MANSFIELD — Vic Amesquita has been involved in the haunt business long enough to know one important thing. If you want to remain relevant in today’s competitive fright world, you must constantly be improving. “Working to stay in the top echelon of haunts …. that’s the challenge …. and that’s what makes it fun because […]
Ohio State Reformatory
Posted inBusiness
North Central Ohio Industrial Museum inducts 8 groups into Hall of Fame
MANSFIELD — The North Central Ohio Industrial Museum inducted new members into its Champions of Industry hall of fame in August.
Posted inLife and Culture
History Knox author pens ‘Get Busy Living: Doing Time in Shawshank’
MOUNT VERNON — In 1993, budding young writer Mark Sebastian Jordan had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work as a background actor — an extra — in a Hollywood movie. Figuring it was something to check off on his bucket list, Jordan joined the supernumeraries for the filming of The Shawshank Redemption. Little did he think […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Shawshank campers: Airstream enthusiasts to converge on Mansfield for “Reformatory Rally”
MANSFIELD – The historic Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield will play host to the “2024 Reformatory Rally,” a unique gathering of Airstream campers from across the country, Sept. 12 to 15. Hosted by Mansfield locals Annamarie Fernyak, Michele Newmeyer, and Kristen Wiltanger, this event will bring together nearly 40 Airstreams for an unforgettable experience inside […]
Posted inLife and Culture
‘Shawshank Redemption’ worth $200 million in economic benefit to Ohio
MANSFIELD — It’s difficult to quantify the value of the iconic “Shawshank Redemption” movie to Mansfield and north central Ohio. The movie, shot primarily at the former Ohio State Reformatory and other nearby locations, likely helped to save the gothic, historic prison, which opened in 1896. It helped to give a community, reeling in 1994 […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Mansfield to the world: Shawshank actors reflect on enduring legacy of film
MANSFIELD — It happened to Bob Gunton in the South American country of Chile. It happened to Mark Rolston in Rome. And it happened to Gil Bellows in Vancouver. Each of the actors told stories Friday afternoon about being recognized in other countries for their work in the iconic 1994 “Shawshank Redemption” film, primarily shot […]
Posted inLife and Culture
From prison to purpose: ‘Shawshank’ director shares movie’s transformative power
MANSFIELD — Director Frank Darabont doesn’t think people ever needed to have served time in prison in order to relate to his iconic “Shawshank Redemption” film. “The movie really does kind of play like a Rorschach test for people and they project their own life difficulties into that movie,” the 65-year-old director said Friday afternoon […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Column: Celebrate ‘Shawshank’ while remembering the horrors of the real OSR
Images that come to mind when you think of the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield likely depend largely on your age. Younger folks likely think of the characters of Red and Andy, Warden Norton and Capt. Hadley and the imaginative prison scenes from “The Shawshank Redemption.” Maybe you think of great music festivals at the […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Reviving hope: The iconic ‘Shawshank’ bus returns to OSR for 30th anniversary
“I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.” — Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, while riding the Trailways bus near the end of “The Shawshank Redemption” MANSFIELD — Ellis […]
Posted inNews
News Man Weekly: Shawshank, presidential campaign chaos and the Olympic Games
MANSFIELD — The sixth edition of the News Man Weekly Podcast has dropped. In Tuesday’s edition, Richland Source City Editor Carl Hunnell is joined by Dan Smith from the Ohio State Reformatory Preservation Society and Jodie Snavely from Destination Mansfield-Richland County to talk about plans for the upcoming 30th anniversary celebration of The Shawshank Redemption […]