Kathleen (O’Creidy) Wissenschaft led a typical family in Johnstown’s Cambria City in 1918-1919, negotiating lockdowns, school and church closings, quarantines, social distancing, mask initiatives, vaccination attempts, and Red Cross volunteer efforts. The character is fictional, but the history is real.
The Johnstown Area Heritage Association allowed the use of the 1860 Wagner-Ritter House for the film’s set. Paul D. Newman directed the film as part of Bob Cat Films, with Jason Bolinger as director of photography, and starring actor Kate Davis. The Tribune-Democrat recreated a historic newspaper for use as a prop.
Episodes will premiere weekly on Thursdays at 7 pm on In This Together Cambria’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. A discussion with the cast and crew will occur on Zoom and Facebook Live at 7:30 pm following each premiere. Find the post-show discussion playlist here.
Episode 1 | News of the World
Originally premiered on April 22, 2021
Episode 2 | A Recipe For Disaster:
Tomatoes – Snake Oil – Mustard Gas
Originally premiered on April 29, 2021 at 7 pm
Episode 3 | Spanish Influenza is Deadlier Than the War!
Originally premiered on May 6, 2021 at 7 pm
Episode 4 | A New Hope
Premieres on May 13, 2021 at 7 pm
We Are All In This Together: The Pandemics of 1918-19 & 2020-21 History Forum
Featuring Judith Walzer Leavitt, Ph.D. & Paul Douglas Newman, Ph.D., Moderated by Chip Minemyer
Episode 1 Post-Show Discussion
Moderated by Jill D. Henning, with writer-director Paul D. Newman, student researcher Matthew Bequeath, and actor Kate Davis.
Topics: the writing, researching, and acting in the film.
Episode 3 Post-Show Discussion
Moderated by Jill D. Henning, with Shelley Johansson and Richard Burkert of JAHA.
Topics: the second star of the film, the Wagner- Ritter House in which it takes place.
Episode 2 Post-Show Discussion
Moderated by Jill D. Henning, with writer-director Paul D. Newman, student researcher Michael Hanik, and Peggy Newman, wardrobe.
Topics: mask wearing in history, historical research behind the characters, public and applied history.
Episode 4 Post-Show Discussion
Visit our Facebook page on May 13, 2021 at 7:30 pm to watch the Episode 4 Post-Show Discussion live.