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Sound & Light Videography Speak to Rotary about Coliesum Documentary

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Despite a devastating fire that brought to an end the 90-year history of the Coliseum Ballroom in Benld, Jim Marcacci and Bruce Logsdon of Sound and Light Videography plan to complete the video documentary they were working on when the fire broke out last month. The partners showed a 14-minute preview of the documentary to members of the Benld Area Rotary Club on Tuesday during the club’s regular meeting at Toni’s Family Restaurant in Benld.

Marcacci, a former Gillespie High School Teacher, and Logsdon, a former Litchfield teacher now living in Springfield, were close to putting the finishing touches on the documentary when word reached them that the Coliseum was burning. Logsdon was out of state and Marcacci was recording a wedding in Springfield. Neither was able to get to the scene while the building was burning. Marcacci visited the site the next day to film the remains of the building and the procession of cars and people passing by the smoldering ruins.

“It looked like a funeral procession,” Marcacci said. Tracking down sources to interview, photos and snippets of film to produce the documentary, Logsdon said, was a difficult process. “If it was complicated before, it’s even more complicated now,” he said. “Fortunately we had shot about 80 percent of the interior footage we needed.”

But there are some aspects of the Coliseum’s interior that escaped the camera, only to be consumed by the flames. “Jim had found the infamous wall behind the stage,” he said. The wall bore the signatures of many of the performers who had played on the Coliseum Ballroom’s stage. “It was deteriorated, but it was still there.”

The pair also found shower stalls in the basement that were used by the ‘working girls’ to freshen up between customers. Marcacci said the two men have completed most of the interviews they need for the project, but are still hoping to land interviews with Bo Diddely, Fats Domino and Chuck BerryÐall of whom played at the Coliseum. Berry, who still performs occasionally in St. Louis has a reputation for demanding cash for interviews with him.

“If he wants $500, we’ll get it somehow,” Logsdon said. Originally planned as a celebration of the Coliseum’s storied past, the documentary is now taking on aspects of a memorium. Several years ago, Logsdon said, the two men decided to pursue the project when they were driving by the building on the way to Staunton one day. Logsdon was filming at the time, capturing a sequence during which the Coliseum looms into view as the car passes by. “I told Jim that if we’re going to do this, we need to get serious about and get it done, because someday it’s going to burn down,” Logsdon recalled.

The revamped version of the documentary now opens with the footage Logsdon shot a couple of years ago, and image dissolves into what remains of the Coliseum today. The pair also has obtained footage of the fire itself to use in the production. But the bulk of the film will be devoted to the Coliseum’s history and the performers who played their in its heydey. The 14-minute teaser Marcacci and Logsdon screened on Tuesday is available for viewing on YouTube.com.

After the fire, Marcacci said the number of “hits” on the YouTube video increased dramatically. Marcacci said watching the procession of cars and talking to people on Sunday after the fire “was a defining moment” for him that exemplified what the Coliseum meant to thousands of people throughout the Midwest.

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Before the fire, Marcacci had made arrangements to interview an 81-year-old musician from Granite City who performed with three different bands that played the Coliseum between 1947 and 1957. The plan was to film the interview inside the Coliseum, but the fire dashed those plans.”I really felt sorry for him,” Marcacci said. “He wanted to see it one last time. The last time he was there was in 1957. He almost had tears in his eyes.”

The pair also found a taped interview with former owner Joyce Tarro, who was murdered in the 1970s. Portions for the interview will find their way into the finished film. Logsdon said the finished doumentary will differ from most documentary projects in that it is not about a person or an event. “It’s about a building,” he said. “It’s a building that is part of the collective memory.”

Despite the setback, Logsdon and Marcacci said they plan to finish the documentary before Christmas. They hope to produce about 2,000 copies, which will retail for about $25 each. The finished piece will run 60 to 90 minutes. Of course, initial plans to premier the film at the Coliseum have had to be scrapped. “Like everyone, we grieved when it burned,” Logsdon said. “It will never be rebuilt and it shouldn’t be. It was more than just a dance hall. I think she went out in a blaze of glory and thatÕs how it should be.”

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CUSD 7 News

Miners girls basketball clinch SCC championship

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In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.

The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.

From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.

Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.

Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.

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Macoupin County residential fire claims multiple victims on Saturday

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Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday morning in Macoupin County as a residential structure fire broke out in the 200 block of West Dean Street, Virden, resulting in the death of a male victim, the Macoupin County Coroner Anthony Kravanya announced.

The individual was pronounced deceased at 10:06 AM but the identity of the deceased has not yet been released, as authorities await the results of an autopsy scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025. The coroner’s office indicated that a press release will be issued following the autopsy and the positive identification of the victim.

WAND reported a second victim died after being transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon who confirmed a 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old male were the victims.

The fire reportedly started around 9:30 a.m. and the home was fully engulfed when first responders arrived. Two people were reportedly rescued and life flight was requested but were not available due to the foggy weather conditions. 

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, involving multiple agencies including the Macoupin County Coroner’s Office, the Virden Police Department, the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

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Missions group to host trivia fundraiser on March 30

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Come and join us for an exciting afternoon of trivia as we support our local 2:18 Missions! Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 30 from 2 to 5 PM for an event that promises fun, camaraderie, and a chance to make a difference in our community. The event will be held at DeStefane Community Center in Benld, 201 East Central Avenue.

Teams of up to 10 people can participate for just $100 per table. Whether you want to reserve your table in advance or simply show up on the day of the event to pay at the door, we welcome all trivia enthusiasts to join in the competition!

Feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy during the game—just please remember, no alcohol is allowed. For your convenience, we will have bottles of water available for purchase.

The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce! The first-place team will take home a prize of $150. Plus, bring some dollar bills to participate in “Heads and Tails” games during breaks and to buy mulligans for your team.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support a great cause while enjoying a lively trivia challenge. To reserve your table or for more information, contact Kristin at 217-691-7469.

Let’s make this a memorable event for our community and the 2:18 Missions!

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