Professor Kalaras with Christopher Janus and his friend Valerie Valentine in front of The La Belle Theater.

Christopher Janus and his friends Valerie Valentine and Professor John Kalaras flew to Charleston from Chicago on Saturday, November 10th, arriving just in time for the screening in a movie theater for the first time of his landmark film, “Goodbye, Miss Fourth of July.”( The film was shown on the Disney Channel every 4th of July for years.)A sequel is in pre-production.)   A large audience of Greek West Virginians and others attended the event that was marked by awards from the City of South Charleston, Gov. Manchin and greetings from the leaders of Greece. It was a night to remember.

Theresa Whitt, director/curator and sole employee of the South Charleston Museum, spent a great deal of time and hard work preparing the La Belle Theater for the night’s festivities as did several SCMF board members who were there to sell tickets and assist the program.

 Rhuel Craddock, chairman of the South Charleston Museum Foundation, and JoAnne Bilurakis of Best of Crete, a co-sponsor of the event and provider of the delicious Greek food

Thanks to the Best of Crete, there was free Greek food for the audience, personally delivered by Crete native Mrs. Bilirakis. The Best of Crete was an early co-sponsor, being friends of Mr. Janus from previous visits. Janus was a good friend of WVLC director Fred Glazer, once giving the keynote speech for the annual Library Legislative Night. WVLC also published several of Mr. Janus’ many books.

 Steve Fesenmaier, programmer, with Rhuel Craddock reading the proclamation from Mayor Mullens of South Charleston, making Janus an honorary citizen

Rhuel Craddock, named an “Outstanding West Virginian” by Gov. Manchin several years ago and chairman of the South Charleston Museum Foundation, began the night’s presentations by welcoming the guests. He also read the proclamation written by Mayor Mullins making Janus an honorary citizen of South Charleston.  Bob Anderson, director of the South Charleston Convention and Visitors Center, representing Mayor Mullins, presented Janus with the key to the city.

Bob Anderson, director of the SC Convention & Visitors Center (also housed in The La Belle Theater along with the South Charleston Museum) giving Janus the keys to the city

Then Mr. Janus stood and gave a brief speech on how happy he was to receive the keys to the city and to return to his native WV.

Mountain Messinger - the publication of the WV Labor History Assn. with the chapter on Greeks in WV.

Next up was Dr. Fred Barkey who talked about the publication of a chapter of a forthcoming book about ethnic groups in WV to be published by the WV Labor History Assn.  Cathy Pleska, a board member of WVLHA, was the co-editor with Barkey. The publication of this chapter was the original idea for showing Janus’ film of “Goodbye, Miss Fourth of July.”

 Dr. John Kalaras reading a proclamation written by the Speaker of the House of the Greek Parliament, signed by the Prime Minister of Greece, honor Janus’ work promoting Greek culture in WV and America

After Dr. Barkey, Professor Kalaras read a proclamation written by the speaker of the house of the Greek Parliament, signed by the Prime Minister of Greece. ( Originally planned also was a visit by Congressman Brademas, the first Greek American in Congress, who had to fly to Mexico City for an international keynote speech on Hilary Clinton.) Congressman Hechler, a good friend of Congressman Brademas, also sent his greetings. He had to fly to the University of Kansas Saturday morning for a “Congress to Campus” visit.

 Craddock, Fesenmaier, Father Scoulas reading Gov. Manchin’s proclamation of Greek-WV Day with Janus

Finally, Gov. Manchin’s award for Mr. Janus was given to him, and Father Scoulas from St. John’s Greek Church in Kanawha City read Gov. Manchin’s proclamation making November 10th, 2007 “Greek West Virginia Day.” ( Dr. Barkey deserves much of the credit for writing this proclamation.) The proclamation was given to Father Scoulas who will keep it with St. John’s archives to show future Greek West Virginians how the day was marked  in 2007.

Mr. Janus, Ms. Valentine, and Dr. Kalaras sat in the front row, watching the first showing of his film on the silver screen. ( The Charleston Gazette gave Janus a “smile” in its Saturday edition for coming to South Charleston for the first theatrical showing, incorrectly implying that the film had been transferred to 35 mm film. It was not - a rare commercial VHS copy was shown. No DVD has been produced yet.)

Mr. Janus autographed copies of some of this book for half an hour after the showing in the lobby of The La Belle Theater.

 Kalaras, Valerie Valentine, Janus, J.D. Hess and Chris Hess

On Sunday Xrisanthi (Chris) Hess , a native of Crete whose father and husband are both Americans, drove the visitors from Chicago around Montgomery, visiting the graves of his parents. ( Chris was raised in the very town where “Zorba the Greek” was filmed. She is the president of the Crete Club of West Virginia.) Unfortunately, because as the film shows, his sister Niki died from the influenza in 1917, the worst mass death ever caused by a disease since the Black Death of the Middle Ages. She was buried in an unmarked grave. After having dinner at St. John’s which by coincidence was hosting its annual Greek Feast, Janus returned to Wilmette, a suburb of Chicago. God bless Mr. Janus for becoming one of America’s greatest Greek-American leaders, authors, and teachers. And returning home to share with his friends the tragic but important story of his own life in early 20th century West Virginia.

 

JoAnn Bilurakis at St. John’s, always cooking….

Hopefully SCM, WVLHA and the local Greek community will be able to present some new Greek films in 2008. There is a thriving group of filmmakers in Greece including one of modern cinema’s master, Theo Angelopoulos.

Resources:

John Lilly, editor of Goldenseal magazine, has published/posted a good general introduction to ethnic groups in West Virginia - http://www.wvculture.org/arts/ethnic/index.html

Still the best book I have ever read on ethnic groups in the US is the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups.

Greek Orthodox churches in the US - http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/index.htm

Valerie Valentine and Helen Lodge, sister of Melba White, the long-time mayor of Montgomery, and old family friend of Janus, preparing some of Janus’ books for sale

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