They’ll do so as a part of Ohio Goes to the Movies. It’s one of the programs put on by the America 250-Ohio Commission, which commemorates the country’s founding through an Ohio lens. The statewide celebration of cinema will showcase Ohio’s place in the history of American film. It will honor Ohioans who appear in front of and behind the camera — actors, directors, writers and composers — and also feature films with Ohio locations and topics.
From February through October, Ohio Goes to the Movies will screen more than 250 Ohio-centric movies spanning all 88 counties. For its part in the celebration, COTC and Ohio State Newark will jointly host a free screening of “Johnny Shiloh” — a 1963 television film that originally aired as two episodes of “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” — on the shared Newark campus.
“Johnny Shiloh” is based on the life of Johnny Clem, who ran away from his Newark home at age 11 to join the Union Army during the Civil War. He’s the namesake of John Clem Elementary School in Newark.
The public is invited to watch the movie on Sunday, April 12 in the Alford Performing Arts Hall inside the John Gilbert Reese Center (1209 University Drive, Newark). Bob McGaughy, a historian and Newark native, will emcee the event.
Doors open at 1:30 p.m. At 2 p.m., Doug Stout, Licking County Library’s local history coordinator, will give a presentation about the life and legacy of Johnny Clem. The screening of “Johnny Shiloh” will start at 2:30 p.m.
All children in attendance will receive a complimentary snack and goodie bag. No registration required.