Reminder: ORHPA celebrates 70th anniversary of end of WWII with special showing of historic movie

Posted at 12:56 pm August 29, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

A historic Ed Westcott image of the original showing of the movie, “The Beginning or the End”—The Story of the Atomic Bomb and Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

Reminder: A 70th anniversary celebration of the end of World War II will feature a special showing of the historic movie “‘The Beginning or the End,’ The Story of the Atomic Bomb and Oak Ridge.”

This movie was Hollywood’s first attempt to tell the fascinating story of the creation of the world’s first atomic bomb in the massive, top-secret Manhattan Project. The movie was originally released in 1947, just two years after the end of the war. It stars Brian Donlevy, Robert Walker, and Tom Drake.

The celebration has been organized by the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. It’s scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, August 29, at the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Grove Center.

“We wanted to honor those who perished in WWII, our great veterans, Manhattan Project and Cold War workers, and the world-changing Y-12 plant on this anniversary,” said Mick Wiest, president of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. “It’s important to remember and be grateful.”

The program will include the presentation of the flag by the Volunteer State Honor Guard, patriotic music by the Oak Ridge High School Ensemble, and the special recognition of all veterans. Also, a special proclamation will be presented to the Y-12 National Security Complex recognizing 70 years of supporting our nation’s freedom, a press release said.

It said the film “‘The Beginning or The End,’ The Story of the Atomic Bomb and Oak Ridge,” will be shown as it was at the Grove Theater soon after World War II ended.

Oak Ridge played a crucial role in the war, enriching the uranium for the first atomic bomb, Little Boy, that was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, less than two weeks before Japan surrendered. Oak Ridge was part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, the top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons.

“Unlimited global warfare has not been seen since,” ORHPA said in the press release. “A dramatic new era of international stability and peace has been experienced.”

Refreshments will be served during intermission.

The event is free and open to the public.

The release said the nonprofit organization Friends of the Grove Theater is “proud to see the theater again show this historic film.”

For more information, contact Mick Wiest at (865) 335-5907, Ray Smith at [email protected] or (865) 482-4224, or Martin McBride at (865) 482-5386 or [email protected].

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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