Press Release October 2016
Kenilworth Historical Society Presents New Film
Documenting the Early Years of the Village
October, 2016 – The Kenilworth Historical Society (KHS) proudly announces the release of the newly created film “Kenilworth: The Suburban Ideal.” The documentary, written and produced by award-winning filmmaker John Newcombe, is a historical account of the early village, detailing Joseph Sears’ vision and creation of his idyllic community.
The film, available for purchase October 22nd, is based on documents, records and materials derived from the collections housed at the KHS. The film includes many recollections from early residents, including excerpts from the extensive hand-written diaries of Joseph Sears’ daughter, Dorothy.
“As an early planned suburban community, Kenilworth has a particularly interesting history,” recounts KHS past-president Tim Miller who chaired the KHS film committee. The project was first initiated in the fall of 2014 when the KHS board approved the funding to develop a script for the proposed film. Subsequently, acclaimed filmmaker and Winnetka native John Newcombe was selected to script and produce the film. “John spent 6 months creating the script. He immersed himself in the history of the village, studying mass amounts of historical documents, reviewing chronicles, and completely internalizing Joseph Sears’ rationale for why and how he developed the village,” explained Miller. “John then spent the next 12 months bringing the script to life through the production of the film.” The resulting documentary contains historical images expertly blended with new aerial footage provided by Kenilworth resident and pilot Brad Savage. Some of the many topics highlighted in the film include:
- Joseph Sears growing up with Chicago
- The motives behind the creation of Chicago’s North Shore suburbs
- The Kenilworth Company
- Social life in early Kenilworth
- The architects of Kenilworth
- The foundations of quality education in Kenilworth
- The continuation of Joseph Sears’ dream
In addition to the main movie, the DVD includes “Expanding the Dream,” illustrating the annexations to Kenilworth in the 1920s, as well as extra footage documenting the founding of the Kenilworth Historical Society, the village scouting programs, the history of Sheridan Road, and more.
“Our objective was to create an accurate and interesting film documenting the history of Kenilworth for our current village residents and for future generations,” explained Miller. “Additionally, our hope is that it will be the carrot that entices people to come into the Historical Society to see our rotating and permanent exhibits and to learn more,” added Ginny Anderson, KHS executive director.
Although John Newcombe’s efforts have been paramount in the creation of this film, twenty people were involved in its making, from those who reviewed the scripts to those who researched the historical data to ensure its accuracy. Special acknowledgement goes to the members of the Kenilworth Historical Society’s Film Committee (Tim Miller, Steve Crawford, Mary Glerum, Jean Patterson, Ginny Anderson, Bill Hinchliff), and KHS curators Melinda Kwedar and Kyle Mathers, as well as Brad Savage for his outstanding aerial footage, David Jeremiah for his engaging film narration, and Frances Newcombe for her eye-catching graphics, enhancements and colorations.
The documentary first premiered in May at the Wilmette Theatre at an exclusive showing for Kenilworth Historical Society board members. The premiere was also attended by direct descendents of Joseph Sears, including his grandson, granddaughter and great granddaughter, Barry Sears, Polly Sears Foley and Emily Foley, who expressed their sincere appreciation for the wonderfully presented chapter of their family history.
The film will be available for purchase in DVD and Blu-ray format for $20 at the Kenilworth Historical Society, 415 Kenilworth Avenue, starting October 22nd. Kenilworth Historical Society hours of operation are: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Mondays and Thursdays.
For more information about this film or becoming a member of the Kenilworth Historical Society, contact Ginny Anderson at (847) 251-2565 or Kenilworthhistory@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.kenilworthhistory.org.
Kenilworth Historical Society Unveils New Film
Documenting Joseph Sears and the founding of Kenilworth
“I remember Sears taking me out to see the land just after he bought it… I recall the trouble I had enthusing in the same way he did over what seemed to me a very unattractive stretch of land with scrub oak covering it. I complained about the big trees of which he was so proud. When I came back two years later, it was as if a fairy wand had passed over the place.”
– C.E. Gabain
A vision of a country home with the conveniences of the city prompted Joseph Sears to move his family from Chicago’s Prairie Avenue to the undeveloped woodland located north of Evanston on the shores of Lake Michigan. His dream to create a suburban community was inspired by the hamlets he had admired while traveling the English countryside. The story of the realization of that vision and the founding of his ideal village – Kenilworth – is told in the Kenilworth Historical Society’s new film.
Written and produced by award-winning filmmaker John Newcombe, “Kenilworth: The Suburban Ideal” is an authentic historical account of the early village, detailing Joseph Sears’ vision for creating his idyllic community. The film includes many recollections from early residents, including excerpts from the extensive hand-written diaries of Joseph Sears’ daughter, Dorothy.
“As an early planned suburban community, Kenilworth has a particularly interesting history,” recounts KHS past-president Tim Miller who chaired the KHS film committee. The project was first initiated in the fall of 2014 when the KHS board approved the funding to develop a script for the proposed film. Subsequently, acclaimed filmmaker and Winnetka native John Newcombe was selected to script and produce the film. “John spent 6 months creating the script. He immersed himself in the history of the village, studying mass amounts of historical documents, reviewing chronicles, and completely internalizing Joseph Sears’ rationale for why and how he developed the village,” explained Miller. “John then spent the next 12 months bringing the script to life through the production of the film.”
The resulting documentary contains historical images expertly blended with new aerial footage provided by Kenilworth resident and pilot Brad Savage. Some of the many topics highlighted in the film include:
- Joseph Sears growing up with Chicago
- The motives behind the creation of Chicago’s North Shore suburbs
- The Kenilworth Company
- Social life in early Kenilworth
- The architects of Kenilworth
- The foundations of quality education in Kenilworth
- The continuation of Joseph Sears’ dream
In addition to the main movie, the DVD includes “Expanding the Dream,” illustrating the annexations to Kenilworth in the 1920s, as well as extra footage documenting the founding of the Kenilworth Historical Society, the village scouting programs, the history of Sheridan Road, and more.
“Our objective was to create an accurate and interesting film documenting the history of Kenilworth for our current village residents and for future generations,” explained Miller. “Additionally, our hope is that it will be the carrot that entices people to come into the Historical Society to see our rotating and permanent exhibits and to learn more,” added Ginny Anderson, KHS executive director.
Although John Newcombe’s efforts have been paramount in the creation of this film, twenty people were involved in its making, from those who reviewed the scripts to those who researched the historical data to ensure its accuracy. Special acknowledgement goes to the members of the Kenilworth Historical Society’s Film Committee (Tim Miller, Steve Crawford, Mary Glerum, Jean Patterson, Ginny Anderson, Bill Hinchliff), and KHS curators Melinda Kwedar and Kyle Mathers, as well as Brad Savage for his outstanding aerial footage, David Jeremiah for his engaging film narration, and Frances Newcombe for her eye-catching graphics, enhancements and colorations.
The documentary first premiered in May at the Wilmette Theatre at an exclusive showing for Kenilworth Historical Society board members. The premiere was also attended by direct descendents of Joseph Sears, including his grandson, granddaughter and great granddaughter, Barry Sears, Polly Sears Foley and Emily Foley, who expressed their sincere appreciation for the wonderfully presented chapter of their family history.
The film will be available for purchase in DVD and Blu-ray format for $20 at the Kenilworth Historical Society, 415 Kenilworth Avenue, starting October 22nd. Kenilworth Historical Society hours of operation are: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Mondays and Thursdays.
For more information about this film or becoming a member of the Kenilworth Historical Society, contact Ginny Anderson at (847) 251-2565 or Kenilworthhistory@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.kenilworthhistory.org.
