"Country School" Draws Sell-Out Crowds in Quad Cities and Marshalltown

A standing-room only Nighswander Theater in Davenport featured Just 4 Fun Old Time Music, the film
Country School: One Room - One Nation and Q&A with film participants.

The critically-acclaimed Country School: One Room - One Nation enjoyed sell-out crowds at the Orpheum Theater Center in Marshalltown, Iowa and at the Nighswander Theater in Davenport, Iowa.

"Country School emerges as a definitive portrait of education in a one-room environment, a work that's every bit as informative, engaging and impassioned as those telling its tales." Mike Schulz, River Cities Reader film reviewer.

Quad City Times film critic Linda Cook gave the film 4-out-of-4 stars and wrote: "Another documentary gem...vivid and fascinating."

"We rely on the media and good word-of-mouth to promote awareness of our independent documentary films," said producer Tammy Rundle. "And the word on Country School is definitely getting out!"

Marshalltown's Orpheum Theater screened the movie on March 1 to a packed house and brought in extra chairs to accomodate more patrons.  A reception was held at the town's Taylor #4 Schoolhouse prior to the screening in honor of film participant and former country school student 99-year-old Gilbert Ingraham.  Ingraham joined filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle, preservationists Bill Sherman of Des Moines and Mike Riemenschneider of State Center, and Taylor #4 docent and teacher Julie Jontz Lang for Q&A following the film presentation.

When the Quad Cities March 6 screening event at the Nighswander's 375-seat theater filled to capacity, nearly 25 additional viewers bought tickets to sit in folding chairs or stand and watch the film from the back.  Just 4 Fun Old Time Music warmed up the crowd by playing selections featured in the film.  The program included Q&A with the Rundles and film participants Melinda Carriker (of Living History Farms in Des Moines) and preservationist Caroline Bredekamp from North Bend Community Center (one-room school) in Spragueville.

More photos from the Quad-Cities event are on the "Country School" Facebook Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=47019007127&aid=297850

Country School: One Room - One Nation will be released regionally on DVD later in March with a national release slated for the fall.  PBS broadcasts will follow in 2012.

The Orpheum Theater in Marshalltown, IA filled to capacity for the Country School screening.