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Sister scenes Four years earlier, in 1951, Twentieth Century Fox crisscrossed Kansas in search of a site for a movie titled Wait ’Till the Sun Shines, Nellie, a story about a small-town barber who traces the 50-year history of the small mythical town of Sevillinois starting in 1895. George Jessel, the film’s producer, visited Kansas in the aftermath of the 1951 floods and seemed most impressed with locations in the Emporia area, but when the flood waters were slow in receding, he traveled west to see what else might be available. In a flight over tiny Castleton, 10 miles south of Hutchinson, they noted the tiny berg had a red depot, a feature the crew needed, and in a closer inspection decided that all else would meet their expectations. During the filming, the only building in Castleton used in the movie was the depot, with the remaining structures being fictitious storefronts. By August 15, 1951, the halls of the Stamey Hotel at Fifth and Main Street were sold out to a cast of 20, including actress Jean Peters, and a crew of 80. Several scenes included the lobby of the Stamey Hotel lobby, but the scene that got the most attention was a parade staged between a four-block stretch from Fifth and Main Streets to Fifth and Washington Streets. Locals observing the filming were awestruck how it took hours to film a two-minute scene. According to local legend, a familiar-looking man flew his high dollar airplane into the Hutchinson Airport one afternoon and asked for assistance in calling a cab for a ride into the city where he had a reservation in the Bisonte Hotel. A bystander at the airport offered the stranger a ride. As they motored down Eleventh Street, the stranger introduced
With floats and music, the Wait Till The Sun Shines,x-- Nellie parade traveled between a four-block stretch from Fifth and Main Streets to Fifth and Washington Streets.
himself as the famed Howard Hughes. Again, according to legend, Hughes was in town for a rendezvous with actress Jean Peters.
Meet me in Hutch
Filming in Reno County wrapped up August 27, 1951, but that would not be the last word from Hutchinson on its 12 days of fame with a Hollywood film crew. Soon, Mayor Bill Shaw, along with City Manager Willis Shaffer, were on a plane to Hollywood with a petition in hand, signed by 10,000 Hutchinson residents, asking Twentieth Century Fox to hold the world premiere for the movie in Hutchinson. Jessel and his leadership team took one look at the massive petition and scheduled the premiere in Hutchinson for May 14, 1952. On that day, a real parade with a local band playing music and Jean Peters riding atop a convertible converged on Hutchinson. The cheering crowd, estimated at 25,000, was reported as the largest parade turnout in Hutchinson’s history. That evening, all of Hutchinson attended a gala at the Sports Arena with Jessel taking the stage and entertaining the audience as emcee. Although Hutchinson would attract several other productions, nothing would equal the pair of movies filmed here in the 1950s. Cliff Robertson revisited the area in 1971 to appear in a movie titled Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies and never declined an interview request from Kansas media outlets. No, Hutchinson may never be a mecca for movies and motion picture productions, but the salt city has had its moments and made the most of each.
Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2012