Richard Weedt Widmark called Princeton, Illinois home for seven important years of his life between 1925 and 1932. He formed many long term friendships in this rural Americana town where early influences propelled him to success in radio, stage, and screen productions. It is the goal of the Rediscover Richard Widmark organization to educate the community, the country, and perhaps, the world at lar
ge, about this small town boy's rise to fame through activities showcasing Widmark's character, values, and talents. Princeton Public Library has risen to the challenge through offering the Widmark Wednesday program, the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Local artist, Bartlett L. Kassabaum, has created several original works of arts available at his studio and written an extensive series of columns on Widmark's life in local paper, the Bureau County Republican. The Apollo Theater and Homestead Festival have joined forces to have a big screen, premiere showing of "The Trap" on Friday, September 12th 2014, at 9:00 pm at The Apollo Theater, 455 South Main Street, Princeton with doors open at 8:00 pm for pre-movie activities. Prairie Arts Center will have a special exhibit and multiple showings of the Widmark Biography on Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, September 2014 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. A week long Widmark Film Festival is scheduled September 29th-October 3rd 2014 at Princeton Public Library. This year, Widmark would have been 100 years of age on December 26th. We will honor that milestone with an early December birthday party with details to be announced later. It is the dream of this organization to create an exhibit of Widmark's life and career with a special emphasis on Richard Widmark's Princeton of the 1920s and 1930s. A collection of his movies is housed and is growing at Princeton Public Library for the public to enjoy.
