Hero Street: A Historical Documentary Film Series

"A Bridge too Far from Hero Street" Official Selection at Alternating Currents Film Festival

A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street: William Sandoval's Story, a documentary film produced by Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films, is an official selection at the Alternating Currents Film Festival held in the Quad Cities August 19-22. Details about the screening are to be announced soon at https://www.alternatingcurrentsqc.com/. The festival features film, art, music, comedy and more and is FREE to the public.

A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street  follows William Sandoval's journey from a boxcar in Silvis, Illinois to a battle in a forest in Holland. Born into an impoverished family of twelve, Willie performed migrant farm work alongside his parents and siblings until his father took a job with the Rock Island Railroad. The Sandovals and other Mexican immigrants made their homes in boxcars in the rail yard. As a young man Willie became an accomplished boxer.

Answering a call to service following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Willie became an Army paratrooper. He survived several battles over the next two years (Salerno, Anzio), before he was killed at age 21 in October 1944 following his involvement in the largest air assault in history--Operation Market Garden. An interview with military historian John C. McManus, the author of "September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far", highlights Willie's participation. Marc Wilson, the author of "Hero Street, USA" is also featured.

Eight sons of Mexican immigrants from the block-and-a-half long 2nd Street in Silvis, Illinois were killed in combat in World War II and Korea--more lost than any other street in America. The street was renamed Hero Street in 1968.

A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street was funded in part by grants from the Regional Development Authority, Illinois Humanities, and Quad City Arts.  The documentary also received a grant from the Moline Foundation, the Quad Cities Community Foundation, and funding support from the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC)--Iowa, the Mexican American Veterans Association (M.A.V.A.)--Hero Street Chapter #4, the City of Silvis, Bob Ontiveros and Marc Wilson.

Hero Street, a multi-part documentary series by Fourth Wall Films, explores the personal and family sagas behind each of the eight heroes and tells the compelling true story of an ongoing struggle to memorialize Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Solis, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.

The series combines interviews with family members, friends, veterans, community leaders and historians with vintage photos, film, and archival materials to tell an unforgettable story of American courage, character and perseverance.

To order the DVD for Riding the Rails to Hero Street (part 1), A Bridge too Far from Hero Street: William Sandoval's Story, or Fourth Wall Films' Emmy®-nominated and award-winning film Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with Lora Adams and WQPT), CLICK HERE!

"Riding the Rails to Hero Street" screens February 27 at River Valley District Library-Port Byron

Georgia Herrera and Tanilo Sandoval remember life as children living in the Silvis railyards in the documentary Riding the Rails to Hero Street.

The documentary “Riding the Rails to Hero Street” by award-winning filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films will screen at the River Valley District Library-Port Byron, 214 S. Main Street, Port Byron, Illinois on Thursday, February 27 at 1:00 p.m. The program is free to the public and includes a discussion with the filmmakers and others following the 30-minute film.

The film premiered on the Putnam Giant Screen last Veterans Day eve to a standing-ovation by a sold-out crowd.

“Riding the Rails to Hero Street”, part one in the Rundles’ Hero Street documentary series, tells the story of the immigrants’ journey from Mexico to Cook’s Point in Davenport, Holy City in Bettendorf, Iowa, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad train yards and boxcar homes in Silvis, Illinois.  The families experienced both acceptance and discrimination in their new communities. Around the time of the great depression, the families were removed from the rail yards and some moved box cars or built new homes on 2nd Street in Silvis.  Only a block and a half long, the street 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 World War II.

WQPT-PBS Airs “Hero Street” documentaries on November 21

WQPT-PBS will air two new documentaries from Fourth Wall Films’ “Hero Street Film Series” on Thursday, November 21st. Riding the Rails to Hero Street will air at 8:00 p.m. and A Bridge too Far from Hero Street (formerly titled A World Away from Hero Street) will air at 8:30 p.m.

The new films premiered on November 10, 2019 on the Putnam National Geographic Giant Screen Theater to an audience of 300. Both films feature interviews with family and friends of the heroes.

Riding the Rails to Hero Street explores the immigrants’ journey from Mexico to the Quad Cities segregated communities of Cook’s Point in Davenport, Holy City in Bettendorf, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad yard in Silvis, Illinois. Featured interviews include Latino Studies professor Brian Behnken of Iowa State University and Marc Wilson, the author of “Hero Street, U.S.A.”

A Bridge too Far from Hero Street (formerly titled A World Away From Hero Street) tells the story of Pvt. William “Willie” Sandoval who was assigned to Co. F, 504 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division and became part of the ill-fated Operation Market Garden plan. The day after his 21st birthday, Willie was one of 20,000 paratroopers who leapt into the sky over German-occupied Holland on September 17, 1944.  The film features commentary by historian John C. McManus, the author of “September Hope: The American Side of A Bridge Too Far.” Acoustic guitar music was provided by Joe Soliz whose great uncle Claro is among the Hero Street Eight. Quad Cities’ artist Bruce Walters created original art for the film.

