Cast members, their families, and enthusiasts can use the guestbook below or visit the Kidnappers Foil Facebook group to start a discussion, share memories, and connect with the Melton Barker community.
Several of these entries originated as emails to the site administrators. If you would like your message removed, please contact us.
I was in the 1949 version of Kidnappers’ Foil made in Council Bluffs, Iowa. We made the film in Fairmount Park, and it was later screened at the Broadway Theater, which, of course, no longer exists. I was 9 years old. Even remember the audition. We were not given lines to memorize at the time of the filming in the park; just told what to say, then we said it while the a man filmed it. I remember seeing the two guys making the movie kidnapping the child. Sure would like to see that now. My grown up children would be surprised, I’m sure.
I would like to say, as a child my mom took all 5 of us children to this audition and we were all chosen to be in the film. I wish we could find a copy of this film. We lived in Palestine, Texas at the time and I have the Agreement and a receipt signed by Mel Barker and a postcard that reads “The Palestine Story, a movie in which you participated, will be shown at the Texas Theater Tuesday and Wednesday, November 21 and 22, 1967. The postcard is signed by Harry Herrington. If anyone knows anything about this I would sure love to hear from you. Sincerely, Mary France , Haughton, Louisiana. (Email: marydfrance@hotmail.com)
I just discovered that my grandmother, Jeffie Lee Spencer, was in the New Port, Arkansas production. I wish I had known when she was still alive. It would have been great to watch it with her and my kids.
I was Cast in the Kidnapping Film made in Gainesville GA July 1938. I was 5 yrs old. In a couple weeks I will have my 80th birthday. I have only a few clear Memories. I did have one line but it may have been cut. I have a lot fun telling people that “I was in a Movie” I do have a picture in the NEW DRESS Mom bought me for the ocassion. I wish I could obtain a copy of the Film for my kids and grandchildren to view. My life has been rich. I went to college , obtaines an RN degree, married a hometown Military man and traveled the world over for 40 yrs. Now I am into researching Family Trees and finding Birth Mothers for Adoptees…at NO charge. Bless you for making it possible for me to go back in my History.
I contacted you via Facebook regarding a filming in Hastings Nebraska in 1939 indicating that my uncle and mother were in the movie. I remember my mother talking about being in this movie as a small child. Maybe this documentation will help to possibly locate a copy of this film. The film was apparently shown at the Rivoli Theatre in Hastings.
A small piece of history about my uncle, Robert Van Fossen, who was in this movie. He was killed in a military plane crash in Alaska in November 1952. Without going into all of the details, the plane was lost in the snow and no attempt to recover anything was undertaken due to the risk of other loss of life to the rescuers since it was confirmed that there were no survivors to the crash. Ironically this past summer on a training mission the Alaska National Guard located plane parts on a glacier 14 miles from where the plane has crashed. Upon further investigation it was determined that the plane debris was from the plane that crashed in November 1952. It took nearly 60 years for the plane debris to move the 14 miles as the glacier moved. Shortly after this, I locate the information about him being in this movie. It certainly would be neat if somehow the movie is located some day.
In the 1936 Childress, Texas version of Kidnappers’ Foil, Elbert “Cricket” Krigbaum, my grandfather, is the shorter kidnapper with the dark suit. My mom, Shirley Jean Krigbaum, is the girl extolling the virtue of the Gate City Creamery Ice cream, in her little west texas accent, at the afterparty.
Thanks for bringing this film back to my consciousness. I was aware of it and even saw it once at the Palace Theater in Childress back in 1961. I was fainty aware of how the film came to be, traveling film maker, town to town, but didn’t know much more. Thanks for filling me in on Melton Barker too.
When I was about 7 – 10 (1942 -1945) living in Norman, Okla., I went to an audition to be in a Movie at the Sooner theater. I was not picked for the film and now I know why. We could not afford to pay to be in the film. I always thought it was my lack of talent. I watched the Shawnee movie on your site and many of the scenes were similar to the movie made in Norman.
I just heard you on NPR about Barker’s movies.
I was in a kids movie about a kidnapped girl back in the late sixties.
My memory is a bit hazy about the film. I remember they held auditions at the local movie house on Ottawa, Kansas (Commonwealth Theatres Plaza Theatre) and for those selected the parents had to pay a fee. It was called “The Ottawa Story” and kids were separated by age. It was filmed in Forest Park and at the end we all sang Hail, Hail the Gang’s All Here.
My most permanent memory is that I got a line wrong and the director cursing me. And I wasn’t the only kid cursed at!
The completed movie was shown one time at the Plaza on a double-bill with “Angel In My Pocket.” Both were very disappointing.
Does anyone know if Barker make “The Ottawa Story?”
I was very surprised to hear this story and about the man.
I heard the piece on On The Media and loved it. There’s a Spanish language documentary film from 2009 called El Ambulante about a Melton Barker type character who is still at it. I don’t know if you’ve heard of the movie, or seen it – it’s quite good. It probably doesn’t relate to the project, but if you have a chance to see it, you should.
I participated in the filming done in Laurel, Mississippi in 1969. I remember playing London Bridges & scenes centered around the old steam locomotive in Daphne Park. I remember seeing the film at the Arabian Theater in Laurel & I think I made the cut, but I’m not completely sure Regardless, it was a rainbow coalition of community kids & we had a lot of fun. For years, I’ve tried to trace this down, but had no luck until a classmate posted a link about it today. Finally, this loop is closed for me. Unfortunately, I suspect the film no longer exists, but at least the casting announcement from the local paper survived – I’d never seen that before.
Dave
I was in the film made in Savannah Ga, either late 40′s or early 50′s. I played the part of Bette Davis. Would love to find anyone who was in it and if there is a copy of the film avaiable. It played in the Avon Theater.