Ken Hechler is one of the stars of a new three-part documentary about one of the most important political movements in recent WV and American history - the Black Lung Movement, centered in Southern WV. The people at the Dept. of Labor, Charleston Black Lung Office, MSHA  and others have produced this profound film, premiering it recently at the 30th anniversary of the WV Black Lung Offices. I borrowed Hechler’s copy and hopefully will gain access for more people to see the three short films. (more…)

Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize in Literature, 2006 - from his website

Armenia is not in the news much these days, but a country next to it - Georgia - is. I was talking to a local MD from Syria who told me that he had been investigating the history of Georgia, and Armenia, lately because of the recent events. My first paid job was working for an Armenian in Minneapolis - Nish A. Jamgotch. Ever since I was 12 I have been interested in that country, and now with battles being fought nearby, these two excellent films from Filmmakers Library are well worth watching.

(more…)

From 1979-1996 I hosted a cable TV show called “Film Festival.” I taped two 15 minute shows each month which were shown on Capitol Cablevision and elsewhere around the state. Luckily WVLC Television Services kept some VHS tapes I made of the programs. Now there are two unusual shows that have been translated to DVD by WVLC Television Services . One show from 1992 made in honor of the first anniversary of Lipton’s alt monthly, “Film Festival,”  Lipton, included Frank Venezia, a well-known Charleston lawyer whose uncle was “Fang” from the hilarious TV show hosted by Huntington-raised Soopy Sales plus Lipton’s great dog, Snapper. The other show, taped in 1994 included Lipton with his friend The Amazing Delores who had just released her first album, “Stop Messing with My Mind.” She also sings one of her songs, “Going Over Forty,” which still sounds pretty good. If you really want to see these shows, contact me at - mystery12@suddenlink.net and put Amazing Delores in the subject line.

(more…)

Ken Hechler is now best known for his fight against mountaintop removal mining. However, what he should be known for is his creation of the most important legislation ever passed in our country aimed at limiting the amount of coal dust to protect miners against black lung and to compensate miners suffering from black lung  in  The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969.On August 21, 2008 there was a national conference celebrating the 30th anniversary of the two WV Federal Black Lung Program Offices of The U.S. Dept. of Labor  located in WV - in Parkersburg and Charleston. Speakers at the Conference included Cecil Roberts, international president of the UMWA, Gov. Manchin, Congresswoman Capito, and Wes Holden for Senator Rockefeller. Ms. Victoria Lipnic, Assistant Secretary of Labor and Mr. John DeMarce, director of the Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation, U.S. Dept. of Labor, also spoke.  (more…)

 Ray Schmitt in NYC, attending the NY Film Academy - always willing to learn

Ray Schmitt continues to produce great films even after a devastating year of loss and medical problems. His latest film, “Dead Girl Walking,” is an honest film about a young woman recovering from breast cancer. She is also a musician/singer and a very energetic person. You can now see the preview on line.

(more…)

Iris Bell

Iris Bell passed away on April 19th, 2008 at the age of 74. Thanks to her three daughters and filmmaker Kelley Thompson there is a permanent record of her life. At a memorial service held in May on the West Side of Charleston, April Pierson-Keating gave one of the best eulogies for a mother I have ever heard. Iris’ three daughters,  besides April, are Terry and Elizabeth Bell. Other family and friends spoke about their love for Iris and musicians performed her music.

(more…)

Poster for Kelley Thompson’s Widen Film Project

West Virginia has a dramatic history, especially in the area of labor. Since 1978 I have been fairly obsessed with purchasing, promoting, and exhibiting all known films about WV labor history. When I flew from Minneapolis to Charleston in September 1978 there was a new 16 mm print of “Harlan County, USA” sitting in my office. A few months earlier I had met Barbara Kopple, the director, at the American Film and Video Festival in NYC. I had also seen the film, staggering out of the Minnesota movie house after watching what hell Appalachians had to endure just to get a shred of dignity working as virtual slaves in its coal mines. I was a member of two unions in Minnesota - one for Minnesota Highway Department employees, another for nursing assistants in nursing homes.

  (more…)