(CRYSTAL FALLS, MI.)–– Friday, May 25 at 7:00 pm, Crystal Theatre is again recognizing Memorial Day weekend by bringing an unusual WWII documentary with regional ties in subject to the Theatre, “City at War: Chicago”. Kris Habermehl, Emmy Award winning, contributing reporter, will be at the theatre to give an introduction and for a Q & A session after the screening. Admission is by donation which will be split between the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight and the Theatre’s new projector fund. At the beginning of America’s involvement in World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) called on the country to become “an arsenal of democracy” – to become producers of war materiel to help defeat the Axis powers – Germany, Japan. This 60-minute documentary reveals how the Chicago area was transformed into a well-oiled production machine, with every man, woman, and child contributing to the war effort. Through personal reminiscences, declassified films, period stills and posters, “A City at War: Chicago” explores how a mutually beneficial relationship between FDR and Chicago’s powerful Democratic Mayor Ed Kelly helped to win the war. Among the highlights are rare color footage of FDR’s 1937 “Quarantine Speech”, delivered in Chicago to warn about the coming war: rare footage of the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction achieved at the University of Chicago by Enrico Fermi, which led to the development of atom bombs that brought the war to an end; never-before seen footage of chewing gum magnate P.K. Wrigley’s All American Girl’s Baseball League, formed to replace major league baseball teams if the male players had been drafted, and much more. “This is the third year that Crystal Theatre has been able to mark Memorial Day Weekend with a documentary screening and its producers,” explained board president Wilma Kallies. “This year the Theatre is pleased to be able to help raise money for the U.P. Honor Flight as well as for a new projector for the Theatre. It is our intention to regularly bring movies of regional interest to our community.” For additional detail, please contact Crystal Theatre, 906.875.3280.
(Aaron Harper,WJNR,WOBE,WHTO)
aaronharper22@gmail.com