Hot dogs, marshmallows and 'God Bless America'

The place to be on the Fourth of July was inside or outside Highlands Little Theatre.

Shannon Marrero was singing "God Bless America," and Jim McCollum was serving hot dogs after the crowd exited stage left.

"It's free to go in, but you gotta buy a hot dog to leave," McCollum, an attorney on weekdays, shouted to passersby.

Or haute dogs, as he calls them. On this day, he was hawking frankfurters to raise cash for the Highlands Little Theatre Scholarship Fund. Last year, volunteers collected $2,000.

But they weren't plain old pass-the-French's mustard dogs, these would have made Bon Appetit jealous.

In previous years, brats and franks were warmed in ovens. This year, McCollum had a better idea: borrow a charcoal grill from Highlands Independent Bank.

"We're sellin' the sizzle," McCollum imparted, as if this was the secret for which the world had been waiting.

But about those famous dogs. Yes, McCollum said. There's Madame Lynda's Best Little Chicken Ranch in Texas dog - barbecue sauce, spicy onions and cheese. Longhorn, of course.

It's named for the trouper herself, Lynda Fulcher, who belted out "You're a Grand Old Flag" three times during the free musical shows inside.

And there was Fulcher, resplendent in a red sequin tunic, soliciting more bratwursts to serve the hungry crew inside.

Another crowd favorite - or maybe McCollum was persuaded to say that because Mike Logston was standing right there too - was the New Orleans LogDog.

"Red beans, spicy onions and jalapenos, on a brat or a hot dog," McCollum recited.

Jim's fave, the one that called his name one day when he landed there: the Chicago dog - onions, a Kosher spear, hot sauce and white mustard on a poppyseed bun. And cucumber slices.

They adulterate their dogs in unjustifiable ways up there in the Windy City, but honestly! Cucumbers?

Well, on the main event - Bill Farmer's patriotic revue, "It's a Wonderful Country," in which the writer-director also played Uncle Sam, who had to be convinced by the American Spirit (Art Harriman reprising the Clarence the Angel role in "It's a Wonderful Life") that America had lived up to its nationalistic promise after all.

And Saturday night: a hot dog eating contest, a marshmallow eating contest, and the fireworks, for which watchers line up around Lake Jackson - even along U.S. 27.