INDIANAPOLIS – Film historian Eric Grayson is at work – or soon will be – on three “little” projects that are, actually, major players in film history, all related to Indiana.
Currently, Grayson is involved in a Kickstarter campaign to restore Little Orphant Annie, a 1918 silent film starring Colleen Moore, with a cameo appearance by James Whitcomb Riley. The Library of Congress has offered their prints (the best known versions) for a restoration. To donate, go to http://kck.st/2bEXlHt. Slightly more than half of the $10,000 goal has been raised — and the goal must be reached by September 4.
Grayson is seeking to have this film restored by the end of 2016, not only Indiana’s Bicentennial, but the centennial of the death of James Whitcomb Riley, one of the most famous and popular poets of all time. The film is an elaborate expansion of a classic poem by Riley that tells the story of Annie, known as the dream-child, who warns kids to say their prayers and to be ever vigilant, else “the Gobble-uns’ll git you Ef you Don’t Watch Out!”
The restoration of a second film, Little Mickey Grogan, is of special interest to 96-year-old Lassie Lou Ahern, as she appeared in the film — and is one of the two silent film stars still alive, along with Baby Peggy (Diana Serra Cary).
Grayson will also work on the restoration of this “little” film which is being supported by a GoFundMe project by Jeff Crouse (http://bit.ly/2bvyGYs). Gene Stratton-Porter, Indiana’s famous writer and naturalist, had a film company in Los Angeles. After her death, her daughter and son-in-law, Jeannette and James Leo Meehan, produced films based on her books and on other topics as well. This film was made by James Meehan and perhaps had the involvement of his wife Jeannette, too.
The third “little” film doesn’t have that word in the title, but it does feature little Milan High School going up against and defeating powerhouse Muncie Central High School in the 1954 boys’ basketball state championship game in 1954, the inspiration for the film Hoosiers. Thanks to a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation and a successful Kickstarter campaign, funds were raised to restore the film of this game (just before it turned to dust); Grayson is also at work on the film of the semi-final game pitting Milan against Terre Haute Gerstmeyer High School.
