To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the filming of the Tom Sawyer movie, "Tom and Huck," Johnny Whitaker and Jeff East, will return to celebrate the Fourth of July in Arrow Rock, Mo.

Hollywood came to Arrow Rock in a big way in the summer of 1972. Johnny Whitaker, best known as "Jody" from the CBS hit series "Family Affair," arrived to star in the Reader's Digest musical production of "Tom Sawyer." Other headliners included Celeste Holm as Aunt Polly, Warren Oates as Muff Potter, Jeff East as Huck, and Jodie Foster as Becky Thatcher. Don Taylor directed and Frank Capra Jr. was the associate producer.

Prior to the July 4th celebration, Whitaker will be teaching Master Acting Classes at the Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock on July 2 and 3. Three-hour classes for children 6-12, teens 13-19 and adults 20+ will be available for a fee of $75. Class sizes are limited to 15 students. Call 660-837-3231 to enroll.

The July 4 celebration will begin with a 10 a.m. gathering in the 1872 Christian Church, the site of the funeral scene in the movie. Locals who were cast as extras and part of the 1972 film will be on hand to share stories. At 11 a.m. and throughout the day, old-fashioned games such as hoops, sack races and tug-o-war will be played on the Tavern lawn.

At 1 p.m., Whitaker and East will be the Grand Marshals of the Fourth of July Parade. The Parade will feature the MU School of Veterinary mule team, the Arrow Rock Fire Department, decorated bicycles, golf carts, antique cars and tractors and the kazoo band. Anyone can parade or join the kazoo band, no registration necessary. Participants will gather at 12:45 at the Old Schoolhouse on the west end of town.

At 2 p.m. the Lyceum Theatre will stage a performance of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Call (660) 837-3311 for tickets or go to http://www.lyceumtheatre.org.

Whitaker and East will attend the performance and join in a "talk back" session in the lobby following the show.

The festivities will conclude with a 5:30 p.m. Open House Picnic Buffet at "Becky Thatcher's home" on Main Street behind the white picket fence, thanks to owners Phil and Janet Reeter. Tickets are $25 and must be reserved by June 30 by calling 660-837-3231.

Restaurants, shops and the State Historic Site Visitor Center Museum will be open. Hot dogs, popcorn, sodas and ice-cream will be available.

The Friends of Arrow Rock will open the I.O.O.F. Lodge Hall and the 1872 Christian Church which were the locations of Injun Joe's trial and the funeral. The 1972 Reader's Digest version of Tom Sawyer is now on DVD and is available at the Country Store in Arrow Rock.

Arrow Rock is a National Historic Landmark village located in central Missouri14 miles north of I-70 on Hwy 41 at Exit 98. In 2006, Arrow Rock was named one of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and in the June 2007 edition of Midwest Living Arrow Rock was listed as one of the best 100 small-town getaways in the Midwest. Learn more at www.arrowrock.org.