A Few Minutes with the Mayor – February 2020

A number of you know that a Hollywood motion picture, The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid, was filmed right here in Jacksonville in 1972. You may not know of another film released in 1948… also filmed right here in Jacksonville.

In 1947, a successful independent producer, Robert L. Lippert, who would eventually produce or finance more than 300 films, came to Jacksonville. His company boasted a stable of castoff stars the major studios could no longer afford to keep on their payrolls. Performers such as George Raft, Veronica Lake, Zachary Scott, Joan Leslie, George Reeves, Richard Arlen, Robert Alda, Preston Foster, Jean Porter, Sabu, Ellen Drew, Anne Gwynne, Jack Holt, Robert Lowery, and John Howard were just some of the names adding marquee value to his “B” productions.

When Lippert got here, he took one look at this old gold-mining town and saw a different kind of gold. To quote him, he saw Jacksonville as, “One of the few remaining western towns” in the nation. For a producer in the business of making westerns, a genre popular at the time, Jacksonville was an authentic backlot for his cameras. He was so enthusiastic about the idea he decided to not only produce the film here, but to direct it himself. Of the hundreds of films his name is on, our feature for February, The Last of the Wild Horses, was the only film Lippert ever directed.

Scenes were shot in Old City Hall, in the old Courthouse, on Oregon and California Streets, and in the Rogue Valley. In fact, a trial takes place in the old Courthouse, though the courtroom is different from the original county floor plan. The trial concludes with a prisoner escaping through a side door on to a staircase outside. The staircase used is actually behind the GoodBean coffee shop and is still there.

The Last of the Wild Horses stars James Ellison who was Hopalong Cassidy’s sidekick in eight films. Ellison moved up into “A” productions when Cecil B. DeMille called but we’ll have more to say about that in our introduction on movie night.

Classic film audiences will recognize Douglas Dumbrille, a veteran of many thirties and forties motion pictures, also in a featured role in this film.

Now for the good news. We have this film and it will be our feature presentation in February! The Last of the Wild Horses has never been restored but we came in possession of a reasonably decent DVD print, one no longer in circulation. Since we expect many of you will want to attend when we run this, we are scheduling it on 2 weekends… February 14 and February 21. Please call 541-890-4537 to reserve your seats. Leave your name and phone number, how many seats you would like, and which night you prefer. I will get back with a confirmation or request for change of date if your choice is unavailable. Seating is limited so don’t delay.

For those of you unfamiliar with our movie nights, showtime is at 7:00pm. We provide free coffee compliments of GoodBean Coffee, tea, water, and goodies (also known as dainties). We’ll even throw in a Tom and Jerry cartoon.

Featured image: Jimmy Ellison in front of Old City Hall – 1948