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Neosho Sunday NewsNeosho Sunday NewsSunday, July 22,103-11Second SectionDirector honored at banquetBy Harlan StarkGINGER BLUE — Henry king, who directed the filming of the movie “Jesse James” principally in McDonald County jh 1938, returned this week to do and redo some of the scenes from the movie.”King was the honored guest at a dinner here Friday night, at Which he was presented a plaque by Pineville mayor J. 0. Armstrong. The plaque was inscribed with the words: In appreciation to Henry King, director of Jesse James” 1938 for outstanding and dedicated service to the movie industry. Presented by the city of Pineville, July 20, 1973.”King shared the credit for the success of Jesse James” with the people of Pineville and McDonald County. “We all know America is the greatest country in the world,” he said. “What made it great was people Working together. When we came to Pineville all the people took an interest and worked with us to make the movie. I would say the people of Pineville are as much the producers of the movie as I was.”.'He recounted the circumstances of how the movie came to be made and to be filmed in this area.:He said that Hollywood writer Nunally Johnson came across a series of editorials in the Sedalia newspaper sympathetic to Jesse James. Johnson put these editorials together into a story and brought it to him. I found it one of the most fascinating stories I had ever seen,” King said. He then went to Kearney, Mo., to visit a son of Frank James. Sitting under the cherry tree where the step-father of Jesse and Frank James had been hanged, he learned many details of the James family life.He took this additional material to Johnson, who incorporated it into a movie script.King said that a friend who was an executive of Phillips Petroleum Co., had once told him that if I ever wanted a town which was as America once was — go to Pineville.”“When I arrived in Pineville, the new concrete sidewalks and street were just in,” he commented. When he told a local resident he wanted to see someone about using Pineville for location for a movie, he was told to see the mayor, who was at that moment mowing the grass on the courthouse lawn.“He got the council together and we had dinner at the Cave Restaurant. When I told them I wanted to put dirt in the streets and put in board sidewalks,” he said, one of the councilmen replied, “I’m sorry we put the concrete in. It makes the city much hotter.” ■Most of the movie was shot around Pineville and Noel, with other scenes being done at Southwest City and at Neosho.King described the arrival of a movie company of that day as more than a Barnum and Bailey circus.Filming of the movie created great interest all across tbe country. About 5,000 persons came to watch the filming nearly every day from all of the then 48 states in the union.Many area people were employed in building sets and many worked as extras. One of the extras, Victor Rhine, now a member of the Pineville City Council, attended the dinner and was singled out as having had the distinction of working one day only on the movie. Rhine said this was his first job and he got his Social Security card as a one-day employe of 20th Century first day. He said he had already pox ruined two -takes when theHis short employment came to director yelled, “Get that n prH whpn ho was fired the damned kid out of here!”King began his career as an actor and also took up writing. Later he turned to directing. His first film, Tolable David,” was filmed in 1917 in Virginia. The silent film won awards in several countries.“Hell Harbor” was the first speaking film King directed, followed by big successes as _ “State Fair,” with Will Rogers,;head of the military operation •*»**'Kan end when he was fired theTerms MIA search program as successfulHONOLULU (AP) — Thetracking down Americans classified as missing in action in Southeast Asia says the program has been “extremely successful” in its first six months.Thus far, I’m extremely pleased with the results of the operation,” Brig. Gen. Robert C. Kingston said at a newsJennifer Jones made her film debut; and “The Winning of Barbara Worth,” Gary Cooper’s first big movie.King filmed the first outdoor color picture, “Ramona,” in 1935.Other special guests at the dinner Friday included Mr. and Mrs. Forrester Barr. Barrr is aHONORED GUEST — Mayor J. O. Armstrong, left, presents a plaque to Henry King, who directed the movie “Jesse James, during a dinner in King’s honor Friday at Ginger Blue. Thebrw£n8a^ked how many of the grandson of Jesse James and Plaque, presented by the city of Pineville, is for King’s out-1 300^ MIAs have bron liated operates the old James farm standing and dedicated service to the movie industry. King since the program was created near Eldorado Springs.recounted the circumstances leading up to the decision to make the movie and film it in the Pineville area. The dinner was arranged by Larry Bradley, Pineville historian and student of the history of the film. (Daily News Photo)Another special guest was Don Walker, who covered the filming in 1938 for the Joplin Globe and later became a public relations man with the movie company.Walker is now retired and has moved to Crag O’Lea, which he purchased several years ago.*v.v Mr. and Mrs. King arrived inrelated crash sites in Southeast McDonald County Thursday to presented to the Capitol Mu-Asia, he said. “But most of attend Jesse James Days. He seum Saturday a bronze plaque those are in North Vietnam.” in the parade Saturday honoring Missouri’s 80 winnersafternoon and attended the 0f tj,e Congressional Medal of showing of “Jesse James” -*Saturday night.Jan. 23, he said: “I don’t want to get into the numbers game.“You can get that information from the services.” Kingston said his search teams had gone into eight crash sites in South Vietnam and had conducted 11 missions. There are 1,070 known war-Medal of Honor winners honored in Jefferson CityJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Department of the American LegionNegotiations are continuing about the possibilities of sending search teams into that country, he said.When asked about the possibility of finding MI As alive,Honor.Gov. Christopher S. Bond toldA bed of Knotted Wrackwho won the nation’s highest award for heroism, he said.The plaque shows a sketch of the Missouri area at the Medal of Honor Grove at Valley Forge, Pa. Accompanying the plaque was a book containing the names and deeds of the 80 Missouri Medal of Honor winners.The Medal of Honor was established by Congress in 1862 to honor military men for heroism im action. The Missouri list in-about 100 persons, many of eludes two winners for services them relatives of Medal of Hon- in 1861 — John M. Schofield or winners, that he accepted and William M. Wherry, both of the 3 by 4-foot plaque with “a St. Louis, and both awarded for great deal of gratitude.” action in Missouri during the ... _______________ Thousands of tourists who civil War.course we hope we will, but at It is seaweed with small gas- visit the Capitol Museum couldthis time we have no in- filled bladders which “pop” be reminded of the gallantry Awarded for action in the dications.” resoundingly if stepped upon. an(j honor” of the military men Vietnam War were Donald E.Ballard of Kansas City, Paul W. Bucha of St. Louis, tbe late Thomas E. Creek, a Joplin native; James P. Fleming, born in Sedalia; and the late George K. Sisler of Dexter.Only winner present for the ceremonies was Herbert W. Burr of Kansas City, who won the award for action in Germany in 1945. Burr, now a painter, was born in St. Joseph. He wiped out a German gun by running over it with a disabled tank.Kingston said: I have no in- could give off the sound of a dication of finding any living mild Fourth of July if you re MIAs in Southeast Asia. Of -strolling the beach at low tide.We invite you to use all our services.WHENYOUBUYSUPER PtUUMNSAmerica's largest selling multi-vitamin multi-mineral productl 11 vitamins and 8 minerals in each tablet make Super Plenamins a complete and balanced diet supplement for your family!• •••••EVANSDRUGSW. SIDE SQUARE
Newspaper Details
Neosho News
Neosho, Missouri, US
Sun, Jul 22, 1973
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 04 Aug 2024
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