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R.A. Long film makes local debut to a big audience
Monday, February 11, 2008 5:31 AM PST
By Leslie Slape
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E-mail this articleLocal historians didn't expect a packed house at the premiere of "Ours to Give," a documentary about Longview founder and timber baron Robert A. Long and his daughter, Loula Long Combs.
They were astonished and delighted when 350 to 400 people crowded into R.A. Long High School on Sunday to watch the 26-minute film narrated by actor Michael Gross.
"I'm overwhelmed at the turnout," said Kris McElroy-Weber, whose husband, high school history teacher Dennis Weber, appears in the film. "We didn't have any idea how many people would find this intriguing. I was handing out programs, and they kept pouring in the door."
"If we had known there would be so much interest, we would have charged admission," said Greg Myklebust, president of the Cowlitz County Historical Society.
Bonnie and Peter Hansen of Kansas City, Mo., where Long based the Long-Bell Lumber Co., made the film for public broadcasting. It has already been broadcast in Missouri, and they hope it will be shown nationwide.
The idea for the project came two years ago in a dream.
Executive producer Bonnie Hansen, a fashion historian, had been fascinated with vivacious horsewoman Loula Long since portraying her in a parade. One night in 2006 she dreamed she was watching a film about Loula and awoke at 3 a.m. believing she could make that film.
She called documentary filmmaker Richard Luckin of Golden, Colo., who told her "he'd been wanting to do a different kind of project - and you have described that project."
Then she spoke with Travis Cavens, this area's expert on R.A. Long, and he told her that he's always wanted to make a documentary about R.A. Long. They decided to do both stories.
The film crew visited Longview in March. Cavens appears in the film along with Dennis Weber and museum director David Freece.
Hansen said the title, "Ours to Give," refers to Long's answer to criticism that he spent his money on philanthropy instead of leaving it to his heirs. "It's mine to give," Long said.
"The father gave of his fortune; the daughter gave her of spirit," Hansen said. "It's a very pertinent story for today."
Robert Alexander Long, son of poor Kentucky farmers, built a lumber business into a multimillion-dollar company. In Kansas City, he erected a beaux-arts skyscraper, a 72-room mansion (now the Kansas City Museum, donated by Long's heirs) and Longview Farm, where the Longs kept more than 100 horses.
In 1923 he founded Longview, where he built a church, library, the Monticello Hotel, R.A. Long High School, the Columbia River Mercantile and the YMCA.
His youngest daughter, Loula, was known for her spectacular hats and her sense of adventure. She raised eyebrows in the early 1900s when she raced - and usually won - in previously male-dominated harness racing, sometimes with a lapful of Boston terriers. She continued showing horses for nearly 65 years.
Hansen said balancing everyone's interests was a challenge. She wanted to tell Loula's story. Cavens wanted R.A. Long's story and the Kansas City historians wanted to honor the Long family's role in their city. The Cowlitz County historians wanted to focus on the city Long built in 1923.
Peter Hansen, who wrote the script, decided what to use.
"My husband was the Solomon," his wife said.
The result is a finely crafted, clearly written film in the Ken Burns' style, but it will leave true history buffs and people in Longview and Kansas City craving more. For the general viewer, it's a good introduction to the Longs.
"I thought it was amazing," said Kelso resident Patty Stevens, who in 2004 played Long's wife in "Timber Baron," written by Cavens. "I've been looking forward to this since I had the pleasure of playing Ella in the play."
"The quality and professionalism really shows through," her husband, Jerry, said. "It's going to be a gem for Longview to watch. It really brings tears to your eyes."
Luckin, although he loved the story and worked for free when money ran short, said he advised the Hansens to film a short program because Long has no national recognition.
He thought a half-hour documentary would have greater likelihood of being shown in markets throughout the country. It's been offered to Oregon Public Broadcasting, but no air date is scheduled.
Before the film aired Sunday, viewers watched outtakes that Cavens assembled from interviews that didn't make it into the documentary.
"It's painful when I can't use people," Luckin said. "But to edit, you have to ask, 'What would an audience really want to know?' You have to get to the core: What's important, what's the real story?"
McElroy-Weber, who also attended the Nov. 18 Kansas City premiere, said the audience in Kansas City was fascinated to learn more about Long's role in the Northwest.
"In Kansas City, people had heard of Longview, but they didn't realize it was such a big thing," she said.
Salouka wrote on Feb 11, 2008 7:29 AM:
Student. wrote on Feb 11, 2008 7:57 AM:
Or is RAL just going to be featured in the movie? "
Times Change wrote on Feb 11, 2008 8:25 AM:
Leslie Slape wrote on Feb 11, 2008 8:35 AM:
Also, I forgot to mention in the story that DVDs of the film will be sold at the Cowlitz County Museum. "
dlr wrote on Feb 11, 2008 10:31 AM:
dlr wrote on Feb 11, 2008 10:46 AM:
living afar wrote on Feb 11, 2008 11:06 AM:
Leslie Slape wrote on Feb 11, 2008 11:57 AM:
Stan W wrote on Feb 11, 2008 11:58 AM:
Thanks "
Prep Fan wrote on Feb 11, 2008 6:25 PM:
R A Long Fan wrote on Feb 12, 2008 6:23 AM:
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