David Marcum and his assistant Todd Gamble showed up to present three of their films about the bridges and roads and trolleys of West Virginia. A small but enthusiastic audience enjoyed the three short films that had their public premieres at the event. The filmmakers loved seeing their film up on the La Belle Marquee.

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David Marcum has beem directing some excellent films about WV roads and bridges for more than a decade. In 2007, the  WVLC sent a copy of his 2004 film “The Road to Opportunity” about the amazing constructionof the WV Turnpike to every public library in the state. The South Charleston Museum will be premiering locally his new national award winning film, “Bridging History at Blennerhasset Island” along with “The Road to Opportunity” and a short film about the trolley system that once existed in Huntington. Marcum continues to make films about WV’s great bridges and roads and will be releasing a new one this spring. Below is the press release for the event that will take place in March 2010.

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Wess Harris has sold almost 5,000 copies of William C. Blizzard’s book, “When Miners March.” Here is a great interview and article with Wess about the new edition coming in May. (more…)

Steve Date of Minneapolis has produced and directed a great film about “Coalwood,” Homer Hicham Jr’s hometown. It had its world premiere at The South Charleston Museum and was then shown at the Coalwood Festival last fall. You can watch the film on WVPB or purchase a copy from Tamarack and other WV stores.

 

All photos by Dennis Rhodes, vp of WVLHA

The West Virginia Labor History Assn. presented a display about the recent de-listing of Blair Mountain after a twenty-year battle to get it listed as a historic site worth preserving. Jim Haught, editor of the Charleston Gazette, wrote an editorial and a brief history article about the importance of Blair Mountain, suggesting that the state even build a museum on the site.Below are photos taken by WVLHA vice president Dennis Rhodes. (more…)

 John Lilly performing at The La Belle for his CD Haunted Honky Tonk

John Lilly is one of the finest folk musicians in the country and even the world, often traveling to European folk festivals, etc. I have known him for a long time and have truly enjoyed not only his singing, but also his writing and editing of Goldenseal magazine. He has performed at The La Belle as part of a film program, and had a new CD party at the La Belle that I attended. He is one of the best! Below is a press release concerning his program in April 2010 at the Theater. I hope many people come to enjoy him and his great music!

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The West Virginia Labor History Association, in cooperation with Harvard Ayers and his work to re-list Blair Mountain on the sites of historic preservation, will be presenting a display in honor of Blair Mountain, one of the most historic sites in the state.

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 Ken Hechler with Professor Robert Watson of Lynn University

Ken Hechler does more than anyone realizes, including me. This week he is touring with Prof. Robert Watson of Lynn University, visiting his classes and community groups. In July, Ken will be spending a week at the Chautauqua Center outside Jamestown, New York, talking about interviewing many subjects including President Truman, etc. (more…)

The Kanawha State Forest Foundation has produced an excellent video showing why they are fighting the new large strip-mine that will be placed within 100 yards of the forest. It shows a winter tour of the forest and interviews many of the people who have saved it over the decades, most recently from gas well drilling. (more…)

Ray Schmitt has created “Out of the Blue,” another masterpiece of personal cinema therapy, as he did with “Six Months,” creating a film about his life since the tragic loss of his wife Judy several years ago. He travels the country and to Mexico in search of spiritual peace, showing on camera how deeply he misses his wife.

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