Hero Street: A Historical Documentary Film Series

Rundles Celebrate Ten Years & Ten Films In Quad Cities

Filmmakers Kelly & Tammy Rundle and Lora Adams (WQPT) hold awards
from the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival given to the Emmy-nominated
"Letters Home to Hero Street".

March 2017 marks the 10 year anniversary of documentary filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle’s move from Los Angeles to the Quad Cities. Ten films and three Mid-America Emmy® nominations later, their new documentary The Barn Raisers will have its broadcast premiere on WQPT-PBS on Sunday, March 26 at 9:00 p.m.  Their Emmy-nominated River to River: Iowa's Forgotten Highway 6 will air following The Barn Raisers at 10:00 p.m.  

The Barn Raisers is also an Official Selection By-Invitation at the Newport Beach Film Festival in Southern California, where 50,000+ attendees will view films from all over the world April 20-27, 2017.

“This is a great way to celebrate ten wonderful years in the Quad Cities,” said Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films.  “We are always grateful and honored to have our broadcast premieres on WQPT.”

The film will air again on WQPT on Thursday, March 30 at 11:00 p.m.

The Barn Raisers tells the story of barns in the Midwest by examining them through the lens of architecture.  The film explores what building methods, barn styles, and materials tell us about the people who built them, the life they lived, and the role these “country cathedrals” played in the settling and building of the Nation.  The Barn Raisers is a companion film to the Rundles’ Emmy® nominated historical documentary Country School: One Room – One Nation.

"The Barn Raisers feels like a hymn to the solemn beauty and importance of these buildings, and the Rundles treat them with the reverence they deserve...” wrote Jonathan Turner, film reviewer for the Dispatch-Argus.

Linda Cook, film critic for the Quad City Times gave the film 4-out-of-4 Stars and wrote: "Great documentaries, like this one, entertain, teach us about the human condition and help us see the world in a different way."

The Rundles were surprised to hear from the Newport Beach Film Festival.

"A programmer was looking for new films on architecture for a special section of the festival called Architecture, Art + Design.  They previewed the film and we were pleased to receive word that The Barn Raisers was selected for the festival," said Kelly Rundle of Fourth Wall Films.

“We have come full circle,” Tammy said. “We made our home in Southern California for 18 years.  To have our latest documentary screen there as we celebrate our ten-year anniversary in the Quad Cities seems fitting.”

Families of the Hero Street eight during a special Veteran's Day Service at Hero Street Memorial Park, Silvis, Illinois.

The Rundles see a busy year ahead with production work on their Hero Street documentary series they are developing; editing their first docudrama Sons & Daughters of Thunder with a premiere date planned for later this year on the Putnam Museum Giant Screen in Davenport, Iowa; and releasing Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg (a co-production with partner Garry McGee of McMarr LTD) for broadcast and on DVD early in 2018.

The Barn Raisers was partially funded by grants from Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Humanities Iowa, the Kansas Humanities Council, the Michigan Barn Preservation Network, the Ohio Humanities Council, the National Barn Alliance, and the Wisconsin Humanities Council, the Moline Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Jackson County.

The fiscal sponsors for the film project are Friends of Ohio Barns, the Kansas Barn Alliance, KPTS-PBS, and the Jackson County Historical Society.  

The Rundles are the producers of the regional Emmy® nominated historical documentaries Country School: One Room – One Nation, River to River: Iowa’s Forgotten Highway 6, and Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT-PBS).

To PRE-ORDER the DVD of The Barn Raisers, click here:  http://fourthwallfilms.com/dvds.htm.

North Chicago and Milwaukee Showcase "Letters Home" June 12-13

Eric Juarez stars as Frank Sandoval in "Letters Home to Hero Street."

Letters Home to Hero Street, the award-winning documentary produced by WQPT-PBS and Fourth Wall Films, will be showcased at two special events sponsored by the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC)--Council #326 and the American GI Forum (AGIF)--Wisconsin.  To RSVP visit www.lulac-wisconsin.org. 

Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Episcopal Church, Waukegan, IL.

On June 12th, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. the film will be presented by award-winning filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle at the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Episcopal Church, 2515 N. Butrick, Waukegan, IL, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. RSVP at www.lulac-Wisconsin.org.

War Memorial Center, Milwaukee, WI.

On Saturday, June 13, 2015 the film will be presented at the War Memorial Center, 750 N. Lincoln, Milwaukee, WI at 9:00 a.m.-11: 00 a.m.  Several of the stars that appear in the film will join the Rundles for Q&A following the film presentation.  A special appearance by Frank Sandoval's brother, Tanilo Sandoval, is anticipated. RSVP at www.lulac-wisconsin.org.

Letters Home to Hero Street focuses on a young Mexican-American veteran's personal view of World War II as told through the letters sent home to his family in Silvis, Illinois.  He becomes one of eight veterans of WWII and the Korean War killed in combat from the same block-and-a-half long neighborhood now called Hero Street, USA.

Actor Eric Juarez portrays P.F.C. Frank Sandoval, who entered the U.S. Army on October 3, 1942.  He served in North Burma with Co. C 209 Engineer Combat Battalion.  Frank was listed as "killed in action" on June 26, 1944.

Actors Maya Chavez plays Frank's sister, "Sis"; and Cindy Ramos plays Frank's mother. The film also stars Josh Wielenga.

The documentary project was awarded a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Letters Home to Hero Street is available on DVD at Amazon.com, and in the Quad Cities at The Book Rack, The Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau, and at Porkie’s Restaurant on the corner of Hero Street in Silvis, Illinois.

 

"New" Letters Home to Hero Street are Discovered

Bonnie Patton, Irene Mawson and Tommie Shadden discovered letters kept by their mother Jennie Garcia  from heroes Frank and Joseph Sandoval.

The new documentary Letters Home to Hero Street, produced by WQPT-PBS and Kelly & Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films, is well under way with the new discovery of letters written by brothers Frank and Joseph Sandoval during WWII and sent home to loved ones in Silvis, Illinois.

P.F.C. Frank Sandoval entered the U.S. Army on October 3, 1942.  He served in North Burma with Co. C 209 Engineer Combat Battalion.  Frank was listed as "killed in action" on June 26, 1944.

His brother, P.F.C. Joseph Sandoval, entered the Army in 1944 and served with Co. I 41st Armored Infantry Regiment. His company position was overrun on the Bank of the Elbe River near Schonebeck, Germany and he was reported "missing in action" on April 14, 1945.  After a one-year investigation he was listed as "killed in action" on April 15, 1946.

The Rundles spent a recent afternoon talking with Irene Mawson and Tommie Shadden who found a box of personal correspondence in their mother's home.

"She was Frank and Joe Sandoval's sister.  She kept everything and liked to write," said Irene of her mother, Jennie Garcia, who had recently passed away.  Jenni kept detailed journals and notes throughout her life reflecting her quick wit and creativity.

The yellowed envelopes were carefully sorted, bound and their contents preserved for nearly seven decades.

WQPT, the Quad-Cities PBS station, was awarded a grant from the Illinois Arts Council for the creation of the new documentary with the Rundles--a completely separate project from Fourth Wall Films' planned feature-length documentary "Hero Street: A Block and a Half Long and Eight Men Wide."

The 30-minute documentary will reveal correspondence from Hero Street soldiers to their families as the men fought and died in World War II and the Korean conflict.

"It will be a short documentary that focuses on a fairly specific way of telling the story through letters," said producer/director Kelly Rundle. "We get to concentrate more on visual creativity." 

The documentary will be completed by the end of December 2014 and will premiere on WQPT in early 2015.

For those who have letters from the heroes: Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Soliz, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños; photographs or other materials related to Hero Street that may be considered for the documentary project, please contact fourthwallfilms@aol.com.

