Before innocence took a vacation
a smart phone film production
A short film culled from photos and shaky video clips recorded on my I-phone 7s on a van trip west. An anticipated trip of a lifetime, that skirted civil unrest in Louisville, a tornado in Nashville, floods in the heartland, all while Corona virus was just a few days behind us covertly spreading across America. The journey was a quiet passage as we traveled during the “Route 66” offseason. The experience took us to large and small communities sharing in the spotlight of nostalgia. The “EZ66 Guide for Travelers” guided us towards lonely main streets and down concrete byways, forgotten sections of a once vital road built for cross-country travel.
Much of what we witness on the main parts of the remaining Route 66 are later day efforts by bypassed communities to find economic relevance from travelers on their personal pilgrimage west, willing to forego the timely choice of cross country air travel.
There are many reasons to take this trip, to see glimpses of a by gone era, to connect with the simpler advertised life of travel in an era of motor inns, roadside attractions and roadhouses. This nostalgic trip can be a transcendent experience crossing America. It is also about time travel. It’s about finding your own path to the promised land.
a smart phone film production
A short film culled from photos and shaky video clips recorded on my I-phone 7s on a van trip west. An anticipated trip of a lifetime, that skirted civil unrest in Louisville, a tornado in Nashville, floods in the heartland, all while Corona virus was just a few days behind us covertly spreading across America. The journey was a quiet passage as we traveled during the “Route 66” offseason. The experience took us to large and small communities sharing in the spotlight of nostalgia. The “EZ66 Guide for Travelers” guided us towards lonely main streets and down concrete byways, forgotten sections of a once vital road built for cross-country travel.
Much of what we witness on the main parts of the remaining Route 66 are later day efforts by bypassed communities to find economic relevance from travelers on their personal pilgrimage west, willing to forego the timely choice of cross country air travel.
There are many reasons to take this trip, to see glimpses of a by gone era, to connect with the simpler advertised life of travel in an era of motor inns, roadside attractions and roadhouses. This nostalgic trip can be a transcendent experience crossing America. It is also about time travel. It’s about finding your own path to the promised land.
Shattering Glass Ceilings
Victoria Woodhull, first woman to run for President.
As she sat in jail on election day 1872.......
Victoria Woodhull (September 23, 1838-June 10, 1927), a woman who came from a poverty-stricken background and with little education, she reflected on the journey she had taken to become the first woman to publicly address the United States Congress, one of the first woman to run a Wall Street brokerage, and the first women to run for U.S. president. As a New York newspaper editor and active suffragist-- her run for president came before women even had the right to vote. Her speech to congress about women's "Constitutional Equality" set the stage for the women's suffrage movement in America. Her break through of the male only political barrier shattered the male dominated world of business and politics. She is truly one of Ohio's most remarkable characters, accomplished more than anyone would have expected and is one of the most famous women you have likely never heard of.
Ohio is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents: Grant, Hayes, Garfield, McKinley, Taft, Harding, William Henry and Benjamin Harrison. It is also the birthplace of the first woman to run for president. While students read about Grant, Garfield, Taft and the other Ohio presidents in school, few have ever heard the story of Ohio's most persistent presidential candidate: Victoria Woodhull. Some say that Victoria Claflin Woodhull Blood Martin never made it to the presidency because she was not presidential-quality material. Others say that she didn't make it because she was a woman, and a woman had never been, and never would be, President. But even today, some still argue that Woodhull's gifts as storytelling, leg-pulling, palm-reading hornswaggler could have made her one of the all-time greats. This is her story... www.constitutionalequality.com
Trail Magic
The “Grandma” Gatewood Story
Emmy nominated "Trail Magic", winner of best documentary at the Chagrin Film Festival, Indie Gathering and Women's International Film Festival profiles Emma Gatewood. Her story speaks to the courageous, undaunted spirit of Appalachian people everywhere. Emma Caldwell was born around 1887 at Raccoon Creek in Gallia County Ohio; she was one of 15 children. When she was 19 years old she married Perry Clayton Gatewood, a teacher and a produce farmer. During a time when abuse was considered strictly “a personal matter”, Perry would often beat Emma. By 1943, Emma left Perry for good.
After raising her eleven children, apparently Emma decided she needed another challenge. When she read about the Appalachian Trail in National Geographic she discovered that no woman had ever hiked the trail alone from one end to the other. She decided to BE that woman. She managed to go the entire 2,170 miles becoming the first person to solo walk the entire Appalachian trail at the age of 67, was no small feat! Emma, became known to the public as “Grandma” Gatewood, and became a cause celeb across America. Being the first woman to solo hike the AT end to end, Local reporters followed her story, Sports Illustrated featured her, even the KEDS sneaker company latched onto the marketing opportunity and supplied her with shoes. After completing the hike she was featured on the “Today Show”, Groucho Marx’s “You Bet Your Life” show and the “Tonight Show”. Her story raised the veil on several cultural barriers of the day, including age and sex discrimination. This project is in conjunction with the non-profit Eden Valley Enterprises. This Emmy Nominated documentary can be booked for screenings or rented on Vimeo.
The “Grandma” Gatewood Story
Emmy nominated "Trail Magic", winner of best documentary at the Chagrin Film Festival, Indie Gathering and Women's International Film Festival profiles Emma Gatewood. Her story speaks to the courageous, undaunted spirit of Appalachian people everywhere. Emma Caldwell was born around 1887 at Raccoon Creek in Gallia County Ohio; she was one of 15 children. When she was 19 years old she married Perry Clayton Gatewood, a teacher and a produce farmer. During a time when abuse was considered strictly “a personal matter”, Perry would often beat Emma. By 1943, Emma left Perry for good.
After raising her eleven children, apparently Emma decided she needed another challenge. When she read about the Appalachian Trail in National Geographic she discovered that no woman had ever hiked the trail alone from one end to the other. She decided to BE that woman. She managed to go the entire 2,170 miles becoming the first person to solo walk the entire Appalachian trail at the age of 67, was no small feat! Emma, became known to the public as “Grandma” Gatewood, and became a cause celeb across America. Being the first woman to solo hike the AT end to end, Local reporters followed her story, Sports Illustrated featured her, even the KEDS sneaker company latched onto the marketing opportunity and supplied her with shoes. After completing the hike she was featured on the “Today Show”, Groucho Marx’s “You Bet Your Life” show and the “Tonight Show”. Her story raised the veil on several cultural barriers of the day, including age and sex discrimination. This project is in conjunction with the non-profit Eden Valley Enterprises. This Emmy Nominated documentary can be booked for screenings or rented on Vimeo.