Jesus in Egypt will be shown Feb. 26 (Photo Courtesy of Jaha.org) |
Johnstown—
A visually spectacular travelogue series is returning to the Johnstown Flood Museum. The Armchair Travel series, which is presented by First Commonwealth, builds on the success of the first series presented last winter.
Each of the four films in the series will be accompanied by the filmmaker, who will narrate the film and share personal experiences.
“This series has a lot of appeal, because the filmmaker is there to narrate the travelogue in person,” said Patricia Carnevali, director of special events for JAHA. “Last year’s Armchair Travel series was very popular, and we’re grateful to First Commonwealth Bank for giving us the opportunity to bring it back in 2012.”
The films will begin at 3:00 pm, and each runs about 80 minutes. The schedule is as follows:
• Feb. 19: Monty and Marsha Brown, Wales: Land of Song
• Feb. 26: Marlin Darrah, Jesus in Egypt
• March 18: Steve Gonser, Barbados: Island in the Sun
• April 22: Sandy Mortimer, Worlds of the Maya
Single tickets for the films are $5 for Johnstown Area Heritage Association members, or $7 for non-members; accompanied children under 12 will be admitted free.
About 120 seats are available, and seating is general admission. Many of the films in the 2011 Armchair Travel series sold out, so this year JAHA is making it possible to purchase tickets in advance by phone or in person: call 814-539-1889 to purchase over the phone with a credit card, or stop by the Johnstown Flood Museum or Heritage Discovery Center to buy in person. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.
About the filmmakers:
Sunday, Feb. 19:
Wales: Land of Song: Wales is a small country with its own language and a large influence. This film explores U.S- Welsh connections, particularly in the coal mining industry, as well as the historic homeland on the eastern shore of the Irish Sea. Viewers will see Celts, choirs, castles, Cardiff, coal mines, coastline and pastoral mountain valleys dotted with sheep.
Monty and Marsha Brown have been working together since 1980. Monty first worked as an actor and production assistant in England before moving to New York to begin a career in songwriting. There he met his future wife Marsha, and they have been creating music ever since. Two of their songs, “Would You Fly?” and “Cajun Christmas,” were featured in the film Steel Magnolias. Currently they live and work in Louisiana, and regularly perform in schools, clubs, and libraries. They were part of the 2011 First Commonwealth Armchair Travel series with Etched In Stone: Scotland to Provence.
Sunday, Feb. 26:
Jesus in Egypt: Part travel-adventure, part spiritual journey, part historical detective story, this film explores an ancient and often baffling land. Through Coptic churches and into the teeming back streets of Cairo; from shrines thronged by worshippers to a camel trek through deserts haunted by saints, the film reveals more about the travels of Jesus than we get in the Bible. The film visits a dozen fantastic and never-before-seen historical sites where the Coptic Christians insist that the Holy Family visited and stayed during the mysterious missing years of Jesus, from age 2-9. Also included are scenes from the Egypt of the pharaohs: the Great Pyramids and the Temples of Luxor and Karnak.
Marlin Darrah is one of the most experienced and widely-traveled filmmakers in America. He is the award-winning executive director and cinematographer of the renowned Portland, Oregon-based production company, International Film & Video. Darrah’s 34 years of production experience have taken him to more than 140 countries worldwide, yielding more than 70 documentary and travel-adventure programs to date. PBS, History Channel, Discovery Channel, CNN, FOX, CBS, ABC, TBN and MTV have aired Darrah’s international footage or programs.
Sunday, March 18:
Barbados: Island in the Sun: Barbados is the “most British” island in the Caribbean. British rule carried on uninterrupted for 340 years before independence in 1966. Barbados is a sophisticated tropical island with a rich history and plenty to capture the attention of visitors. Seemingly endless white-sand beaches and a rich West Indian tradition are what put Barbados on the map. The people here reflect the island’s atmosphere -- they are deeply religious, open, generous, friendly and thoughtful. Experience their hospitality, along with island’s history, culture, attractions and majestic landscapes, in this spectacular film.
Steve Gonzer has traveled extensively in a quest for knowledge and adventure. He has produced award-winning commercial multi-media shows as well as feature-length films. In addition, he has created more than 200 hours of programming for broadcast on local and regional cable TV outlets. Steve is also a social anthropologist and a paleontologist, specializing in macro and micro-fossils. He has presented 14 different travelogues in more than 700 cities, in venues such as the National Geographic Society, the Carnegie Institute, Maryland Academy of Science, the Denver Museum of Natural History, the Chicago Geographic Society, and the Vassar Brothers Institute.
Sunday, April 22:
Worlds of the Maya: Before most Western Europeans knew North America existed, the ancient Maya civilization occupied the eastern third of Mesoamerica. This film explores Belize and Guatemala, two of the countries that hold the stories and sites of the great Classical Maya past, as well as their culture today. Each Mayan group has its own language and special folklore, yet sharing a common ancestral heritage -- expressed in religion, music, dance, foods and social organization. Visit their ancient homeland and society, as well as their culture today in Worlds of the Maya.
Sandy Mortimer began her travel career as a flight attendant and travel consultant for American Airlines. She later became a newsreporter for a CBS affiliate station, eventually working in media production. By 1986, her interests led her to create travel documentaries around the world. Mortimer now lives in Kentucky. She was part of the 2011 First Commonwealth Armchair Series, when she presented Ireland: Celtic Myths and Splendors.
