July Film Report

July 2010

July Film Report

Work continues on a new documentary film for PBS on William B. Strang, Jr. and the founding of Overland Park, Kansas.

On July 23, 2010 scriptwriter Peter A. Hansen (Editor, Railroad History magazine) and award-winning PBS Director Richard Luckin recorded the narration for the film. Noted Hollywood actor Michael Gross (Family Ties) provided his seasoned voice to the production. Gross had worked with this production team before when he recorded the narration for the 2007 documentary, Ours to Give, about lumber baron R. A. Long and daughter Loula Long Combs. Gross, who happens to be a railroad enthusiast, was happy to lend support to this project about the Missouri & Kansas Interurban Railway (commonly called the Strang line). It ran from downtown Kansas City to Olathe, Kansas, and employed an innovative new technology designed by Strang.

Michael Gross (Actor, Family Ties), Pete Hansen (script writer),
Kathleen Luckin, Rich Luckin (Director) and Dirk Phannenstiel (engineer)
pose for a group photo of the voice-over recording session
on July 24th, 2010 for a new PBS program about
Overland Park, Kansas history and the Strang Line.

The working title for the film is Rails to Suburbia: The Strang Line and Overland Park.

The Overland Park Historical Society is soon to announce an autumn gala premiere event. This will be a ticketed event and serve as a fundraiser for the organization, which hopes to purchase a permanent museum space.

For more information on the Overland Park Historical Society CLICK HERE.

Rails to Suburbia: The Strang Line and Overland Park will be released in late 2010 to PBS stations nationwide. Check your local listings.

Bonnie Hansen,
Production Assistant
July 2010