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From the Morgue
Sharon Sanders
The Southeast Missourian's resident historian Sharon K. Sanders blogs about interesting pieces of local history pulled from the newspaper's morgue -- the place where our old editions are kept.
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Cape's own movie

Posted Thursday, July 12, 2012, at 12:00 AM

Did you know Cape Girardeau had its own movie? I had forgotten about it, until Fred Lynch reminded me recently.

The show was called -- fittingly enough -- "We're in the Movies." Sponsored by the Southeast Missourian, the silent 16mm movie was filmed in color in Cape Girardeau in just a week's time, beginning on April 28, 1940. On May 15, 1940, 3,762 Girardeans crammed into the Broadway Theatre in four showings to watch themselves and their neighbors on the big screen.

The plot seems a bit anemic, but what the movie lacked in story telling was more than made up in volume, as hundreds of people appeared in the show.

According to a Missourian article, director Bob Marshman chose a veteran actor to play the important role of Farmer Corntassel. Casey V. Ransom, a Cape Girardeau grocer, had appeared on the stage for 22 years as a comedian, playing to audiences in "every state in the Union, in Canada and Old Mexico," before retiring here.

Marshman explained the plot:

"Farmer Corntassel, on his way to Cape Girardeau in his battered and outmoded automobile, its creaking sides bulging with Mrs. Corntassel and their 14 little Corntassels, has to give a 'lift' to a thumb-waving Gary Owens, eminent movie director whose car has broken down on his way to Cape Girardeau, where he is bound to select a likely girl for a Hollywood movie contract."

Other primary members of the cast were also Cape Girardeau residents:

Probate Judge Jack O. Knehans -- Gary Owens, the director

Celeste Perkinson -- Mary, the exotic blond bound for stardom

Jimmy Thompson -- Joe, Mary's fiance, who doesn't want her to be a movie star

Mrs. E.A. Reissaus -- Mrs. Farmer Corntassel

A.S. Reed -- Lizette, who does her best to catch the eye of the director

Arnold Roth -- Mr. Smith, a typical business man

Mrs. E.G. Moore -- Mrs. Smith, wife of the typical business man

Nancy Claire Mosley and Joe McNeely -- Children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Mayor Hinkle Statler -- Himself

As shooting progressed, Marshman and his expert cameraman, Bill Moore, filmed at Cape Girardeau tourist spots and at a variety of industries, public buildings, business houses and residences.

Scenes were shot at Roth Tobacco, Superior Electric, Frisco passenger station, the homes of C.A. Himmelberger, E.G. Moore, and Judge I.R. Kelso; First National Bank, The Missourian Building, Buckner-Ragsdale store, Marquette Cement, Hotel Marquette; Centenary United Methodist, First Presbyterian, St. Vincent's, and First Baptist churches; Rigdon Laundry, Lueders Studio, Central Packing, Ruh's Market, the Alvarado, Colonial Tavern, Clemens Jewelry store, Old Lorimier Cemetery, Teachers College campus, Groves Motor; Lorimier, Central High, Trinity Lutheran, St. Mary's, and St. Vincent's schools; Riverside Lumber, the shoe factory, Colonial Tavern, Dolly's Hat Shop, Bartels Mercantile, the Federal Building, Southeast Missouri Telephone Co., Fort D, and Marquette Lake.

A May 16, 1940, wrapped up the story of Cape's own movie:

A search online for "We're in the Movies" reveals several motion pictures by the same name filmed in towns in the Midwest, including St. Clair, Marshall, and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Batavia, Ill.; Perrysburg, Ohio, and Tell City, Ind. All were made by the John B. Rogers Producing Co., of Fostoria, Ohio. It is my guess that the company had a set script that was re-written slightly for each town filmed.

While I'm sure the Cape Girardeau movie had a happy ending, it's doubtful we'll ever know for sure. As far as I can determine, no copy of the film has been preserved.

Still, perhaps the movie's actors and actresses are still around. Maybe they'll write in and tell us of the time they were in Cape's own movie.

Comments

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  • Is this movie still around or in the dustbin of history?

    -- Posted by thewaterboy on Thu, Jul 12, 2012, at 1:09 PM

  • Waterboy, you ask a good question.

    I haven't been able to locate a copy of the film, but perhaps one of our readers has it hidden away in some dusty attic. It would be a treat, wouldn't it, to see with our own eyes how Girardeans lived just prior to World War II?

    Sharon Sanders

    -- Posted by Sharon Sanders on Thu, Jul 12, 2012, at 1:52 PM

  • I'm pretty sure that the Library of Congress would have a copy of this movie in their archives. You may be able to right them and request a copy of this film.

