CONTACT: Nicole Wahlberg, Director of Marketing & PR, Evergreen Aviation Museum, 503-434-4006; Nicole.Wahlberg@sprucegoose.com or Olga Haley, CMD Public Relations, 503-417-3221; ohaley@cmdpdx.com

Private Screening of Spruce Goose Documentary Planned

Dec. 7 in Historical McMinnville Theater

Walter Cronkite Narrates Historical Film

McMINNVILLE, Ore—“Dream to Fly: Howard Hughes and the Spruce Goose,” a documentary narrated by legendary newsman Walter Cronkite, will premier at 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Mack Theater at 510 N.E. Third Street in historic downtown McMinnville.

Tickets, which are $8 for Evergreen Aviation Museum members and $12 for non-members, may be purchased by calling 503-434-4007.

Immediately following the premier, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a book signing and reception will take place at the home of the Spruce Goose, the Evergreen Aviation Museum. The premier is part of the Museum’s Centennial of Flight celebration that culminates Dec. 17. Three original members of the flight crew will attend the reception. They include Merle Coffee, radio operator and electrician; Don Smith, flight engineer; and John Glenn, flight mechanic. (Details of the book are included in a separate news release).

The premier is the only time the documentary will be shown in public. The Evergreen Aviation Museum’s staff is hopeful that it will air on public television or The History Channel. It also will be sold as a VHS and DVD in the Museum Store.

Museum members and the public are invited to this once-in-a-lifetime screening of a documentary that explores the truths and myths behind one of the world’s most famous airplanes. The Spruce Goose was built near the end of World War II by Howard Hughes and acquired several unflattering names, including “The Flying Lumberyard.”

In fact, the Hughes Flying Boat or “Spruce Goose” was a forerunner of modern aviation, an American icon that blazed a new trail in mechanical and engineering designs that led the way to large capacity aircraft. The one-hour documentary traces the Spruce Goose from its inception in 1942 through its famous, brief flight over the Pacific Ocean Nov. 2, 1947.

In addition to various well-known and ordinary Americans who have contributed to the legend of the Spruce Goose, Walter Cronkite has held a long-time fascination with the famous aircraft. In fact, he was photographed in the cargo deck of the Spruce Goose in the late 1970s with Jack Real, a long-time business associate of the late Howard Hughes. Real also is a member of the Museum’s board of trustees and an author, whose book, “The Asylum of Howard Hughes,” will be featured at the book signing and reception at the Museum after the movie premier.

In addition to historical film, photos and news accounts that are featured in the documentary, three original crew members (Coffee, Smith and Glenn) were interviewed. Three other living original crew members were unable to participate because of poor health. In addition to Hughes, 17 other men comprised the original crew.

The documentary production was made possible by the collaborative efforts of Katherine Huit of the Evergreen Aviation Museum, Blue Cloud Productions and Professor Daniel Miller of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. The first production team included Cree Riggs, Marshall Bex, Andrew Kirkpatrick and Aaron Hopps. The second production team consisted of Erik Talbert, Denver Collins, Gary Rhey, Michael Bendixon, all of Eugene; John Nickels, Portland and Meredith Lowe and Reed Baxter, of McMinnville.

Shilo Inn Suites is providing accommodations for the original crew members. McMenamins Hotel Oregon, located across from the Mack Theater, will offer discounts to premier patrons, including 10 percent off of meals and European-style rooms purchased on Dec. 7. Safeway Stores, Inc. has generously donated the food and beverages for the reception following the premier at the Evergreen Aviation Museum.

The Evergreen Aviation Museum’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. An extensive museum store and friendly café add to the Museum experience. The Museum is located at 500 N.E. Capt. Michael King Smith Way near the McMinnville Airport and about three miles southeast of McMinnville, Ore., on Highway 18. Regular visitor admission is required. Call (503) 434-4180 for more information, and visit www.sprucegoose.org.