FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2005
New Strand Theatre in West
Liberty, Iowa to Feature Axe Murder Mystery Documentary
Historian Dr. Edgar Epperly will Appear for a Q & A with the Infamous Axe
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–Two adults and
six children murdered while they slept. An illicit affair. A state politician
suspected. A community thrown into turmoil. A detective involved in a slander
trial. A window-peeping minister charged with the murders and tried. Cheering
crowds support the controversial defendant. Dead families in three nearby states
indicate the possible work of a serial killer. Stories ripped from today's
headlines?
After 56 showings in 28 cities and 5 states since the Des Moines premiere on June 10,
2004, Fourth Wall Films' critically acclaimed documentary feature film, Villisca: Living with a Mystery will be featured at the New Strand
Theatre in West Liberty, Iowa along with historian Dr. Edgar Epperly and the infamous
murder weapon.
Villisca tells the epic true story of the 1912 Villisca, Iowa
Children's Day axe murders. America's greatest unsolved crime built and ruined
political careers, created a lasting community split over the guilt or innocence of a
local man, and produced hundreds of litigations including three of Iowa's most sensational
criminal trials.
Quad City Times film critic Linda Cook gave the film 4 stars and said,
"Outstanding...impressive...a fascinating tale well told...I'm still astonished at
this well-made film!"
The Des Moines Register's Jeffrey Bruner gave the documentary 3 ½ stars, and said,
"...discusses what many have refused to speak about...terrific
interviews...accessible...not academic."
Filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle have combined period photographs, computer animation,
original art, limited re-enactments, and interviews with historians, eye-witnesses, town
residents, and forensic experts to shed light on the 92-year old mystery and to reveal the
face of a new suspect.
The ten-years-in-the-making documentary also explores the possibility that the Villisca
crime, and similar murders in Monmouth, Illinois; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and
Ellsworth, Kansas, may have been the work of one of America's first serial killers.
The filmmakers have made a special effort to book the film in period-appropriate venues
and the beautifully restored 1910 New Strand Theatre provides the perfect setting for the
historical documentary. Pre-show magic lantern slides and ragtime music precede each
performance and set the scene for a journey into the past.
Villisca will screen at the New Strand Theatre on Friday,
January 14-20, 2005. Evening performances will be at 7:30 pm and matinees on
Saturday and Sunday will be at 2:00 pm. Historian Dr. Edgar Epperly will appear for
a Q & A with the Villisca axe on Friday and Saturday performances only. For
ticket information call the theater at 319.627.2014 or visit www.newstrand.com to purchase advance tickets.
For more information on "Villisca: Living with a Mystery," visit www.villisca.com.
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Contact:
Kelly Rundle, Director
Fourth Wall Films
villisca@aol.com www.newstrand.com
October 12, 2004
Axe Murder Mystery Documentary Featured
During Halloween Week
The Infamous Axe and other Historical
Artifacts on Display
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–While Halloween
normally conjures up stories of ghosts and goblins, filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle
think of axe murderers. After logging over 11,000 road miles, for 43 showings in 24 cities
and 5 states in less than 90 days, the Rundles return to the Midwest with their critically
acclaimed documentary feature film, Villisca:
Living with a Mystery for Halloween week.
Villisca tells the
epic true story of the 1912 Villisca, Iowa axe murders. America's greatest unsolved crime
built and ruined political careers, created a lasting community split over the guilt or
innocence of a local man, and produced hundreds of litigations including three of Iowa's
most sensational criminal trials.
Quad City Times film critic Linda Cook gave the film 4 stars and said,
"Outstanding...impressive...a fascinating tale well told...I'm still astonished at
this well-made film!"
The Des Moines Register's Jeffrey Bruner gave the documentary 3 ½ stars, and said,
"...discusses what many have refused to speak about...terrific
interviews...accessible...not academic."
The ten-years-in-the-making documentary also explores the possibility that the Villisca
crime--and similar murders in Monmouth, Illinois; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and
Ellsworth, Kansas--may have been the work of one of America's first serial killers.
