Re: [Videolib] Holy Ghost People

Steve Fesenmeier (fesenms@wvlc.lib.wv.us)
Fri, 3 Feb 2006 12:45:06 -0500

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As far as I know, this film is not available. However, another film on =
the same subject is - The Jolo Serpent Handlers. Here is something I =
wrote about it.- Steve Fesenmaier

The Return of the Jolo Serpent Handlers
=20

In 1978 a young NYC filmmaker, Karen Kramer, came to visit a friend of =
hers in Welch, McDowell County- former college associate Ed Collins. By =
coincidence, Ken Fink was working in the schools, teaching photography, =
and making a film that became "Between A Rock and a Hard Place." Ken has =
been working on network news programs ever since, and Kramer also made =
her first film in McDowell County - "The Jolo Serpent Handlers," about =
the Jolo, McDowell County snake handlers. Since then Karen, like Ken, =
has had an exciting career, making many independent films. In spring =
1979 I brought Karen back to WV, showing her film at WVSC, at the =
McDowell PL and right in Jolo to some of the people in the film. I =
programmed the film as part of the 2003 WVFFF in Sutton and hope to use =
the film to kick-off a WV film series in Doris Kornish's Pioneer Theater =
in NYC in March. Other people made films about this regional religion =
including a beginning filmmaker, Peter Adair, who went on to make the =
Oscar-winning "Word is Out,"(1978) one of the first documentaries on =
gay men. His film was called "The Holy Ghost People."(1968) WCHS-TV also =
made an excellent documentary with the leading local experts including =
Columbia Ph.D. Nate Gerrard in "They Shall Take Up Serpents."(1963) =
Perhaps the most comprehensive film on the subject was the WVLC Video =
Services series - 1981 "Saga of the Serpent Handlers." The three parts =
are - "The Typical Service," "Baptism in the name of Jesus only," and "A =
Funeral service." If you want to see "Jolo," you can borrow the WVLC =
VHS or 16 mm copy from any local library or purchase a VHS from Kramer =
at: (212)691-3470. WVLC also has copies of "Ghost" and "Take Up." =
Hopefully WVLC will make VHS copies of the 1981 series and loan them =
thru local libraries. =20

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As far as I know, this film is not available. = However, another=20 film on the same subject is - The Jolo Serpent Handlers. Here is = something I=20 wrote about it.- Steve Fesenmaier
 

The Return of the Jolo = Serpent=20 Handlers

 

In = 1978 a young NYC=20 filmmaker, Karen Kramer, came to visit a friend of hers in Welch,=20 McDowell=20 County- former = college=20 associate Ed Collins. By coincidence, Ken Fink was working in the = schools,=20 teaching photography, and making a film that became =93Between A Rock = and a Hard=20 Place.=94 Ken has been working on network news programs ever since, and = Kramer=20 also made her first film in McDowell County =96 =93The Jolo Serpent = Handlers,=94 about=20 the Jolo, McDowell County snake handlers. Since then Karen, like Ken, = has had an=20 exciting career, making many independent films. In spring 1979 I brought = Karen=20 back to WV, showing her film at WVSC, at the McDowell PL and right in Jolo to = some of=20 the people in the film. I programmed the film as part of the 2003 WVFFF = in=20 Sutton and hope to use the film to kick-off a WV film series in Doris = Kornish=92s=20 Pioneer Theater in NYC in March. Other people made films about this = regional=20 religion including a beginning filmmaker, Peter Adair, who went on to = make the=20 Oscar-winning =93Word is Out,=94(1978) one of =20 the first documentaries on gay men. His film was called =93The = Holy Ghost=20 People.=94(1968) WCHS-TV also made an excellent documentary with the = leading local=20 experts including Columbia Ph.D. Nate Gerrard in =93They Shall Take Up=20 Serpents.=94(1963) Perhaps the most comprehensive film on the subject = was the WVLC=20 Video Services  series =96 = 1981 =93Saga=20 of the Serpent Handlers.=94 The three parts are =96 =93The Typical = Service,=94 =93Baptism=20 in the name of Jesus only,=94 and =93A Funeral service.=94 If you want = to see =93Jolo,=94=20 you can borrow the WVLC  = VHS or 16=20 mm copy from any local library or purchase a VHS from Kramer at: = (212)691-3470.=20 WVLC also has copies of =93Ghost=94 and =93Take Up.=94 Hopefully WVLC = will make VHS=20 copies of the 1981 series and loan them thru local libraries. =20

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