A Fair to Remember

A Love for the State Fair of Texas!

It is a tradition etched in the personal memories of millions. A place where generations have come to gaze upon the world’s tallest cowboy, to soar on North America’s highest ferris wheel and to consume the most exotic delicacies this side of the Rio Grande.

A Fair to Remember, a new documentary about the Great State Fair of Texas, captures the heart of Texas – big, spirited, and brazenly proud!

The film takes you on a roller-coaster ride chronicling the history of the Fair, from its inception in 1886 to its destination today as the largest and longest-running Fair in the country.

Dramatic archival footage, alluring interviews, and dazzling animation will entertain viewers of all ages!

Screenings in 2008

A Fair to Remember was screened at Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art in March and June 2008

More than 200 museum-goers who attended March’s third Friday at Late Night at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) filled the Horchow Auditorium to join Allen & Cynthia for the Museum’s first screening of A Fair To Remember!

Allen & Cynthia spoke briefly beforehand in March about the making of the film. Afterwards, audience members remained to ask questions of the filmmakers and reminisce about their own experiences at the State Fair of Texas. At the June screening, summer visitors to the DMA enjoyed the film and the air conditioning!

The Museum featured the film as a special event along with the Members-Only Sneak Peak of Bluebonnets and Beyond: Julian Onderdonk – American Impressionist, which opened mid-March, which featured colorful scenes of Texas landscape. Screening A Fair To Remember was a great fit!

If you weren’t able to join us this time, you may still have a chance to see the film on the “big screen”at the Museum in the future- the DMA hopes to screen our film again since audience interest and attendance was so strong! Stay Tuned!

Reviews

The Mondells' A Fair To Remember Earns 2008 Texas Emmy

Media Projects, Inc. is thrilled to announce that their colorful historical documentary about the State Fair of Texas, A Fair To Remember, has been honored with the 2008 Lone Star EMMY for "Best Texas Heritage Program / Special" at the 6TH Annual Lone Star Emmy Awards ceremony, hosted by the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), in Houston this past weekend. Expanding its influence within the Lone Star State's popular culture with all the force of a Texas tornado, the film was directed and produced by Allen Mondell and Cynthia Salzman Mondell and co-produced by Phillip Allen.

Click here for full news release.

A Fair To Remember Hits the Road for Europe!

The State Fair of Texas is heading for Lithuania! The U.S. State Department is sending Allen Mondell's and Cynthia Salzman Mondell's film, A Fair to Remember, to Lithuania in September 2009 to represent our country as part of the 2009 American Documentary Showcase. Filmmaker Allen Mondell has been tapped as the cultural ambassador to accompany the documentary - the film's tour is a major "coup" for the City of Dallas, the State of Texas, the State Fair of Texas and the film industry here in North Texas!

Click here to read the full news release.

Local Filmmakers Win Prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21 , 2008

CONTACT:
PAMELA J. ROGERS - Marketing Director

Dallas, TX: Media Projects, Inc. is proud to announce that their colorful historical documentary about the State Fair of Texas, A Fair To Remember, has won the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award, recognized internationally as a symbol of the highest production standards in filmmaking and videography. The film was directed and produced by Allen Mondell and Cynthia Salzman Mondell and co-produced by Phillip Allen.

Since it's founding in 1957, CINE has been dedicated to discovering, rewarding, educating, and supporting established and merging talent in film and video. Among great talents whose first major awards included the CINE Golden Eagle are Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, and such great documentarians as Ken Burns, Charles Guggenheim, Albert Maysles and Frederick Wiseman.

A Fair to Remember is a roller coaster ride about the biggest, boldest and longest-running state fair in the country. The film had it's world premiere - before a standing room only audience - at the Hall of State at Fair Park; was screened at the 2007 AFI Dallas International Film Festival; and was featured prominently on public television in Texas. The original music score by Grammy Award-winning Carl Finch and Brave Combo, and dazzling animation by Janimation (Spy Kids 2 & Spy Kids 3-D), add pizzazz to dramatic archival footage and personal recollections. Barry Corbin (No Country For Old Men, One Tree Hill, Northern Exposure, Urban Cowboy) lends his famous Texas drawl to the narration, making the film sure to entertain viewers of all ages. A feast for the eyes and the imagination, A Fair to Remember captures the Heart of Texas - big, spirited, and brazenly proud!

In the Fall 2007 CINE Competition, over 300 judges viewed and evaluated hundreds of films. They judge entries using standards of overall excellence, evaluating such criteria as storytelling, production value, artistry, the extent to which the film meets its stated goals and communicates with its intended audience, and overall excellence.

Media Projects, Inc., has been producing and distributing its work for 30 years. Founded by filmmakers Allen Mondell and Cynthia Salzman Mondell, MPI specializes in exploring topics of social concern. They also produced six films about the life, death and legacy of John F. Kennedy for The Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas. Their films have won numerous national awards and have been selected for prestigious screenings in the United States and abroad. Some have received specialized theatrical distribution and have aired on PBS and national cable networks. A Fair to Remember is used in Texas schools and includes a curriculum guide. This film can be purchased on DVD for home use. For additional information about Media Projects, browse our film library online at www.mediaprojects.org.

Pamela J. Rogers, Marketing Director

O: 214-826-3863 F: 214-826-3919

EMAIL: mail@mediaprojects.org

MAIL: 5125 Homer Street, Dallas TX 75206

www.mediaprojects.org

Discussion Guide

A Fair to Remember

By Allen Mondell & Cynthia Salzman Mondell

(64:00)

Part One (1866 - 1930's)

The State Fair of Texas began in 1886 as two separate Fairs because the citizens of Dallas couldn't agree where to hold it. This resulted in a divided effort with both Fairs losing money so they eventually joined forces to hold a single fair, the one we have today at Fair Park.

Texas relied on agriculture as an economic lynch pin, especially in its early days. The Fair showcased advancements in modern farming equipment such as the barbwire maker and the cotton gin. This exposure helped to play a large role in the progress of Texas agriculture.

The advent of the automobile had a huge impact in the way Texans went about their lives. The State Fair played a crucial role in ushering in the age of this modern machine through its massive auto shows and demonstrations. Automakers were able to connect with the public directly and in large numbers by exhibiting their products at the Fair.

Click here to download the discussion guide for A Fair to Remember.