Invitation to Ohio is a 1964 short industrial or sponsored film produced to attract new industries to Ohio and encourage existing industries to expand in the state. The film starred Hollywood actors Wally Cox and John Dehner.Wally's Film Tour of Ohio Premiered, Akron Beacon Journal, Dec. 6, 1964 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-invitatio-to-oh/174185304/
One of the last big film projects for Ohio Bell, the movie was distributed free of charge to schools, civic groups, trade organizations, and business associations. "Invitation to Ohio" stands out for its high production quality and creative storytelling as part of the broader post–World War II genre of industrial films promoting places.Red Popcorn Peanut Wagon Stands Out in Ohio Bell Movie, The Plain Dealer, Dec. 16, 1964 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-michael-kelly-piece-i/174202865/
Synopsis
Wally Cox plays Doc Hutton, a small-time popcorn and peanut vendor looking to relocate his business. After seeing an ad for Ohio in The Wall Street Journal, Hutton contacts the state’s Director of Development, played by John Dehner, a prolific American character actor.
Mistaking Hutton for the president of a major corporation, the Director invites him to Ohio. Hutton accepts, prompting an extensive statewide tour during which the Director outlines the benefits of doing business in Ohio. Viewers are treated to a smorgasbord of Ohio's educational, recreational, and scientific facilities - from tugboats on the Ohio River to open-heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. In the end, of course, Doc Hutton decides to locate to Ohio along with his authentic 1880 vintage popcorn wagon.
"Invitation to Ohio" includes approximately 400 scenes emphasizing Ohio industries such as steel, rubber, automotive parts, glassware, and the emerging computing and communications sectors. The film also highlights the state’s research and development hubs, universities, cultural institutions, and recreational opportunities.
The movie opens with a statement on the purpose of the film by the Honorable Jim Rhodes, 61st and 63rd Governor of Ohio.
Cast Wally Cox as "Doc" Hutton John Dehner as Director of Development Honorable Jim Rhodes, 61st and 63rd Governor of Ohio
Production and background
Directed by Hungarian-born Julius Potocsny (1929–2002), “Invitation to Ohio” premiered on December 16, 1964, at Stouffer’s Top of the Town in Cleveland.Red Popcorn Peanut Wagon Stands Out in Ohio Bell Movie, The Plain Dealer, Dec. 16, 1964 At the time, Potocsny was Vice President and Executive Producer at Cinécraft Productions.Potocsny, Julius, The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. https://case.edu/ech/articles/p/potocsny-julius
Composer and orchestra director Zoltán Rozsnyai wrote and directed the score, and musicians from the Cleveland Orchestra performed it. The entire Cleveland Orchestra, directed by George Szell, appears in the film.Red Popcorn Peanut Wagon Stands Out in Ohio Bell Movie, The Plain Dealer, Dec. 16, 1964
In 2025, the National Film Preservation Foundation awarded the Hagley Museum and Library a grant to preserve the film. A copy of the restored film is on YouTube and on the Hagley website.
References
External links
Jim Dubelko, Cinecraft Productions: The Historic Film Company Produced by a Love Story https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/999