It was also slow, grinding work, but month after month brought incremental progress. In March 1969, Val Sheridan announced from The Grand’s stage that the Macon Arts Council would be launching a $200,000 capital campaign that upon completion would have The Grand back in shape in six months. Six months! By June, the target was upped to $300,000, with December 31st as a campaign deadline. The pièce de résistance of the entire campaign was “The Grand Topper” on November 14, in a black-tie soiree at the Macon Coliseum that went on until four in the morning. It far exceeded being “the event of the season” with mountains of food and cases of drink priming the attendees for an all-night auction with hundreds of items.