Fools Parade - a great night with George Daugherty
Pictured above - George Daugherty and Bill Henthorn
George Daugherty, The Earl of Elkview,and about 50 other people came to the first theatrical showing of one of WV’s best Hollywood films, “Fools Parade,” last night at the South Charleston Museum. I have been waiting 30 years myself to present the film in Charleston, and had a great time.
In 1978 when I came to WV from Minneapolis, people immediately told me about some great films made in the state, starting with “Fools Parade” in Moundsville and “Stage Struck” in New Martinsville. I was able to purchase a 16 mm copy of “Fools Parade” and thanks to the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY, got a 16 mm copy of that film. Unfortunately, though, both films were never put on VHS or DVD and the world of 16 mm film exhibition came to a close.
Not only did George introduce the film, being a native of Manninton, growing up around the locations where “Fools Parade” was filmed, but he introduced Bill Henthorn, a man who provided the 1930s vintage automobiles drove down from Moundsville to talk about his experience working with the filmmakers. ( Max Hamilton provided the tourning car used by the bad guys as they drove around “Glory” looking for Jimmy Stewart and his buddies. Henthorn said that the great collections of classic cars are no longer together.) George also talked about Morgan Paull who was a native of Wheeling who was hired to act in the film as Junior Kilfong. One local lady, Dorothy Cyrus, whose birthday it was, came because she had been looking for a copy of the film ever since she saw it when it was shown locally in 1971. Everyone in the La Belle Theatre sang her “Happy Birthday” and I loaned her a DVD copy of the film.
As the programmer, I began the night by talking about my own love of the film, and I presented the reprinted version of the novel with an introduction by WV native Dr. Thomas Douglass who is writing a biography of Grubb. I also told the audience about the new book version of Gerald Milnes’ amazing WV film, “Signs, Cures, and Witchery.”
We also presented the 10 minute documentary on making the film, “On Location with Fools Parade” which I am sure most people have never seen.
My wife Frani said that a local TV station used to show “Fools Parade” often during the Seventies. I know that I have never seen it shown anywhere on TV, and over the last 30 years people from around the country have regularly contacted me about obtaining a copy. I certainly hope that someone someday will do so.
Watching the film again last night - on the big screen for the first time for me - I loved the film, and even think that it would merit an undated version. I did project the film on the side of my garage once in Kanawha City, setting up chairs in the yard, inviting the neighbors, and even getting my mother-in-law to play the piano. It was one of my best film parties ever.
Thanks to George, and the two Phyllis’ from the board of the South Charleston Museum, Phyllis Wehrmann and Phillis Shawver, and Chuck Taylor, the projectionist, for helping me present a true gem of a film.
I have to admit that I thought the theater should be packed to the gills - 300 people. I wondered by people like Kate Long, who did an award-winning WVPBS radio series on WV authors including Davis Grubb, local filmmakers, local librarians who love WV writers, etc. weren’t all there. They probably missed their only chance to see the great Jimmy Stewart playing a WV coal miner fighting corrupt bankers and their many cronies after serving 40 years in prison.
Pictured below - George Daugherty, his wife and legal partner Suzanne Daugherty, Judy Prosser and Frani Fesenmaier, eating dinner at The Main Tin before the program. Also present was Bernice Basham, sitting beside Frani - not shown.
