Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

XIV
That's Entertainment!
Small Town, USA
Anamosa in the '50s Seen Around the World
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compiled by Mildred Barker Brown
Broadcasting Union in an effort to develop greater
mutual understanding among human beings of our
nations.
The advance staff of Pathescope Productions. New
York City. headed by Warren Murray. arrived in
Anamosa June 25. 1957. accompanied by Unit
Manager John Ball and Script Girl Patricia Sheeran.
Conferences. visits. interviews and plans were all
coordinated and by July 1. the scripts were revised and
ready for filming to begin.
A crew of four television cameramen arrived and
production started by filming the big 4th of July parade
and fireworks planned by the Anamosa Chamber of
Commerce. It was a busy and exciting time. and local
cooperation and community spirit was at its finest
those two weeks in July I957.
Opening frame of the film. "Smail Town U.S.A."
(Photo by Eldon J. Meeks)
Official announcement of the selection of Anamosa.
Iowa. as the “typical small mid-westem community of
the United States. was received Monday morning. June
17. 1957. by Anamosa officials. from J.L. Newman.
assistant to the director of the United States
Information Agency from it's office at Washington, D.C.
Several small towns in the mid-west were selected as
possible features. and then narrowed down to three.
Anamosa‘s selection came after a three-day inspection
trip to Anamosa by director and producer. Hugh
C.Foster. and Robert Wallace. script writer who was on
loan from Life Magazine's writing staff. Paul Engle.
author and. at that time. director of the Creative
Writer's Workshop at Iowa City. and the late Thomas
B. Powell of the Anamosa Newspapers were special
consultants for the visit.
One of the deciding factors in selecting Anamosa.
according to Foster and Wallace. was the Paint 'n'
Palette Art Club and Annual Art Show. Foster said.
“You just don't see the fine arts out in a corn field in
every community. It's uniquel."
Wires of congratulations came from the notables of
the day such as U.S. Senator B.B. Hickeniooper; 2nd
District Congressman Henry O. Talle: Governor
Herschel C. Loveless and President Dwight David
Eisenhower.
In conjunction with the filming of a small town in the
United States. small towns were selected in Germany.
Great Britian. Italy. France. Netherlands. Belgium.
Luxumburg. Denmark and Austria. The series of
programs were produced. for the European
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Part of the filming of "Small Town U.S.A." by the
U.S. Information Agency. Police officer. Roy Morning.
is pictured in theforeground. (Photo submitted by the
Paint ‘n Palette Club)
Tom Powell played a feature role in the film. and
helped with the arrangements for the completed 30-
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