Edison and Ford Winter Estates Hosts Fort Myers Film Festival

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 28, 2019) — On April 11 at 7:30 p.m., Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host the Fort Myers Film Festival. Three films will be shown on the Henry Ford estate lawn, along the Caloosahatchee River, including an Edison silent film, a production about the first directors at Edison and Ford Winter Estates, and a feature entitled “Coach” about a woman soccer coach who breaks through the glass ceiling of a male-dominated sport.
The event is fitting since Thomas Edison invented the motion picture camera. His first films were without sound, but nonetheless groundbreaking for the time. Guests will get to watch an original Edison silent film, “The Great Train Robbery,” while local musician and film buff, Stephen Brittain, performs the score.
The second production, “A Tale of Two Halgrims,” was produced by Ilene Safron of Main Sail Video Productions and tells the history of the first two directors at Edison and Ford Winter Estates. From 1927 through 1931, Robert Halgrim, Sr. worked for Thomas and Mina Edison. In 1947, Mina deeded the Edison estate to the City of Fort Myers. Halgrim became the first director to solely manage the estate from 1948 until 1972. Then in 1973, his son Robert Halgrim, Jr. became the second director and operated the site until his retirement in 1998. For a total of 50 years, the Halgrims personally influenced the day-to-day management of the estates – now one of the country’s most visited historic sites and tourist attractions.
During highlights from an interview with Robert Halgrim, Jr., this short documentary reveals the history of those 50 years, including details of how Mina Edison gifted the Edison estate to the City of Fort Myers; the idea to collect thousands of Edison artifacts for a museum; how Henry Ford’s home was added to the site; and a list of some of the most famous people who have visited the property. Even the most knowledgeable historians may learn something from this story.
Eric Raddatz, with the Fort Myers Film Festival will introduce the feature, “Coach.” The film is directed by Jordan Axelrod, a New York City videographer who is originally from Fort Myers. The story follows Tracy Hamm, San Francisco State University women’s head soccer coach, as she seeks to become the first American woman to earn a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) “A” license – the highest international accreditation for college coaches. The film depicts the challenges that Hamm faced as a woman trying to climb the ladder in a male-dominated profession. Axelrod will be in attendance and available to answer questions after the movie. Some stars from the film may also be in attendance.
Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. is sponsoring the event. Refreshments and a cash bar will be available. Only a limited number of chairs will be provided, so guests are encouraged to bring a folding chair. Tickets are $5 for Edison Ford members, $10 for non-members and may be purchased at EdisonFord.org.