Country Gal/City Woman: 'Prelude to the Prequel-Old Moll'

From what I have learned over these many years (from reading all those movie-themed publications — I cannot name you one at this moment and I place that blame strictly on the shoulders of one CBS's Katie Couric), before every "take" the Director calls for, he or she will dutifully explain the "back story" of the action about to be preserved forever on film to the actor or actress, which is designed to "ramp up" the actors' emotions for what the "The Boss" hopes will become a Turner Classic Movie or on YouTube or catch the approval of seasoned movie-makers Tyler Perry or Steven Spielberg!

Hopefully, with a couple of preliminary run-throughs, everyone will hit their marks, say their scripted lines and the Director will heave a sigh of relief and holler "Cut!" signaling everyone on the set to scramble to the make-shift picnic tables covered in red-and-white checkered oilcloth where Arby's roast beef sandwiches, curly fries and cherry turnovers await and take a break before the afternoon shots.  (Explanation follows...)

(The most exciting experience I ever had at "directing" was for a couple of Founders Day programs for the Rio Hondo PTA meetings in South Arcadia and another for the El Monte Council of PTA where several school principals were spotlighted in a "kindly spoof" of a very young Jimmy Osmond singing "Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum" all dressed up in Little Lord Fauntleroy outfits as they brought the house down with their robust 1971 choreography synced to the catchy tune. That exclusive performance was still being talked about at retirement dinners for one or two of the principals as late as ten years ago.) 

A more modern version of "T-D-T-D" can be Googled but be prepared to listen to it in your head for several days, like cucumbers, it is a repeater!

As someone who, at times, can have a runaway imagination, those first two paragraphs pretty much describe the way I see the days being played out when Brandon Lamprecht,  Bryan Wolford, Darrin Ford (he loves Arby's as much as I do!) and Winston Whitten commence filming the bittersweet story of Rhoda Derry in  coming months near Peoria, Illinois, fast becoming the film-making mecca of the Midwest. (And if they need my "help," I can be out of here within the hour!  Jes sayin'!)

The story of Rhoda, and you can read all about her in my June blog "A Woman to Love," is currently in the all-important fund-raising, final script preparations and auditioning stages.  Interest is running high among local actors and actresses according to advance publicity coming out of the Peoria community. 

To understand Rhoda and all her complexities, you have to know the "back story" of her family life which begins with getting to know Mary "Old Moll" Derry, a gun-toting, varmint-shooting, spell-casting, fortune-teller of the American Revolution, "Witch of the Little World" who was said to "command rattlesnakes to guard her and her home," a hovel in the mountains above Uniontown, Pa. 

She was a renowned practitioner of both "Pow Wowing" and the "Heshen-Hammer," both varied types of Occultism that originated hundreds of years ago in Germany, and was reputed to possess an "Erdspiegel" a type of crystal ball by which she could tell fortunes.  (This validated information comes from a letter written to Joan Brown Derry, another family historian, by Wilbur R. Landman whose great-grandparents knew "Old Moll" personally, and from whom they bought supplies at the "Granny Store" owned by "Old Moll.")

Mary, born between 1760 and 1768, and her husband, Jacob, born about 1765 in Loudoun County, Virginia, "came up over the Allegheny Mountains out of Harpers Ferry after the end of the American Revolution" and unto them were born Basil, Jacob, Barbara, Jeremiah, Rhoda and Mary.  It is from Jacob that our Rhoda A. descends.  (An interesting note here is that the first Rhoda, born in 1804, married a Jacob Isenhour and is likely related to President Eisenhower.)

Landman's great-grandmother Cunningham often related stories about "Old Moll"...and in his letter Landman says "she is the witch who forewarns Polly Williams that her fiance will murder her, casting her off the white rocks in the mountains near Fairchance."  He continues:  "She was widely known throughout southwest Pennsylvania as a healer, using herbs and roots, was able to ride a great distance on a broomstick and she walked with a cane." 

D. "Doc" Derry, author of the  book "A Letter from Aunt Ethel" states that "It is my belief that she was a healer and led a harmless life and was an honest woman who lived to be between 75 and 83 years of age, had a strong faith in God as she invokes the name of God in her Last Will and Testament dated May 15, 1843."

Descendants of "Old Moll" (and those of us just related by marriage) find her an absolutely fascinating frontierswoman, a survivor in every sense of the word, doing good works with her "peculiar" gifts.  If, by her ability to see into the future, and a word of caution, she led wayward young folk of her time, then trodding on that proverbial "primrose path," to a more righteous life in those hard times, then "Goodie" on her. 

Whatever else was "bestowed" upon her character and shared over the kitchen table, embellished by the more inventive storyteller, handed down to the generation of today, to be passed to generations yet to come...can, by choice, be believed or disbelieved.   

"Old Moll," whether she wanted it to be or not, has become a legend of sorts, the grandmother in Rhoda's life who probably received more "blame" than "credit" for the events that took over her granddaughter's life.   For sure, one does have to admit she led one heck of a fascinating life!

This I know for sure, too, if I was choosing sides for a "pick-up" team of ladies over the age of 70 years for any kind of skirmish, I'd pick "Old Moll," to "have my back" along with Grandmother Anne Kinton Borton (who set sail from England for America with hubby and a parcel of kids in the mid 1600's) Grandmother Phebe Marsh Cranston, (pioneer settler in Ohio and Indiana in the 1850's) my Mom, Mayme, and her sister, "That Dora!" and, oh yes, Jane Buck, cancer survivor, and head of my "fan base" in Urbandale, Iowa. 

One haunting question remains within me:  Was "Old Moll" able to see what the future held for her troubled granddaughter, Rhoda, and found it too unbearable for words? 

Grandmothers the world over will find comfort in these words recently posted on Facebook by my newly-discovered cousin Rita Shoemaker-Marsh: 

"Grandma thinks about her Grandkids, even if they're not with her. ♥ A Grandma loves her Grandkids in a way that they will never understand. ♥ A Grandma will always be there for her Grandkids as long as she lives. ♥ A Grandma will catch a grenade, take a bullet, stand in front of a train, and ask God to take her instead of her Grandchild. ♥ If you have Grandchildren that you love as much as I love mine, post this if you know what I mean."  It's making the "rounds" quickly!

Now that I am at the end of this Blog, I am debating whether or not to point this Blog in the direction of Brandon, Bryan, Darrin and Winston!  It may be a little bit too much "back story" information but I'm thinking, from what I have seen thus far, these four young men from Illinois are more than up to the task of bringing Rhoda's story to life in a way that brings a better understanding of all tormented souls...and if they should feel the prod of "Old Moll's" cane, so much the better!"

"Send!"

Preview:  For the dedicated "movie buff," you will soon meet four terrific young film-makers from Illinois and read the inside story of how they are living their dream!