Vintage film of early Longview to be shown Friday

by Gary Krell

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The films of Longview were taken in Longview in 1939, 1940 and 1944.

LONGVIEW — For those of you who missed it, Van Craddock devoted his column in the LNJ today to an upcoming showing of some 16-milimeter movies of Longview's bygone days.

The films, owned by Longview resident Tommy Lawrence, were shot in Longview in 1939, 1940 and 1944 by Tommy's father, Holly M. Lawrence Jr.

Three of the rolls show downtown parades and home-tour hostesses from the early "Friendly Trek" events of 1939 and 1940. The "Treks" were a week-long event featuring parades celebrating the community's past and a series of home tours, art shows, and the like.

The 1944 film shows the fire that destroyed the Campus Ward elementary school on College Street.

Lawrence is planning a screening of the films with the hopes that viewers will be able to identify individuals appearing in the films.

Craddock quotes Lawrence as saying “This footage is in good enough focus to recognize who the people are." Lawrence hopes that showing them will enable some of the subjects to be identified, "so their names and faces will be seen by our future generations.”

For information about the films or Friday’s free showing, contact Lawrence at (903) 757-3562.

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