1:47 documentary to premiere at IU East
Indiana University East will host the premiere of the documentary film, 1:47, on Friday, April 4, at 8 p.m. in Vivian Auditorium. The black tie optional event will start with a reception at 6:30 p.m. in Whitewater Lobby. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased by contacting the IU East Office of External Affairs at (765) 973-8419.
1:47 tells the story of the 1968 explosion in Richmond and the city’s ordinary – and extraordinary residents – who responded to the disaster. The film makes use of black and white photographs, color slides, archival news film footage, and interviews from eyewitnesses, survivors, and those who worked to rebuild the city. 1:47 reveals the cause of the explosion and its effects on the city and people of Richmond and untangles the web of responsibility and blame that followed.
“It is our hope that those who come to see this film will leave with a better appreciation of the courage and sacrifice our community made in response to this tragic event,” said executive producer Rob Quigg. “We hope that by telling this remarkable story in film, we have preserved this event for future generations.”
Additional screenings will take place at IU East during the 40th anniversary weekend. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the Vivian Auditorium door for screenings on Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 6, at 2 p.m.
Throughout the weekend, a companion exhibit in The Gallery at IU East will display photographs and artifacts related to the explosion.
1:47 was written and directed by Jean Harper, assistant professor of English at Indiana University East. The film was produced and edited by Zack Parker whose most recent film, Quench, was the recipient of the best director award from the New York International Independent Film Festival. Videographer for 1:47 was Jim Krause.
Proceeds from the premiere weekend will support a special annual summer intensive course at IU East titled “On the Line: Creating Art from Life.” Working with award-winning faculty from IU East with expertise in nonfiction writing, poetry, fiction, and photography, students will write about and photograph places and people in east central Indiana and west central Ohio. The final product of the course will be an annual public gallery exhibit in historic downtown Richmond, showcasing the work of IU East students.
“The greatest artists and writers find inspiration in the world around them,” Harper said. “Our goal with this summer program is to inspire students to create works of art and literature in and about their own community. I also see this as a way to honor the memory of those who were lost in the downtown explosion. So many talented and gifted people were taken; we can never get them back, but we can remember their spirit, and honor that with our work of teaching and learning and making art out of the life around us.”
1:47 premiere at Indiana University East is sponsored by West End Bank, Creative Street Media Group, First Merchants Trust Company, First Bank Richmond, Monarch Beverage Company, US Bank, the City of Richmond, J.M. Hutton & Co., the Indiana University Foundation, and Wayne Bank and Trust. Additional supporters include CS Kern, Kessler’s Team Sports, Meijer, the Allan and Miriam Rosar Donor Advised Fund of the Wayne County Foundation, and Porter Advertising.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I live out of town now. I’ve been following this website since its inception, and I can’t wait to see the film. Unfortunately I will not be able to make it to Richmond that weekend. Will it be possible to see this documentary in another location sometime? Or even on the web?
April 1st, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I was there. It almost seems impossible that it has been 40 years since that
tragic event. Since then I have only been to Richmond a couple of times around
three or four years ago. The area of the explosion is kind of hard to pick out.
I lived only five blocks from the site. The only way I can locate places is using
the Courthouse for a reference point. I had worked at Mercury Records from
64-67 and I am glad to see that the Gennett Foundation has been able to save
some of that very historic site in the valley.
Perhaps some time in the future the producers will be
able to show the Video on the local Public TV Stations.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I was there. It almost seems impossible that it has been 40 years
since that tragic event. Since then I have only been to Richmond
a couple of times around three or four years ago. The area of the
explosion is kind of hard to pick out. I lived only five blocks from
the site. The only way I can locate places is using the Courthouse
for a reference point. I had worked at Mercury Records from
64-67 and I am glad to see that the Gennett Foundation has been
able to save some of that very historic site in the valley.
Perhaps some time in the future the producers will be
able to show the Video on the local Public TV Stations.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I plan to attend the Sunday afternoon showing. The explosion was a very important moment in my professional life. I was an Earlham student and a disc jockey at what then was WGLM (FM) radio, using the on-air name “Jay Howell.” When the explosion happened I looked out from my apartment at NW 5th and L Streets “and saw the column of smoke, and knew something terrible had happened. I drove downtown and stayed there, covering the story for WGLM and radio stations all over the country for two days. While I didn’t immediately abandon my DJ job, the experience led me to change the direction of my broadcasting career, which turned to full-time journalism after I graduated from Earlham. I am now a member of the Earlham Alumni Council and this year’s spring meetings coincide with the premiere, so I will be able to see the film while I’m in town. I’m really looking forward to it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
I am shocked there is not a memorial at the site where we can relive history.I can’t wait for the film to come out since I was too young to fullu understand what happened and we didn’t have the 24 hour news cycles then.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Gary,
There is a memorial. It was moved a few years ago from it’s original location of 6th & Main to one block west at 5th & Main. The memorial notes a brief summary of what happened April 6, 1968 and lists those 41 lives lost.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:27 am
40 years and I can still remember where I was and what I was doing when it happened. I would like very much to see this film. Both my parents were directly involved in the aftermath. My father is in the picture on the first page of this webb site and my mother attended many, many of the injured at Reid hospital. This is one event in Richmond history that no one should be allowed to forget. Let us hope this film can help make that happen.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I was on the Police Dept and lived at 1217 S.C St. My neighbor worked for the gas company. He and I were outside when the explosion occured. We saw the plume of smoke and thought the courthouse had been firebombed. We jumped into my car and headed toward the courthouse. When we reached S. 6th and B we could see the center of the area affected. We headed home and I donned my uniform and headed for police headquarters at 50 N. 5th. On reaching the building I went to the squad room where some fellow officers were waiting for instructions. Someone looked out the window and noticed that the roof was smoking. We were deployed to the area of the explosion. My memories are fuzzy from there on with mental images of everyone pitching in to fight fires and try to rescue people trapped in burning buildings. Afterward for days we were on 12 hour shifts. I remember the good people of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army providing coffee and sandwiches. Connie Marker provided Marker Burgers. So many memories. It was an event that will always be remembered by those who were there.
In later years I was a faculty member at the Universtiy of Illinois, Police Training Institute and a new faculty member, Ron Eltzroth, former Indiana State Policeman, wanted to know if I was on RPD at the time of the explosion. Turns out he worked at the tempory morgue located at the Armory. No doubt our paths crossed sometime in the days following the explosion.
April 6th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I was wondering if there is anyway to purchase a copy of the video? I live out of town and cannot make it to the screenings. I have followed the film being made and have family that contributed to the making of the film and would love to see it.