Story courtesy of Game Day Communications
WARREN COUNTY, OH –Ohio Goes to the Movies (OGTTM), an America 250-Ohio Signature Event, continues its statewide line up in April with 26 free movie events, many focused on their connection to Ohioans in front of or behind the camera.
“Ohio Goes to the Movies films are all free and we have a full calendar running from now until October 2026. There is a broad range of Ohio-centric films that communities have selected featuring an Ohio connection on screen or working behind the scenes. They all celebrate Ohio’s role and influence in the movie industry, past and present,” said OGTTM Program Director Molly Kreuzman. “Many of our April movie selections also feature films made in Ohio.”
Famous Ohioans Featured in April Screenings
Well-known names you will see on screens across Ohio include Paul Newman, Clark Gable, and Woody Harrelson, a 1979 Lebanon High School Graduate. Then, there are the behind the scenes filmmakers Chris Columbus (Warren) and Steven Spielberg (Cincinnati), who teamed up earlier in their careers to write “The Goonies,” screening April 2 at the Aut-O-Rama Drive-In in North Ridgeville.
Actor Harrelson will have Two of his movies will be featured in April: “The Hunger Games” at Republic Theatres Colony Square in Lebanon on April 19 and “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio” at Huber Opera House in Hicksville on April 25. “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio” is based on the book by Ohioan Terry Ryan, and Johnson Memorial Library is sharing a taped interview with the author (who is now deceased) prior to screening.
Other Movies
On Saturday, April 11, Paul Newman’s daughter Melissa Newman will appear for two speaking engagements, signing, and discussing her book, “Head Over Heels”. The book shares a look at the private world of her parents, Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, one of America’s most iconic couples, in a lavishly illustrated oversize photo book affectionately curated by Melissa.
WRHS Cleveland History Center will host Head Over Heels: Melissa Newman on Love, Art & Growing Up Newman on April 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Parma-Powers branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host Newmanon April 11 from 2 to 3 p.m. Then, On April 12, the Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights will screen “Cool Hand Luke,” starring Paul Newman who grew up near the theater and worked there in his youth. Newman and the film earned Oscar nominations, and he won for Best Supporting Actor.
The Athens County Public Library is screening “It Happened One Night” on April 21 starring Ohio native Clark Gable (Cadiz). Before the screening, attendees will hear a short talk on Gable and the history behind this Oscar-winning film. After the screening, filmgoers can participate in a brief facilitated discussion of the movie, enjoy snacks, and take photos with themed props.
Some lesser-known names on the screen include Eleanor Parker (Cedarville), who stars as the Baroness in “The Sound of Music” screening April 3 at Sauder Village in Archbold. The Arcanum Opera House will screen, “Janice Meredith” on April 12, a film set during the American Revolution and selected because of its tie to America 250. Actor Walter Law (Greenville) wasn’t known, and organizers researched his career to add him to the Ohio Movie Database. The event program will include an overview of the actor’s career and a red carpet manned by members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution in colonial dress. Attendees are encouraged to dress in colonial (time period of the movie) or 1920s (time period when movie was produced/released) dress, which will create a fun environment.
Celebrating Ohioans Behind the Scenes: Writers, Directors and Animation Stars
Ohio Goes to the Movies also showcases Ohioans who worked behind the scenes as writers. For example, Dudley Nichols (Wapakoneta) wrote the screenplay for “Bringing Up Baby,” which will be screened at the WAPA Theatre in Wapakoneta on April 6. The theatre plans to share its history as well as Nichols’ story and display his Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay, he won in 1935 for the film “The Informer.”
On April 11, Central Ohio Technical College in Newark will screen “Johnny Shiloh,”from the civil war novel co-authored by Ohio’s former Governor James A. Rhodes and later adapted into a television movie by Walt Disney. A panel discussion with local historians will discuss the life and legacy of John Clem, widely recognized as “the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga,” and explore his lasting significance to the city of Newark, Ohio.
Director Steve Martino (Dayton) is expected to attend the screening of his film “The Peanuts Movie” on April 11 at Town Hall Theatre in Washington Twp. and answer questions. Apollo Theatre in Oberlin will screen “Across the Universe” on April 22. The film is directed and written by Oberlin College graduate Julie Taymor.
In the animation world, Mark Henn (Dayton) is king, having created Disney’s most iconic princesses. On April 18 Ironton High School will screen “The Princess and the Frog.”In addition to Henn, the film features the voice of Jim Cummings (Youngstown) as Ray. He is the only actor to appear in every animated series produced by Disney during the ’90s and took over for Sterling Holloway as the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Kaa from “The Jungle Book.” Actor Terrence Howard (Cleveland) is also featured in “The Princess and the Frog.”
Hillsboro Orpheum is screening another Ohio connected animated film “Despicable Me” on April 18. It features the voice of actor Steve Carell, who attended Denison University.
Made in Ohio Films Featured Around the State
Ohio Goes to the Movies kicks off April’s Made in Ohio movies on April 1 at Virginia State Theater in North Baltimore, screening “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” and “Rain Man” at the Historic Plaza Theatre in Miamisburg.
“Superman” was not only filmed across Ohio but is a comic creation of Ohioans Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (Cleveland) and stars actress Isabela Merced (Cleveland). The blockbuster movie will screen April 8 at Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes Stadium in Mentor(where some scenes were filmed at Mentor Headlands Beach.) The Greater Cleveland Film Commission will lead a discussion on comics adapted to film and local extras and actors will be present to talk about the experience of this film. The movie will also screen in Southwest Ohio on April 11 at the Tipp City Public Library.
Akron Civic Theatre will screen “The Avengers” on April 12, a film also made in Northeast Ohio, and guests will enjoy music on their Mighty Wurlitzer and interact with live-action superhero characters.
The Public Library of Steubenville will screen two made in Ohio films: “The Shawshank Redemption” will be screened at the Tiltonsville Branch on April 17 and the Schiappa Branch will screen “The Deer Hunter” on April 19.
Two popular sport films made in Ohio will screen this month: “Major League” at the Fairborn Phoenix on April 10, an iconic film based around the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) and on April 23 “Draft Day” at Atlas Cinemas at Shaker Square in Cleveland. “Draft Day” actress Jennifer Garner attended Denison University.