist is Barry Haney, apparently another locally based American country musician. And the song's not that old, either, it came out just last year: on April 1st, 2025 (no April Fool's Day joke, honest) as part of Haney's digital album: "Pensacola Skies and Navy Blues," on YouTube, Tubi, and Apple Music. (Hmph, 'digital;' that means no physical CD release. Drat...)
Evidently, there's no official music video yet. Just music posts, with a still photo of the Blue Angel jets, at the top of their Delta Loop maneuver. Other album single tracks include: "Forever in Pensacola, Lighthouse Watchin' Blues, My Pensacola Memories, Wings of Gold, Gold Bars & Gulf Shores" and more. 14 tracks in all. A treasure chest of songs, all dedicated to Gulf Coast living, in Pensacola, Florida. By the time you finish listening, you'll feel like a resident yourself. Check out the album YouTube link, at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mlYWTXK1y8Vd5TStu9VJLxFBHcQE-iZnE
And it would seem, there’s lots more such new Pensacola novelty songs, just recently released. I’ll be profiling a new one with each new report, for the rest of this year.
Okay, that’s all the sizzle for this Northwest Florida summer. Until September… Later, Gators!
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Sincerely yours, KENNETH L. MANNING
Your Pensacola Connection
49 Murphy Lane, Pensacola, FL 32505
Phone: 1-850-287-2581
Email: [email protected]