A Note of Thanks and announcing a New Hero Street Documentary with WQPT

"Letters Home to Hero Street", a new documentary co-produced by WQPT and Fourth Wall Films. 

We have had a long-standing, wonderful relationship with WQPT-PBS over the years and we are honored to work with WQPT's Lora Adams and Chris Ryder to create a 30-minute documentary entitled "Letters Home to Hero Street" for PBS broadcast.  WQPT has received a major grant from the Illinois Arts Council to produce the project and we are thrilled to partner with them on this project.

There have been so many 'in our corner' since we began the Hero Street journey.  At this time, we would like to take a moment to say thank you!

First and foremost, our gratitude to ALL of the families and friends of the Hero Street eight and the incredible legacy that this short, significant street in Silvis, Illinois represents to our country.  Thank you for your stories, your memories, your insight, your willingess to share your photos, letters and materials with us.  Thank you for your patience with us and believing in us.  We have documented several interviews for the project so far, and look forward to continuing our production work in August and September.  

Our gratitude to writer Marc Wilson for his support and for being the first to make us aware of Hero Street and how extremely important it is to preserve the story.

The most difficult part of independent filmmaking is raising the money for any project.  'We are Heartland, not Hollywood.'  We are deeply grateful to our fiscal sponsor on Hero Street, The Moline Foundation, which has made it possible for us to apply for grants and approach organizations, businesses and individuals for financial contributions to the project.  Doug Miller the Director of Produce Quad Cities stepped up when we were seeking a non-profit organization and introduced us to this wonderful, supportive foundation.

There was one Iowan (who wishes to remain anonymous) who made the first contribution to the film project.  She made it possible to begin this journey.  We are deeply grateful for the generous support and assistance of MAVA--Hero Street Chapter #4.  This group, as well as Joe Moreno and QCM/Running USA, were among the earliest to offer help and support.  

There have been a number of individuals who have made donations and contributions to the documentary.  Many of you are not from the Quad Cities area, but have followed our work and wanted to be a part of getting a documentary on Hero Street made--recognizing that the story is not only important to the region, but to the nation, and beyond.  We have acknowledged each of you in our "Sponsors and Supporters" section of the website and we thank you again and again!  

Contributions for the feature-length "Hero Street" documentary can be made by visiting this LINK.

Thank you to our project sponsors: The Putnam Museum, WQPT-PBS, Produce Quad Cities, Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, WSIU-TV, WTVP, and Hola America!

We gratefully recognize our local media for covering our progress and announcing the new documentary project with WQPT "Letters Home to Hero Street": Jonathan Turner and the Moline Dispatch-Argus, David Burke and the Quad City Times, Hola America!, Doug Miller and Produce Quad Cities, and WQPT!

Today, a piece written by journalist Jonathan Turner ran in the Dispatch-Argus.  We would like to share a portion here and encourage you to click through to read the full article.  Thank you for your interest and continuing support! 

~Tammy & Kelly Rundle, Fourth Wall Films

WQPT gets grant for short Hero Street documentary

By Jonathan Turner, Moline Dispatch-Argus

As if the filmmaking Rundles of Moline haven't been busy enough, they have another new historic documentary project to finish by the end of this year.

Husband-and-wife Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films have made five Midwest-themed documentaries in the past decade, are in production on four others, and are putting together their first narrative feature (the docudrama "Sons & Daughters of Thunder"), to be released next year.

WQPT, the Quad-Cities PBS station, recently was awarded $30,000 from the Illinois Arts Council for the creation of a new Rundle documentary, "Letters Home to Hero Street," a separate half-hour piece from their planned feature-length "Hero Street: A Block and a Half Long and Eight Men Wide."

The short documentary will reveal correspondence from Hero Street soldiers to their families as the men fought and died in World War II and the Korean conflict.

