Zahs travels to Nebraska for presentation

In 1981, in the basement of an Iowa farmhouse, Mike Zahs discovered a hidden legacy: film reels owned by William Brinton, the man responsible for introducing cinema to the Heartland.

This treasure trove soon became the inspiration for the acclaimed documentary, “Saving Brinton.” This event is free and open to the public.

Zahs, a retired schoolteacher, shares his story Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre in Wayne, Neb.

An Evening with Mike Zahs of the Film Saving Brinton includes images depicting his journey from preservation to documentary. The presentation is sponsored by Wayne State Media Club and Hot Attic Film School.

Saving Brinton debuted in Iowa on Sept. 17, 2017, at The State Theatre in Washington. This theater is where Brinton first turned on a projector more than a century ago. The State Theatre is the world’s oldest continuously operating theater.

The movie examines Zahs’ recovery of thousands of movies, trinkets, handwritten journals, receipts, posters and catalogs owned by Brinton.

Included in the find were films by French cinema pioneer Georges Méliés. Historical interest in Brinton led Zahs to The Library of Congress, Paris, and the discovery of the only existing version of the Méliés film “The Triple-Headed Lady.” This Méliés movie is considered one of the greatest cinematic finds in modern history.

For more information contact Mike White at Wayne State College at 402-375-7595.