Only a block and a half long, Hero 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 of any size. Hero Street has provided over 100 American military service members since World War II.

The Rundles’ Hero Street proposed ten-part documentary series, will explore the personal and family sagas behind each of the eight heroes and tell an unforgettable true story of American courage, character, and perseverance. Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT) was the first film created for the series, and it received a Mid-America Emmy-nomination. “Letters Home” is available with lesson plans to teachers nation-wide via the PBS Learning Media website.

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning independent film production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.

To PRE-ORDER the DVD for Riding the Rails to Hero Street (release date February/March 2020) or A Bridge too Far from Hero Street (release date April 2020) or Fourth Wall Films' award-winning film Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT), CLICK HERE!

Premiere of "Hero Street" Film Event at Putnam is Filling Up Fast

Tickets are going fast for the Putnam Museum National Geographic Giant Screen premiere of two new Hero Street films in the documentary series by Mid-America Emmy®-nominated and award-winning local documentary filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films will take place on the eve of Veterans Day, Sunday, November 10 at 3:00 p.m. Those interested in attending are encouraged to order tickets in advance at Putnam.org.  This special premiere event is sponsored by the Beiderbecke Inn, Jennie's Boxcar Mexican Restaurant, and the Quad Cities Alumni Network of the Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity.

Two new films in the Hero Street documentary series will be presented during the special Veterans Day eve event:

Riding the Rails to Hero Street explores the immigrants’ journey from Mexico to Cook’s Point in Davenport, Holy City in Bettendorf, Iowa, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad train yards and boxcar homes in Silvis, Illinois.

A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street (former working title: A World Away from Hero Street) tells the story of World War II paratrooper William Sandoval of Hero Street in Silvis, Illinois. Born into an impoverished family of twelve, he joined the Army after Pearl Harbor was attacked and became a paratrooper. He survived several battles over the next two years, but was killed at age 21 in October 1944 following his involvement in what is still the largest air assault in history, the British-led Operation Market Garden. This battle was the basis for the Hollywood film “A Bridge Too Far.” The documentary will combine interviews with Sandoval family members and friends with archival photos, letters and documents.  The film will also feature an on-camera interview with military historian John C. McManus, the author of "September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far" and Marc Wilson, author of "Hero Street, USA: The Story of Little Mexico's Fallen Soldiers".

Only a block and a half long, Second Street (renamed Hero Street, USA) 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 known, has provided nearly 200 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929. The multi-part documentary project is in memory of the Hero Street Eight: Frank Sandoval, Tony Pompa, Claro Soliz (Solis), Joseph Sandoval, Peter Masias, William Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John Munos. 

To order Fourth Wall Films' award-winning films, including "Letters Home to Hero Street" (co-produced with WQPT) on DVD, visit http://www.fourthwallfilms.com/dvds.htm.

Bettendorf Public Library's Global Gathering Mexico features "Riding the Rails to Hero Street" October 17

Bettendorf Public Library’s Global Gathering Mexico celebration will feature the new documentary Riding the Rails to Hero Street by award-winning local filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films on Thursday, October 17 at 1:30 p.m.  The program is free to the public and sponsored by Terrostar Interactive Media, Morgan Stanley and the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation.  Q&A with the filmmakers and others will follow the 27-minute film.

Riding the Rails to Hero Street, part one in the Rundles’ Hero Street documentary series, tells the story of the immigrants’ journey from Mexico to Cook’s Point in Davenport, Holy City in Bettendorf, Iowa, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad train yards and boxcar homes in Silvis, Illinois.  The families experienced both acceptance and discrimination in their new communities. Around the time of the great depression, the families were removed from the rail yards and some moved box cars or built new homes on 2nd Street in Silvis.  Only a block and a half long, the street 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 World War II.

The multi-part Hero Street documentary series will explore the personal and family sagas behind the eight heroes and tell the compelling true story of an ongoing struggle to memorialize Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Soliz, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.

Interviews with family members, friends, veterans, community leaders and historians will be combined with vintage photos and film, and archival materials to tell an unforgettable story of American courage, character and perseverance.

The Bettendorf Public Library is located at 2950 Learning Campus Dr, Bettendorf, Iowa. Global Gathering Mexico is a two-month celebration of the culture, heritage and tradition of Mexico. Throughout September and October, the Bettendorf Public Library will feature programs and activities related to Mexico and its people. For additional information visit www.bettendorflibrary.com/programs.

A World Away from Hero Street, part three in the series focusing on hero William Sandoval, will premiere at the Putnam Giant Screen on Sunday, November 10^th at 3 p.m. Riding the Rails to Hero Street will also screen during the premiere event. The Putnam premiere of the Hero Street films is sponsored by The Beiderbecke Inn, Jennie's Boxcar Mexican Restaurant, and the Quad Cities Chapter of Sigma Lamda Beta International Fraternity.

Letters Home to Hero Street (another part in the series) was co-produced with WQPT-PBS and received an Emmy® nomination in 2015.  The film is also featured on the national PBS Learning Media website along with lesson plans for teachers.