"We are so pleased to receive the grant because it allows us to create a documentary on a topic that is near and dear to our community," WQPT general manager Mary Pruess said in a release.

"I am excited to be working with the Rundles. We have aired all of their documentaries and they always create compelling films that are beautiful and well researched," said Lora Adams, WQPT's director of local content.

As required by the Illinois grant, the documentary will be completed by the end of the year and will air in early 2015 on WQPT, and ideally throughout Illinois, Kelly Rundle said this week.

"It will be a short documentary that focuses on a fairly specific way of telling the story through letters," he said. "It will be fun for us; we get to concentrate more on visual creativity."

"The other film is just a concept right now," Mr. Rundle said of the larger feature documentary. "We see this as being completely separate, just because the style of it will be so different. We will do some reenactments, that depict people writing and reading letters from the past. In 30 minutes, it's a laser beam focus on this one aspect of the story. We're really excited about it.

"We're both hoping that it will increase interest for the larger project, which has been struggling in terms of funding," he added.

Only a block and a half long, Second Street in Silvis lost six young men in World War II and two in the Korean War, more than any other street in America. Hero Street, as it is known, has provided more than 100 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

Click HERE to read the full article.

"Hero Street" the Topic of WQPT's "The Cities"

Jim Mertens hosts WQPT's "The Cities". L to R: Mertens, Marc Wilson and Kelly Rundle.

Hero Street is the topic of interest this week on WQPT-PBS!  

Hero Street documentary filmmaker Kelly Rundle and "Hero Street, USA" author Marc Wilson appear on "The Cities" with Jim Mertens on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 6:30 pm and again on Sunday, November 10 at 5:30 pm to talk about heroes.  Only a block and a half long, Second Street in Silvis, Illinois lost six young men in World War II and two in the Korean War, more than any other street in America.  Hero Street, as it is now known, has provided over 100 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

The Cities focuses on the issues facing communities in and around the Quad Cities metropolitan area—as well as those of national importance. The program features guests who discuss a variety of topics. Viewers enjoy a unique, local perspective on topical issues and events happening in our region.

The program also features our Out and About segment featuring regional events, exhibits and other activities happening in the Quad City region.

New Hola America WQPT-PBS Program to Discuss "Hero Street" Documentary

Hola America premieres on WQPT September 20, 2013 with host Natalie Zarowny and will feature a segment on the new documentary Hero Street by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly & Tammy Rundle.

WQPT-PBS will launch a new program with Hola America beginning Friday, September 20, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.  The show's host is Natalie Zarowny of WHBF who will take viewers on a weekly journey focusing on the contributions of the Hispanic community in the region.

"Hola America represents a partnership that we are proud to add to our programming schedule.  Tar Marcias, editor of the Hola America newspaper, had been producing Hola America and airing it on local cable, but wanted to revitalize the program and bring it to the WQPT audience.  I invite you to tune in," said Mary Pruess, WQPT General Manager, in a statement in the station's Program Guide.

Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films will be guests on the new Hola America during the September 20th WQPT broadcast and will talk about their new documentary Hero Street, currently in production.

"We are honored to be guests on Hola America and given the opportunity to talk about Hero Street and the significance of preserving this important story," said producer Kelly Rundle.

"We have been receiving wonderful support from various organizations and groups, including the Mexican American Veterans Association (MAVA) and Hola America, as well as family members of the heroes, and individuals not only in the Quad Cities area, but from all over the country," said producer Tammy Rundle.

 Hero Street is slated for release in 2015.  For information on how to contribute to the documentary project, visit HOW YOU CAN HELP at www.HeroStreetMovie.com.

Raol "Buddy Gomez, Veteran and Brother to Hero Joseph Gomez has Died

 

Obituary

Raol Gomez, 81, of Moline, died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, at St. Anthony's Nursing & Rehabilitation, Rock Island.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, 6601 38th Ave., Moline. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the funeral home. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery. Memorials may be made to VFW Post No. 2056, 257 17th Ave., East Moline, IL 61244.

