Sug Hawkins
The South Charleston Museum will present the showing of a “lost” film, “In the Company’s Hands,”on Saturday, September 11 at 7 PM at the La Belle Theater. It was made shortly after “Matewan” in fall 1987. The film is a “balanced” view of the coal mine wars that took place in southern West Virginia, interviewing relatives on both sides of the conflicts. Dr. Fred Barkey, SCMF board member, was one of two historical consultants for this film projection. This event is part of the West Virginia Labor History Week Coalition’s statewide project of promoting West Virginia labor history during the week of Labor Day as proclaimed by the West Virginia Legislature in 2010. Director Jack Kelly, now vice president of Miami Public TV, will be flying in to introduce the film in person. He owns property in the Eastern panhandle and will be retiring here in WV. Admission will be $5.00.
JF Kimball
About “In the Company’s Hands”
IN THE COMPANY’S HANDS
1987 58 M.
Jack Kelly directed, wrote and produced this comprehensive documentary about the Southern WV coal mine wars. It is narrated by Kelly and local actor Michael Martin who also acts in some of the recreations. Using archival footage, photographs, and historic songs, Kelly recreates the world of coal mining in the area. He interviews the descendants of people on both sides – the children of coal mine owners and the children of coal miners. Some of the people interviewed include black coal miner Sug Hawkins, Cecil Roberts (not UMWA president), and William Becker. The nephew of Tom Felts of the Baldwin-Felts Agency and a son of an owner are also interviewed. The film goes back to the first days of coal mining in WV, which started in 1871 in the New River area near Beckley. By 1896, 26 million tons of coal from the Pocahontas Field was being shipped all over the country to power the developing industrial age. 14 millionaires lived in Brawell. Around 1900 many miners from Europe were brought to the coal fields, segregated in their own sections of the company towns. 80 % of all coal in WV was mined in company towns. The coal mine owners felt they had a divine right to do whatever was necessary to build their companies in “the wilderness.” Most of the film focuses on the struggle between miners and the oppressive reality of life in company towns where all behavior was closely controlled by the miner owners. Key events such as The Matewan Massacre and The Battle of Blair Mountain are analyzed. Dr. Fred Barkey, a well-known WV labor historian, and industry historian Dr. C. Stuart McGehee provided the historical information. Executive producer Donn Rogosin, station manager of WSWP-TV.
Pocahontas Seam
South Charleston Museum
At the Historic LaBelle Theatre
311 D Street
South Charleston, West Virginia 25303
United States of America
Tel. 304.744.9711 Fax.304.720.3769
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