Photo by Tom Fitzsimmons/John F. Kennedy Library Foundation

An essay by Michael Reed,  a young man from Tennessee,  won the $ 10,000 prize for the best essay by a high school student about a politician with courage. It was about Congressman Ken Hechler who was flown to the presidential library last Sunday, had dinner with the boy’s family on Sunday night, and sat next to Caroline Kennedy during the Monday breakfast honoring the “Profiles in Courage” winners plus the essay by the high school student. (more…)

In the history of WV, there are few books that can compare to William C. Blizzard’s “When Miners March.” Blizzard for interviewed for local films and for the History Channel’s two-hour epic, “The Real Hillbilly.” Kelley Thompson made a great documentary about him called “Remembering William C. Blizzard” and interviewed him for his great film about the Widen Coal Strike. (more…)

West Virginia Filmmakers Guild
Press Release
05/22/10

For immediate release

Filmmakers Conference to be held on June 12, 2010

Charleston, WV– The WV Filmmakers Guild announces today that it will host a Filmmakers Conference on June 12, 2010 in downtown Sutton. (more…)

Bob Arbogast was a member of the board of the South Charleston Museum Foundation, working with me monthly for several years. He suddenly passed away last week at only the age of 71. He was supposed to be the projectionist for the Reuther film, “Brother In Line,” but was too sick. Everyone will greatly miss him. He was definitely one of the most fun-loving people on the board, and really worked hard to keep the SCMF going. He invented a patented machine that moved pianos on steps – we hired him to move our piano. He did everything for the city of South Charleston that dealt with music for their many events and even recently booked a gospel group for the SCMF at the La Belle.

PROCLAMATION

BY THE MAYOR

TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CHARLESTON

WHEREAS, NATIONAL MUSEUM Month is celebrated in the month of May and,

WHEREAS, The South Charleston Museum Foundation was organized in 1989 and over the years has preserved the history of South Charleston by sponsoring the publication of “The History of South Charleston”, has events or movies each month at the Historic La Belle Theatre for the enjoyment of South Charleston residents, and has displayed various artifacts and premiered the Belgian Display at the Interpretive Center to honor our first business in the city in 1907 and, (more…)

A small but enthusiastic crowd attended the sneak preview at The South Charleston Museum’s La Belle Theater  of a new feature film,”Brothers in the Line,” about WV’s leading labor family, the Reuther Brothers of Wheeling. George Daugherty, one of the sponsors, introduced the film, reading poems and statements about the Reuthers including their great influence on Eleanor Roosevelt and organizing the forces that helped the US win WWII, bringing both corporations and unions together. He also led the audience in “Solidarity Forever” after the film. (more…)

Ann Montague and her group, “Thanks, Plain and Simple,” has moved on to a major film project, recording the remaining Rosie the Riveters in WV and turning some of the interviews in to a film. She has hired B.J. Gudmundsson to produce and direct the film. Hopefully, all of the remaining women in the state who worked in such roles in WWII will be interviewed. Here is a story about it.