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Project a ‘magical’ Middies documentary
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By Rick McCrabb,
Columnist
7:09 PM Saturday, November 21, 2009
MIDDLETOWN — As it turned out, Sam Ashworth’s latest project was worth the wait.
More than 10 years ago, Ashworth, as president of the Middletown Historical Society, began putting together a documentary on the glory years of Middletown High School.
But when Ashworth’s wife, Lois “Tot” Schultz, became ill, he cared for her and shelved the project.
During a conversation with his wife, who died nearly three years ago, Ashworth promised he’d complete the DVD.
“She encouraged me to keep going on it,” he said.
And he did and she certainly would be proud of the finished product. Ashworth’s DVD — Middie Magic Games of Glory: The Glory Years of Middletown Ohio Basketball — was released this week during a preview party at Java Johnny’s.
The one-hour DVD is more than a recap of the Middies’ seven boys basketball state championships. It’s a historical look at Middletown, the United States and the world from the late 1800s through the 1950s.
It celebrates a unique time in American history when the country was rebuilding after World War II, asserting itself as a global power and addressing longstanding social issues.
Ashworth weaves history and hoops with music — three of his loves — to teach the viewer how the war, and the boom that followed, changed the world forever.
He called the DVD his “crowning achievement” and said he was “really pleased” how it turned out.
The DVD was written by Ashworth and narrated by Dan Humphreys, who called Middie games with Warren Johnson on WPFB 910 AM.
“It did recall a lot of great, great memories we had,” Humphrey said.
It traces the roots of Middie basketball from the late 1800s through 1958, when the Middies’ 76-game win streak was snapped by Columbus North.
The DVD illustrates how Middletown grew from a sleepy town to an All-American City that boasted one of the largest school districts in the state funded by a thriving manufacturing business and guided by proven leadership.
Besides interviews with Jerry Lucas, who led the Middies to two state championships, the DVD features segments with Don Barnette, Don Stokes and the late Ed “Skeeter” Payne and the late Shelby Linville, who, unfortunately, died before the documentary was released, which caused Ashworth “sadness,” he said.
Rare footage of Lucas playing for the Middies was obtained through several sources, and many of the black and white pictures had appeared in The Middletown Journal, Ashworth said.
Lucas called the era “a great time to live, a great time to grow up.”
Contact this columnist at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com
Middie Magic: Games of Glory, priced at $20, is available by calling Sam Ashworth at (513) 593-0062. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Middletown Historical Society and the Middletown High School Athletic Education Fund.
What people are saying about "Middie Magic:"
“Fantastic. It shows what I already knew: that I lived through the greatest time in this country,” — Don “Woody” Withrow, longtime Middie fan.
“It’s a must-see for all of our athletes so they realize the Middie tradition and history,” Mark Kerns, MHS teacher and coach.
“It’s awesome,” Gary Lebo, MHS athletic director.
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8:34 PM, 11/21/2009