A Vermont Romance
Produced by the Vermont Progressive Party | Directed by Ralph Newman
USA | 1916 | 35 min (3 reels)
With a new music score composed and played by Bob Merrill
Tour sponsors: Vermont Humanities Council; National Life; Urban Rhino Digital; John M Bissell Foundation; Media sponsors VPR
Burlington Free Press announce: First screening of A Vermont Romance, Tuesday, Sept 12, 1916 at the Majestic Theater
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Paul Carnahan, Vermont Historical Society, Gregory Sanford, previously State Archivist, Steve Bissette, author, historian and cartoonist, and Orly Yadin, Executive Director of VTIFF.
We’re delighted to present the results of this restored and digitally remastered 2K version of the film produced through a partnership with the Vermont Historical Society. The screening, a fundraiser for VAMP, is a special celebration of the film’s centenary and is part of a statewide tour – traveling Vermont throughout the spring of 2016.
The 1916 film, A Vermont Romance, is the first feature film ever made in Vermont. The Vermont Movie Archive Project (VAMP) and the Vermont Historical Society partnered on the digital restoration of the film to create a high definition 2K version. This screening is part of a statewide tour presenting the the film with live piano accompaniment and a panel of experts, in six large venues and 12 small ones throughout Vermont in the spring of 2016 to celebrate the film’s 100th birthday.
This movie is an extraordinary piece of Vermont folklore. It was commissioned by the Vermont Progressive Party (affiliated with Theodore Roosevelt’s national Bull Moose party) and its newspaper, The Vermont Advance. Scenes were filmed in Burlington, Grand Isle, Newport, St. Johnsbury, White River Junction, Rutland, Chester and Bellows Falls. This fueled interest from theater owners from all corners of the state to host screenings. The plot is a fairly standard silent melodrama with no apparent political bent. The film is both a romance and a scenic tour of Vermont. It tells the tale of Dorothy, a country girl who befriends a rich girl and two city gents who are out for a drive in the country. Upon the death of her father she loses the farm where she lives and works. Almost penniless, she moves to Burlington to find work, and her adventures begin. Filming began Wednesday June 21, 1916 and was completed 10 days later! The first screening of the film was held Saturday, Sept 16, 1916 in Burlington to an audience of 4,000 followed byEssex Junction, Waterbury, St. Johnsbury, Rutland, South Royalton, Bethel and more..
For samples of the Call for Actors that The Vermont Advance published April 1, 1916 CLICK HERE.
The original music score for A Vermont Romance is yet to be discovered. As part of the project VAMP has commissioned Bob Merrill, a veteran silent film composer and pianist to create a new score and the screening will be accompanied, as were most silent films of that time, by live piano, played by Merrill to his new score.
A Vermont Romance is a window through which the public can view the people and landscape of Vermont one hundred years ago. Its tour will help VAMP build a statewide appreciation of Vermont films and filmmakers and increase awareness of VAMP’s growing digital archive of films.
Find out more about VAMP
The film will also screen in the following locations:
Friday, April 15th, 7:00pm: Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury
Sunday, April 17th, 7:00pm: Briggs Opera House, White River Junction
Thursday, April 28, 6:pm: Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington (a Burlington Film Society screening, followed by cash bar & reception)
Sunday, May 8, 4:00pm: Latchis Theater, Brattleboro
Friday, May 13th, 7:00pm: Town Hall Theater, Middlebury