Villisca will
screen at the Atlantic Fridley Theatre in Atlantic, Iowa on Monday, October 25 and
Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 7:00 pm; at Monmouth College on Thursday, October 28, 2004 at
7:00 pm in the Dahl Auditorium; and at the Western Historic Trails Center in Council
Bluffs, Iowa on Friday, October 29, 2004 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, October 30, 2004 at 2:00 pm
and 7:00 pm, and on Halloween, Sunday, October 31, 2004 at 2:00pm. For ticket information
visit: www.villisca.com/tickets.htm.
The program features pre-show "magic lantern" slides and ragtime music, a lobby
display including the infamous axe, the feature-length documentary, and a Q & A with
director Kelly Rundle and historian Dr. Edgar Epperly.
Villisca: Living with a Mystery will be broadcast and released on home video in 2005. Parental
guidance is suggested.
The Rundles are former Iowans now living in
Los Angeles, California where they own and operate Fourth Wall Films, a film and video
production and publishing company.
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Contact:
Kelly Rundle
Fourth Wall Films
310.398.0015
villisca@aol.com
www.villisca.com
August 11, 2004
Successful summer Villisca
mystery documentary film tour ends with special encore showings in Des Moines
DES MOINES--Kelly and Tammy Rundle left their
Los Angeles home with their newly completed documentary feature film Villisca:
Living with a Mystery on June 2, 2004. 90 days, 40 showings, 24 cities, and 5
states later they return for three special final events in Iowa at the State Historical
Building Theater in Des Moines where the unprecedented tour began.
Villisca explores the history and mystery surrounding the
still-unsolved 1912 Villisca, Iowa axe murders of eight. The film asks the question:
what if murder visited a small town and never went away? It also examines a possible
link between similar mass murders in five midwestern states.
Rather than book the film in modern theater multiplexes, the Rundles uniquely chose to
place their documentary in historically relevent venues to further immerse their audience
in the past during the show.
"I don't know of any filmmaker who has taken this approach over such a long period of
time and in such a large geographic area," said director-writer Kelly Rundle.
"It's been a real pleasure to see the film with our audiences at each event and to
have a chance to answer questions and discuss the story following the showings," said
producer-writer Tammy Rundle.
Both entertaining and thought provoking, "America's Greatest Unsolved Mystery"
has been overwhelmingly well received by audiences and has prompted glowing reviews from
media critics.
The Des Moines Register's Jeffrey Bruner gave the documentary 3 ½ stars, and said, Villisca: Living with a Mystery discusses what many have refused to
speak about...terrific interviews...accessible and not academic."
Quad City Times film critic Linda Cook gave the film 4 stars and said,
"Impressive...a fascinating tale...I'm still astonished at this well-made film!"
Villisca combines period photographs, computer animation,
original art, limited reenactments, and interviews with historians, town residents,
eyewitnesses and forensic experts to shed light on the 92-year-old mystery, and to reveal
the face of a new suspect.
Summer film tour highlights included the gala premiere in Des Moines, near sold-out
showings in numerous locations; wide-spread television, radio, and print media attention;
showcasing the film in beautifully restored theaters across the midwest including three
showings in the Montgomery County Court House where the axe murder trials took place in
1916 and 1917.
Each showing in Des Moines will feature pre-show ragtime music and magic lantern slides, a
lobby display of historical artifacts including the infamous axe, the 2-hour historical
documentary, and a Q&A with the filmmakers and historian Dr. Edgar Epperly.
Epperly has spent nearly 50 years researching the axe murder story.
Villisca: Living with a Mystery will screen three final times
in Iowa at the State Historical Building Theater on August 20, 2004 at 7:00 pm and on
August 22, 2004 at 2 pm and 7:00 pm. Tickets are $8-$10/pp at the door and advance
tickets are available online at www.villisca.com.
National and international broadcast and home video release is slated for 2005.
Parental guidance is suggested. Visit www.villisca.com
for more information.
The Rundles are former Iowans now living in Los Angeles, California where they own and
operate Fourth Wall Films, a film and video production and publishing company.
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Contact:
Fourth Wall Films
POB 341610
Los Angeles, CA 90034
villisca@aol.com
www.villisca.com
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