'Karlsruhe Film,' a documentary film by Tom Hapgood

how can you help?

I am gathering up the following items for use in the film. If you have anything to provide, please let me know:

Film footage (8mm, VHS)
35mm slides
printed photographs*
Yearbooks
memorabilia (stickers, flyers, letterjackets, etc.)
financial support

*The film is being shot in High Definition 16:9, so all images provided will need to be at least 2000 pixels by 1100 pixels at a resolution of no less than 72 pixels per inch. Old film and VHS footage is being digitized at the Standard Definition 720x480px and will also be used in the film.

I have amassed over 1,000 old photographs from various legal sources including the City of Karlsruhe, alumni, yearbooks, my own photographs and military retirees' 35mm slides.

If you have something to provide, send me an E-mail. Some people have sent me large boxes, the contents of which I digitize and then send back, other have sent CDs with images, or boxes of pictures and/or 8mm films that I digitize and send back.

Karlsruhe Film

A yet-untitled documentary film by Tom Hapgood about the now-closed U.S. Army community in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Heisenberg Gymnasium, the former Karlsruhe American High School, 2009

KAHS alumni greet at 50th Anniversary reunion in Karlsruhe, 2009

Synopsis

In 1995, the Karlsruhe military community, like many U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force communities in the early 1990s in Germany, was closed. After a 50-year presence in this southwestern Germany city that at its peak boasted 12,000-15,000 American inhabitants, the word came down that the U.S. Army personnel and family members would be moving away from Karlsruhe to other bases in Germany, the United States, or other countries, as part of a major drawdown of forces in Europe.

Former football/soccer field, former Smiley Barracks, 2009

Former football/soccer field, Smiley Barracks, 2009
Former football/soccer field with new Hotel Aviva, former Smiley Barracks, 2009

In the summer of 2009, the Karlsruhe American High School ("Knights") alumni association was invited to return to Karlsruhe by Karlsruhe Lord Mayor Heinz Fenrich to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first graduating class of Karlsruhe American High School. Alumni stayed in the Hotel Aviva on the site just north of the former football/soccer field on Smiley Barracks and the alumni took a Karlsruhe city tour, had a wonderful reception with Lord Mayor Fenrich, ate at the former Moninger's, toured the Heisenberg Gymnasium (former KAHS) and many other activities. The film centers around this event and tells the story of KAHS through its administrators and alumni.

KAHS alumna (1980) Lisa Wesley Smith interview, 2010

Karlsruhe Army Airfield, 1970s, thanks Dieter Kisselmann

Gate and guardhouse at former Gerszewski Barracks installation, 2009

Funding

Initially funded by a small grant from the University of Arkansas' Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, I continue to be in need of financial support and welcome any donations. Many thanks to the people who have helped to this point!

Paul Revere Village in the 1960s, thanks Donald R. Morton
Paul Revere Village, 1960s, thanks Donald R. Morton

Distribution and Release

This has yet to be determined, but I will initially submit the film to various film festivals. I hope to finish by Summer 2011.

KAHS cheerleaders 1966, thanks Jack Lister

Interviews

I have conducted many interviews and hope to continue to conduct more. Some of the interviews conducted thus far have been with present and past mayors of the city of Karlsruhe, the final community commander of Karlsruhe who was responsible for closing the community, many KAHS alumni, Americans who still live in Karlsruhe, the superintendent of the Heidelberg School District, of which Karlsruhe was a part, and many others.

Rhode Island Allee and the Marylandschule, former Karlsruhe American Elementary School, 2009