    -- Posted by muthatrucker on Fri, Jul 13, 2012, at 9:11 AM

  • Are they needing any more women for any parts? Will there be an open audition?

    -- Posted by Classy on Sat, Jul 14, 2012, at 3:36 PM

  • In 1969 & 1970, I was a field director for The John B. Rogers Producing Company, producing Spectaculars in Morristown Tennessee, Elkton Kentucky, Rossville Indiana, Russell Kansas & Mt. Olive North Carolina. These were interesting times. I joined the Rogers Co. while participating in an indoor Lions Minstrel Show at Liberty Hall in El Paso Texas in early 1969. The Rogers director was George S. Elias. And yes, the scripts were tweeked & adjusted to fit the local history, but much of history - the roaring 20's Gay 90's etc., were experienced by all, so many of the dances costumes etc., were similar. In any case, my involvement was during the waning years of The Rogers Company. I believe Rogers was bought & moved to Pittsburg & then faded away. In anyone has any information or pictures I would be happy to hear from them. Kind Regards, K.M. McCarthy.

    -- Posted by Elm on Tue, Nov 27, 2012, at 3:32 AM

  • In 1969 & 1970, I was a field director for The John B. Rogers Producing Company, producing Spectaculars in Morristown Tennessee, Elkton Kentucky, Rossville Indiana, Russell Kansas & Mt. Olive North Carolina. These were interesting times. I joined the Rogers Co. while participating in an indoor Lions Minstrel Show at Liberty Hall in El Paso Texas in early 1969. The Rogers director was George S. Elias. And yes, the scripts were tweeked & adjusted to fit the local history, but much of history - the roaring 20's Gay 90's etc., were experienced by all, so many of the dances costumes etc., were similar. In any case, my involvement was during the waning years of The Rogers Company. I believe Rogers was bought & moved to Pittsburg & then faded away. If anyone has any information or pictures I would be happy to hear from them. Kind Regards, K.M. McCarthy.

    -- Posted by Elm on Tue, Nov 27, 2012, at 3:33 AM

  • Miss Sanders,

    There was another "hometown" movie made with residents of Cape Girardeau, many of them were kids.

    I, (Jeffry Lynne (Boswell)Hawk, was about 4 or 5 years old and played a little rich girl who was kidnapped by a man played by Thad Bullock. I think some of his kids, my brother, Wayne Boswell; and sister, Jackie (Boswell)Givens were part of the neighborhood "gang" (like a take-off from the The Little Rascals). Bill Owens and many other kids from Red Star and all around town were in that movie.

    It was shot at Capaha Park up by the swings nearest the old swimming pool- at least, that is where the kidnapping scene took place. I have never forgotten Mr. Bullock swooping me up off the ground and running off with me. I was told to holler, scream, kick and say, "Put me down! They'll get you for this!"

    Unfortunately, that's all I can remember. The movie was shown at both the Orpheum and I think, the Esquire Theaters. I was told that the owner of the Esquire Theater whose name was Paul, might have a copy of the movie. The last I heard- he had moved to St. Louis.

    I got to see it as a kid with my family, but I would love to see and have a copy of that old movie for my grandchildren. We would all get a real "kick" out of seeing it again!

    -- Posted by jackandjeff on Mon, Jul 1, 2013, at 5:28 PM

  • Miss Sanders,

    There was another "hometown" movie made with residents of Cape Girardeau, many of them were kids. The year was around 1947 or 1948. Some talent scouts were going all over the US making this kind of movie to search out new talent.

    I, (Jeffry Lynne (Boswell)Hawk, was about 4 or 5 years old and played a little rich girl who was kidnapped by a man played by Thad Bullock. I think some of his kids, my brother, Wayne Boswell; and sister, Jackie (Boswell)Givens were part of the neighborhood "gang" (like a take-off from the The Little Rascals). Bill Owens and many other kids from Red Star and all around town were in that movie.

    It was shot at Capaha Park up by the swings nearest the old swimming pool- at least, that is where the kidnapping scene took place. I have never forgotten Mr. Bullock swooping me up off the ground and running off with me. I was told to holler, scream, kick and say, "Put me down! They'll get you for this!"

    Unfortunately, that's all I can remember. I hope that possibly other people who might have been in the movie would speak up or write to you about it. The movie was shown at both the Orpheum and I think, the Esquire Theaters. I was told that the owner of the Esquire Theater whose name was Paul, might have a copy of the movie. The last I heard- he had moved to St. Louis.

    I got to see it as a kid with my family, but I would love to see and have a copy of that old movie for my grandchildren. We would all get a real "kick" out of seeing it again!

    -- Posted by jackandjeff on Mon, Jul 1, 2013, at 5:35 PM

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