You'll be able to get an in-depth look at Shreveport's history when a new documentary series, Real Shreveport, premieres at The Strand Theatre.

Will Broyles with Ring Media Group tells KEEL News he and his brother, Jim, created these films to reach primarily younger generations to help them understand exactly how Shreveport came about, and what has influenced the city and made it a unique place.

"We're discussing those things in these stories and they're all about 11 to 15 minutes long, and we're gonna be premiering the first four on June 4 at The Strand Theatre," Broyles said. "Tickets for that are gonna go on sale Monday, April 20. They're $20, and 100% of that revenue goes to The Strand to preserve the building."

Broyles said there are a lot of people who really don't know much about the city in which they live. He grew up in Shreveport, and felt like the city really didn't have an identity that seemed cohesive.

"Unfortunately, a lot of people have kind of a negative idea that they associate with Shreveport," he said. "It's easy to grow up here and feel like Shreveport doesn't offer much, or that Shreveport isn't a great place to be. Unfortunately, a lot of people grow up and then leave here. And the reality of it is Shreveport has a really vibrant and rich history."

For example, Shreveport overcame the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1873. Broyles said this place should have been wiped off the map then, and most people don't know it even happened.

"There's a mass grave downtown of just over 700 people from that Yellow Fever epidemic. Most people around here don't know that," said Broyles. "On June 4, you're gonna learn more about that. You're gonna learn more about how we overcame that."

It's incredibly fitting for this series to kick off at The Strand, because it has a rich history, as well. Broyles said it's got such a personal connection to people in town.

"People think that the Sanger Theatre in New Orleans is an institution, and it is, but the Sanger Brothers built The Strand first. The Strand was the prototype," he said. "Unfortunately it, like a lot of other history in Shreveport, sometimes just gets forgotten easily. And so we kind of wanted to support it, help raise some funds for it, and make people aware of why you need to get engaged in Shreveport."

Will said he and his brother are planning on filming 20 of these documentaries. They're looking at possibly premiering the next set at the Robinson Film Center. You'll be able to find out more info soon at realshreveport.com.

 

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