As we draw closer to the fall and look at attending indoor events at the Niswonger, I would like to mention a few of the lesser publicized events I think you will not want to miss.\u00a0\u00a0The very first event we have scheduled is on Tuesday, August 29, beginning at 7 p.m.\u00a0We are honored to be teaming with PBS 39 out of Fort Wayne to present a preview of Ken Burns\u2019 latest documentary on the Vietnam War.<\/p>\n
Ken Burns is an American filmmaker known especially for his documentary films with amazing archival footage and photographs.\u00a0Most of his works have been monumental and award-winning, such as his Civil War documentary series and most recently his amazing film about the Roosevelts.\u00a0If Ken Burns\u2019 name is on the film, you can bet it is going to be extraordinary.<\/p>\n
Burns has teamed with Lynn Novick on his latest film series: \u201cThe Vietnam War\u201d.\u00a0It will be a 10-part, 18-hour documentary film series and airs on PBS stations nationwide beginning September 17.\u00a0\u00a0In advance of the premier, PBS 39 has selected two sites, in addition to Fort Wayne\u2019s Embassy Theater, to preview the first film and raise awareness throughout the region.\u00a0The Niswonger in Van Wert is honored to have been chosen as one of the other two.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, August 29, the public is invited to the Niswonger beginning at 7 p.m. to preview the film documentary.\u00a0You obviously won\u2019t be viewing the entire film series, but a preview of the film.\u00a0Following will be a panel discussion about how the Vietnam War affected those soldiers who fought, family members who were left behind, and us as a nation and world.<\/p>\n
It will be a fascinating event that you are invited to attend.\u00a0There is no admission fee and you don\u2019t need a ticket.\u00a0Just come and be ready to be educated, inspired, and entertained.\u00a0For those who lived through these times, it could be a very emotional time.\u00a0Our panel will include Vietnam veterans, family members of vets, a minister, and possibly even some Vietnamese citizens.<\/p>\n
Please plan on making this event part of your plans.\u00a0I truly think this latest Ken Burns\/Lynn Novick film series could change the views of many, as well as inform a whole new generation that had no knowledge of this integral part of our nation and world\u2019s history.\u00a0It was in many ways a cultural change.\u00a0As with other documentaries by Ken Burns, you will undoubtedly see film no one has ever seen.\u00a0Once again, no ticket is required; just show up and be informed — and possibly transformed<\/p>\n
Another important event of our educational Speaker Series is actually a stage production featuring one of TV\u2019s most famous icons, Jamie Farr, aka Corporal Max Klinger of M*A*S*H*, the record setting television show from the \u201870s and \u201880s.\u00a0Tuesdays with Morrie<\/em> is a book written by popular author Mitch Albom.\u00a0Jamie Farr portrays Morrie Schwartz, an old college professor who is dying from ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease.\u00a0This life changing book will come to life on our Niswonger stage\u00a0when\u00a0Mitch is reunited with Morrie; and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a\u00a0last class in the meaning of life.<\/p>\n To add even more impact and meaning to this event, our Niswonger Speaker Series Committee has arranged a community book read that will culminate with a panel discussion in the First Federal Lecture Hall on Monday, September 11, at 7 p.m.\u00a0\u00a0The Brumback Library of Van Wert is teaming with us by having several copies of Tuesdays with Morrie<\/em> for you to check out.\u00a0A panel of several interested and professional individuals will lead a discussion of this topic that could affect anyone.\u00a0Another inspirational book of Mitch Albom\u2019s, Have a Little Faith,<\/em> will also be part of this book read and is also available at the Brumback Library.<\/p>\n Once again, this book read event on September 11 is free to anyone.\u00a0No ticket is required.\u00a0It will be an excellent precursor to the stage show starring Jamie Farr on October 8.<\/p>\n Tickets for the stage production are on sale now online and through the Niswonger Box Office.<\/p>\n These are two very inspirational and intriguing events I felt you may not be aware of, but should be.\u00a0We have a great lineup of entertainment this season at the Niswonger, but these two events will certainly affect your emotions and senses in an entirely different way.\u00a0Come and be inspired and educated this fall as well as entertained!<\/p>\n Fountain Park Summer Music takes a week off this Friday so you may enjoy the Van Wert Rib Fest at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.\u00a0We will return the following Friday, August 11, with Southern Drawl, a Southern Rockin\u2019 country band from Tennessee.\u00a0I\u2019ll look forward to seeing you then!<\/p>\n FIN\u00c9.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As we draw closer to the fall and look at attending indoor events at the Niswonger, I would like to mention a few of the lesser publicized events I think you will not want to miss.\u00a0\u00a0The very first event we have scheduled is on Tuesday, August 29, beginning at 7 p.m.\u00a0We are honored to be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-03 18:05:35","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91036\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}