By Ashley Panko

King’s Professional Writing Program students Sarah Scinto and Chris Cozzillio welcome community members in 1920s style (Photo by Ashley Panko)
Success! The film screening event for “Flesh and Spirit,” “His Neglected Wife,” and “Her Fractured Voice” went off without a hitch this past Friday, October 26th, just in time to celebrate an early Halloween. The venue for the screening, the Burke Auditorium on King’s College Campus, was nearly full with film buffs and 20s fanatics excited to be both reenacting and participating in historically significant events. These films have not been publicly displayed for decades and everyone who was present Friday night was part of the premier re-release.

Tony Brooks, Executive Director of the Luzerne County Historical Society, welcomes the audience (photo by Ashley Panko)
The members of the community showed great enthusiasm towards our 20s theme, many showing up in full period garb with props to match. The students in charge of distributing prizes for the costume contest were challenged to decide who was most authentic as many wore not just costumes but real clothing direct from the time. Also present were a few reincarnations of Al Capone, complete with toy machine guns and masks. To further feed the moviegoers 20s cravings, period snacks such as popcorn, Necco Wafers, Dum Dums, and MaryJanes were provided.
The enthusiasm of the community most surprised us; in addition to coming fully dressed many brought stories and even more material to aid in our compiling of information about the United States Motion Picture Corporation. Some guests were even related to the figures that keeping popping up in our research.
Though this screening was the culminating event for all of our research as a professional writing class, it seems that instead it has sparked a new wave of questions and a new level of interest which will hopefully extend out into the community. Perhaps then we will find some more of the answers we are seeking.