Raol was born on July 24, 1931, on Hero Street in Silvis, the son of Ambrosio and Amanda Gonzales Gomez. He married Herlinda Agnes Zamora on May 28, 1955, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in East Moline.

Raol worked as a set-up man for John Deere Harvester, retiring in 1986. He was a member of St. Mary's in Moline, as well as the VFW in East Moline. Active in local politics, Raol was the precinct committeeman in Moline, as well as an advocate for his brother, Joe, in contributing a great deal to the Hero Street Movement. Raol enjoyed bowling, horseback riding and riding motorcycles. In his younger years, Raol was a competitive boxer at a local gym and was nicknamed "Buddy the Boxer." He always loved dancing whether it was in the ring or on the dance floor. It was a little known fact that Raol could build almost anything and was an architect at heart following only the blueprints in his mind. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Survivors include his wife, Herlinda Gomez, Moline; children, Joe Gomez, Conroe, Texas, Victoria (Brian) Gomez-Holst, Moline, Lydia (Alex) Quinones, Aurora, Ill., Jennifer Gomez, Moline; grandchildren, Briahna Holst, Stephanie (Stu) Saucier, A.J. Quinones, Mirasia Gomez; great-grandchildren, Solei and Sydney Saucier; sisters, Matilda Lopez, Lilly Gomez, Josephine Carrera.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joe, Art, Tom, Robert and Rudy; sister, Alice.

Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahl.com.

 

Al Sandoval, Korean War Veteran and Brother to Hero William Sandoval has Died

Al Sandoval (1931-2012)

In March 2012 we joined a group gathered at a string of tables at Porkie's in Silvis, Illinois.  Among them was Al Sandoval, the brother of hero William Sandoval.

A number of people were not able to make the meeting that night.  But we knew, as we left the restaurant, this would be our next documentary project. 

Al shared a few stories with us and encouraged us to make the documentary.  Most memorable to us that night was a long poem he recited in Spanish with emotion and pride.  He also translated each passage of the poem in English.  He made an impression on us and we looked forward to talking with him on-camera for the film project.

Sadly, we received word that Al passed away on August 27, 2012 after battling cancer.  We regret not getting to meet with him again and listen to his stories and thoughts, and hear that beautiful poem recited for the film.  We know that Al lives on in the memories of his loved ones, his friends and those whose lives he touched.  We count ourselves very fortunate to have met him, even if for a brief while.

Tammy & Kelly Rundle
Producers
Hero Street ~ A Documentary Film

 

Obituary

Alfonse "Al" Sandoval was born November 13, 1931 in Silvis, Illinois, the son of Joseph and Carmen Morales Sandoval.  He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict.

He married Emma Valdes June 21, 1958 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Silvis. He retired from International Harvester of East Moline after 30 years of service.

Mr. Sandoval, 80, died Monday, August 27, 2012, at Trinity Rock Island and funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 30th at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Colona, Illinois.  Entombment will be in St. Mary's Mausoleum in East Moline, Illinois.   Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 29 at the Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd. in East Moline.  A rosary will be recited at 7:45 p.m.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Emma Sandoval; daughters, Elizabeth (Kim) Segura and Melinda (Daniel) Hyczewski; sons, Rene (Suzi) Sandoval and Paul (JoAnn) Sandoval; grandchildren, Brandon, Brian, and Stefanie Sandoval, Bronson and Austin Segura, and Nicole Hyczewski; great-grandson, Jaz Segura; sisters, Rufina Guerrero and Mary (Phil) Garza; brothers, Ruben Sandoval, Harry Sandoval, Oscar (Sally) Sandoval, Charlie (Ruby) Sandoval, Joe “Moe” (Rita) Sandoval, and Fred (Pauline) Sandoval.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Val Garcia, and brother, William Sandoval.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com.  Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church.