Feature Documentaries & Shorts

 

RIDING THE RAILS (1998)
An encore presentation of this fascinating feature documentary about teenage hobos during the Great Depression in the US. In addition to the millions of men who became hobos during the Great Depression, this disruption also unleashed 250,000 teenagers onto the rails. These teenage hobos were in many ways like the hippies who would follow them a generation later. Almost on cue from some hidden silent signal, they left their farm at age 16 and hopped a freight train to anywhere. They were dropping out…exploring…looking for something. On the rails they met thousands of others like them with the same idea. They were vigorously unwelcome around the country; there wasn't enough work or food for the unemployed adults, let alone them; as kids they were "urged" to move on. In response to this tremendous social problem, Roosevelt set up the CCC, a kind of boot camp that turned these restless kids into an army that built many wilderness parks in the US. This documentary gives a unique glimpse into what that young life on the railroad was like.
Running time: 72 min.
Thur., Sept. 4th, 5pm – The Steamplant, Salida
Fri., Sept. 5th, 12 noon – The Tabor Opera House, Leadville