Riding the Rails to Hero Street was awarded two media grants from Humanities Iowa through Fourth Wall Films’ fiscal sponsor the Moline Foundation to fund a portion of production and post-production on the project.

Visit www.HeroStreetMovie.com for more information about the Hero Street documentary series, visit

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated independent film production company formerly located in Los Angeles and now based in Moline, Illinois.

Rochester Hills Museum Showcases Emmy® nominated “Letters Home to Hero Street” February 16

The Emmy® nominated Letters Home to Hero Street, a documentary by Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films, and WQPT-PBS’s Lora Adams, will screen at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, Michigan on Friday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5/pp. Museum Members are admitted free.

The 25-minute documentary 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.  Frank Sandoval 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 more than any other street in America.  Letters Home to Hero Street received a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.  The program will include screening additional featurettes about the subject following the film.

The film stars Eric Juarez, Maya Chavez, Cindy Ramos and Josh Wielenga, all from the Quad Cities. WQPT’s Chris Ryder (of Leclaire, Iowa) was the cinematographer on the project.

Letters Home to Hero Street received a MidAmerica Emmy® nomination for Best Historical Documentary, won a Silver Eddy and the Audience Award at the 2015 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival, and was an official selection at the Borrego Springs Film Festival, the Los Angeles CineFest, and the Muscatine Independent Film Festival.

The Rundles received a regional Emmy® nomination for their documentary Country School: One Room – One Nation and River to River: Iowa’s Forgotten Highway 6. WQPT’s Lora Adams received a CINE Golden Eagle award for the documentary Chad Pregracke: The River Rescuer.

Tri-City Cinema and Video Features "Letters Home to Hero Street" at Butterworth April 13

A special screening event will take place at the Butterworth Center in Moline on April 13th at 7 p.m. Don't miss it!

Moline First Baptist Church Screens "Letters Home to Hero Street" February 29

Eric Juarez as Frank Sandoval in the award-winning Letters Home to Hero Street.

On Monday, February 29th Moline First Baptist Church, located at 1901 29th Street, Moline, Illinois, will host a free public screening of the Emmy-nominated documentary Letters Home to Hero Street at 1:00 p.m.  A Q&A with the filmmakers and others will follow the showing.

The 25-minute film produced by WQPT and Fourth Wall Films highlights the life of Mexican-American soldier Frank Sandoval. The film outlines the story of the World War II veteran through the letters he sent home to his family in Silvis, IL. Sandoval was one of eight veterans of WWII and the Korean War killed in combat from the same block-and-a-half neighborhood, now called "Hero Street, USA."

Sandoval was just starting his new job at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1942, when he was drafted. During his two years of service, Sandoval sent hundreds of letters to family and friends. 

The documentary highlights 130 letters that remain to tell his story as he traveled from Illinois to India. Sandoval was killed on the bank of the Irrawaddy River in Burma in June 1944. 

Join us for this special time together, sharing the story of the heroes of Hero Street and Q&A after the film with producers Tammy and Kelly Rundle (Fourth Wall Films), Lora Adams (WQPT) and several of the actors from the film.

To order a DVD of the award-winning film, visit: http://www.fourthwallfilms.com/dvds.htm.

Borrego Springs Film Festival Makes "Letters Home to Hero Street" Official Selection--Screens January 16th

Just in time for the one year anniversary of the premiere of the documentary!  Fourth Wall Films and WQPT-PBS are pleased to announce that Letters Home to Hero Street is an Official Selection at the 2016 Borrego Springs Film Festival.

The MidAmerica Emmy-nominated documentary will screen Saturday, January 16 at 1:00PM at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center, 590 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, California.  We just got word that the film festival is SOLD OUT!

For more details about the Borrego Springs Film Festival, visit http://www.borregospringsfilmfestival.org. More information on the festival's spotlight on the film can be found by clicking Borrego Springs Film Festival Spotlight on Hero Street.

Frank Sandoval, one of 8 heroes from Hero Street, USA, Silvis, Illinois.

The 25-minute film produced by WQPT and Fourth Wall Films highlights the life of Mexican-American soldier Frank Sandoval. The film outlines the story of the World War II veteran through the letters he sent home to his family in Silvis, IL. Sandoval was one of eight veterans of WWII and the Korean War killed in combat from the same block-and-a-half neighborhood, now called "Hero Street, USA."

Letters Home to Hero Street was awarded a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and stars Eric Juarez, Maya Chavez, Cindy Ramos and Josh Wielenga, all from the Quad Cities. WQPT’s Chris Ryder was the cinematographer.  The film was produced by Lora Adams (WQPT) and Tammy Rundle (Fourth Wall Films), and directed and edited by Kelly Rundle (Fourth Wall Films). Melinda Carriker was the film's production assistant.

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

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. 

WQAD-8 Airs "Letters Home" Memorial Day Monday, May 25th 5PM

 

On Memorial Day, May 25, 2015 WQAD-8 will broadcast the award-winning documentary by Fourth Wall Films and WQPT-PBS, Letters Home to Hero Street at 5:00 p.m.

 

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.