Historic
Huntingburg: the Hollywood of the Midwest
By Courtney
Sanderson, THG News
The city of Huntingburg’s
website,
www.huntingburg.org, describes the town in a way that makes it sound like
many others in the Midwest:
“Huntingburg...a
charming Southern Indiana community which boasts brick sidewalks and wrought
iron fences in its authentic Victorian downtown business district. Visitors
from all across the Midwestern United States come to shop and enjoy the quaint
specialty shops and unique dining establishments.
While the
community's downtown remains a strong and vital part of the city...Huntingburg's
manufacturing industry provides a strong backbone to a growing economy.
Huntingburg...enjoys
a proud work ethic which enhances its economy. Residents have many
opportunities to enjoy life at one of two city parks.”
What most
people don’t know is that this town of 5,600, located in the rolling hills of
Southern Indiana, is know as “Little Hollywood” by those in the entertainment
business.
“Anytime we
need to shoot footage in a small town, Huntingburg is where we look first,” said
producer Rod Reiner in a telephone interview. “It is a slice of Americana
you can’t find just anywhere.”
As a matter
of fact, three films have been made in Huntingburg since 1991. Huntingburg's League
Stadium, which has been around since
1894, was renovated in 1991 for "A League of Their Own," a story based on the
WWII era women's baseball league. HBO utilized the stadium a second time for the
1995 movie "Soul of the Game." The vintage stadium is home to baseball games
throughout the playing season.
The citizens of
Huntingburg relish the town’s role on the big screen. “I am just bricklayer
with a G.E.D. and I have been an extra in three movies,” said resident Craig
Clifton, “that is a career for a lot of aspiring actors.”
“It gives our town
something none of the others around here have, and that is real star power,”
said Mayor Gail Kemp. “Most of us can say we have been in the movies at one
time or another. The people of (neighboring towns) Jasper and English can’t say
that.”
Visit Huntingburg this
fall, when production of a new Kevin Costner film, yet untitled, begins
production.
